Congratulations for a very good looking entry screen. I just came back from a (real) trip to the US and I saw Greenie's message in CIS. I got a "New Dictionary of American Slang" in the USA. Hopefully, if I stay, I will be able to understand some of the discussions to which I might even try to contribute. This would ascertain that Greenie has at least one Greenhorn in this forum. Happy landings.

• RE: First tentative visit,Ben Chiu, 22:13z, 11-06-01
  • RE: First tentative visit,Sancho, 08:36z, 11-07-01
    • RE: First tentative visit,Ben Chiu, 06:23z, 11-08-01
• RE: First tentative visit,James, 01:19z, 11-07-01
• RE: First tentative visit,Mike_Greenwood, 02:35z, 11-07-01
• RE: First tentative visit,jerryrosie, 14:08z, 11-07-01

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Greetings Sancho:

Welcome to the VPC!

>>I just came back from a (real) trip to the US<<

Just out of curiosity, where did you fly to and from? More importantly, did you notice any appreciable security measures being taken?

I've heard from people taking domestic flights, but haven't heard anything from anyone about international flights, so any insights would be of interest.

Thanks and we hope you make the VPC a frequent stopping point in your web travels.

Ben

Hi Ben,
>>Just out of curiosity, where did you fly to and from? More importantly, did you notice any appreciable security measures being taken?<<

We flew Zuerich - Frankfurt - Denver with Lufthansa, then United to Albuquerque and back one month later, same airlines.

Compared to previous flights this is what I noted:
westbound:
Zuerich: prior to admission of passengers to the boarding waiting area, the area was thoroughly searched by police with dogs.
Frankfurt: Thorough and careful search of my camera bag (I have lots of lenses, bodies and film)
Denver: nothing special in imigration and customs. Reboarding for UA flight to KABQ had extremely long lines and - IMHO - incompetent security people (baggage goes through Xray multiple times, body search even though their is no alarm, open plastic film boxes to make sure there is film inside. This was prior to the anthrax scare.)
Things were different on the way back to Europe.
Albuquerque: normal security measures, competent inspectors. (they called a supervisor, because they didn't know what a 3200ASA film is and why I wouldn't want to put it on the Xray belt. The supervisor knew exactly what it was and why XRAY would fog it.)
Denver: nothing, since we were in transit
Frankfurt: nothing, since we were in transit
Zuerich imigration: say good morning in a typical Swiss accent, show your passeport and you are through.
Happy landings

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Greetings Sancho:

>>IMHO - incompetent security people<<

That's what I was afraid of. Then after hearing about the guy from Nepal with 7 knives, a canister of tear gas, and a stun gun got through security and was only "caught" by a random check I'm convinced that we still need to do a lot more work on airline security in this country.

Thanks for the information. Otherwise, it sounds like you has a great trip.

Cheers!
Ben

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Hi Sancho,

Welcome to the VPC my friend and yep, I'm sure you'll contribute some thing <s>.

James (CONman).

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Hey Sancho,

Welcome aboard!

>>This would ascertain that Greenie has at least one Greenhorn in this forum. Happy landings. <<

I'd hardly call you a greenhorn .

Good to see ya here, and put that "slang dictionary" to good use!

--Greenie
**6 miles SSE KSJC**

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Hi Sancho!

Good to see you over here! And looking forward to many more contacts and some good flying experiences here. The rallies will be expanded if all the plans come through and there is a place for all your excellent writeups in the Magazine. Welcome aboard!

***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation***
Cheers, Jerry