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January 28, 2006
Returning to Malaysia: Airport stories
Just flew from Chicago to Los Angeles. The airports in the US look and feel cramped. Too small, when one is used to Asian airports.
Long lines at the check-in in Chicago - taking off shoes, unpacking the laptop and the belt, everything on the belt. Really everything.
I was security checked. By luck. On the boarding pass was a code stating SSSS - what means extra check. I gave the officer my ticket, and he shouted to his colleagues: "Oh yes, here we got a winner," And to me: "Please step over Sir, leave your luggage on the belt". Everything tensed up around me. I was not allowed to touch any of my bags anymore. Total body check by hands, but then, only up and down to see if I hide anything on the body. I expected more. Checking the shoes, inside out. Every bag was opened and searched. The whole procedure took 10 minutes or so.
Flying to LA, I was in the last row of the plane. Flying in to LA was fun. Man, the city is huge. We flew over it for about 5 minutes (at least it felt so long), and lights below us as far as one can see. Huge. Really, really huge, but then, probably also a lot of wastage of electricty.
Checking in internationally - again, shoes off, laptop out of the bag, and everything from my trousers into a container (container?).
Interesting: a sign warning travellers that the security measures undertaken in Denpasar in Bali and another place are not up to standard. Is this a warning to travel to Bali? I guess it is
Nearly took someone else's laptop. There are plenty of Dell Computers all around. Nearly every business traveller has one.
Sitting in the lounge now (yeah, I fly business class), having a beer and wishing you all Gong Ci Fa Cai,
Posted by Andreas at January 28, 2006 02:13 PM
Comments
Hi Andreas,
Glad you're back. Hope you had a good trip to the US. I've never been there myself though someone told me that LA is actually bigger than New York City because LA is more spread out while NYC is more dense, everything is packed closer together. My boss just left for Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia this morning for a 2 week holiday. As for me I'm enjoying some peace and quiet here in hot Malaysia. Unfortunately not many food outlets are open so it could be KFC and McDonald's for the time being.
Happy Chinese New Year to you and your family.
Posted by: James at January 29, 2006 01:38 PM
Welcome to the "insane" security in the land of the free, Andreas. I've nearly missed a couple of flights because of these types of extreme security in the U.S. Somehow. I seem to be targeted for these checks if I use my Malaysian passport for checking in. The red color does me in.
Posted by: Dhana at January 29, 2006 06:24 AM