Don't get defensive but be prepared to answer the questions

chrisgy

Active member
Jan 15, 2013
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You may be aware that eff Oct 26th passengers Flying To U.S. Face Heightened Screenings with a new question and answer interview segment for travelers on international flights to the U.S. plus increased scrutiny of luggage. The rules apply to people from all countries, but procedures vary by airline.

I encountered it last night in santiago . Everyone encountered a kind of interview segment by the attendants that check passports before the actual checking. questions like do you have kids? , how was the trip? , what made you come to DR? What is your occupation?

Then as you are about to board, the attendants that check the passport again asked some questions. Obviously they are now getting used to it because one was actually giggling as she asked in kind of embarrassment at having to inquire.

This was on Jetblue. Every airline could be different in how they choose to conform.

So just answer the questions and don't be defensive like a few that i overheard. It's sign of the new times we live in

BTW: Global Entry was out of action in NY when I landed and I got grilled in NY also. It's been a while since that happened and I travel 30 times a year, so its defintely two way enhancement.
 
Jan 8, 2017
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I flew out of POP on Sunday and they now have additional screening once you pass through security, it is the residue testing machine and they provide a different “stamp” on your outgoing airline ticket which the gate agent then takes from you at boarding.  The guy in front of me got a false hit, they said for “drogas” and asked him what he has been handling and what medicines he is taking, poor guy was shi$$ing his pants and then they retested him and his bags and everything came back clean.  My screening took 2-minutes tops...
 

william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
30,247
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I flew United for the first time this season -- EWR to POP

I use WestJet all summer
BIG difference....

WestJet is waaaay ahead of them....better service - everything
 

TropicalPaul

Bronze
Sep 3, 2013
1,366
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Regarding the enhanced security, it's also a complete joke. We were asked a series of pointless questions about why we were in Santo Domingo by Delta at Santo Domingo during the 20 minutes we waited in line to check in for first class (seriously?) and I just told the woman to stop asking me inane questions and to do something about us having to wait. I answered one or two of the questions and then told her I wouldn't be answering any more, and she just walked away.
 

melphis

Living my Dream
Apr 18, 2013
3,489
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You are never told why they are asking questions and on whose behalf. I have always approached these people as marketing research slime. What I do is ask them for ID then tell them I will not answer any questions until they pay me.
Usually they walk away with a deer in the headlights look.
Keep in mind if they have official ID I keep my sarcastic comments to myself and answer their questions with as much BS as I can get away with.
 

Buffness

Self-imposed banned🫢
Oct 9, 2014
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You may be aware that eff Oct 26th passengers Flying To U.S. Face Heightened Screenings with a new question and answer interview segment for travelers on international flights to the U.S. plus increased scrutiny of luggage. The rules apply to people from all countries, but procedures vary by airline.



We had this when we traveled from LGW to PUJ last month . We were used to the heightened screening that you get when you fly from London to the US ( eg LGW to ATL) ...  i.e. the additional luggage check and questions you get  just before you board the plane etc ...but we were surprised to see the same for flights to DR ..

The same thing also happened in Brazil ..on the Rio to Miami route...just prior to boarding..but they only asked 2 or 3 questions, checked passports ,  and moved on to the next person..
 

Julia31

New member
Jan 4, 2012
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Regarding the enhanced security, it's also a complete joke. We were asked a series of pointless questions about why we were in Santo Domingo by Delta at Santo Domingo during the 20 minutes we waited in line to check in for first class (seriously?) and I just told the woman to stop asking me inane questions and to do something about us having to wait. I answered one or two of the questions and then told her I wouldn't be answering any more, and she just walked away.




You are lucky that you are american and don't have to go through foreign immigration in the US..they are the ones asking a lot of private questions and I really don't wanna see their reaction if you act the slightest bit rude or not cooperative
 

Timotero

Bronze
Feb 25, 2011
689
29
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Regarding the enhanced security, it's also a complete joke. We were asked a series of pointless questions about why we were in Santo Domingo by Delta at Santo Domingo during the 20 minutes we waited in line to check in for first class (seriously?) and I just told the woman to stop asking me inane questions and to do something about us having to wait. I answered one or two of the questions and then told her I wouldn't be answering any more, and she just walked away.



Act that way in certain airports and don’t be surprised if you find yourself denied boarding and escorted away for even further questioning. 
As someone said earlier, it’s a sign of the times we live in. 
 

Celt202

Gold
May 22, 2004
9,099
944
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You are never told why they are asking questions and on whose behalf. I have always approached these people as marketing research slime. What I do is ask them for ID then tell them I will not answer any questions until they pay me.
Usually they walk away with a deer in the headlights look.
Keep in mind if they have official ID I keep my sarcastic comments to myself and answer their questions with as much BS as I can get away with.

[video=youtube_share;0gC29ArkGG0]https://youtu.be/0gC29ArkGG0[/video]
 

Celt202

Gold
May 22, 2004
9,099
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Round up the usual suspects.................

A classmate of mine joined the FBI.

Years later I ran into him at a reunion.

I asked him what was like to work for the FBI. He answered "Round up the usual suspects".:laugh:
 

Kipling333

Bronze
Jan 12, 2010
2,528
829
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The original posting related to flights from the DR to the USA but in fact is the same from every country to the USA ..the Trump people announced more screening and it seems the DR response is for airline employees ,inexperienced in security are now carrying this out. 
 
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william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
30,247
4,329
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I cross borders regularly... entering / exiting the US from the DR & Canada.

I have noticed more attention being paid .... chatty agents at the Cdn entry points by car.
Of course, the 'Where do live ?' question elicits a chat oftentimes.

My Nov 4 flight EWR-POP was uneventful in the manner addressed here - quite normal.
 

SKY

Gold
Apr 11, 2004
13,470
3,604
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No airline in the DR is going to pay security experts to conform with this US nonsense. So you will have some Dominican ask one or two stupid questions and you will be on your way.
 

CristoRey

Welcome To Wonderland
Apr 1, 2014
11,713
7,974
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Last time I flew back to the states the only "questions" I was asked
came from some short cocky homeland security fella at Miami Int'l
who was less than polite. Dumped my bag out on the table and when
i asked if he could help me repack it, he laughed and said "you managed
to get packed by yourself the first time, I'm sure you can manage it again".

No worries tho, next time I fly back stateside the only thing I'm carrying
with me is a passport and plane ticket. Problem solved :cheeky:
 

Russell

Well-known member
Jun 17, 2017
1,056
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Although I doubt that the training has reached DR flight attendants and floaters as of yet; but, many security people have been trained to determine if you are lying simply by looking you in the eyes and watch the reaction .... There are two such people here in POP ; however they do wear official identification..... the eyes tell the story .....
WE have Tourism people in Halifax asking questions all the time, normal procedure.
WE all live in the same world and if this makes air travel even more safe then I am all for it.
Try getting on the Israel airline without answering ''stupid questions'' ... not going to happen!
Welcome to the real world of reality flying.
"Do you love your Mother?''
"What is your opinion on door knobs?''
"Why is there air?''

And it can go on. All psychological profiling questions.
''Be careful what you ask for, and be careful what you say" .
I too avoid USA airlines and border crossings ; was asked so many personal questions that I picked up my ticket and passport and walked back to the Canadian side of the gate... but it was very early in the morning and I was crabby.
Should not have done that, but after being awake for 18 hours I was in no mood for ''simon says'' games.
Have changed my attitude since then..... But do all flying from Canada.
Russell
 

cbmitch9

Bronze
Nov 3, 2010
845
8
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If you have a US passport, US VISA, Green card, etc. DHS knows many many things about you. When you land on US soil, you can choose to be an A-hole at your own risk.
 

william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
30,247
4,329
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I am NEXUS & Global Entry & TSA Appr'd traveler and am amazes at what they do NOT know !!

Once an agent exclaimed that I was first Cdn he had seen with a Visa... E-2
Many didn't know what an E-2 is.

The IRS called me - assuming I was a US citizen judging by my SSN.....
Wrong - I said.

Then he asked me about my 1977 Green Card....
Did I cancel it properly ??

I stared at him and said
Let me answer this way -
Subsequent to that Green Card I have had 2 Trade NAFTA visa, and 3 E-2's.....
You tell me if it was canceled properly.

He made his notes and said he doubted I would hear from him again.

The good news is - when they want to talk to you (the IRS), they will come to you.
No need to beat your feet to their offices.
 

Africaida

Gold
Jun 19, 2009
7,775
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I am always asked these questions. Last Christmas, I came back from DR, the immigration agent proceed to ask me why DR so often, where I was staying. She was friendly and acted like she was interested in visiting DR, she even googled Las Terrenas. Was tested for drugs in SDQ, pulled from customs line in the US. Sometimes, they even ask my kids.

Morena with a passport filled with stamps spike interest, I am used to it, I don't sweat it, makes me feel special if anything :p
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,097
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South Coast
I’ve always been told to be at the airport two hours before flight.  Now the DR has changed that, perhaps because of these new screenings?  They have posted this:

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