Why do we have to re-clear security in GCM on KX102 from CYB?

[backprop]

This has been bothering me since July....

I was on Cayman Airways 102 CYB-GCM-MIA. Baggage and passengers were screened in CYB. Upon arrival in GCM, with only a short layover, we had to exit the plane (OK), but then had to go all the way outside the airport and come back in, re-clearing security and the hassle that is GCM on a Saturday.

Why aren't passengers from this flight allowed to stay airside? It only added to the long security line to have a half-737 load of passengers go through the same security we went through in CYB. Adding to the confusion was the fact that the security officer checking boarding passes insisted they were all printed incorrectly. They had CYB->MIA printed on them (it was the same flight number, after all), but he demanded that we all go to the Cayman Airways counter and have them re-printed, because we were in GCM and not CYB anymore.

We finally got a different security person involved, and after 10 minutes, they agreed we were allowed to be there. :blinking:

I sent a message to the aviation authority (there was a sign soliciting feedback, so I gave it..), but why not save resources and hassle and allows us to catch the onward flight - same flight # and plane, remember - without additional screening?

 

[knotical]

Was told the screening is different; that they have better scanning machines in GCM; that the screening in CYB is insufficient for US destinations; that it was too costly to improve the screening in CYB.
Did you also have to re-check your bags? We did.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Knotical got it in one. The United States has certain requirements for aviation security screening for flights arriving in the United States. Upgrades have been made to the Brac airport, and it should soon(?) be able to handle a direct flight to Miami.

 

[Kharon]

My experience is that this happens many places. Going to or from Bonaire through Aruba you pass through security at least twice. Coming back from GC had to go through security twice in Miami. I've had it happen in DC when my arrival gate and departure gate were in different areas. It's happened to me a lot both in US airports and not, outgoing and incoming, and it's total frustration. Why, once you have cleared security, you can't stay in the secure area is beyond me. I think it's just lazy, poor planing. With as much hasstle as flying has become you would think they could at least take care of this.

 

[Damselfish]

Used to be lots of places you'd go through security multiple times because the physical layout of airports didn't match changing security requirements, and it simply wasn't physically possible to go from point A to point B while staying within secure areas. It's certainly improved a lot over the years as airports have been remodeled and rearranged but still not perfect and still not everyplace. Some airports are laid out in a way it's not possible or practical to completely fix it. And then as mentioned there can be different screening requirements between places. I've even been on US bound flights in some very major airports where you'd think it would be all worked out but nope, you had to go through another special security checkpoint just for that flight.

 

[Doctorfish]

With the recent bombing of the Russian airliner at Sharm, security is only going to increase everywhere.
I've had hassles similar to the one described by the OP, in Atlanta and Houston recently. If you can't cope with airport frustration, there is a simple solution; don't travel.
Cayman may look superficially like a developed country, but the bureaucracy is definitely 3rd world.

 

[backprop]

If you can't cope with airport frustration, there is a simple solution; don't travel.

That was a bit of a flip response. Nobody said they "can't cope." I was questioning why extra an extra pass security was needed when in fact, passengers and the facility could benefit from the decreased load.

What is interesting, knotical, is that the scanning in CYB was apparently enough for our checked baggage all the way back to the U.S.; it stayed on the plane. We simply had to deplane and re-clear with carry-ons only. Same flight number, and in fact the layover from touchdown to wheels-up was only scheduled at 25 minutes I believe (in reality it took a bit longer).

Not that I'm an expert by any means, but the carry-on scanning equipment in GCM seemed to be exactly the same as in CYB. Anecdotally, the CYB scanner 'found' a small bottle of powdered drink mix that I was carrying that GCM didn't flag at all (then again, it's just as likely to be the staff).

Of course, I'd understand if it was the other way - i.e. MIA-GCM-CYB - in which case you'd clear customs which is in a "non-sterile" area. In that case, of course you'd have to re-clear in order to get airside again.

I look forward to the upgrades, Drew. I love CYB and the direct KX flight from Miami is like an express to paradise. Making the return as easy would be even more attractive.

 

[Doctorfish]

Not trying to be flip. Just suggesting that travel is becoming increasingly difficult, time consuming and that in many jurisdictions,( including Cayman ) the rules don't seem to make sense. If one is going to travel in future, you just have to get used to increased hassles, delays and mindless rules.

Complaining is exceedingly unlikely to result in changes. On a positive note, US and Canadian Immigration Services are now using electronic kiosks that save significant time if customs is backed up.

 

[anenomefishman]

This has been bothering me since July....

I was on Cayman Airways 102 CYB-GCM-MIA. Baggage and passengers were screened in CYB. Upon arrival in GCM, with only a short layover, we had to exit the plane (OK), but then had to go all the way outside the airport and come back in, re-clearing security and the hassle that is GCM on a Saturday.

Why aren't passengers from this flight allowed to stay airside? It only added to the long security line to have a half-737 load of passengers go through the same security we went through in CYB. Adding to the confusion was the fact that the security officer checking boarding passes insisted they were all printed incorrectly. They had CYB->MIA printed on them (it was the same flight number, after all), but he demanded that we all go to the Cayman Airways counter and have them re-printed, because we were in GCM and not CYB anymore.

We finally got a different security person involved, and after 10 minutes, they agreed we were allowed to be there. :blinking:

I sent a message to the aviation authority (there was a sign soliciting feedback, so I gave it..), but why not save resources and hassle and allows us to catch the onward flight - same flight # and plane, remember - without additional screening?

if you are going CYB-GCM-MIA, you likely have clear immigaration in GCM, which means you have to go through security again. we flew LYB to GCM a few days ago and they have no security screening at all leaving LYB. when we hit GCM, we just cruised into terminal, bypassing immigaration and customs.

 

[backprop]

if you are going CYB-GCM-MIA, you likely have clear immigaration in GCM, which means you have to go through security again. we flew LYB to GCM a few days ago and they have no security screening at all leaving LYB. when we hit GCM, we just cruised into terminal, bypassing immigaration and customs.

You do exit immigration at CYB and they do full security screening as well. Immigration officials are on the island because of the direct MIA->CYB flight.

I meant it when I said there's literally no visible, logical reason to have to re-clear security on this flight