heraclitus

I (usually) know better than to mess with airport security and after almost 40 years of international travel I follow the standard "when in Rome. . ." dictum in complying with local customs and rules. That said, I take the strongest possible exception to the insistence by CDG security that passports be placed in the same tray as my handbag, shoes, overcoat and other personal items that disappear via conveyor belt into the black hole of the x-ray apparatus.
Sheesh!! I consider my passport the most valuable thing that I own. I have friends in several "third world" dictatorships that are virtually imprisoned by their governments' refusal to issue them a passport. And I'm supposed to quietly acquiesce as my own passport is removed from my control only to reappear in the chaos that is the other side of security corridor? Who is going to accept responsibility or will help me if --surprise!! -- it turns up missing on the other side.
When I objected to this practice in Frankfurt a few months ago (I said "mein Passport bleibt bei mir&quot
security personnel politely backed off. At CDG, a similar statement resulted in a transparently punitive body search and full hand search of carry on baggage. (Wallet and credit cards were removed and sent back through the x-ray machine on yet another tray.)

I remain unrepentant and would do the same thing again. Am I the only person who objects to this practice? The much reviled TSA doesn't do this. Nor do countries like Egypt or India with their very stringent airport security controls.

janisj

One is usually not allowed to carry anything through security. Passport or anything else. So yes - I have placed my passport in the bin (usually inside a passport case or my handbag) many MANY times.

stormbird

I've never put my passport on the conveyor belt always just returning it to my neck pouch before proceeding through the metal detector. I didn't know we were supposed to put it through the xray as well. I've never been pulled up or rather my neck pouch has never been detected.

janisj

In my experience, the securoty agents will often require one place a security neck pouch (the sort worn outside the clothing - not the hidden money belt-type) in the tub.

stormbird

Hi Janis,

I have a neck pouch that is worn under my clothing and it's honestly something I've never thought about it. After passport control I just pop it back into the neck pouch and there it stays. I have never had a problem doing this though.

111op

I guess men can put passports in their pockets?

Otherwise it's probably safer to stick it inside the handbag or hand luaggage -- harder for a bag to go missing.

Nikki

In some airports, they insist that you keep your passport on you as you go through security. In others, they insist that you put it through on the conveyor belt. I have pointed out the discrepancy to officers at both types of security stations, and they are understandably uninterested in what is done anywhere else; they have their procedures to follow.

I was told at one of the airports that requires you to put your passport through security (I believe it was Paris CDG) that there could be something dangerous inside it. Who am I to argue with the rules? Few of them make sense to me in any event.

Hans

I'm not happy to put a lot of things into the trays which end up in the chaos of the other side, without them being under my control. I'd actually rather lose my passport than my laptotp since it'd be less trouble to replace. But there is little one can do about it. So I think you have two possibilities:

1.) Get into conflict with the security, which as often as not results in some punitive harassment. Since it's you who gets harassed and them who get paid while doing it, I don't consider it worth the trouble.

2.) Put everything relevant into the pockets of your jacket (which can be zipped close) prior to queuing for security. I doubt anyone would steal a jacket in an environment with so many cameras and security guards since it's hardly worth the risk. And it's much more convenient anyway if one does it prior to being asked to put everything into the trays and only then starts to look for the content of the pockets, jewelry, watches etc.etc.

Otherwise, tell each of your public representatives who wants to do "everything to improve security in these troubled times and don't ask questions about trhe sense since otherwise the terrorists win" that you'll vote for people showing a minimum of common sense. That way we might, just might end up with security measures intended to increase security instead of just showing a lot of activity to impress the public that something is done.

travelgourmet

CDG is the only airport I have ever been in where they make a point of having you take your passport out of your pocket to go through security. I almost always put my passport and boarding pass into my pocket until I am through security, and have not had a problem anywhere other than CDG. Considering I have been through upwards of 20 airports in the past year, I would be surprised if it is a very widespread requirement.

heraclitus

Just to clarify. Passports and boarding cards at CDG are first examined right before you and your belongings go through the screening apparatus. Your passport and boarding card are then placed by the control agent "naked" into the plastic tray on top of the other items you have placed there. There is NO OPPORTUNITY to put the passport back into any bag or other type of pouch/case. It is just left hanging out there in the open.

Challiman

We recently departed from CDG, October this year, and as we went through security, just as heraclitus says, they checked my passport and boarding pass, which I had to remove from my neck pouch, but which is worn on the outside of my clothes. But, after they checked it they told me to put the pouch in the tray but carry the passport and boarding pass through the metal detector with me. No extra search or wanding.
I can't explain why some at CDG have different experiences with this, maybe it depends on which country you are flying to, or the training of the screeners. Very strange.
And after all the times I've seen people leave valuables behind, even for a few moments, I know it is possible to get flustered and careless and leave things. And I'm sure there are some who wait for just such an opportunity.

kerouac

I left out of CDG 2E on Monday and they were perfectly satisfied for me to put my passport back in my jacket pocket before putting the jacket in the tray.

I would not have cared one way or the other.

StCirq

I have gone through CDG more than 100 times and have never been asked to put my passport in a tray. I always carry it, and my boarding pass, in my hand to pass through security. Had anyone insisted that I put it in a tray, though, I most likely would have complied.

That said, my daughter had her passport stolen last week at the Shanghai airport, where she was instructed to place her passport and boarding pass in a tray. She went through security, was asked to step aside so they could examine the contents of her backpack, and while they were doing so, someone grabbed her passport from the tray. When she turned around to retrieve it, a security person told her " Oh, your friend grabbed it for you." She said " I'm not traveling with a friend.I'm not traveling with anyone!" Fortunately, the security cameras had caught the thief on film, and somehow they tracked him down to a business lounge somewhere in the airport, found the passport on him, arrested himn, and returned the passport to my daughter in time for her to catch her flight.

Knowing that, I think I'd put up a big fuss if anyone, anywhere, asked me to relinquish my passport for even a minute.

ekscrunchy

STCirq: Thanks for posting that cautionary story.

ira

Hi h,

> At CDG, a similar statement resulted in a transparently punitive body search and full hand search of carry on baggage.<

You may insist on standing on principle and spend much of your life being delayed, or you may choose which battles are necessary.

Travelnut

We've never been asked to put our passports in the tray. I always stick it in my jeans pocket until we've collected our belongings, then it goes into the security pounch under the clothing.

heraclitus

>You may insist on standing on principle and spend much of your life being delayed, or you may choose which battles are necessary.<

If what I have described were anywhere near being a universal practice I would tend to agree with you. Hey, I'm no glutton for punishment and I certainly do not go out of my way to pick fights.

Apart from the present rant by yours truly, my only other response to such policies will be to avoid CDG as a transit hub. LHR, Schiphol, and Dubai will become default choices on long-haul flights where there are no non-stop alternatives.

Dukey

Well, whatever you do then DON'T take any of those Elipsos night trains which pass through Switzerland because your passport WILL BE collected by the attendant when you board and it won;t be given back until the next morning.

This is not a "third world dictatorship" you are passing through.

And yes you ARE GOING to "quietly acquiesce" or your butt won't get on the plane unless you like swimming....as YOu have said, "I do as the Romans do" so please get over this.

AnselmAdorne

"... avoid CDG as a transit hub ..."

Good advice, if you have the choice.

On the passport issue, I have been departed CDG countless times and have never been separated from my passport. After clearing passport control, I slide it into my pocket and then go through security sans difficulté. I'll be doing it again on the 17th and will re-post if I have any problems.

Anselm

AnselmAdorne

"... been departed"? Too much wine at Café Constant today.

AA