Actually, I heard different reports here (i.e. Amsterdam). I think he must have gone through some sort of security procedure, as you're being questioned and your bags are being checked right before you actually get on the plane, at the gate (at least, that has been the case the past 10 (or so) Amsterdam-US flights I took). All US-bound flights leave from a certain section of the airport, and security there is tighter than anywhere else in the airport (except, maybe, the El Al departure gates)

Don't know how much of an exception is made if you are on a connecting flight but since a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.......

I also heard (but that may be rumors) that this guy managed to wiggle out of screening in Lagos altogether as he (or his family) knew people in "higher places".

FWIW, I have a few friends in town for the long weekend. They flew in from New York, Cleveland, and Boston. All of them said that security took no longer than usual, so they ended up just sitting at the airport for an excessive amount of time waiting to board their planes.

Good to know...I'm flying today!

But do you actually go through the metal detector, air blower thing, etc. if you're connecting? CNN gave the impression that you don't. I have absolutely no personal experience with traveling outside of North America.

Metal detector, yes, (hand) luggage screening, yes (both x-ray and manual), taking shoes, belts etc of yes, being 'searched' in person: yes.

Have seen the air blower in a few European airports, though can't say for sure I have seen it in Amsterdam. Have had the pleasure of being x-rayed there, although, as per last week, that wasn't standard procedure yet. They say it will be now...

All in all, most times it is pretty similar to American airports (although they clearly messed up somehow last week....) but it still could, and should, be tighter. Then again, once a friend of mine flew out of DC, a few months after 9/11, carrying a pocket knife... so mishaps happen anywhere. It's not for lack of money, or even lack of expertise. I guess a lot of people here still believe that 'stuff like that only happens in America', or maybe in England. Well.... dream on!

Yemeni passport control dropped the ball.

Excerpt:

SAN'A, Yemen – The Nigerian suspected in the attempted attack on a U.S. airliner had stayed on in Yemen illegally after his visa expired three months ago and should have been stopped by authorities from leaving the country, Yemeni security officials said Thursday.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab spent time in Yemen on two occasions before the attempted Christmas Day attack on a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight.

Yemeni officials said Abdulmutallab's student visa for Yemen, where he studied Arabic at a local language institute, was valid from Aug. 4 to Sept. 21.

After his visa expired, the 23-year-old stayed on in Yemen until the first week in December, they said, but his whereabouts in the country is unknown.

They added that Yemen's airport authorities and passport control should have prevented Abdulmutallab from departing. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case with the media, pending the outcome of an investigation.

See, now in my experience, I've only had to do all that at the first airport, not at every connecting airport. I've never ever had to go through security screening a second time, in the US when I was connecting flights. As long as I stayed in the "secured area" near the gates, it was all good.

A lot of airports make you go out of secure areas to connect to international flights. LAX and O'Hare both do off the top of my head...I'm trying to remember where I connected when I went to Brazil...we definitely had to leave security. Usually this involves flying on a non-US carrier so you actually have to check-in, get your boarding pass, then go back through security. These are usually shorter lines, though, because not that many people travel internationally....lots more domestic traffic. I like to fly direct from DC if I can to avoid all of that upfront!

Didn't have any undue waits on the first leg. Minor increase in processes, but all fast.

THIS. That is what happens. At least, what is supposed to happen.

And when you get on a plane with NO baggage checked, despite the fact that you're traveling halfway across the world with a one way CASH ticket....

UGH. I don't think I should be using the words I want to describe for this except ....cluster....

... yeah. some bool...