Odd questions at the Milan Airport...

Yes, had similar experience at the Delta check-in at Heathrow this May. Part of enhanced security screening.

Same thing happened to us at the American Airlines counter in Rome this summer. After asking me 20 questions about my job, the ticket agent asked my husband where he bought his hat and other random questions. Strangely enough, when we went through the next security checkpoint (where the passports were checked to depart Rome), the guard was watching a video on his phone, opened our passports with one hand while holding his phone with the other. Didn't seem to take his eyes off the video.

They have been using behavior screening in Israel for a long time. I remember flying home from Tel Aviv years ago, being asked pointed questions by various security people about what I had been doing in Israel (it was a work trip). Some of them would ask me the same questions again; perhaps they were comparing my answers. But, they do seem to have a pretty good track record on flights out of Israel in the last few decades. So maybe there's something to it.

I had a similar experience when I was flying back from Barcelona last year.

Had had the same thing in a number of airports. One time someone was just walking down the checkin line asking seemingly random (but probably not) questions about what we had seen and done. It is all part of the security screening and it is not worthless.

To echo the above from a lucky frequent international leisure traveler perspective; nothing odd nothing to worry about random security stuff screening this is not limited to just American Airlines.

@ Jane....Not really an answer to your question as it pertains to an airline employee, but what you were asked have been exactly the same questions put to me by Border Control at London Heathrow when I arrive.

Asking questions like this to people who don't appear to be security risks also gives the agent a larger "data base" of reactions to compare with the occasional untypical answer (tone of voice, hesitation, eye contact, wrong information in the response).

Thanks for your help friends. I thought it must be a security thing but just was not sure.

Those are security screenings only for flights to the US, did you notice that you pass through a different terminal, just for flights to the US and Israel? And that's why you have to arrive even earlier to the airline counter... other airport and security staff do their normal thing, but the US is pretty "thorough".

I was asked similar questions in 1983 upon arrival to JFK.

Jane,

The questions are not unusual except for the fact that airline ticket agents are not security personnel. What my job was or what I had for dinner last night is none of their business.

Many of us frequent travelers received an email several months ago from various airlines stating the new "heightened" security measures that went into effect immediately on international flights. Those measures included the mention of new "questions." I'm sure there's recent news of this on the internet. It was a news item.

Tell you what, Ken. You tell them that - and then report back what happens next. I think some of the security business is simply CYA --- but --- I am not going to argue with them. If they want to know I will tell them -- all I want to do is get on the plane with a min amount of hassle.

Had that in Dublin. Very friendly chat with a lad with a nice mix of Irish brogue and elfin charm. I swear, a good portion of the hospitality industry in Dublin might be concerned about their lucky charms ;-)

Asked what it was about, when we were done, and told it's part of US security measures. Nothing to worry about.

Amusing.

Frank,

I'll let you know what happens if or when I face that situation. I wasn't asked any questions like that on my recent flights. Maybe that sort of thing is just for flights going to the U.S.?

It's part of the new enhanced security procedures for US bound flights that went into effect this summer. Had first hand experience last July from London to SFO.
Welcome to America.

I trust you were wearing your Che Guevara T-shirt and humming the Internationale.

I just flew back from Venice to Toronto, and the guard at Venice never even raised her head to look at me; just stamped my passport and said " Next " ; still with her head down.
Canadian passport.

When they started this, the AA rep at Heathrow said he had to ask me a bunch of questions. On all AA flights since then going to the U.S. I've had more than the usual questions. (Except a couple of weeks ago when the agent and I had a fun chat about how their counters keep moving around terminal 3. I then asked about the security questions and she said not to worry about it.)

Surprisingly, on BA fights to the U.S. there are no questions.

The questioning is not at the passport control point of the process, it is at the checking in with the airline checking bags getting the boarding pass at the airport part of the process.

I went through this not too long ago leaving on a United flight from Rome. Person asked me lots of questions about how much I liked my visit to Italy and what I did and where I went. Could not believe I only had my carry on bag. Asked about my luggage repeatedly. Finally she said "There is no way you could have spent 3 weeks in Italy without more luggage." I assured her I could because I know how to do laundry which seemed to upset her more. She replaced my boarding pass that I had printed at the hotel and let me go through. Three armed security guards followed me. I stopped at the restroom before security. The 3 followed me in and one rushed to check the toilet after I was done. They followed me all the way to security only leaving after I was cleared through. I received the enhanced check where all of the contents of my carry on were inspected. At boarding time, I was once again subjected to a bag dump search and a wanding. Then me and several others who received similar treatment (all 1st class passengers) were put on a bus alone for the ride to the plane. I guess next time I go to Italy I will carry a steamer trunk with me.

The guy asked my wife's bra size and if she was really happy in our marriage. I thought it was a little odd when he then pulled her behind a screen to do a pat down. Took FOREVER.