To think airports are so stressful lately?

[Kjones27]

Jesus , I used to like travelling. I just find the airport so stressful now, that I'm utterly exhausted by the time I get anywhere. I have british and irish paaaports. I fly on my irish passport which is supposedly slightly easier to fly to the eu is. In my experience, it is not. I still experience standing around in queues for ages.

I feel like they make it as stressful as possible for everyone.

I recently flew from Dublin to Spain.

I didn't have a bag to check in as that would have taken me even longer. So my first queue was the security queue. I was standing in the long security queue for about 30 mins. Put my carry-on bag through. It set off some alarm. Or maybe they were testing bags randomly. I had to wait for a guy to come over empty my bag , put everything back in. Then I went on.

I sat in the departure lounge for about an hour. Then I went to get on the flight. They let everyone go through the desk, then for some reason they made us all stand on the stairs before rhe flight for another 40 mins. Plane was slightly delayed taking off.

I get to spain. We wete made to stand in another queue to show passports here at the spanish airport. This was an extremely long queue, as there were only about four men dealing with hundreds of people from different flights. I stood in this queue for about an hour. Finally got out. And i was just so tired.

Another thing. The last time that I flew from Spain back to Ireland, a Spanish female security officer asked to pat me down.

I said yes, as I'm sure most people do, as we afraid something worse will happen if we say no.

She then patted me all over. Up and down. She patted me In between my thighs.
She then patted both of my breasts. Which I wasn't expecting. She didnt pay between them or under them. She specifically patted each breast. I would say she slightly cupped them.
I really felt violated. I looked online to see if security officers are allowed to pat you there. And it says airport security officers are allowed to touch you anywhere for security reasons. So you are leaving yourself open to be groped just by taking a flight. I just think some security officers take advantage of their ability to touch others though. There are a lot of stories online of women who say they were molested by female security officers.

All in all, its a very stressful experience.

You didn't answer my question. Have you had your breasts felt by an airport security guard?

You said my experience is fine. So I presume you would be fine with her feeling your breasts , yes?

@Kjones27 yes, I have had a pat down by airport security, many times as I travel a lot.
I've also had bags searched, bags swabbed and been taken aside for questioning.
It's part of the airport security process for them to do so.
If you feel aggrieved by your experience, complain, but to suggest that women are widely being assaulted whilst going through airport security, where there are dozens of cameras, and thousands of other people right there, is a bit over the top.

I had a pat down in Florida, she showed me the screen and where I would be patted down, which included breast area, and would I like to go to a private room I said no just do it, she used the back of her hand so didn’t feel violated. Your experience sounds awful OP

I once flew on the anniversary of 911 (RIP)

At the pat down, I said to the security person, "ah I have just realised that this is an auspicious day" & they agreed, completed the pat down & wished me good travels.

I have experienced many long queues & many pat downs, in various large & small airports

I have also seen armed guards, sniffer dogs, CCTV

Nobody has invented a Star Trek transporter system yet. Therefore I am content to follow the current rules & regulations.

I'm sorry, what?!?

I was groped at Gatwick once. I fly many times a year through different airports, but this one experience was different.

I was touched like I haven't ever been touched by a security guard before, and it was unnecessary and beyond invasive. I was almost in tears.

Next time I'll ask them to stop, and use the back of their hand, and if they can't do that, then I shall call a manager.

But ultimately, they don't care. They know CCTV won't show anything too untoward, and complaints will be played down of ignored anyway.

Not my experience at all, I fly from Manchester regularly and other than just after Covid, I've never had a problem. The last few times I've been through security (five times in last 12 months) we haven't had to queue for more than five minutes, we've just been on a city break and were able to walk right up to the conveyor belt and plonk our bags on at 1pm on a saturday afternoon!

We went to America last year and someone seriously dropped the ball on our return journey as we didn't go through passport control at any point! I think they should have checked passports during our connection in Dublin, but we arrived in the middle of the night, passport control was unstaffed other than a single employee at the door waving everybody through! 🤨

Depends on the airport.. ours isn't big at all( leeds/ Bradford) we sail through.

I no longer like flying, but to leave Northern Ireland, its usually the cheapest option

We fly perhaps 3/4 times a year domestic and nope never had a problem.

We always get pulled, either for bag swabbing or pat down, takes a few minutes

Tbh I think they pull us because we are so organised, small sealed bag of liquids separate from luggage, electronics put in the tray not left in luggage, pockets emptied, shoes , coats and belts off and in the tray without needing to be prompted

I think they look at us and think, "they have this too off pat " and target us lol ( no I dont, just tongue in cheek )

So yes Im patted down a couple of times a year but its done in full view of perhaps 4 other security staff and the queue of people waiting for me to be done so they can walk through. Cant say if Ive noticed if its the back or front of hand they use, but yep breasts have been touched and the inside of my legs, but in a sexual way??? Ok its not the most fun time but its never distressed me, they have a job to do, to keep us safe

Now the queues on the stairs really does my head in

Not surprised about Google results. I think a headline “woman in wheelchair gets on her flight on time” is not going to sell many newspapers so it’s unlikely to reflect the overall experience of wheelchair users.
You seem set on your position though so what do you expect us to say? Never travel again? Sure, don’t travel. Problem solved.

I have used the wheelchair service in Dublin airport many teams. It was simple and without incident on all occasions.
Obviously with many passengers using the service every day there will be occasional problems.

Also a pat down that is just arms and legs sounds a bit pointless. As anyone trying to smuggle something on would stash it in their bra/ between their legs.
I have had the odd pat down in Dublin airport but they never felt intrusive/ uncomfortable. The cupping sounds odd. You can make a complaint.

The thing that is confusing me OP is I can’t figure out if you are complaining about the queues or about being sexually assaulted. Because the two seem about equal in your mind.

If you genuinely feel you were sexually assaulted- and only you can determine that because none of us were there - then please do report it, and also get some support. If the security officer genuinely behaved as you say then it sounds wrong, and if everyone assaulted by her reports it then that builds evidence.

But equating that to having to queue? That’s a bit odd.

And I will say, as a very regular traveller, queues in airports are no different to how they have been for the last 20+ years (with the exception of Manchester). It is however very different airport to airport, and carrier to carrier.

the equivalent of “give your head a wobble”

Definitely unreasonable in that airports have always been horrifically stressful. They might have gotten worse recently, I’ve not flown in years, but they were always bad. Can’t comment on being patted down inappropriately other than to say if you feel that you were you should report it.

Unhappiness with patdowns is something I have never experienced, but have seen it happen and indeed helped to comfort someone who was distressed by one a few years ago.

If you fly with Ryanair, zero sympathy for you for the queueing and other delays.

Part of the issue with staffing levels is the desire to keep costs as low as possible, another is that recruiting can be difficult simply because the airport in other roles has employed many people. Last year the Borders Agency were advertising for Heathrow staff in north London, over an hour's journey away.

I fly quite a bit short haul with work, what you’re describing mostly is disorganisation.

ive not flown to Spain for work but I have to Portugal. It’s a bit of a bun fight because of all the tourist travel. That’s volume of people who don’t know what they’re doing and with kids thrown into the mix. I pay the 9euros to fast track security because it just does my head in after a day of meetings

if Dublin is a bit chaotic too then I can see how you’d find things cumbersome.

heathrow is mostly like a well oiled machine, but airport security IS an area that’s suffering, perhaps due to staffing levels

we’ve had serious delays getting into Amsterdam specifically due to staff shortages. We had to sit in a plane for 2 hours for a slot. Brussels was bad for a bit due to security, but everything seems to be gradually improving.

the Brexit queues are galling, especially in places like Norway and Finland, because their airports and systems are so slick.

I can only imagine that Spain also has issues with staffing, but let’s face it, they’re not known for their organisation or service.

attitude of mind is key, expect it to be frustrating and it will be.

airport security has a job to do, but if you think it went too far, then email the airport and ask for them to consider what happened to you.

I really do understand its frustrating but you have stated in one of your replies "not concerned about anyone's welfare". To me that's the point. Checking passports to ensure people who they say they are, looking for human trafficking, fraudulent documents etc. Security checks, a bit violating yes. But for good reason. All of these things are for safety.
I have travelled a lot, with children. Yes it's hard work and boring. But I would rather stand in the queue for a hour and feel reassured that my children and I are safe.

You keep going on about a pat down should be arms and legs only but how stupid would that be as all terrorists would then have free range to hide stuff in bra/pants etc? Airports are indeed stressful and I am also prepared to believe that some security guards may enjoy their job a little bit too much but as it's pretty much the only way to travel long distances I am prepared to take that risk. If you really feel you have been violated then put in a complaint.

Yes, aiports are stressful - busy with lots of queues. There are ways to mitigate it a little - book fast track security, a lounge and, if needed, special assistance. Of course you will find people who have had negative experiences of these things if you google, but that doesn't mean that they are universally bad all, or even most, of the time. My parents have had Special Assistance that worked really well. You of course run the risk that you might book these things and be disappointed - and the internet will be full of complaints about the occasions when they don't run smoothly.

Security checks and sexual assaults is a different issue, and really complicated. Yes, people who have had checks and are in respected positions can and do abuse their power, and predators will always look for opportunities. Equally, I don't want to board a plane with passengers who are allowed to refuse a patdown but still get on the flight. Airport security is very important, and the consequences of getting it wrong are unthinkably terrible. That doesn't mean that people should pay the price of sexual assault, of course. But I can't agree with you that people should be able to refuse a search and still be allowed to fly, because of course that opens the door to criminals and terrorists.

Travel is stressful; there are always queues and delays because there are thousands of passengers and a lot of rules and regulations. You have to weigh up if it's worth it to you, and what you can do to make it easier where possible.

I think you’re being a bit over dramatic based on one experience. I fly fairly regularly, at least 4/5 times a year and don’t think it’s that bad. I fly from London airports but tbf have heard that Manchester is horrific in comparison.

The patting down is annoying and a bit uncomfortable, but again, don’t over dramatise it. She was just doing her job.

Scots for you're talking a lot of nonsense (I think that's probably a polite interpretation)

This is why I travel in a campervan and take the tunnel.

What annoys me is when they let you on to the boarding bridge but it turns out the plane isn’t quite ready and you’re waiting in there for ages. Especially on warm weather.

This.

OP, are you actually equating sexual assault with queueing?

In fact I think flying has actually become more straightforward recently, now that some airports no longer require you to take out electronics from your cabin bag (I tend to travel for work, so will have a phone, Kindle, laptop etc) because they can scan bags with them inside.

I’ve never had a pat down I felt was excessively invasive, though some are certainly more thorough than others. I get that the obvious places to hide something if you’re a woman would be in your bra or at your crotch. I’ve found staff most often nice, with the occasional tinpot dictator., and I travelled regularly solo with a small baby and child for years.

Some budget airlines in particular whose profit model relies on a quick turnaround between flights will corral people for long periods in cramped waiting areas. Just don’t join the queue till the end.

I think my most unpleasant airport experiences were just after 7/7, when security was (understandably) sky high and no one was allowed cabin bags, and taking a group of UK students to the US where border guards decided the very ordinary name of one of my British Asian students was that of a wanted terrorist and held him for hours before releasing him.

OP,

This is a tough one. The way you described being groped sounds awful, but ultimately the safety of everyone flying is the most important thing.

I’ve only had my bra area searched externally a couple of times and that isn’t great, but I can live with it. When my arms, legs, back are patted down I think ‘surely you know that any woman’s best hiding place is internal’.

Sadly my guess is that flinching at these innocuous pats (which is easily explainable and probably more likely if you have had certain experiences in the past) makes it more likely you will be subjected to a more intrusive search. Unfortunately this makes sense from a security perspective.

I agree that as in any profession involving intimate contact there are probably a few sick people. Maybe not flying is the answer. It is certainly better for the planet.