Kilted to Airports

[English Bloke]

Back then only the immigration were surly, and only at JFK!

I first went to the States in 1979 via JFK. (Freddie Laker, What a Bloke...) I Was executing a plan of 6 months greyhound travel and had all the requisite visas and other evidence of self sustinence. I was 18 Years old, had hair down to my ****, was dressed in denim and had a back-pack and a tent. It took me 3 hours to clear immigration and a further hour to clear customs. Gruelling to say the least. No particular terrorist threat then, just that's the way it was.

Next visit to US was 1996. Tipped up to the Alberta / Montana Border in a rented RV with two other soldiers on a weeks R&R out of Medicine Hat. Had No2 haircuts, no Visas, just asked if we could pop in for a week with the promise we'd pop back out again to go back to work in Canada when we'd been to Jellystone and the Little Bighorn site. Flashed British Army ID cards with the passports and smiled alot. We got through no bother with a 3 month stamp in the passports.

I suppose since, things have tightened.

NOW. As a frequent air traveller to other places, I think it depends on who you get at the desk and what kind of day they've had as to how you are treated. I try to make sure I have no metal on me (including belts) and I follow the conventions to the letter. I'd never fly in a kilt as it makes you stand out and gives Billy-I've-had-a-*****-shift, the excuse he needs to exercise his "Authority".

I treat airport people and Coppers the same way. They have the authority (like it or not) so try not to rattle their cage.

Anything for an easy life.