Move Airport Security to the actual gate
 

I have always wondered why they don't look into moving the airport security to each gate. This would ensure that in order to get on a flight the final check would be the only one. No secondary screening, just one as you line up to go down the jetway...Even in small airports it would be very quick and efficient. The screeners would move from gate to gate in a set schedule. I know that it would require more security works probably but it might not be very many more than are currently employed.

I doubt it would work.

You say it would "probably" require more screeners (an even BIGGER government!!!!) and I say it would NO DOUBT require more.

Moving from gate to gate...OK..so what happens if there is a delay at one gate and they are late getting to the next one and so forth?

Personally, I'm not all that "assured" by the current "security" system given the fact that every time a "plot" is uncovered they throw what they tell us are the state-of-the-art screening measures out the window because they
"want to be certain"...well, I want "to be certain" NOW and not just when a plot is "uncovered."

It would take an hour to board each plane.

Just to throw out a few objections:

Can you imagine what the cost for an airline ticket would be if they had to pay all those extra employees?

What happens if someone mistakenly goes to the wrong gate?

Besides a secondary screening might pick up something that the primary one did not?

And I don't think they'd be able to cart all their equipment from gate to gate. The cost of installing it all at every gate would be huge.

The airport that I depart from acually has only one security check. It has only one gate. It has only one commercial airline arriving and departing, that being American Eagle.

That was my thought... how are you going to move all that major screening equipment from place to place in the airport. Or you would need purchase it for at every gate?

Isn't this how you are screened at CDG?

Right before you go up the jetway to enter the plane, you walk through the detector, and put your shoes and carry-on bags through security.

Even before 9-11 this made more sense to me than being screened when you enter the terminal and then wandering around for hours between gates before your flights.

No, CDG isn't like that. But SIN and probably other airports are.

I think it can work at airports like SIN or HKG with lots of room in the terminal and most flights are widebodies that sit 300+ persons. But unlikely to work in the US.

There is gate screening in Munich, but not for all flights. When coming back last year, we went through a light screening when we entered the terminal area. When we got to the actual departure gate, the German security forces gave everybody a very thorough check.

Right after 9/11 when I flew home from Munich, everybody was pat searched, and just about everything was x-rayed with a high resolution device. I had to take my camera out and point it at myself and snap the shutter.

When the aircraft was moving into the final takeoff position, an armored car with an artillery piece was tracking it down the taxi-way.

All those procedures let me know the Germans meant business!!

That's the way it was done at Schiphol when we came home last month. They interviewed us at the gate as well.

I was imagining that the security equipment would be at every gate. An expense I know - but I wonder how much more. I have seen the idea used at some airports like others have mentioned and it just seems much better. And now if they keep the current rules on limited carry-ons it would be fairly quick - I think it takes an awful long time as it is now to board a plane, but I can see how it would probably increase boarding time too much.

Bad idea it appears...

They don't have state-of-the-art screening equipment now because it costs too much. Cargo on passenger planes is not checked or x-rayed at all..because of the cost. Our ports are not secure..because of the cost. So why on earth do you think that "they" will change to having gate checking when it will cost a LOT more money to put into effect?

Just came home from CDG yesterday and they DID have a security check at the gate and the lines were tremendously LONG. It may have been just for flights to the US, but I'm really not sure.

Everyone single person was pat searched, including toddlers, and EVERY piece of hand luggage was hand searched. Of course, this was probably due to the recent events at Heathrow, but it was quickly put into place. Any liquid, gel or cream is confiscated now, although I had a sample of handcream which was missed (but picked up and confiscated in Chicago for a domestic flight). Judging from the length of the line and number of people waiting, I figured we would leave about 5 hours late, but somehow, they managed to get us out of there on time. The people coming through screening just walked right onto the plane - nice to avoid the bottlenecks in the aisles. There was also the normal initial security check point once you checked in.

I seem to remember this being done in Vienna and at Schiphol.

Queueing theory says you shouldn't try it. The minimum number of screeners and machines are required when everyone is using the same facility. Single queue, multiple servers.

Gate screening would be nice, but unless the airport was laid out in such a way that it's necessary (think MCI), it shouldn't be done for the sake of getting the most bang for the buck.

In Frankfurt and CDG, there is an extra security sceening process just before the gates for the UK (other destinations also, I think, can't remember specifically). I've encountered some very large line-ups at Frankfurt, you need to get to the gate at least 10 mins before boarding, but its been in place for several years, so it obviously works.

Notice that all the gate screening you're mentioning is in European airports, where they do take security seriously...at any cost.

CDG is no differant than others -- it has two screenings. Perhaps some just think it's only at the gate because it's not quite as far away from the gate as in some airports (at least not if you fly Air France, which is what I do). SO, they have the usual security screening with the machines, etc. (and questioning, often) before you go to the general area where your departure gates are. Then, they again may hand screen some people right before getting on the plane, at the gate or in that area just before you enter the "tunnel" to go onto your plane.

ScatCat, what airport is that?

Christina, CDG (T1) and Frankfurt have the same screening equipment before a group (not individual) of gates. Its not just "hand screening" of some people, its full sceening of all pasengers and all handbaggage. Not the same thing at all. I have never encountered that at any UK or US airports.

What shocks me is how different procedures are at every airport - notebook in or out of the bag, shoes off or on etc. LHR only started the "notebook" out policy this year and it caused no end of problems at the security lineups as most passengers were not used to it.

I should have mentioned that I flew United out of CDG. Maybe the airline has something to do with where the screenings take place. Ours was definitely at the gate. The only things between the security and the doors to the Chicago and WDC flights were the chairs in the waiting area. If you wanted to use the restrooms, you had to be re-searched to get back to the waiting area.

kwren - It's because of the recently elevated security level issued by the FAA for flights to the US. It's an extra screening, and doesn't replace the general one.

It's the same for basically all flights flying into the US from various airports in the world. For example, at Hong Kong, all US-bound flights now are concentrated in one wing of the terminal with a secondary screening to get to those gates. It certainly wasn't like this a week ago.

That makes sense. It really was well organized, and people didn't seem to get bent out of shape at all with the added waiting.

Two years ago when we flew United from LHR to LAX, there was gate screening in addition to the general screening.

Yeah,t hat's what I mentioned in a previous thread--LHR always does that, and they have the 7 times I've flown out of there (on three different airlines, American, BA and Virgin)

I was thinking just the opposite: Why not have security checkpoints at the doors to every airport? And then do away with security at the gates.

Then, to get to the boarding gates, you'd just have to show a valid ticket.

L_99,

Because then you could only have ticketed passengers inside the building - no people greeting people arriving. I won't even get into the problem with mixing with airport and airlines personnel, including baggage handlers.
Departing passengers should be separated from everyone else before being screened and boarding a plane. There needs to be a gate check as well as the security screening, or everyone working in an airport, including in the concessions, needs to be screened. There are many, many holes in the current system IMHO.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear.

Having security at the door DOESN'T mean you only allow ticketed people to enter. It means anyone who enters must meet security criteria -- no weapons, explosives, etc.

You would need a ticket only if you went to a boarding area. So, everyone passes security and ticketed people enter the boarding area without further security checks.

CDG Terminal 2 only has gate screening. You go through Immigration first, and then go through gate screening before you board the flight.

I think a number of Turkish airports (Ankara and Istanbul come to mind) have security screening as soon as you enter the airport (before check-in) and then gate screening (or screening for a small group of gates). Of course, Turkey has security screening upon entry into most public places (shopping malls, banks, hotels, some restaurants, etc.)

I honestly don't recall gate screening at the halls I've departed out of (2C and 2F1). Screening to enter the hall yes, screening at the gate no. I assume by "screening" you mean xray/metal detector and not just hand searches. Are you sure it's not just specific halls at CDG 2?

I've encountered gate screening at AMS for non-Schengen flights and at LHR for flights to the US.

My experience at CDG and AMS are the same as Patty.

I just flew out of CDG a couple weeks ago on Air France, Terminal 2 (C), and they didn't have any gate screening. I've flown AF a lot, always out of Terminal 2, and have never had gate screening. There are always a few people they do special searches on at the gate (whether random or targeted, I don't know), but everybody on the plane isn't having their carryons screened in any way.

Now I am beginnign to wonder if I'm remembering wrong, but I could have sworn they had baggage screening machines at the same place you have passport control. On the ground floor, before you go up the stairs to the gate area. They must have it there, as otherwise they wouldn't be checking carryons at all, and I can't believe they'd do that.

A year or two ago when there was some high alert for flights to Washington DC from France, they were hand searching every single person's bags at the checkin, but that was unusual. And that was at the airline checkin desk (really a place to the side of it), before they would tag it and check it in.

I usually fly out of CDG 2B (British Airways) and occasionally 2A (Air Canada). I suppose I should be a little more precise. The security screening at those gates occurs after you pass through the duty-free shopping area, restaurant sections and airline lounges but before you enter the specific waiting lounge allocated to your flight. If you need to use the toilet after going through security, you have to leave the secure area and be re-screened. (But you don't get screened immediately prior to boarding.) This is different from a lot of other airports, where, once you've passed through a screening area used for all flights leaving from a particular terminal, you're on "airside" where the shops, airline lounges and restaurants are. I use the word "gate screening" to mean screening just before you enter your departure gate/lounge, not screening just before you get on the plane.

Kate,
I know what you're talking about and it's not at every hall at CDG 2. The gate screening I've experienced at other airports is like that. Once you and your carry on baggage have been screened, you enter a secure waiting area for your flight and if you have to leave the area, you need to be re-screened upon return.