__Unfortunately any plane that flies over US airspace is required to follow 'the law' as set by the US. This includes a plane that may later fly over US airspace ie if you fly NZ to Japan, and the plane later flies on to the US, the…

Unfortunately the last time I went through Vancouver Airport the US had set up their own US checkpoint right smack in the middle of the airport. They're like an occupying force.

Unfortunately any plane that flies over US airspace is required to follow 'the law' as set by the US.…

Admittedly they have good reason to take especial care but I was a little taken aback at the treatment I got (and this was…

Yeah, I'm looking forward to bypassing the good old USA via Vancouver, unless they lighten up soon.

They still have common sense in Canada, don't they?

Unfortunately the last time I went through Vancouver Airport the US had set up their own US checkpoint right smack in…

[PS. I reckon Auckland is pretty good by any standard other than the huge money pits in places like KL)

it doesn't cost a lot to smile...

CYA Security – it's not about making us safer, it's about being able to say we did something so don't blame us;

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/02/cya_security_1.html

This is the article where he coins the term "Security Theater", which has now entered the lexicon in the security industry (and don't forget, like…

I was coming back from Hong Kong (lovely airport, BTW, and the same city check-in as at KL amongst others...) at the same time, it seems, as at least one other large plane from SE Asia. Anyhow, probably to be helpful, the AKL…

We recently came through KL airport 3 times. What a difference from Auckland (and Sydney).

Bangkok's new one too. And, like KL, the cafes and bars are NOT overpriced. Check in last time on a full Air Asia flight took me about 10 minutes as the six or seven counters…

I assumed my passport must have some invisible stamp on it. Or was it the hair? Or the t-shirt?

I don't know what T-shirts you wear Mr Reid, but hopefully it's nothing 'edgy' because yes, that will mark you for attention. And yes, get a hair cut. Long hair on…

it was air new zealand

I can't put this any other way....ANZ are, as an international airline, shite....I would move mountains to avoid flying with them. They are rude, expensive, understaffed, and, on most flights, the interiors are old (even the "new" upgrades only put them up there with most…

I don't know about that Simon, the most unpleasant experiences I've had have been in the US. Not so much unfriendly per se as just very officially hostile.

and I'll rephrase too....airports "apart from the US". My experience at the moment is mostly Asia I admit, but Auckland could certainly…

http://www.chaser.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3242&Itemid=26

And yes, the Silk Air thing is awfully similar, but that shouldn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. No sir.

Indeed no Sir, not my intention.
Just that I have an ongoing interest in the bizarre SilkAir crash. Wasn't aware that of the complaint to TVNZ shoe, or…

Got a link for that? Or perhaps you're just confused with the 1999 Silkair crash in North Sumatra?

Me? Confused? Of course not! But I have spent ages googling and been unable to find what I'm talking about. And yes, the Silk Air thing is awfully similar, but that shouldn't…

So the whole premise for banning liquids is somewhat unfounded. Apart from the need to maintain a constantly increasing level of fear in the absence of much, if any, actual terrorism.

When I flew to the US last year liquids had already been banned – the supposed liquid-explosive plot having…

They still have common sense in Canada, don't they?

I don't know about that Simon, the most unpleasant experiences I've had have been in the US. Not so much unfriendly per se as just very officially hostile.

Yep, I had a particularly pointless and confusing episode of official hostility entering the US last year – got accused of lying…

You can order a boarding pass…

Heh – you're way ahead of me, I was thinking about cigarette lighters, hankies, and bottles of spirits from the drinks trolly ........

The Register demonstrated some time ago on how the use of "liquid explosives" was impractical ... So the whole premise for banning liquids is somewhat unfounded.

Good god man, did you not watch MacGuyver?

And yet, as far as I am aware, cigarette lighters are still 'free to board' so…

I remember one guy asking why I didn't have the appropriate visa stapled into my passport, and when I went to point…

old a story about crossing security, where they take away you nail clippers, then on the other side the first thing he saw was a place that sold nail clippers

The LCCT in Kuala Lumpur does exactly this, or at least it did last month.

yep, that's all it is. keep them scared and they will long for all manner of civil liberties incursions.

i love how at the domestic airport they're all really serious about…

All baggage would be placed on another random flight so no one could ever be…

So the whole premise for banning liquids is somewhat unfounded. Apart from the need to maintain a constantly increasing level of fear in the absence of much, if any, actual terrorism.