My son and I flew through JNB on our way back from Harare this week. When we flew out of Harare we, of course, went through security screening there. When we got to Jo-Berg my son bought a couple bottles of water, thinking that we were now in a secure area. Surprise! We had to go through screening again, so the water got tossed. He then bought two more bottles for the plane. An hour before take-off SAA set up a make-shift security screening at the gate. That involved a cursory pat-down of each passenger, poking around in your carry-on, taking off your shoes (for what reason, I can't imagine because there was no screening equipment such as a metal detector or body scanner) and pitching any liquids in excess of 100 mls. So my son had to pitch his water again. Later, I wondered what they would have done had I bought a bottle of wine at the duty-free store.
Several people asked why this last "screening" was being done and got no response.

The gate screening process at JNB on Delta Flights has been in effect for years.

On one of my flights earlier this year, security confiscated one unhappy passenger's laptop because he had let the battery run out and he did not have his charger to fire it up. See ya bye bye.

At least it was only your son's water.

quote:

Originally posted by sdirks:
Later, I wondered what they would have done had I bought a bottle of wine at the duty-free store.
Several people asked why this last "screening" was being done and got no response.

The duty free is in a sealed bag and that'll pass through. I had some mixed liquids in one bag and made out fine.

They do the screening at request of US officials to better meet airline regs. I have been told.

As a side note I have never had an issue getting several bottles of water on SAA flights; but you do have to ask, or do what I do just go to the galley and help yourself. (rear galley is easiest for that)

I believe that JBurg has been elevated as a high risk terror attack target of late.
So we shall see more of this screening.
I have no issue with it.

Cheers

Nick

Yes, it's irritating and almost worthless as a security measure, but it's there.


FWIW

Like Opus1 said, this has been going on for years. Nothing new here.

Yup, been going on for a while. We experienced this in 2015 at JNB.

Yep.. I remember it as far back as 2011...

They confiscated a small roll of electrical tape from me in 2011.
Could not get them to tell me why.

Took several bottles of water I bought to take on the flight home in 2013. I kept asking the stewardess for water so often that they finally left two liter bottles with me. I dry out like a prune on those flights.

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
They confiscated a small roll of electrical tape from me in 2011.
Could not get them to tell me why.

Had duct tape confiscated! Was told I could bind with it!

D. Nelson