I sent in my app 2 weeks ago because US Customs is phasing out Nexus. They seem to change programs every 5 years or so. This will be my 4th or 5th program in 15 years to speed US entry. :confused: But I save a ~20 minute lineup every time I fly south so I dutifully enroll for every one.

One time before Nexus, I arrived in Toronto & the CDN Customs agent asked me where I was coming from. I couldn't remember. I told him I couldn't remember. He asked again. I was totally stumped. After a seriously long pause while he keyboarded, I finally came up with it . . .

Ian

I will hit 1 million flown United miles next year sometime and haven't had the same bad experiences I read on here about. Now Delta and American don't get me started. I used to like Northwest when I lived in MN.

I have flown a number of non US carries, Cathway, Singapore Air, India Air, China Air, Luftansa, SAS, Air France and others I am just not remembering off the top of my head. Singapore was my favorite, but for reasons that didn't have to do with food :D

Mrs. Motion and I went through LAX immigration a couple weeks ago. Far, far worse than Russia or Ukraine. The guy that I dealt with was smacking his gum with an open mouth. There were line dragons everywhere barking about cell phones. 80% of the people in line were Asian. I can only imagine what their impressions of the US are after dealing with these people.

I just got a Global Entry card. Mainly for the TSA Pre-Check benefit. Is anyone using that?

No fat people on our recent flights, but lots of screaming kids.

The men on the planes in Russia and Ukraine stank so badly we could barely breathe.

We are using our Priority Pass and Elite Plus status to max effect for a better experience. Makes things more tolerable!

Flight attendants in the U.S. are, for the most part, unhappy people.

Maybe that explains it. I haven't gone through west coast customs since I was a youngster, and then I wouldn't have noticed.

I don't have the miles that you have, but I have been to Japan twice (long, long time ago, all over the US and back and forth between the US and Europe and Brazil a few times and about 10 years back I was a Platinum Elite with Continental. I do remember thinking that Luthansa was much better than Continental, but Continental wasn't bad. I'm not as happy now that they are United, but they still aren't bad. I flew American to Brazil this summer and didn't have a problem. Maybe I've just been lucky. All in all, my flying experience including going though security and customs has been mostly good.

The one experience that I remember having was with Security after 911 in Phoenix shortly after 9/11. I was flying back to Houston from AZ. This was in the days before you had to take off your shoes. The security guy said "I recommend that you take off your shoes." I thought that was odd, "recommend". So I asked "Do I have to?" Him, "No, but I recommend it." "But I don't have to?" him - "No, you don't have to."

So I didn't, but what they really meant was "If you want to be searched, then you should leave your shoes on. If you want a smooth experience, you should take them off." If they had just said that in the first place, I would have happily removed my shoes.

Yeah, shortly after that, all airports started requiring that you remove your shoes. I preferred that.

I did have another experience with TSA about a year before 9/11. I had been traveling all over the country (Platinum Elite FF) with a bad of tools. I never had a problem. But I was flying back from either NY or NJ once. The girl went through my bag, which contained a kit like this.

http://www.kleintools.com/sites/klei...037_icon_0.jpg

The "knife" in my kit had a blade that was maybe 1" long, and not really that sharp. Honestly, the scissors, which are designed to cut through wire, are probably 10x more dangerous than the knife. She wouldn't let me take the knife on board. I had never actually used it so I told her to keep it.

I have to go to Vancouver next week and then Chicago a few days later. I was also supposed to go to Toronto, but my show there got canceled.

I've traveled the World with this on my key chain and have never been questioned. Swiss+Tech Utili-Key. You put it in the middle of your keys. You can keep it sharp enough with a 1" blade to make a mugger think more about holding his guts in, then bother you. Several screwdrivers and a bottle opener. About $10.

Yeah, coming back into the USA sucks. I've waited 5 minutes and sometimes an hour. Going into Vancouver, BC is the same way. I seem to hit customs when ten bazillion Chinese are landing.

https://www.fitsinthepurse.com/image...edium/1734.jpg

I was flying to Indy last week from LAX. Some mutant from TSA was yelling at people for no reason. I asked her politely to calm down and treat people like humans. She saw my FAA lanyard and badge and decided to play nice. (Although I have absolutely no authority in that regard).

Back when I was with the airline, I dealt with them daily. Truly bottom of the barrel.

If you enjoy surly flight attendants, try Alitalia

It might have something to do with the passengers. Boarding in Italy is a mob scene for Alitalia. They call pre-boarding and everybody gets up and crowds the gate pushing to get to the front. Not a pretty scene and I have experienced it several times.

Ian

Surly... so British!

The British have a great vocabulary. Just ask me -I was born there. :)