Travel stress, aggressive airport security staff.

I loved New York, just not the taxi drivers and airport staff.

No but it didn’t endear the place to me nor did being chased down the road by a waiter who didn’t think 15%tip ( for an indifferent meal) was enough.
There are plenty of other places to visit in the time that I have left, so unlikely to return.

We loved New York, despite the attitude from some. I’d go back any time. Despite one family restaurant owner dishing out free drinks and bonhomie to every guest apart from us. We just got the cold shoulder and a disparaging comment about “you Mexicans”. Now I’ll agree that my husband’s a bit swarthy, and he did have a moustache at the time, but it was one heck of a stretch!

each time we have taken a taxi in NY they were hilarious and really friendly. Hope you didn't judge a whole City on the attitude of one taxi driver!

Our taxi driver didn’t speak English and was a misery. Not a great introduction to NY. Never did return.

HousePlantQueen

A most disagreeable experience to be sure. But, despite years and years of it, some people still don't prep themselves before going through security, still carry liquids in their hand luggage, still don't take off their belts, watches etc., despite numerous notices, and numerous people on the way advising you what needs to be done. I am not excusing rudeness by staff of course, but I think if I worked at an airport I would get rather cross when yet another passenger didn't think that the rules apply to them. However, nothing, but nothing can compare to the hostility and aggression of USA airports where everyone it seems, is treated as a potential terrorist.

Yep, agreed.

Surly staff at New York, Newark too. I couldn't wait to get into a yellow cab with a New York taxi driver at the airport. Our driver was African, his cab was filthy, he was eating a kebab and he couldn't find our hotel!

Only been to the USA once, 25 years ago and found staff at jfk really unpleasant. Certainly wasn’t the welcome we expected and no one wished us a nice day the whole time we were there. ( only 5 days).

A most disagreeable experience to be sure. But, despite years and years of it, some people still don't prep themselves before going through security, still carry liquids in their hand luggage, still don't take off their belts, watches etc., despite numerous notices, and numerous people on the way advising you what needs to be done. I am not excusing rudeness by staff of course, but I think if I worked at an airport I would get rather cross when yet another passenger didn't think that the rules apply to them. However, nothing, but nothing can compare to the hostility and aggression of USA airports where everyone it seems, is treated as a potential terrorist.

aonk

I know I’ve already posted on this thread but some of the comments are making me feel anxious. Yes there can be problems at airports but I don’t think that should stop people travelling. There really is no need to worry about such things. There’s a whole world out there for us to explore and covid has taught me that to grasp every opportunity while I can. Keep calm and do some meditation maybe. I was searched at Stansted but it made me feel better that the staff were taking all necessary precautions.

I agree aonk post Covid I was jittery and didn’t want to travel, I have ventured abroad twice this year, both hassle free and I my anxiety regarding travel has lessened.

(I am really phobic about flying, but due to family living abroad I have always flown around the world, the airport is just a mean to the end)

I know I’ve already posted on this thread but some of the comments are making me feel anxious. Yes there can be problems at airports but I don’t think that should stop people travelling. There really is no need to worry about such things. There’s a whole world out there for us to explore and covid has taught me that to grasp every opportunity while I can. Keep calm and do some meditation maybe. I was searched at Stansted but it made me feel better that the staff were taking all necessary precautions.

Georgesgran

Razz - New York Airport staff (especially JFK) are notoriously rude! We always say they missed the first term at charm school!

And the second and third term.

Orlando was dreadful back in the day, I flew ahead with my DD we were shattered after a turbulent flight got to security and I had missed a tick in one box, rather than let me do it there and then I had to go to the back of the queue and start all over again.

Thank you for your replies everyone, hopefully I will get it right now and not be the one that holds up the queue.

I don’t mind the zeal but does rudeness have to come with it ?

ha ha Georgesgran, my husband used to say people like that had a charisma bypass! So rude - but too big and scary to argue with.

Razz - New York Airport staff (especially JFK) are notoriously rude! We always say they missed the first term at charm school!

Best Opticron I could afford, at first Rutland Bird Fair! They have been everywhere with me

J52

All liquids that are in the cabin must not exceed 100ml and be in a see through sealed bag.
I put everything like that in the largest handbag I can get away with. Everything electrical and liquid comes out and into a tray.
I have learnt through experience never to put binoculars in hand luggage. The e ray machine doesn’t like them!

My binoculars are the only expensive thing I have bought in last 20 years. They go everywhere with me, to watch birds, flowers, and architectural detail in towns, Cathedrals, Castles, etc. They are my very special eyes and have to be in my hand luggage. I take them out and put in second tray with my Tablet and favourite silver bangle. Never an issue.

GrannyGravy13

J52

BTY lipstick counts as liquid, according to staff at Birmingham airport.

Not according to Malaga or Stanstead last week. I couldn’t find mine and was told not to worry about it or my mascara.

Interesting, it was going to Malaga at Birmingham Airport where I was ‘told off’ for not putting it in the see through bag.
Mind you, I then set the alarm off and was body searched, a bit too intimately.
Not a good start!

When my cabin bag went through security at Manchester Airport a couple of weeks ago it was taken aside and was hand searched the security chap smiled when all was revealed a packet of werthers sweets and a bar of soap.

When you come back to the UK from Dalaman Airport in Turkey your bags are checked twice and after you think that's it flights going to the UK are manually searched again and you are tested for drugs although could be explosives perhaps I'm not sure one man got taken away his wife was besides herself with worry thought he'd been arrested it turns out he had traces of drug on his shoe from when he visited a club anyway they let him go.

It is stressful, and there’s no excuse at all for aggression and screaming, but loudly repeating the rules is often the only way to get the message across. At Manchester recently on a very busy day, one young woman in front of me claimed never to have heard that liquids had to be carried separately, and when asked if she had any she begrudgingly dug into her hand luggage and dumped a massive bulging toiletries bag onto the tray. She was very indignant when she was handed a little bag and told to leave the queue and decide what she would take with her. There’d been a whole corridor of posters and videos leading up to that point showing exactly what the procedures are.

I must say they were very kind to me when the sharp edges of my contact lens containers ripped the bag open at the seam and my little pots of liquids rolled everywhere….

I will cope with over zealous security staff , the alternative is unthinkable.

J52

BTY lipstick counts as liquid, according to staff at Birmingham airport.

Not according to Malaga or Stanstead last week. I couldn’t find mine and was told not to worry about it or my mascara.

As a member of airport security staff many moons ago - early 90's - I have to say our training was extensive and thorough. It was only a few years after the tragedy of Lockerbie and people, in the main, were very glad of a high profile security operation.

It was stressed we had to be polite, firm and conscious of our role and always, always to ask permission to "frisk" a passenger as even laying a single finger on someone without permission constituted assault. I don't know if that's still the case but would imagine so.

I was a summer temp employed directly by the airport's own security department so standards were high - almost military level - and maintained so. Nowadays, security is mostly outsourced to agencies who pay a very poor hourly rate compared to back then but, more importantly, in reflection of the seriousness of the job. Outsourcing in this way has to be a factor for the chaotic experiences above.

On a lighter note, people who set off the security gate alarm often, unbeknowingly, are walking too close to the sensors - very often some small kids would lurch round the corner of the gate trailing their arms along the wall and setting off pinging worse than a microwave on the blink...little dears

BTY lipstick counts as liquid, according to staff at Birmingham airport.