Dublin airport security, when is a 1l resealable bag not a 1l resealable bag?

athtrasna

I've been a frequent traveller for over 20 years and have never had an issue with security. Because I travel so much I have a sturdy clear 1 litre resealable bag that I leave packed between trips as I have duplicate products.

This morning I met a complete jobsworth who insisted that it had to be one of their bags, that my bag that I frequently bring through Dublin and other airports was not acceptable. She also insisted that products like powder blusher are actually a paste?

I've checked their website and it says a 1 litre resealable bag. Fwiw, their bag is smaller though mine clearly says 1 litre so between that and her weird definition of liquid /paste I lost a few products. Boots was jammed with people who'd had similar experiences.

Do security have the right to insist you use one of their bags. I know some airports charge for bags at security

coylemj

It doesn't have to be 'one of their bags'. How does she expect travellers from the UK to deal with that stupid rule - ditch their own bag in the airport on the way home and transfer everything to a DAA bag?

I know it's not PC to say so but female security people in airports tend to be way more bolshie and bullying than their male colleagues.

@dublinairport is very active on Twitter - they're always retweeting compliments from travellers about their free wi-fi and the like, put up a tweet about your issue. Give the time and terminal number and hopefully they will have a word in her ear, especially mention that other people fell foul of her.

https://twitter.com/DublinAirport

keithclancy

What a bloody muppet.

I'd definitely get clarification on Social Media.

Louche Lad

keithclancy wrote: »

What a bloody muppet.

I'd definitely get clarification on Social Media.

I've just tweeted them. I'll see what happens.

travellingbid

I was travelling through Dublin in the past week or so and while I was waiting for security I was surfing the web on my phone (there's a sign that says there's wifi to surf while you wait). As I approached the top of queue I answered my phone and told the person I'd have to call them back. I was pulled aside by security who pointed to an overhead sign that said phones/ cameras couldn't be used that I had not seen and told me he "had a good mind to fine me for my behaviour". I said I'm sorry but I hadn't seen the sign. To say his tone was unprofessional is an understatement but it was his intimidating manner that I left me shook up tbh. I travel through airports a few times a month but this is the first time I've ever experienced anything like that.
I know he'd a job to do but he was undoubtedly the rudest and more agressive airport staff member I have ever encountered.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Had the exact same in Dublin airport a couple of years ago. I wonder if it was the same woman. A real muppet. Thankfully the gentleman in the queue behind me had just bought 2 of the bags (they only come in packs of 2) and he gave me one.

dudara

Very frequent flier here. I recently dealt with a very particular security guy in T2. Makes me wonder if they've all had some refresher course

keithclancy

dudara wrote: »

Very frequent flier here. I recently dealt with a very particular security guy in T2. Makes me wonder if they've all had some refresher course

I always hit those survey buttons after I pass through to reflect my experience.

I also had a similar experience in Dublin, I took my boots off and put them in the box as they always ask to take them off normally.

I got the "What do you think you are doing"

Me: "I thought I had to take my boots off"

Them: "You'll take them off only if I bloody tell you to take them off"

Me: "Ok ... will I put them back on ?"

Them: "Don't get smart"

Me: *silence*

Them "go on"

Never had problems in numerous other Airports, these days I fly from Cork to Amsterdam and rent a car / get the train to go to Dusseldorf just to avoid Dublin and the lack of public transport on this side of course

Louche Lad

keithclancy wrote: »

What a bloody muppet.

I'd definitely get clarification on Social Media.

Louche Lad wrote: »

I've just tweeted them. I'll see what happens.

Got a response from them: Hi there, you can use your own bag once it is resealable & is either 20cm x 20cm or 1 litre capacity.

https://twitter.com/DublinAirport/status/576379906831044608

travellingbid

keithclancy wrote: »

I always hit those survey buttons after I pass through to reflect my experience.

I also had a similar experience in Dublin, I took my boots off and put them in the box as they always ask to take them off normally.

I got the "What do you think you are doing"

Me: "I thought I had to take my boots off"

Them: "You'll take them off only if I bloody tell you to take them off"

Me: "Ok ... will I put them back on ?"

Them: "Don't get smart"

Me: *silence*

Them "go on"

Never had problems in numerous other Airports, these days I fly from Cork to Amsterdam and rent a car / get the train to go to Dusseldorf just to avoid Dublin and the lack of public transport on this side of course

I was in Terminal 1 - couldn't see those survey stands after security. Terminal is untidy looking with all the work going on at the moment.

Yamanoto

I'm already organised by the time I hit security screening - with wallet & phone in my bag, belt off & laptop & liquids packed in such a way that they're easily removed etc.

I would have thought those manning security would develop an eye to distinguish between those who are prone to faff about & those who seek to transit screening as efficiently as possible & perhaps then direct their attention towards the ponderous accordingly. Admittedly it must be a mind-numbingly tedious job & maybe there's just no way of doing it without treating all and sundry like we're a bunch of unruly kids out on a bloody field trip.

jjbrien

Had an issue a while back with a security woman at T1 Dublin Airport. I had scanned my boarding card fine on the scanner to let you into security. My wife couldn't get hers to work I tried to help my wife and this woman butted in and told me to stop helping her. i was like what and she didn't even bother trying to help my wife. Luckily she got though after several attempts. If she had helped her or allowed me to help then the line would have moved faster. Must be the same woman she must love making people miserable.

brevity

There are one or two fairly thorny people at cork airport as well.

I don't see why they feel the need to shout or be aggressive towards you. It can be a stressful enough experience without being embarrassed by people on power trips.

Bob24

I guess someone needed to release their anger and feel powerful. I usually bring my own bag and was never bothered in any country.

Asking people to only use the airport bags is counter productive (everyone has to pack their things at the last minute, making the queue slower) and not very eco-friendly. As mentioned above some people are charging for bags, ie encouraging people to use their own.

jjbrien

Bob24 wrote: »

I guess someone needed to release their anger and feel powerful. I usually bring my own bag and was never bothered in any country.

Asking people to only use the airport bags is counter productive (everyone has to pack their things at the last minute, making the queue slower) and not very eco-friendly. As mentioned above some people are charging for bags, ie encouraging people to use their own.

And not everyone carry's cash when they are in a foreign country i think them things want a coin to buy a bag

eezipc

jjbrien wrote: »

Had an issue a while back with a security woman at T1 Dublin Airport. I had scanned my boarding card fine on the scanner to let you into security. My wife couldn't get hers to work I tried to help my wife and this woman butted in and told me to stop helping her. i was like what and she didn't even bother trying to help my wife. Luckily she got though after several attempts. If she had helped her or allowed me to help then the line would have moved faster. Must be the same woman she must love making people miserable.

Same happened to me as well. Those scanners can be a bit temperamental at times. My wife's code was not scanning properly and I reached my arm over to help and the security shouted at me from the booth to back away.
It's stupid things like this, which have put me off flying from Dublin.

athtrasna

travellingbid wrote: »

I was in Terminal 1 - couldn't see those survey stands after security. Terminal is untidy looking with all the work going on at the moment.

Oh I actively sought it out, it's half way between security and the loop, so I could hit the red angry face!

Looking back I'm annoyed that I didn't ask for a supervisor or her name but in the heat of the moment I was so flabbergasted I didn't. I tweeted Dublin airport and was sent an email address to contact. Will do that when I get back after the weekend

Sheldons Brain

I don't know if the airport has any control over its security staff. Maybe 10 or 12 years ago I queried the fact that the guy checking boarding passes was smoking, in sight of all of the other staff at security. He said it was his birthday.

anne burnell

have noticed this a few times with the clear bags, they have emptied my bag of liquids and put it ito one of theirs at security, dont know why as mine was the right size.....

MarkAnthony

keithclancy wrote: »

I always hit those survey buttons after I pass through to reflect my experience.

I also had a similar experience in Dublin, I took my boots off and put them in the box as they always ask to take them off normally.

I got the "What do you think you are doing"

Me: "I thought I had to take my boots off"

Them: "You'll take them off only if I bloody tell you to take them off"

Me: "Ok ... will I put them back on ?"

Them: "Don't get smart"

Me: *silence*

Them "go on"

Never had problems in numerous other Airports, these days I fly from Cork to Amsterdam and rent a car / get the train to go to Dusseldorf just to avoid Dublin and the lack of public transport on this side of course

Jesus...

Did you not ask to make a complaint?

I know they're up early but that's bag out of order.

keithclancy

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Jesus...

Did you not ask to make a complaint?

I know they're up early but that's bag out of order.

And risk missing my flight ... no way.

MarkAnthony

keithclancy wrote: »

And risk missing my flight ... no way.

Hmmm maybe cutting it so fine had something to do with it - I've never had any problems in Dublin with staff but I wouldn't be taking that now.

Bob24

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Hmmm maybe cutting it so fine had something to do with it - I've never had any problems in Dublin with staff but I wouldn't be taking that now.

As he said ... Complaint would have lead to nothing except possibly missing his flight.

The security guy would have said the passenger didn't understand/follow my instructions and I just made it more clear to them, he then got angry about the situation. No recording of the actual conversation -> case closed.

endofrainbow

I think I had a run-in with the same *lady* . I have a transparent wash-bag, zipped and the correct dimensions which I have used in numerous international airports for at least 5 years without problems. Last trip thought T1, I was told to empty the contents into one of their bags because *the bag doesn't meet our security standards*.

I did as requested but just put everything back into the washbag once I got through the xray machine. Just someone on a power trip....

MarkAnthony

Bob24 wrote: »

As he said ... Complaint would have lead to nothing except possibly missing his flight.

The security guy would have said the passenger didn't understand/follow my instructions and I just made it more clear to them, he then got angry about the situation. No recording of the actual conversation -> case closed.

We'll never know really - I'm not sure why a recording has to be made for someone to objectively listen to both sides and make a decision, that's been happening for longer than recording has been available. What you're suggesting would mean that every incident of poor service would need a recording, they simply don't.

I'm not sure why it would take more than 5 minutes to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation. Let them deal with it after that, a simple mention is usually enough to make people realise they've been a little rude to someone, maybe pushed it too far.

If you're not leaving yourself 5 - 10 minutes before the gate closes, generally, you're running late and again generally, you're going to put out that vibe.

If everyone takes it and simply presses the unhappy face nothing is going to change. You don't need to launch the Spanish inquisition, just say on the way out "I was in lane 4 the guard was quite rude and said X". You might be dismissed, 4 people might be dismissed but after enough people have said this guy/gal is being rude it'll get dealt with.

cadete

I travel alot aswell and use dublin very frequently over the past 10 years and in fairness I would say its much more pleasant than alot of airports, I never have had any negative situations there, places like Dubai, abu dhabi, and Frankfurt I would say the security staff are much ruder and certainly not pleasant to deal with to put it nicely,
I would like to think the instances in dublin were just staff having a bad day?

Korat

There's an easy way to avoid this problem. Check your bag. Problem solved.

Bob24

Korat wrote: »

There's an easy way to avoid this problem. Check your bag. Problem solved.

I doubt many frequent travellers would go for that option if they are going on a short enough trip. More chances of your belongings getting lost/damaged and more time waisted waiting at the luggage collection belts.

zagmund

And who in their right mind is going to jeopardise a holiday/several hundred or thousand Euro/a business trip to go and make that complaint *before* they are off the ground?

Maybe it's silly/crazy/stupid, but I think that security theatre has got to the stage that most people are going to put the head down, accept that the power trippers are in control for 5-10 minutes, get through it and then forget about it.

The people who *should* be worrying about it are the airport authorities - they are the ones who actually have something to lose, although the chances are slight.

Dublin airport is going to win out for me 99.5% of the time just because of proximity, but I have flown from other airports when the price/timing is right. If obnoxious service starts to enter the equation for enough people when deciding then some airports might begin to rue allowing their service folk to over-act.

Dublin airport has already lost ground in my books because of the stupid long walk/enforced retail experience in T1 after you clear the security. I went through a few weeks back and I can't remember how many shops I *had to* pass before I got even vaguely near a gate.

z

MarkAnthony wrote: »

We'll never know really - I'm not sure why a recording has to be made for someone to objectively listen to both sides and make a decision, that's been happening for longer than recording has been available. What you're suggesting would mean that every incident of poor service would need a recording, they simply don't.

I'm not sure why it would take more than 5 minutes to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation. Let them deal with it after that, a simple mention is usually enough to make people realise they've been a little rude to someone, maybe pushed it too far.

If you're not leaving yourself 5 - 10 minutes before the gate closes, generally, you're running late and again generally, you're going to put out that vibe.

If everyone takes it and simply presses the unhappy face nothing is going to change. You don't need to launch the Spanish inquisition, just say on the way out "I was in lane 4 the guard was quite rude and said X". You might be dismissed, 4 people might be dismissed but after enough people have said this guy/gal is being rude it'll get dealt with.

rubberdiddies

Never had a problem in Dublin airport but if I had that issue I would ask to speak to her manager.

Don't forget you're a paying customer of DAA's.

If this was a regular problem then the only way for it to be dealt with is if complaints are made

To the person who mentioned that they were threatened with a fine....did that happen? That's got to be completely unenforceable right?

Louche Lad

zagmund wrote: »

And who in their right mind is going to jeopardise a holiday/several hundred or thousand Euro/a business trip to go and make that complaint *before* they are off the ground?

Maybe it's silly/crazy/stupid, but I think that security theatre has got to the stage that most people are going to put the head down, accept that the power trippers are in control for 5-10 minutes, get through it and then forget about it.

The people who *should* be worrying about it are the airport authorities - they are the ones who actually have something to lose, although the chances are slight.

Dublin airport is going to win out for me 99.5% of the time just because of proximity, but I have flown from other airports when the price/timing is right. If obnoxious service starts to enter the equation for enough people when deciding then some airports might begin to rue allowing their service folk to over-act.

Dublin airport has already lost ground in my books because of the stupid long walk/enforced retail experience in T1 after you clear the security. I went through a few weeks back and I can't remember how many shops I *had to* pass before I got even vaguely near a gate.

z

Yes, these power trippers are a reason why I often go by boat/train if I'm going to Britain. (Not the only reason, I should add — luggage allowance is another.) And like you say, the huge long walks through the airport.

SpaceTime

Flying in general is a miserable experience these days! I had to fly with a really bad ear problem and I clearly must have looked unwell and LHR made my experience hellish ! Extra screening, they took my laptop and phone and I had no idea where they'd gone and when I asked where my laptop was they basically told me that I was being uncooperative!

Unfortunately when it comes to flying it's increasingly more like being processed by prison guards. They've no concept that you're a customer, you're an inconvenience and a potential security risk and getting in the way of the smooth running of the airport by even showing up!

Anytime I have a choice in the matter I avoid flying nowadays. Wouldn't take an internal EU flight if high speed train is a viable option!

Bob24

SpaceTime wrote: »

Flying in general is a miserable experience these days! I had to fly with a really bad ear problem and I clearly must have looked unwell and LHR made my experience hellish ! Extra screening, they took my laptop and phone and I had no idea where they'd gone and when I asked where my laptop was they basically told me that I was being uncooperative!

Unfortunately when it comes to flying it's increasingly more like being processed by prison guards. They've no concept that you're a customer, you're an inconvenience and a potential security risk and getting in the way of the smooth running of the airport by even showing up!

Anytime I have a choice in the matter I avoid flying nowadays. Wouldn't take an internal EU flight if high speed train is a viable option!

I fly regularly and honestly it isn't my experience. The main complaint I would have with regards to the security checks is that sometime the queue can be pretty long; but I have never had any major issue with the actual security inspection (not saying it never happens, but it is definitely not endemic).

keithclancy

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Hmmm maybe cutting it so fine had something to do with it - I've never had any problems in Dublin with staff but I wouldn't be taking that now.

No, I had 3 hours to go before my flight, simply engaging in any form of argument with security staff is pointless and they chose to they could cause a problem.

By the way the person behind me also heard the transaction and when they came through they mentioned it was "disgraceful"

I wouldn't bother wasting my time on an individual like that.

chanelfreak

Definitely had the same c u next Tuesday once before! I had just arrived from a BRU flight and was meeting my mam at the airport to catch a flight to Rome. Had passed through Brussels with not a bother whatsoever with my bag - which was zip-lock and clearly met the dimensions specified.

Anyway, approached the screening and dragon lady starts more or less roaring that the bag wasnt suitable. I very politely told her that its the one I always bring and that I had just arrived off another flight and that the bag was accepted there, so what was the issue. Silly bint starts ranting and raving and makes me change bags. As it turned out, my perfume bottle wouldnt fit in the new bag (50ml but awkward shape), so I had to sacrifice it. Said to yer one ' eh can you please bin that where I can see you?'. Well she started ranting and raving again, so in the end I asked to speak to her supervisor, ate the head off him and moved on to catch my flight. When they go bad, they go REALLY bad.

Louche Lad

For some tourists then, their last experience of Ireland will be getting shouted at. I wonder if they will ever return.

athtrasna

Louche Lad wrote: »

For some tourists then, their last experience of Ireland will be getting shouted at. I wonder if they will ever return.

I've got two more trips out of Dublin in the next six weeks and if they weren't already booked I'd be tempted to seek an alternative routing. I'll certainly pay more attention to which queue I'm joining from now on!

SpaceTime

Bob24 wrote: »

I fly regularly and honestly it isn't my experience. The main complaint I would have with regards to the security checks is that sometime the queue can be pretty long; but I have never had any major issue with the actual security inspection (not saying it never happens, but it is definitely not endemic).

I've just had a string of really unpleasant experiences at LHR, CDG and JFK the last few times I've flown.

I also witnessed an absolute horror scenario where a jumped-up security guard at a very small regional French airport decided to start roaring and shouting at a little old lady because she couldn't get her coat off and wouldn't let anyone help. That ended up with her falling on the ground and then just sitting there crying while passengers tried to intervene and were being told to back off. They eventually just ignored him entirely and called the manager (and the police)

We also had a situation in Spain where a kid was going through one of those man trap doors and ran ahead of his parents, getting his head slammed shut in the door, which wouldn't open and had to be literally broken apart by 4 passengers. It seemed to be designed to be almost impossible to break apart too. It really badly hurt the kid!

The security guard woman started trying to stop passengers from breaking the door!!! The kid was just there screaming, so she was 100% ignored and 4 people just ripped the door open smashing the mechanism in the process. She called the police and was threatening all sorts. The police basically laughed at her.

I just think the security aspect of flying is gone totally out of hand and is becoming illogically paranoid.

I appreciate the need for security, but I just think some of the supervisory and management processes are appalling and some staff are losing the run of themselves entirely. There are a small minority of power tripping types and that shouldn't be allowed to happen or even possible if there was adequate supervision and management in place.

The TSA in particular can be absolutely shocking. We went through a check in the US recently where there was a TSA agent just shouting orders at passengers as if she was some kind of sergeant major dealing with enemy combatants never mind prisoners.

With proper supervision, and that would include 100% recording CCTV with audio, I think you could remove a lot of these issues.

Security should be subtle, sophisticated, intelligent and work WITH passengers i.e. encourage people to report suspicious things and people will keep an eye out.

It worries me that you see them fussing and being obsessive about tiny details, when they should be looking at the big picture and maybe keeping an eye out for that passenger who is behaving very oddly, or who is quite obviously acting suspiciously if you observe from the calm height.

My concern really is that they'll let something through that's genuinely dangerous because they're too busy fighting with law-obiding passengers and getting fixated about whether your perfume bottle is 100ml or 106ml.

MrWalsh

SpaceTime wrote: »

I just think the security aspect of flying is gone totally out of hand and is becoming illogically paranoid.

Yes.

I have also witnessed and been the subject of rude staff in Dublin airport. Not as bad as some reports here but still enough to make me wonder how they are getting away with it on a daily basis.

Not to mention the utter randomness with which the "rules" are applied. Told by one person to take off the shoes, then take a flight a few weeks later and told not to take them off (same shoes!).

SpaceTime

MrWalsh wrote: »

Yes.

I have also witnessed and been the subject of rude staff in Dublin airport. Not as bad as some reports here but still enough to make me wonder how they are getting away with it on a daily basis.

Not to mention the utter randomness with which the "rules" are applied. Told by one person to take off the shoes, then take a flight a few weeks later and told not to take them off (same shoes!).

I'm finding that throughout the whole international aviation network though. It's all totally subjective and random.

I don't find Dublin the worst.

Terrorism is a risk, and you have to deal with it, but I think a lot of these flight restrictions have come about because of American over-reaction. I know 9/11 was horrendous, but plenty of European countries had plenty of horrible attacks on aircraft in the past and they dealt with it usually in much more subtle ways than this kind of 'show of force' type security.

We need to snap out of it and re-think the entire security systems at airports. I am sure that it could be done a hell of a lot more pleasantly and probably more effectively too.

Mena

I travel to Europe from Dublin twice a month and to the states once a month.

Never had anything but a pleasant experience in Dublin (or with the TSA abroad).

I do use the express security lane in T2 though, maybe that's a factor, or I'm just lucky.

I have been made to change the regular clear bag I use in Geneva twice though, put that down to 'Swiss bureaucracy' though.

MrWalsh

+1 SpaceTime

Agree with your whole post.

Id also like to see "fast track" lanes in airport security for people like me who dont bring carry on luggage - if Im going away for 2 weeks I dont try to squash 10 kg worth into a hand luggage bag, I just check in a bag and carry a book (or an ipad) with me onto the flight.

Id be interested to see the stats on how many terrorist attempts are actually foiled by the current highly subjective security procedures.

MrWalsh

Mena wrote: »

I do use the express security lane in T2 though, maybe that's a factor, or I'm just lucky.

Is this for people with no carry on luggage? Ive never seen this. Oh - is T2 Aer Lingus only? I refuse to fly with them due to too many travel arrangements being ruined by strikes.

coylemj

MrWalsh wrote: »

Not to mention the utter randomness with which the "rules" are applied. Told by one person to take off the shoes, then take a flight a few weeks later and told not to take them off (same shoes!).

Hang on there now, the 'randomness' nature of that rule is to the overall benefit of passengers. The policy dictates that a certain % of passengers will be asked to remove their shoes - if everyone had to do so the queue would move more slowly.

The same logic applies to the random 'false positive' alarm when a person with nothing suspicious on him/her walks through the scanner but the alarm sounds, this is to ensure that nobody can be certain of getting through without being frisked.

MrWalsh

coylemj wrote: »

Hang on there now, the 'randomness' nature of that rule is to the overall benefit of passengers. The policy dictates that a certain % of passengers will be asked to remove their shoes - if everyone had to do so the queue would move more slowly.

Dunno about that, last time I flew (2 weeks ago) everyone except those wearing trainers were asked to remove their shoes. I actually asked about it and the staff member confirmed that only trainers or sandals were not to be removed (it was a cold day, I didnt see anyone in sandals).

So not random at all - on that particular day.

Yamanoto

MrWalsh wrote: »

Is this for people with no carry on luggage? Ive never seen this. Oh - is T2 Aer Lingus only? I refuse to fly with them due to too many travel arrangements being ruined by strikes.

There are Fast Track lanes in T1 & T2 - open to EI gold circle, those with elite status on other carriers, business class pax & those who've forked out for the privilege. Whether you're lugging carry on bags or not has no bearing on which security lane you get to use.

MrWalsh

Yamanoto wrote: »

There are Fast Track lanes in T1 & T2 - open to EI gold circle, those with elite status on other carriers, business class pax & those who've forked out for the privilege. Whether you're lugging carry on bags or not has no bearing on which security lane you get to use.

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

I think there should be express lanes for people with no carry on bags.

Yamanoto

MrWalsh wrote: »

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

I think there should be express lanes for people with no carry on bags.

I'd imagine the amount of people who travel with no carry on whatsoever is negligible & wouldn't merit a dedicated lane.

MrWalsh

Yamanoto wrote: »

I'd imagine the amount of people who travel with no carry on whatsoever is negligible & wouldn't merit a dedicated lane.

Interesting. I wouldnt have thought that, my husband doesnt bring carry on either and Ive also traveled with others who dont.

daheff

gotta say the worst experience I've had in Dublin airport was from the checkin people for a certain US airline. I had 3 of them crowd around me as I tried to walk through the lane to the checkin desk. One towered over me, one whispered some sh*te at me (which I had to ask him to repeat loudly twice) and the other seemed to be his supervisor. these were the airlines staff asking me security questions...which were then repeated by the girl who actually checked me in ! I never felt so intimidated in my entire life trying to checkin as that experience.

conor_ie

daheff wrote: »

gotta say the worst experience I've had in Dublin airport was from the checkin people for a certain US airline. I had 3 of them crowd around me as I tried to walk through the lane to the checkin desk. One towered over me, one whispered some sh*te at me (which I had to ask him to repeat loudly twice) and the other seemed to be his supervisor. these were the airlines staff asking me security questions...which were then repeated by the girl who actually checked me in ! I never felt so intimidated in my entire life trying to checkin as that experience.

That happens every time you fly on any american carrier into the US, I'd imagine you got more questions before you got on the plane. It happened me plenty of times when I was travelling.. I also always got picked for random bag screening as well before I got on the plane!