Airport Security Measures

In November 2017 I was travelling from the Changi International Airport to San Francisco Airport in a direct flight. I was asked by the airlines to report more than three hours before my flight for a smoother process. The security checking at the Changi airport was a very time-consuming process as there were large queues. After removing my shoes and placing my laptop in a bin, I was asked to step aside for a pat-down. That feeling was invasive and intrusive, and the security officer was quite rude in the process.

I was also subject to a security questioning during check-in and boarding. My laptop was swabbed thoroughly too, but my bigger worry was that the staff destroyed the order of my packed bag when they searched it. There were additional canine screening at the airport and tighter security protocols around aircraft.

On arrival in the U.S., the immigration process was very cumbersome and time-consuming. I was also asked more interview questions, such as what the purpose of the trip is, and searched thoroughly.

When I later asked about it and did a bit of research I came to know that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has established new security measures including stricter passenger screening and detailed luggage search for direct flights to the U.S. Therefore, airports personnel and airlines at major airports with direct flights to the U.S. were implementing such complex security measures.

Such measures are important to address the security threats that aviation faces, but the process is sometimes very tiring for the travelers. However, since these rules are newly implemented, once streamlined, it will be improve the overall safety and security of the passengers during air travel.