Ouch! I booked some flights to Miami a week after 9/11. £200 return with Virgin and virtually had the plane to myself. Should have booked a hotel though, had a hell of a job getting through customs because I couldn't put an address on the entry form. They seemed to think I might be a bit dodgy for some reason
I had to fly back to the UK on 12th September. Told to get to the airport 4 hours eraly to go through the rigorous new security checks. The metal detector wasn't even plugged in for a start and the two guys manning it were waving everyone through. I mentioned it to them and they shrugged and said I looked OK to proceed. From check in, through security and into the departure lounge in 30 minutes...
Yeah i was surprised at how lax the security was. Nowhere as tight as it is now. But for my address mistake I would have been through in no time. I only got through because I had a hire care booked and could show them my touring plan (was planning to touring through the southern states and hadn't booked any hotels because i wanted the freedom of ending up wherever i ended up each evening). I was expecting the security to be like Israel. If you have ever flown from there you will know what I mean. Ultra secure even before 9/11.
Flew into Doha without a visa (embassy in Brussels said I could buy one there so didn't bother to sell me one) or a hotel booked (staying with a friend). Taken to one side for 45 minutes and locked in a room with no air-con. It was 51 degrees outside. Eventually they ask me for my credit card details. I refuse to hand them over until they confirm what it's for. They say a visa so I agree to pay as long as I stay with the card. Door closes again and 25 minutes later it's agreed that I can stay with my card but hand luggage must stay in the room. Pay for the visa (6 times the price I could have purchased it in Brussels) and think that's it. Back to the room to collect my stuff. Door locked behind me again for 30 minutes until I'm escorted back to the same booth I'd paid for the visa to be told unless I book a hotel for my first and last night I cannot enter the country. I explain I'm staying with a friend in a town outside Doha. I give mobile numbers, name, employment etc and they stick me back in the locked room for about 15 minutes. Told I just have to pay for a hotel for the last night instead then as it's been confirmed I'm staying with a friend. £150 later for a hotel I don't have to use, I walk out late and drenched in sweat to meet my mate. I never went back to Doha and I never will.
Jeez, can't say I blame you. What a bloody nightmare! Israel is really tight too. Not flying in that is fine but leaving from one of their airports. When my girlfriend and I were checking in we were taken to a side room where they opened both of our cases and went through everything, even searching through every item of clothing. We then had to account for everyday we spent there, telling them what we did and where we went. If we mentioned going to a certain restaurant on a certain night we were asked to show receipts to prove we had been there and to tell them what we had ordered. Similar with any excursions or places we visited, we were asked questions about the places; where were the toilets at Masada?, what was the restaurant called at Ein Gedi? etc etc. Was worried until we found out they did it to everybody getting on the flight. Felt a bit like "big brother" from 1984 but I have to admit I have never felt so safe getting on a plane.
I have a friend who used to fly regularly with the Israeli airline when he lived in Jerusalem. He learnt to appreciate the security in the end. Cuba is fun. Havana security seems to consist of one person at a time from a packed 747 with two immigration officers who stare at your passport for 5 minutes and then back at you in a really intimidating manner. If you smile they start the process over again That seemed to be it as they had no computers or anything.
Well El Al is the only major airline never to have had a plane hi-jacked and having experienced their security I can see why. I'd happily fly with them again that's for sure. Cuba sounds fun I've experienced similar in africa (senegal and gambia). Guess they have to try and instill intimidation to bring on the symptoms of stress that they are looking for. One of my earliest jobs was in Immigration before the days of computerised screening. I had to maintain the risk books. They were manually updated ledgers listing the details of all dodgy travellers; terrorists, spies, drug dealers, arms dealers, but also children who were at risk of being illegally removed from the country. But the official would have to look up each travellers passport details in the ledger. Crap system and goes to show how much safer we are these days because without computers it would be almost impossible to find the bad guys.
My wife works for Border Control (recently merged Immigration and Customs) and she's mentioned the computerised systems they have. I was chatting with an HMI in charge of the IT and was shocked at how badly structured the IT systems are... I'm amazed it doesn't crash about 10 times a day. He tried to get me involved as a contractor to review and come up with a plan of replacing the legacy systems with a new set up but it was rejected as it would cost too much
I was only with Immigration for about six months back in the late eighties and like I said before computerisation. But it does not surprise me at all that the IT systems are not that good. Customs and Immigration has always been a drastically underfunded branch of the civil service and I dare say that won't change any time soon. Had good fun when I was there though, some of the best i've had when employed. Even went on a few stakeouts, trying to catch a ring of illegal immigrants in the act of pimping out their wives. Aah happy days!
Anyone got this brilliant piece of software on their computer? It's mint. I've spent hours looked at places i've never been to but always wanted to go.
I've just had an idea. A sponsored walk, from Land's End to John O'Groats on Google Earth. I'm skint, so all the proceeds would go to me of course.
You're just jealous you didn't come up with it. please log in to view this image I can make a boat load without having to leave my desk.
do you have the not606 mod desk like agent bruce please log in to view this image this is leazes please log in to view this image take your pick and send the bill to mick Mod desks
