Unpleasant Experience at Barcelona Airport

I had a strange experience a couple of days ago when I was flying from BCN to MIA at the end of a transatlantic cruise. I purchased our tickets through Celebrity's Choice Air for a flight on American. When we went to the American check-in counter to surrender our luggage and get our boarding passes, I noted that our attendant, wearing an American uniform, put a different sticker on the back of my passport than my husband's. I did not think anything of it at the time.

We went through security and had our carry-on bags x-rayed without any problems. However, when we got to the gate I heard my name called over the PA system along with about a dozen other names, requesting for us to come to the gate attendant. When I did I was told I had been selected for going through "enhanced security."

We were escorted to a cubicle area over by the next gate. I was patted down and my bag with re-x-rayed and then the attendant manually pulled everything out of my bag to check it. I can't remember what uniform she had. It was not Barcelona airport security because people in those uniforms were standing in front of our area, presumably to stop anyone from bolting. When she finished with me I was told to wait in a chair. I assumed someone was going to come ask me some questions.

A few minutes later another attendant brusquely told me to move to another chair. I did so. At this point I overheard another detainee say that they were going to keep us here until boarding began for the flight. That was some 50 minutes away. When I heard this I went and spoke to one of the attendants and said I needed to let my husband know that I wasn't coming right back. She asked me his name, where he was sitting (about 100 feet away at the other gate, but out of my sightline), and what he looked like. I thought she was going to go and tell him I was delayed but then she just said "You will be able to board together."

I knew my husband would worry and he didn't know which direction they had taken me so I called him from my cell and told him where I was and that they were going to keep us until boarding began.

What I am interested to know is: this appears to have been initiated by the American check-in clerk. I would have thought anyone being asked to undergo "enhanced security" would be asked by the people operating the security check points. Whether by reason of something suspicious or just a random selection. What reason would the check-in attendant have for selecting me?

I've never had this happen when flying out of Rome. Is this now something that happens frequently at any international airport?

This happened to me last summer in Barcelona as well (the airline was then USAir). I think it's random.

My husband was really freaked out too ( and my teenage daughters). Once I realized what was going on I just sort of shrugged. I've seen it happen to others at American airports too. The weird thing was they boarded me (and the couple others also pulled) before anyone else. They didn't let us back in the gate area .... just right onboard.

I was not a fan of BCN in general. Nothing is well marked unless you already know where you are going. I saw a few very upset and confused people when they realized they were in the completely wrong terminal.

The more I think about it...the less sense it makes. I mean, if any or all of us had been determined a security threat after the screening....then there is no way the airline would take off on a transatlantic flight (or any flight) with my luggage on board but not me. So that would mean that they would have had to already isolate all our luggage to a holding area to see if any of us were going to be detained. I don't believe that had been done at all. My bag was right next to my husband's on the carousel in Miami (that's never happened!)

So that means they weren't really ever planning on any of us not boarding that plane. So it was a training exercise for them?! A hassle/threat for us?

And I told my husband, when I heard my name called to come to the gate attendant, I just happened to have my purse with me. But I could just as easily have told him to keep an eye on my bag and gone without it. The attendant did not say "And go collect any/all your carry-on luggage." So if they were actually looking for something it could have been sitting in the seat next to my husband back at the gate.

And re BCN....the email from American had the gate assignment of 14. The check-in attendant gave us boarding passes with gate 12. A whole group of us sat down at gate 12. Luckily for us I overheard someone say that this was the wrong gate. Sure enough, gate 12 didn't have any information listed about our flight and gate 14 did. I would have thought it more likely that the emailed gate was wrong and that BCN had changed it. But for the attendant printing boarding passes that morning to have the wrong information could certainly have ruined some people's day!

I had a strange experience a couple of days ago when I was flying from BCN to MIA at the end of a transatlantic cruise. I purchased our tickets through Celebrity's Choice Air for a flight on American. When we went to the American check-in counter to surrender our luggage and get our boarding passes, I noted that our attendant, wearing an American uniform, put a different sticker on the back of my passport than my husband's. I did not think anything of it at the time.

 

We went through security and had our carry-on bags x-rayed without any problems. However, when we got to the gate I heard my name called over the PA system along with about a dozen other names, requesting for us to come to the gate attendant. When I did I was told I had been selected for going through "enhanced security."

 

We were escorted to a cubicle area over by the next gate. I was patted down and my bag with re-x-rayed and then the attendant manually pulled everything out of my bag to check it. I can't remember what uniform she had. It was not Barcelona airport security because people in those uniforms were standing in front of our area, presumably to stop anyone from bolting. When she finished with me I was told to wait in a chair. I assumed someone was going to come ask me some questions.

 

A few minutes later another attendant brusquely told me to move to another chair. I did so. At this point I overheard another detainee say that they were going to keep us here until boarding began for the flight. That was some 50 minutes away. When I heard this I went and spoke to one of the attendants and said I needed to let my husband know that I wasn't coming right back. She asked me his name, where he was sitting (about 100 feet away at the other gate, but out of my sightline), and what he looked like. I thought she was going to go and tell him I was delayed but then she just said "You will be able to board together."

 

I knew my husband would worry and he didn't know which direction they had taken me so I called him from my cell and told him where I was and that they were going to keep us until boarding began.

 

What I am interested to know is: this appears to have been initiated by the American check-in clerk. I would have thought anyone being asked to undergo "enhanced security" would be asked by the people operating the security check points. Whether by reason of something suspicious or just a random selection. What reason would the check-in attendant have for selecting me?

 

I've never had this happen when flying out of Rome. Is this now something that happens frequently at any international airport?

It's random selection; welcome to Security Theatre 2015

Well, it doesn't make me feel too secure!

We just flew from BCN to EWR. I noticed many names being called by the gate people but didn't give it a second thought as they did not call mine.

All fake security "theatre" to make the "anything for security" people feel safe :roll eyes:

When I departed FCO 2 weeks ago, there was nothing like that, BUT there was the pulling of people out of line randomly before we boarded the busses to the plane. Those folks had all their carryons "inspected" at a table the inspectors had placed to the side of the line. I was flying Alitalia to JFK, but did not have to go though the special USA-bound show at T5 - got to go directly into T3.

As for why they made you sit away from everyone else? It may have been that, since you were "cleared" again by the random check, they did not want you (or the other selectees) to go back among the "uncleared" people. Kind of like a unique variation on "once you through TSA, you can't leave or you have to clear again."

What I am interested to know is: this appears to have been initiated by the American check-in clerk. I would have thought anyone being asked to undergo "enhanced security" would be asked by the people operating the security check points. Whether by reason of something suspicious or just a random selection. What reason would the check-in attendant have for selecting me?

And, therefore, in all probability it's nothing to do with Barcelona airport.

It's also one of the top reasons why some people find that they cannot get a boarding pass online for a flight to the US, and must check-in at the airport.

I'm not sure that it is random, given that some people report having this happen time and time again (eg a dozen times a year) and others never have this happen to them.

Yes, Very annoying , my wife "continually" gets special checking and pulled aside and never once in my lifetime have I (Male) been checked. The last time she'd had enough and let them know,of course that didnt deter them from a full inspection in a special room. It is quite clear they have to get numbers,and also its quite obvious they are too scared to pick out the "obvious people" who Should be really checked...We are off to Barcelona in 10 days so we'll see what happens. (Her last inspection was at Rome)

The last time she'd had enough and let them know,of course that didnt deter them from a full inspection in a special room.

It is quite clear they have to get numbers,and also its quite obvious they are too scared to pick out the "obvious people" who Should be really checked.

Indeed, who are the "obvious people" anyway?

its quite obvious they are too scared to pick out the "obvious people" .....Her last inspection was at Rome

Who are the "obvious people" in Rome?

It is called random selection, and is a requirement of the US government. Airlines do not want to do this, but lose their landing rights to the US if they don't. If you feel this random selection procedure is unfair, make sure to write to your congressman. Your government, your rules.

This happens in all kinds of various guises when flying into the US from other countries. Some handle it this way, others pull you aside in the gate area/jetbridge.

It happened to my husband when fling back on Delta from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Yes it is random by US government, not by the airlines.

OK, I see the consensus is that it is random and I may be deemed "special" in the future again. O joy. But what I don't understand is why they don't do this in a way that could really find something? By not asking me to bring my carry-on bags with me means they are in effect only searching 50% of me....

Letting them know is probably a very good way of ensuring a very thorough inspection, if not putting at risk her chances of actually being allowed to board. Why does she think she's special, or immune from the rules?When this is done by computer from the other side of the Atlantic, how do you think they pick out the "obvious people", whoever they may be?

 

Indeed, who are the "obvious people" anyway?

Each of these times that she has been picked at random,(never me) not at the counters, but just walking out of lifts or off escalators (top of escalator in Rome) , Your comment who are the obvious people to check, well just in recent months over 300 young men in Australia have been stopped & refused passage out of our Airports while trying to join Isis.I presume most Airports have the same problems. I find it a waste of specialized staffs time to pick out at random & pat down a 70 year old woman who is on her way to or from a cruise Ship.

OK, I see the consensus is that it is random and I may be deemed "special" in the future again. O joy. But what I don't understand is why they don't do this in a way that could really find something? By not asking me to bring my carry-on bags with me means they are in effect only searching 50% of me....

Remember - it is all security "theatre", nothing really useful. DHS has to make a show of force/authority to make a certain segment of society feel safe.

As for the "ones they should be selecting" (ahem): should DHS take every person who is not Anglo and do additional screening on them? Just how do they determine someone is going off to join ISIS? Is there some physical thing that you believe is present? John Walker Lindh comes to mind...

Yup. Had the same thing happen to me at the gat, as we were in line to board. I don't remember if it was BCN or another overseas airport. A bit unnerving, but it was, ultimately, no big deal.

Maybe the people they add to the "random" sample just look like they're least likely to cause a fuss?

Duplicate post, sorry

Your comment who are the obvious people to check, well just in recent months over 300 young men in Australia have been stopped & refused passage out of our Airports while trying to join Isis.I presume most Airports have the same problems.

You really didn't answer the question: who are the "obvious people?"

Just how do they determine someone is going off to join ISIS? Is there some physical thing that you believe is present

You are so funny. Of course there is a physical thing. They have all had a little button with ISIS on it surgically implanted on their forehead. Man, I thought everyone knew this.

Yes, Very annoying , my wife "continually" gets special checking and pulled aside and never once in my lifetime have I (Male) been checked. The last time she'd had enough and let them know,of course that didnt deter them from a full inspection in a special room. It is quite clear they have to get numbers,and also its quite obvious they are too scared to pick out the "obvious people" who Should be really checked...We are off to Barcelona in 10 days so we'll see what happens. (Her last inspection was at Rome)

By obvious people, I think we're all assuming you to mean "doesn't look like me"; which is a pretty poor way of doing security.

By obvious people, I think we're all assuming you to mean "doesn't look like me"; which is a pretty poor way of doing security.

I think they have all sort of profiling rules built into the computer algorithm that picks one person over another. Then they add some random cases.

There have been stories floating around that one-way tickets are more likely to result in extra screening that return tickets. Who knows, maybe it is true maybe not. The people who run these programs probably are not going to say.

It is unfortunate but the rules are silly, they are interpreted differently in different airports and sometimes it is more theatre than reality. All that said it appears to be working at keeping flights safe.

It is getting better in places. I had a business trip down to the US last month, coming back went through a US airport where they did not do the silly take off your shoes things and they wanted you to leave you computer in the bag.

I think they have all sort of profiling rules built into the computer algorithm that picks one person over another. Then they add some random cases.

 

There have been stories floating around that one-way tickets are more likely to result in extra screening that return tickets. Who knows, maybe it is true maybe not. The people who run these programs probably are not going to say.

Yes, I think it is true. We have had some hilarious experiences travelling through the USA whilst on standby staff tickets. We know for sure that the "random" procedure is not all that random, since everybody travelling on standby was picked out every single time, staff or no staff. One time in Detroit, we tried 7 flights on standby to get to our cruise in Florida, with the same airline, in a time frame of 2-3 hours. Every single time we were "random selected". The check-in staff thought it was as hilarious as we did, the security staff did not even blink. The same security team (exactly the same people!) was as thorough the 7th time as the first, asking the same questions over and over, making us unpack and undress everything. "You know the answer, I have told you the same thing 6 times before" "JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION"

And no, a supervisor from the same airline cooperation, who has the highest security clearance, is not very likely to do something awful.

One time in Detroit, we tried 7 flights on standby to get to our cruise in Florida, with the same airline, in a time frame of 2-3 hours. Every single time we were "random selected". The check-in staff thought it was as hilarious as we did,

Why did you have to keep leaving the secured area to go back to the check in counter and thus re-clear security? When you did not actually get a seat on the 1st flight, was there a reason the gate agent could not move you to standby on the next flight?