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

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!

endofrainbow

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.

depending on the airline, a lot of the checkin/gate staff at Dublin Airport are outsourced , may be contracted to a number of airlines and not direct employees.

The security measures at this point are on direct instruction of Homeland Security and not the DAA.

roundymac

I've only once used Dublin once (Cork normally), it was an early morning flight so we got Airport Genie, the female security officer glared at us as if to say WTF are you doing disturbing me, she then scanned our pass, and stood there looking around her without checking if we were clear to go. I eventually said can we go and she grunted, "I suppose so". Now we do have a few of these in Cork as well including one with an UK accent who is particulary pickie with checking and giving people grief. Next time it happens I will make a complaint even if it is only after I come back Cork Airport needs all the passengers it can get, at least I can threaten them with going to SNN next time.

rainbow kirby

Pretty much every member of the security staff at Luton is like that dragon lady the OP mentions - I avoid it unless there is absolutely no other option (the £15 train from St Pancras doesn't help matters either). Maybe they are just bitter there because every flight is a low cost airline...

Lapin

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

Did they actually say that, word for word?

If so I would have definitely taken it further.

I know they have a difficult mind numbing job but let's not lose sight of the fact they chose to do it and that we are paying them to provide a service.

Their uniform gives them no authority whatsoever to speak or bully innocent customers in that manner.

You wouldn't expect to be spoken to like that by a ticket inspector on a train, a librarian, a postman.... Anyone actually.

So why do airport security think they can get away with it?

I would still consider contacting the DAA and letting them know how you were treated. Because unless people speak up, things won't change.

And the levels of customer service and downright shítty attitudes among many of the security staff at Dublin airport seriously needs to change.

travellingbid

rubberdiddies wrote: »

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?

No fine thankfully but I felt so intimidated by his agressive behaviour I probably would have paid it there and then.
The infuriating this is I travel alot. I'm super organised, know what shoes to wear, not to wear a belt, etc. I went through Heathrow about 12 times last summer when the craziness in security is at it's height and I've never experienced anything like what happened in Dublin. The more I think about it the more annoyed I get. I really wish I'd done something about it now but I was genuinely so upset at the time.

roundymac

travellingbid wrote: »

No fine thankfully but I felt so intimidated by his agressive behaviour I probably would have paid it there and then.
The infuriating this is I travel alot. I'm super organised, know what shoes to wear, not to wear a belt, etc. I went through Heathrow about 12 times last summer when the craziness in security is at it's height and I've never experienced anything like what happened in Dublin. The more I think about it the more annoyed I get. I really wish I'd done something about it now but I was genuinely so upset at the time.

Maybe RTE should be made aware of this problem, they's already got great milage out of the delays at passport control, just because people are on their way out of the country dos'nt mean they can be treated like dirt.

dRNk SAnTA

I've actually had a reverse situation to some on here.

It was probably 18 months ago, and I used my own resealable bag in Dublin without issue, but when I tried to use it in London (Stansted) the security singled out my bag for a search purely because the shape of my resealable bag was "non-standard". They told me this.

My bag was rectangular whereas their bags were a bit smaller and square. That was the only difference as far as I could tell.

It seems Dublin are now following this too? Even though the DAA twitter says otherwise?

rainbow kirby

I've had no problems in Stansted the last few times using plastic bags that came from a packet of 50 in the 99p shop... you got yet another of the unfortunate jobsworth types.

Spanish Eyes

Never had a problem in any airport so far. I smile and say hello. I operate the drill, watch and jewellery off, belt off, jacket off, ipad and phone in the box, liquids in the plastic bag and visible. Always wear trainers.

Maybe I have just been lucky so far.

I beeped a few times through the x ray thing alright, got patted down as you do, and off I went.

For those of you who have had a bad experience, I always say that SOME people in such jobs have more power than brains. That always makes me smile and move on.

travellingbid

Well after reading on here I decided to send an email to DAA - they did come back requesting some further information, details would be passed to manager and someone would come back to me in due course.