Friday September 13th, AMS security screening point at gate G5 for Delta departure to JFK. I walk through the metal detector and the thing starts making a lot of noise. I am asked to step aside to be searched. Since all screeners are busy, they ask me to wait. A minute later another guy approaches me: 'what are you waiting for? go on!'. So I just walk away....

8 hours later, JFK, connecting to LAX. My colleague is asked to open her bag after it went through the x-ray machine. Out comes a pair of scissors... Oops, her mistake. But I wonder... why didn't they find the scissors in AMS?

I live in the Netherlands and my work takes me to the US about 12 times a year. It is my experience that security at European airports has not improved as much after September 11th, as it has in the US.

European security did not need to improve. The US security had to be brought up to the standards of the rest of the developed world.

Are scissors and knives prohibited in Europe too? Has this always been the case?

Scissors are not a danger, it are the people who are...
Security in the US is still a joke.

Well, most European airports tell everybody they are very safe nowadays, but it seems there are still a lot of security breaches over here.

For instance, a couple of weeks ago, there was a TV documentary, made by some Spanish reporters who were able to travel through most of Europe's airports with a small knife. They showed footage of the knife in flight and the knife at airports (those parts of the airports that are behind the security checkpoint of course). The funny thing is, that they also showed footage of BRU airport, although a BIAC spokesman told the press the day before that BRU security was very good and that it was safe to travel via BRU...How ironic, isn't it?

Another thing was that a Belgian TV reporter was able to travel to certain airports (starting in Charleroi, Belgium and on a Ryanair flight) with a fake passport.

So, there is still ample room for improvement. But I don't think that safety will ever rise to 100%. That's just impossible...

Ivan

Sorry, forgot to mention one thing about AMS safety:

- Last year (before 9-11!) I visited FRA and in order to access the viewing terrace I had to pay a couple of Marks and I had to pass a security check (had to open my bag and stuff...)

- Last summer (so after 9-11!) I went to AMS and was able to access the viewing terrace for free (well, that's the good part of the story   ) but also without any security check whatsoever...Just think about it.

I was also told that the viewing terrace at LHR is also accessible without any security check. If that's true, I don't get...

Ivan

Yes, security at the viewing terrace at AMS is a joke! Three years ago, about twenty persons, protesting for a better environment, managed to climb down from the terrece ONTO THE ROOF OF A KLM B747-400. They used handcuffs to form a human chain and it took the airport police a very long time to have them removed. Just imagine if it had been terrorists with an explosive device (there is no security check before entering the terrace, so you can bring along anyting you want)... and who knows, perhaps the B747 had already boarded it's passengers... BOOM!

After september 11th, the terrace was closed for 5 months, but now it is business as usual.

DutchDeltaDude:

If what you say is true (and I'm sure it is   but I just had to find a good way to start this sentence...) then I'm even more amazed by the fact that ordinary people can access the terrace without any security check. If I was involved in the airport management, I would do something about it pronto...It can't be THAT hard to inspect people or put some sort of scanning device over there...

Ivan

I find AMS security quite good actually.

They take their time and even question people before boarding.
If you ask me they handle it better then the US security folks do.

the fact of not finding the sciccors could happen just as easy in the US.

The follow article is from a Dutch newspaper, the day after the activist climbed on the roof of the aircraft. I tried to find a picture on the web, because there should be plenty, but I was unsuccesful. Perhaps somebody else from The Netherlands can find one?

Amsterdam, 19 februari 1998 - Dertien actievoerders van Milieudefensie hebben om 10.50 uur een vertrekkend vliegtuig op Schiphol 'aan de ketting gelegd'. De actievoerders zitten op de romp van het vliegtuig en vormen een menselijke ketting. Ze zitten met buizen aan elkaar vast.

Translation:
Amsterdam, February 19th, 1998 - 13 activists from "Milieudefensie" have grounded a departing airplane at Schiphol airport by climbing on the roof. The activists are chained to one another.

It's not just Amsterdam. Heathrow is not too good either.

I passed all the way through to the aircraft without being stopped even once. I offered my bag for inspection, biut was greeted with "What are you waiting for? Just keep moving please" Very polite, but no search!

ok how about this:

Last year on the way to Canada, my Dad had his nail scissors confiscated, you know, those dangerous lethal nail scissors. Anyways, we thought 'hey, at least they have high security here... I guess'. Well on the way back, whilst at Calgary customs my mom had a small knife (used for cutting bruises out of apples) taken from her that she'd had in her bag for the whole time.

Now what is it, security being over-zealous or not strict enough?

them schiphol security guys sure did interrogate the hell out of me...

What did they ask you?

They always ask the same questions when you board a flight to the US out ouf AMS:

- How long have you know each other (if you travel with others)?
- When and where did you pack your bags?
- Who owns everything that is in the bags?
- Where have they been since you packed them?
- How did you travel to the airport?
- Where were your bags at that time?
- Did any strangers give you something to carry to the US?
- Do you have any electronical devices with you?
- Have you ever let somebody else use these electronical devices?

And sometimes they also want to know:

- Why did you buy your ticket at such short notice?
- What is the purpose of this trip?
- Can we see your frequent flier badge?

Of course, when you are a terrorist, it goes like this:

- How long have you know each other (if you travel with others)?
Since we met in Afganistan four years ago!
- When and where did you pack your bags?
Yesterday, at dr. Evils secret Amsterdam underground location!
- Who owns everything that is in the bags?
A guy named Osama!
- Where have they been since you packed them?
With Osama!
- How did you travel to the airport?
In a van packed with explosives!
- Where were your bags at that time?
Out of sight.
- Did any strangers give you something to carry to the US?
Yes, some guys from Iraq!
- Do you have any electronical devices with you?
Just a bomb!

DutchDeltaDude, you fail to mention that the viewing terrace was closed for more than a year after the incident, partly because they had to increase security.

BTW the aircraft was a KLM B767 not a B747 parked at the E pier. As you know prioir to the new viewing terrace there was one weak spot on the entire deck and that was in front of the E pier.

Oh yes, I'm suprised you didn't metioned the time some environment protestors managed to gain access on the tarmac and blocking a runway.

Regards
Laurens

Hi Laurens, are you sure it was a B767? You might be right, it is a long time ago. I never heard of protesters blocking the runway, but it doesn't surprise me   Do you have more info on that?

They also asked where such a young guy like me got the money to purchase an airline ticket.....all the other passengers got on like 10 minutes before me....I'm pretty sure they all thought I had malicious intent and I had just got caught in my tracks.

Yes, they did ask me all those questions dutchdeltadude, but they threw in a few others, they asked me to prove a host of certain things, such as proof of my address in the US, they wanted all kinds of contact information and even verification of financial information, it even appeared that they wanted to interrogate me more, but I started to get irritated and voiced the uselessness. the guy even called some important looking blonde guy in a cheap suit that introduced himself as the security boss of the flight.
Anyways my passport was issued at a US embassy overseas on short notice, and the visa was validated only the day before! that and i have a middle eastern name, so that helps no more....
I mean it was hard enough trying to understand those fast Dutch accents....

Now I dont really care about embarrassment, but some people would be, which is certainly understandable, as there were 400 people on NW67 that day and they all saw me, I mean I was singled out already. I stand out from 100 feet in Europe. Now there are black people in Europe, but they don't wear baggy pants and headbands. so I guess I just didn't fit the typical profile of the AMS traveler, so they had to give me, and I quote the guy, "more special attention than others."
Well the lesson learned here is if you don't want attention, appearance is everything. It is nobody's fault but your own self. Oh well. I hope their methods have prevented some terrorist from carrying out his acts...
Keep up the good work, Schiphol Security....

With a name like "covert" and email address of "abovetopsecrent.com", I'm not surprised they wanted to know a little more from you.  

Yeah, I know what you mean, they let one guy get from JFK - AMS carrying two kick-ass daggers.

Heb julie hier in Nederland dat gezein...op RTL5? Schiphol Airport? Te Gek!

AMS

Yes, I saw the program last night. The guy was actually carrying two weapons from Star Trek, I believe they are called Klingon bathlets or something. Very dangerous looking swords. He flew JFK-AMS on NW. But the weapons were in a closed box that was inside his suitcase. The suitcase was checked. So he didn't carry the weapons inside the cabin.

When originating in AMS (I've done this twice on UA, to IAD), everyone on the flight got very stringent security checks (both flights were before 9/11). Before you can enter the check-in area, they x-ray all your bags, then you talk with a security person (everyone had to speak with one of them), then you get to check in your bags. They were very thorough in their questioning, and asked why I had an e-ticket, and asked to see my frequent flier card (I guess they felt only frequent fliers used e-tickets?).

The security was equally stringent when I flew UA from GIG (Rio de Janeiro) to the U.S., after 9/11.

When I've transferred through AMS, security wasn't that stringent, but I haven't transited through AMS after 9/11. After 9/11, I've transited through VIE, CPH and FRA and all had separate security checks for all flights going to the U.S. VIE was definitely the most stringent of the three.

Justin

asked why I had an e-ticket

That's an easy one now. Cause they charge $10 bucks extra for the paper tickets!

DeltaDutchDude, it's impossible to climb on a B747 if it stands at the E gates and according to the Schiholview of March 1998 it was indeed a B767.

As for the other incident. I don't know for sure but I think it was in 1999 or 2000. Some protestors managed to jump over the the waterline seperating a road and the airport grounds. They eventually blocked runway 01L-19R for a few hours as the police responded quickly. Needless to say that after this incident the security around the perimeter was increased

BTW the KLM B747 incident was at SXM, where a few f/a's walked on the B747 and almost got fired (fortunately for them they managed to get on the front page of "De Telegraaf" and thus were assured that Dutch public would cry if they would have been fired).

Regards
Laurens