Air Canada
#46
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Air Canada
Why is it ridiculous to swab a tablet or phone? Bombs don't have to be big.
#47
Re: Air Canada
Not necessarily for anything contained in the device, the test is for residue, and people touch their phones and keyboards, car keys etc a lot. It provides a clue if the smuggler or bomber has been careless.
#48
Re: Air Canada
Also - I seem to have figured out why I couldn't check in online the first time around. Apparently Air Canada decided that since I booked our tickets last minute, and I was the one who booked them, that I should be designated for "extra" security screening. As when I finally got to the airport and checked in, my boarding pass had the code "SSS" on it which got highlighted in red and yellow by the agent who sent us through security, where the CATSA agent directed me to the secondary screening area and searched through my bags, even wanted to swab my Surface tablet and iPhone which I thought was a little ridiculous (and told him so.)
Obviously I was a little irritated so I asked the guy why I was designated for extra security - after all i'm a NEXUS member so really I should be less likely to go through these checks - and he said don't blame us, it is the airline that designated you with the SSS on your boarding pass and that they usually do that on last minute bookings (I booked ~2 weeks before we left.)
Obviously I was a little irritated so I asked the guy why I was designated for extra security - after all i'm a NEXUS member so really I should be less likely to go through these checks - and he said don't blame us, it is the airline that designated you with the SSS on your boarding pass and that they usually do that on last minute bookings (I booked ~2 weeks before we left.)
Reading this thread I really don't understand all of the efforts people go through to show a certain passport for flying into or out of Canada or to the UK. It seems like a lot of work.
I live in Canada and intend to for the near future. My UK passport has expired but can be easily renewed. I would have no issue with having to renew it but why spend the money now if I don't need to renew it and having a Canadian passport only isn't going to restrict me in any way.
Back in 1989, I had 2 valid passports and myself a friend of mine had our car searched on the French/Belgian border at a remote little used crossing. The two bored french border guys couldn't understand how I could have 2 passports and in broken french I tried to explain it. Their question in french was basically 'are you canadian or british..you shouldn't be both'. My friends UK passport issued in Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland code on it triggered something in their computer system I think which caused the car search.
Last edited by Partially discharged; Apr 4th 2018 at 2:29 pm.
#49
Re: Air Canada
Are you:
A) A novelist of spy stories
B) An espionage man
C) A spy or former spy
D) Frederick Forsyth's younger brother
#50
Re: Air Canada
You're probably now on a list due to telling the CATSA agent that you thought swabbing your tablet and Iphone was ridiculous. My advice in an airport is that ranting about the system isn't going to get you far and that the officials hold all of the cards.
Reading this thread I really don't understand all of the efforts people go through to show a certain passport for flying into or out of Canada or to the UK. It seems like a lot of work.
I live in Canada and intend to for the near future. My UK passport has expired but can be easily renewed. I would have no issue with having to renew it but why spend the money now if I don't need to renew it and having a Canadian passport only isn't going to restrict me in any way.
Back in 1989, I had 2 valid passports and myself a friend of mine had our car searched on the French/Belgian border at a remote little used crossing. The two bored french border guys couldn't understand how I could have 2 passports and in broken french I tried to explain it. There question in french was basically 'are you canadian or british..you shouldn't be both'. My friends UK passport issued in Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland code on it triggered something in their computer system I think which caused the car search.
Reading this thread I really don't understand all of the efforts people go through to show a certain passport for flying into or out of Canada or to the UK. It seems like a lot of work.
I live in Canada and intend to for the near future. My UK passport has expired but can be easily renewed. I would have no issue with having to renew it but why spend the money now if I don't need to renew it and having a Canadian passport only isn't going to restrict me in any way.
Back in 1989, I had 2 valid passports and myself a friend of mine had our car searched on the French/Belgian border at a remote little used crossing. The two bored french border guys couldn't understand how I could have 2 passports and in broken french I tried to explain it. There question in french was basically 'are you canadian or british..you shouldn't be both'. My friends UK passport issued in Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland code on it triggered something in their computer system I think which caused the car search.
I would renew my UK PP no matter how much the cost. It’s one of the little bits of the UK that’s still mine after 22 years...that and my UK bank account.
I agree with your comments about the border/customs officers. Smile sweetly and be very courteous...if they ask you to jump...say how high. There is only one winner if you get into an argument or try to be smart with them...and it’s not going to be you.
#51
Re: Air Canada
Airlines don't create legislation and security procedures, the gov't does and the airline then follows the government regulations.
It wasn't the airlines who created Secondary Security Screening Selection program, they just follow the rules the gov't sets and what benefit does the airline get from ticking off their passengers by forcing them to do secondary screening?
It wasn't the airlines who created Secondary Security Screening Selection program, they just follow the rules the gov't sets and what benefit does the airline get from ticking off their passengers by forcing them to do secondary screening?
It was brutal, tons of traffic and I could barely see in front of me driving...took us 3 hours from St. Thomas to Pearson.
I once got pulled out of the line at the gate in Phoenix airport, having gone through Security to get into the boarding area.
OH was carrying my carry-on bag, but the agents didn't know that. I was searched, pockets and everything, had to take off my shoes (again!), and my purse was searched ........ everything by hand, but there was also a wand and swab for my camera.
It didn't make any sense ..... until someone said that this type of secondary search was by number ........... every so many passenger (eg, #10) got the treatment
Of course, anything could have been in the carry-on bag that OH carried on to the plane along with his own
The swab tests for explosive residue ..... you might have a home made bomb concealed in your device.
OH was carrying my carry-on bag, but the agents didn't know that. I was searched, pockets and everything, had to take off my shoes (again!), and my purse was searched ........ everything by hand, but there was also a wand and swab for my camera.
It didn't make any sense ..... until someone said that this type of secondary search was by number ........... every so many passenger (eg, #10) got the treatment
Of course, anything could have been in the carry-on bag that OH carried on to the plane along with his own
The swab tests for explosive residue ..... you might have a home made bomb concealed in your device.
Reading this thread I really don't understand all of the efforts people go through to show a certain passport for flying into or out of Canada or to the UK. It seems like a lot of work.
I live in Canada and intend to for the near future. My UK passport has expired but can be easily renewed. I would have no issue with having to renew it but why spend the money now if I don't need to renew it and having a Canadian passport only isn't going to restrict me in any way.
Back in 1989, I had 2 valid passports and myself a friend of mine had our car searched on the French/Belgian border at a remote little used crossing. The two bored french border guys couldn't understand how I could have 2 passports and in broken french I tried to explain it. There question in french was basically 'are you canadian or british..you shouldn't be both'. My friends UK passport issued in Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland code on it triggered something in their computer system I think which caused the car search.
I live in Canada and intend to for the near future. My UK passport has expired but can be easily renewed. I would have no issue with having to renew it but why spend the money now if I don't need to renew it and having a Canadian passport only isn't going to restrict me in any way.
Back in 1989, I had 2 valid passports and myself a friend of mine had our car searched on the French/Belgian border at a remote little used crossing. The two bored french border guys couldn't understand how I could have 2 passports and in broken french I tried to explain it. There question in french was basically 'are you canadian or british..you shouldn't be both'. My friends UK passport issued in Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland code on it triggered something in their computer system I think which caused the car search.
Entering the EU as an EU citizen I have access to the protections of being such a citizen and having freedom of movement, health care/EHIC, and i'm not asked any questions on my way in/out.
If a family member has a medical emergency we can fly out and not worry about how long we are staying/how frequently we are coming and going.
The UK may put into place something like Canada's eTA and you might have to have a UK passport to visit the UK in the future, as you'd be ineligible for an eTA in your Canadian passport based on the fact that you are a British citizen.
#52
Re: Air Canada
It’s usually much quicker to enter the UK and Europe using a UK PP.
I would renew my UK PP no matter how much the cost. It’s one of the little bits of the UK that’s still mine after 22 years...that and my UK bank account.
I agree with your comments about the border/customs officers. Smile sweetly and be very courteous...if they ask you to jump...say how high. There is only one winner if you get into an argument or try to be smart with them...and it’s not going to be you.
I would renew my UK PP no matter how much the cost. It’s one of the little bits of the UK that’s still mine after 22 years...that and my UK bank account.
I agree with your comments about the border/customs officers. Smile sweetly and be very courteous...if they ask you to jump...say how high. There is only one winner if you get into an argument or try to be smart with them...and it’s not going to be you.
In terms of lineups, the difference has been walk right through versus a 5 minute wait. You still have to wait to get your luggage the same as everyone else, you don't get a better price on craptastic food at a UK airport.
I know I'm british (especially in sense of humour and sports/tv I follow) so a somewhat hard bound booklet with references to the Queen isn't that important to me.
I'm sure I'm on a list at LHR from my rant to staff there from about a year ago. All on a Canadian passport so maybe if I renewed my UK passport it would smooth things over at LHR. Never ranted at MCR..I think it was being in the 'south' raised my blood pressure.
#53
Re: Air Canada
I agree its quicker but for me, I have 2 passports (one expired (UK) and one valid (Canadian) but wife has one (Canadian) son has one (Canadian) and daughter has 2 (same as mine as I applied for one on her behalf when she went to university in France for a year) but the chance I'd be going on my own to the UK are diminishing year after year and our daughter is not likely to go with me to the UK (21 years old now) so on a cost benefit point of view the UK passport isn't high on my priorities.
In terms of lineups, the difference has been walk right through versus a 5 minute wait. You still have to wait to get your luggage the same as everyone else, you don't get a better price on craptastic food at a UK airport.
I know I'm british (especially in sense of humour and sports/tv I follow) so a somewhat hard bound booklet with references to the Queen isn't that important to me.
I'm sure I'm on a list at LHR from my rant to staff there from about a year ago. All on a Canadian passport so maybe if I renewed my UK passport it would smooth things over at LHR. Never ranted at MCR..I think it was being in the 'south' raised my blood pressure.
In terms of lineups, the difference has been walk right through versus a 5 minute wait. You still have to wait to get your luggage the same as everyone else, you don't get a better price on craptastic food at a UK airport.
I know I'm british (especially in sense of humour and sports/tv I follow) so a somewhat hard bound booklet with references to the Queen isn't that important to me.
I'm sure I'm on a list at LHR from my rant to staff there from about a year ago. All on a Canadian passport so maybe if I renewed my UK passport it would smooth things over at LHR. Never ranted at MCR..I think it was being in the 'south' raised my blood pressure.
I travel on my own most of the time so it is worth it for me especially if making a tight connection in FRA/MUC. The times I fly usually there are multiple flights from CA/US coming in so int'l "All passports" line is full, making the "EU/EWR/CH" line much more appealing.
When traveling with family i've had success going through the EU line putting my EU passport at the top of the pile and handing it to the border guard with all of the Canadian passports underneath it. I did get a bit of a stink eye and he was curious why I was the only one traveling on a non-Canadian PP but he let us all through.
But that was in Germany and i've definitely heard of people on here who have been sent back to the back of the line when trying that at a British airport.
#54
Re: Air Canada
You guys are hilarious. There is no "list" when you tell a CATSA Screener that the rules are stupid. They hear it all day, everyday.
#55
Re: Air Canada
You're probably now on a list due to telling the CATSA agent that you thought swabbing your tablet and Iphone was ridiculous. My advice in an airport is that ranting about the system isn't going to get you far and that the officials hold all of the cards.
Reading this thread I really don't understand all of the efforts people go through to show a certain passport for flying into or out of Canada or to the UK. It seems like a lot of work.
I live in Canada and intend to for the near future. My UK passport has expired but can be easily renewed. I would have no issue with having to renew it but why spend the money now if I don't need to renew it and having a Canadian passport only isn't going to restrict me in any way.
Back in 1989, I had 2 valid passports and myself a friend of mine had our car searched on the French/Belgian border at a remote little used crossing. The two bored french border guys couldn't understand how I could have 2 passports and in broken french I tried to explain it. Their question in french was basically 'are you canadian or british..you shouldn't be both'. My friends UK passport issued in Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland code on it triggered something in their computer system I think which caused the car search.
Reading this thread I really don't understand all of the efforts people go through to show a certain passport for flying into or out of Canada or to the UK. It seems like a lot of work.
I live in Canada and intend to for the near future. My UK passport has expired but can be easily renewed. I would have no issue with having to renew it but why spend the money now if I don't need to renew it and having a Canadian passport only isn't going to restrict me in any way.
Back in 1989, I had 2 valid passports and myself a friend of mine had our car searched on the French/Belgian border at a remote little used crossing. The two bored french border guys couldn't understand how I could have 2 passports and in broken french I tried to explain it. Their question in french was basically 'are you canadian or british..you shouldn't be both'. My friends UK passport issued in Northern Ireland with a Northern Ireland code on it triggered something in their computer system I think which caused the car search.
Up until the Canadian government decided to make me renew my passport I always just used my Australian one.
#56
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Air Canada
US is same. US Citizens have to enter and exit the US on a US passport.
So no choice as you say for some depending on what citizenship one holds.
So no choice as you say for some depending on what citizenship one holds.
Some of us use 2 passports because it's a requirement of the countries we're citizens of. I'm dual Canadian and Australian. Both countries require citizens to enter the country using that passport. So, when I fly to Canada I give my Canadian passport details to the airline. However I also have to give my Australian passport details so I can get on the flight home.
Up until the Canadian government decided to make me renew my passport I always just used my Australian one.
Up until the Canadian government decided to make me renew my passport I always just used my Australian one.
#57
Re: Air Canada
Some of us use 2 passports because it's a requirement of the countries we're citizens of. I'm dual Canadian and Australian. Both countries require citizens to enter the country using that passport. So, when I fly to Canada I give my Canadian passport details to the airline. However I also have to give my Australian passport details so I can get on the flight home.
Up until the Canadian government decided to make me renew my passport I always just used my Australian one.
Up until the Canadian government decided to make me renew my passport I always just used my Australian one.
So do you show both to the airline at check in both ways or the Canadian one on the way to Canada and the Aus one on the way back to Oz?
Have you ever been asked for the other as I was? I suspect it might be an EU only thing as Frankfurt is the only place i've seen those "document verification" desks.
#58
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Air Canada
Reading through this I have to have a little laugh to myself when remembering what happened the first time we went back to the UK after we got our Canadian passports, in 1975.
At that time, there were 3 lines to go through Immigration ........... UK, Commonwealth, and Others. We proudly lined up in the Commonwealth line, I presented our passports to the officer on duty. He looked in them all, saw OH and I were British born (although daughter was Canadian), and then said "Why didn't you go through the UK line? You're still British even with these. We never let you go."
Believe it or not, we were offended by his comment.
That was repeated with more or less the same words the next 4 or 5 times.
We've not used a British passport since we got the Canadian ones in 1974, never renewed that we then had when it ran out. Never had any trouble entering or leaving any country. Why should we??? We enter and leave using the same passport, and claiming the same citizenship.
I do remember many years ago, when there was some unrest in some part of the world, a warning being issued that people should not carry and travel on more than one passport because it was possible that neither (or none) of the countries would help them if they got in trouble due to the unrest.
I think that is in fact what happened when Lebanese-Canadian citizens who had returned to Lebanon, then wanted Canada to get them out of trouble ...... Canada moved VERY slowly.
At that time, there were 3 lines to go through Immigration ........... UK, Commonwealth, and Others. We proudly lined up in the Commonwealth line, I presented our passports to the officer on duty. He looked in them all, saw OH and I were British born (although daughter was Canadian), and then said "Why didn't you go through the UK line? You're still British even with these. We never let you go."
Believe it or not, we were offended by his comment.
That was repeated with more or less the same words the next 4 or 5 times.
We've not used a British passport since we got the Canadian ones in 1974, never renewed that we then had when it ran out. Never had any trouble entering or leaving any country. Why should we??? We enter and leave using the same passport, and claiming the same citizenship.
I do remember many years ago, when there was some unrest in some part of the world, a warning being issued that people should not carry and travel on more than one passport because it was possible that neither (or none) of the countries would help them if they got in trouble due to the unrest.
I think that is in fact what happened when Lebanese-Canadian citizens who had returned to Lebanon, then wanted Canada to get them out of trouble ...... Canada moved VERY slowly.
#59
Re: Air Canada
+1
So do you show both to the airline at check in both ways or the Canadian one on the way to Canada and the Aus one on the way back to Oz?
Have you ever been asked for the other as I was? I suspect it might be an EU only thing as Frankfurt is the only place i've seen those "document verification" desks.
So do you show both to the airline at check in both ways or the Canadian one on the way to Canada and the Aus one on the way back to Oz?
Have you ever been asked for the other as I was? I suspect it might be an EU only thing as Frankfurt is the only place i've seen those "document verification" desks.
#60
Re: Air Canada
I fly frequently enough through a small airport to be on nodding terms with the CATSA people. "So you remembered your Ipad this time" was the comment a couple of weeks back on my last trip.