Traveller letters: Confronting and frightening experiences with border security at LAX

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Traveller letters: Confronting and frightening experiences with border security at LAX

A TSA agent waits for passengers.

A TSA agent waits for passengers.Credit: Getty Images

US AND THEM

As my wife and I are booked to transit through Los Angeles to Vancouver in June I was not at all pleased to read Jeff Linden's letter (Traveller letters, March 11).

It also reminded me of the experience of a friend who travelled to the US some years ago with her son. As they waited in an airport check-in line an official took her son from the line whereupon a man behind her asked if he was over 18.

Hawaii offers a warm welcome.

Hawaii offers a warm welcome.Credit: David Wall / Alamy Stock Photo

When she said no, he was only 16, he urged her to follow them as officials weren't allowed to interview anyone under 18 without a responsible adult in attendance.

When she went into the room he had been taken to she found her son on the verge of being strip searched. During that trip her son was "randomly" selected for such treatment several more times.

The point is that while my friend is blonde, her late husband was Guyanan, and their son is dark-skinned and had his hair in an Afro style.

Peter Hepburn, Claremont, TAS

Ditto and ditto to Mem Fox and Jeff Linden on their experiences at Los Angeles Airport. Having waited in a three-hour queue following a long flight from Sydney I was told there was a problem with my entry.

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I was ushered into a locked room to be fronted by two very aggressive border security guards with guns by their side. My husband was told to wait downstairs and was not allowed to return.

There were a number of other obviously distressed persons inside this room. No mobile phones were allowed, those suspected of using them had them confiscated. I asked to message my husband to let him know I was OK but was told forcefully, "This is not your husband's problem, this is your problem. Sit down!".

Meanwhile, my husband tried to find out if I was, in fact, still inside this room but was told nothing. Two and half hours later I was called to the counter, where my passport was returned, and I was allowed to go with no explanation – nearly six hours after landing.

This was at 6pm – we had not eaten, or had a toilet break, since early morning on the plane. It was an extremely confronting and very frightening situation. And this was pre-Trump!

Never again.

Rose van Hilst, Wallabi Point, NSW

See also: Aussies beware: How Trump's travel ban will impact you

LETTER OF THE WEEK

FINGER POINTING

I had the opposite finger printing experience to Nigel Wiggins (Traveller letters, March 18). Arriving at Honolulu airport last month I was unable to place two damaged fingers on the pad. This was no trouble for the Homeland Security Officer who told me he was a war veteran and had fingers on one hand damaged by a bomb.

While he quickly noted the computer record to acknowledge my situation he told me that he had served in Iraq with Aussie soldiers and they were very hard workers. He then stamped my passport and wished me a happy holiday.

Cathy Peters, Neutral Bay, NSW

HOT AIR

Anne Buckley (Traveller letters, March 11), I am an Airbnb host and can confirm that hosts do not have access to the government-issued identification, social media profiles or personal email address you are asked to provide to Airbnb.

Hosts are not even provided with your surname until your booking is confirmed and your money collected by Airbnb. As a host I will not accept anyone into my home who has not provided this identification to Airbnb. Hosting a stranger is a gamble, and these basic checks afford me some small measure of peace of mind.

Katelyn Wallace, Camperdown NSW

Poor Anne Buckley, obviously she has never lived next door to an Airbnb property. It can be a nightmare in true sense of the word. Any increase in scrutiny of prospective occupiers is most welcome. Any short-stay holiday program is open to abuse as is the internet.

Welcome to the real world, Anne.

Paul Drake, Black Head, NSW

No, Sally Kay (Traveller letters, March 18), the Airbnb host wasn't being intrusive, they were being welcoming. They weren't asking for your mother's maiden name or your bra size, they were trying to help you.

If this had been your first visit to Sydney they would have offered you helpful advice and suggestions – something I do for all our Airbnb guests.

Stick to hotels in future.

Sue Gilkes, Denistone NSW

MANUS OH MANUS

Having recently returned from a trip to Myanmar it was interesting to note that the Americans I came across were quietly spoken and very much apologetic for Trump.

I was, of course, bombarded with kangaroo postcard quips and, disturbingly, why we imprisoned refugees on Manus Island. Travellers are ambassadors, we represent our country overseas and we need to remember that, when we vote.

Damian Kringas, Hurlstone Park, NSW

NOW EAR THIS

Brian Johnston, in his feature on European river cruise ports (Traveller, March 18), says in his paragraph about Arles that Van Gogh "cut off his ear and shot himself".

Vincent, in fact, cut off part of his earlobe. The shooting took place at another time. I am writing this because people get the wrong idea about Vincent.

I'm quite sure that National Gallery of Victoria will be accurate with their forthcoming Winter Masterpieces exhibition about Vincent van Gogh.

Evelyn Lawson, Karingal, VIC

GRIPES OF WRATH

I am lucky to travel now that I am retired. On the whole I have had fabulous experiences but here are a just a few things that bug me or make me wonder.

If I have prepaid a hotel why does my credit card still have to be swiped and charged varying amounts even in hotels with no mini bars?

Why are restaurant and cafe tables always unstable? Why do hotels have to push two singles together to make a king bed (lumpy and uncomfortable)?

Anyone care to add theirs?

Tatiana Podmore, Cremorne, NSW

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Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Preference will be given to letters of 50-100 words or less. Email us at travellerletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.

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