Strange security systems at LHR T3

[CGK]

I haven't passed T3 departure this year. Today, I did go through the Fasttrack line for my UA flight. The metal detector did not make beeping noise. But the guy wanted to do hand check. Yeah, it was a bit too intimate because he literally like hugging me and patting me everywhere. Then after walking towards the duty free, all pax has to take off the shoes for x-ray. Hmm I think it's a bit inefficient to do x-ray only for shoes. Why not ask for taking off the shoes when doing first check. Or perhaps it is a good thing because the shoes check only was pretty quick.
What do you think guys, especially who pass T3 often.
Cheers.

At SKL F now having Singapore Sling.

[jjpb3]

The shoe thing is annoying because I honestly don't see the additional benefit from it. I've seen random pax be exempted from it, so it ends up feeling like an unnecessary inconvenience (i.e., annoying without making me feel more secure).

The only positive thing about the arrangement is that it seems to create a smaller (though it's still there) bottleneck, so that the main check is less clogged.

But I've never (thank God) been subjected to the body hug-with-search that you went through, CGK. Maybe they thought you'd been working out and so wanted to cop a feel.

[jjpb3]

At SKL F now having Singapore Sling.

:BIG GREEN-WITH-ENVY SMILEY:

[lhrpete]

Security in T3 seems designed to be annoying - it is much more of a pain than in the other terminals at LHR, shoe removal is a norm though goodness only knows why, pat downs are also more common as is the general chaos of the place. I would just love to see one of their managers there explaining the chaos and poor standards.

Interestingly, I've had a customer satisfaction person come and speak to me three times in T1 recently about how satisfied I am with my experience which in T1 I can't fault - so I've always answered based on my T3 experiences where they do not seem to want to know how awful it is.

[jjpb3]

Interestingly, I've had a customer satisfaction person come and speak to me three times in T1 recently about how satisfied I am with my experience which in T1 I can't fault - so I've always answered based on my T3 experiences where they do not seem to want to know how awful it is.

Good on you, lhrpete. I hope they realize just how needlessly bad the T3 experience is.

[quik!]

I find the check after clearing security completely irrelevant, I saw some pax were just walking through it, and I don't remember there being any officer there as well. Kinda like, WTF moment

[MegatopLover]

I haven't been to Heathrow in about a decade, so I can't directly comment on the issue CGK raised. But I've travelled through Asia a lot recently, and I've had a good number of Europe-US flights in the last 15 months or so. One country stood out among them all: Germany. Security at Gatwick was strict, more than domestic US. A lot of questioning (Brits must've thought they were Israelis, as if you're gonna trip me up with "where are you going today?") but not much out of the ordinary in terms of bag searches or patdowns--maybe a supplemental wanding at the gate, but that's it. OTOH, at Stuttgart and Frankfurt--they went above and beyond the call. Ordinary screening for everyone. Pax bound for America relegated to special gates with MORE screening, including a very intimate patdown and fairly intrusive look-inside-the-bag stuff. Moreso at Stuttgart (which has only one daily flight bound to US) than Frankfurt T2. Seemed to be a we'll-be-damned-if-a-terrorist-gets-through-on-our-watch attitude, like it would be a blemish on the national character. It was a little over the top, but I understand the sentiment. It makes Boston's two-of-them-took-off-from-here copout for foolish security measures seem absurd.

[jjpb3]

OTOH, at Stuttgart and Frankfurt--they went above and beyond the call. Ordinary screening for everyone. Pax bound for America relegated to special gates with MORE screening, including a very intimate patdown and fairly intrusive look-inside-the-bag stuff. Moreso at Stuttgart (which has only one daily flight bound to US) than Frankfurt T2.

The irritating thing about the FRA procedure is that LHR flights are often (always?) in the same gate area as the US-bound flights, so the additional delay isn't something many pax factor into their walk to the departure gate.

Then again, I've never been subjected to the intimate patdown. MtL, you and CGK must look like you have something worth patting.

[CGK]

The irritating thing about the FRA procedure is that LHR flights are often (always?) in the same gate area as the US-bound flights, so the additional delay isn't something many pax factor into their walk to the departure gate.

Then again, I've never been subjected to the intimate patdown. MtL, you and CGK must look like you have something worth patting.

Hmm, I have taken LH FRA-LHR, but never in the same gate area as the US-bound. It's in Gate 30-33 bus gate, which has its own security check.

And nothing worth patting except my fat tummy.. Different case for MtL. But really, I was very surprised with the guy at LHR T3 this morning. I wish he slips his phone number in my pocket.

[jjpb3]

Hmm, I have taken LH FRA-LHR, but never in the same gate area as the US-bound. It's in Gate 30-33 bus gate, which has its own security check.

You're right, I probably overstated my case.

What I meant was that frequently, I find myself having to go through the additional security measures meant for US-bound flights (UA flights?) when I fly back to LHR from FRA. For that reason, it has felt to me that LHR flights are in the same airport area (not gates, though) as US-bound flights. I guess my impressions were wrong.

[CGK]

Y... the additional security measures meant for US-bound flights (e.g., UA flights)

LH US bounds usually are from Gates B20s.. the special security lines are located to the right of the Duty Free near that Caviar Shop. Or another shorter line security check on upper floor where the casino and FCL are.
UA flights are generally departing from C gates area.

[MegatopLover]

And nothing worth patting except my fat tummy.. Different case for MtL. But really, I was very surprised with the guy at LHR T3 this morning. I wish he slips his phone number in my pocket.

Did you look closely? Maybe he did. You must have been lucky at Heathrow. None of my questioners/wanders/patdowners have been remotely attractive anyway in the world, with the possible exception of one or two in Singapore.

And for the record, jjpb has plenty worth inspecting, extensively, mmmmkay?

[SQFAN]

I haven't passed T3 departure this year. Today, I did go through the Fasttrack line for my UA flight. The metal detector did not make beeping noise. But the guy wanted to do hand check. Yeah, it was a bit too intimate because he literally like hugging me and patting me everywhere. Then after walking towards the duty free, all pax has to take off the shoes for x-ray. Hmm I think it's a bit inefficient to do x-ray only for shoes. Why not ask for taking off the shoes when doing first check. Or perhaps it is a good thing because the shoes check only was pretty quick.
What do you think guys, especially who pass T3 often.
Cheers.

At SKL F now having Singapore Sling.

Share the same sentiment with you, CGK as I was there not long before you. The shoe carnival is a complete shamble. Wish those BAA security would pick up something about steamlining their product delivery chain.

Had the hug security type body pat. Just imagine how someone with BO can spoil your day.

Thank goodness for the SKL F oasis of peace and serenity away from the maddening LHR T3.

[CGK]

Did you look closely? Maybe he did. You must have been lucky at Heathrow. None of my questioners/wanders/patdowners have been remotely attractive anyway in the world, with the possible exception of one or two in Singapore.

We certainly have an opposite preference desired. Some of the FRA guys are indeed attractive. But the best so far was the customs officer at SYD who detained me for 2 hours.

And for the record, jjpb has plenty worth inspecting, extensively, mmmmkay?

No wonder jjpb3 is difficult to get to hold on!

[Lobster]

Going through T4 on sunday morning saw in a sign in the security lane I was in about removing shoes. Looked over at the other queue and could not see such a sign over there so moved over to the other line. And sure enough no need to remove my shoes in the other line. I have to say I do think it is very kind of BAA to highlight to all potential shoe bombers what security lane to take.