My Trip back to USA

[TotallyOz]

I am back in the USA for a few months. I had quite a few family matters to take care of. I left from the airport and onto Delta. The trip was the most turbulent I have ever been on. I spilled my OJ on the guy next to me. It was not the first mishap. The plane rocked all night long.

 

The flight attendants did tell me that starting next week they are changing planes from the BKK to Tokyo route and it will double in size.

 

I had use miles to upgrade and was happy to have a seat that did not throw me in the lap of the guy next to me.

 

Security is Bangkok airport is now right out of Immigration. You still CANNOT bring water or drinks onto the plane. There was a fight that ensued with one customer as he bought right outside of gate and it was confiscated and he was thoroughly searched. Be careful not to make the same mistake.

 

I was told I could get on an earlier flight in Tokyo if when I got there I asked. I did and was told, "no time to get your luggage on this flight so no." I would have switched tickets at the Bangkok airport if I had known this was an issue. As it was, I had about 4 hours in Tokyo and I used the airport lounge. It now is Delta and no NWA words anywhere.

 

Even in Bangkok, no sign for NWA, only Delta. My blond brain got a bit confused as I didn't see NWA and finally asked was was pointed to Delta. Duh. I should have know that with all the recent e-mails.

 

All the flight attendants I spoke to do now know what to expect once the merger happens in full. One pilot said he had given his notice. It will be interested to see what happens with all this.

 

Lastly, customs in USA is a nightmare. I was prechecked outside of security, went through immigration and then rechecked at the baggage claim area and then again upon exit. That was 4 different officers before it was decided if I had to go through a through screening. I had a dog sniff me twice. Luckily, I guess I smelled like I had been on a plane for 24 hours and he liked it and licked me instead of barking at me.

[Gaybutton]

The trip was the most turbulent I have ever been on.

I'm not surprised. The turbulence was caused by Typhoon Ketsana and there's another typhoon coming right behind it.

[Guest fountainhall]

You still CANNOT bring water or drinks onto the plane. There was a fight that ensued with one customer as he bought right outside of gate and it was confiscated

 

I am sure this must ONLY be for US bound flights which require extra security. I went to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific last week. After I passed the security check in its new area, there were no further checks at all. You could buy anything in the shops in the duty free area, including water, and take it on to the plane.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Lastly, customs in USA is a nightmare. I was prechecked outside of security, went through immigration and then rechecked at the baggage claim area and then again upon exit. That was 4 different officers before it was decided if I had to go through a through screening. I had a dog sniff me twice. Luckily, I guess I smelled like I had been on a plane for 24 hours and he liked it and licked me instead of barking at me.

 

Which airport did you enter the US???

[Guest]

Which airport did you enter the US???

 

Detroit. It is always a pain in the ass there. Not sure why.

[Bob]

Detroit. It is always a pain in the ass there. Not sure why.

 

Ah, the shining (not!) city of my state. Hell, it shouldn't be too much trouble there as almost everybody has left!

 

Out of the 20-30 times I've come through US customs, I've only been hassled once and that was in Detroit. I normally go through customs at LAX and, other than the occasional 15-30 minute wait, they've never given me any hassle.

[Guest fountainhall]

2 months ago, I entered at SFO. Having had my bags fully searched at JFK, Boston and Chicago on my last 3 visits (because the customs officials had seen Bangkok on my itinerary), I decided this time on SFO, chiefly because my flight landed after most of the other ex-Europe flights and I reckoned I might get through Immigration quickly. Not only was there no search, it took all of 16 minutes from leaving the aircraft to exiting the customs hall. That sort of speed has only ever happened to me before at SIngapore and Hong Kong!

[PattayaMale]

I read that such strict airport security was one of the reasons Chicago did not get the Olympics. Apparently President Obama was asked by several members of the IOC about what they considered problems with strict airport security.

[Rogie]

Surely, assuming it is efficient and done in a pleasant manner, strict security is just what you do want during the Olympics.

[PattayaMale]

Surely, assuming it is efficient and done in a pleasant manner, strict security is just what you do want during the Olympics.

 

You would think so, remembering what happened in Atlanta!

 

But it maybe the efficiency part they were questioning and the ability to get visas. I am not sure.

[Guest Soi10Tom]

If you will go through this program you can avoid 99.9% of checks, hassels, interviews, and dog sniffings. It is called the GOES Program and it is run by US Customs and Border Protection. It cost $100 and requires you to go through a background check and personal interview by a CBP Officer at one of the US airports that does interviews (LAX does it all). I did it, no big deal...told the guy I was gay, spent the winter in Thailand...he knew all about Pattaya..we had a few laughs about all the GOGO stuff and paying the cops in Thailand 200 baht everytime you get stopped. I think they are looking for honesty and being forthright...not what you say or who you fuck.

 

You will then get a sticker on the last page of your passport that says CBP. When returning to the US you do not need to fill out the customs form on the plane. When you enter the Immigration area at US airports look for the sign that says CBP GOES...it is a computer that you enter your passport into, put your figers on a reader and fill out the customs form...It prints it out with a big black X on it...pick up your luggage and walk. They do retain the right to search you and your bags, but I do not know anyone that has ever been searched as a GOES trusted traveler. https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/

[Rogie]

Is CBP GOES available to non-US citizens, for example regular business travellers might find it really useful.

[Guest Soi10Tom]

Is CBP GOES available to non-US citizens, for example regular business travellers might find it really useful.

I don't think it is availble to non citizens.

[Guest fountainhall]

I read that such strict airport security was one of the reasons Chicago did not get the Olympic

 

From what I have read, a good part of the reason was huge gaffes made by members of the Chicago Olympics Committee over the last year or so. Plus, there seems to be some resentment that Obama just flew in, made a speech, did a bit of gladhanding and then disappeared back to the US. In helping get London the 2012 games, Tony Blair spent 2 or 3 days in Singapore where he arranged to meet individually with almost every member of the main Olympic Committee.

 

On the other hand, I do think most people agree that it was definitely South America's turn, plus the US had had two Games near the end of the last century.

[Rogie]

From a neutral point of view I have to say Rio has captured my imagination in a way neither Detroit, Madrid or Tokyo would have done. It will be interesting to see how they fare hosting the 2014 World Cup. All eyes will be upon them.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

How did Detroit get into this?

[Bob]

How did Detroit get into this?

 

Lol. A perfect place for the new Olympic sport of mugging.

[Guest fountainhall]

How did Detroit get into this?

 

Isn't it just a suburb of Chicago???

[Guest lvdkeyes]

That would be a hell of a suburban commute. Chicago is two states away from Detroit, a distance of 237 miles (381 KM).

[Guest fountainhall]

It was a joke!!

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Ah! OK. I thought, possibly, since you are not American, you may not know US geography very well.

[Guest fountainhall]

You're right - I don't. But i have flown into both Detroit and Chicago and know there's a lake between them!! Mind you, Milwaukee seems pretty close to Chicago to be kinda suburban

[Guest lvdkeyes]

LOL! If you call 90 miles suburban.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Would you call Norwich a suburb of London?

[Guest fountainhall]

Another joke!!!