Vienna to Istanbul via Tokyo: Brussels Airlines Check-in New York JFK

Think you mean enunciate.

@ sjs -- I do indeed, thanks!

Out of curiosity, what was your backup plan if you didn't make your connection? Cancel/rebook the whole trip? Hope Brussels Airlines could rebook you?

@ gba -- Frankly I didn't put as much thought into it as I should have, though I would have probably tried to find other award space out of JFK to Europe for the same day. I had an overnight in Vienna as "buffer," so worst case scenario could have flown the following day.

But yeah, it was really risky.

So are people supposed to speak louder or enunciate? Which is it?

From this post: The TSA at JFK really consistently makes me feel embarrassed for our country. The way those hooligans act and treat foreigners/visitors is nothing short of despicable. They don’t seem to understand that if someone doesn’t hear what they’re saying that doesn’t mean they have to yell it at them louder, but rather that they should maybe enunciate a bit better instead.

From post the other day: That being said I felt a bit bad for the older Indian couple seated across from me that didn’t speak English. They understood almost nothing the flight attendant said, and when they looked at her, she simply proceeded to repeat it louder. I’m not sure why some people don’t get that when someone doesn’t speak your language the solution isn’t to say the same thing louder, but to either slow down and speak more clearly or use some hand motions as well. But that seemed lost on her.

@ TST -- Enunciate, as I said in both posts...

Lucky,
Re: "Back Up" plan "to find other award space out of JFK to Europe for the same day."
Question: If you were to miss that first leg of the journey, wouldn't airline cancel out your entire ticket??

@ nyc -- In theory, yes, though in practice the cancelation as a result of missing a flight usually isn't instant. I could have called US Airways as soon as I made it to NY and they could have probably still modified it.

@lucky - oh ya, youu did say that in both posts...my bad...blast my dyslexia

Ben, how about the TSA at ORD T5?? compare to JFK, which one is worse for you? I found ORD T5 worse. For JFK I found some terminal better than the others...

Lucky, do Brussels passengers get access to the Senator lounge, or just the business class part of the lounge?

Lucky, does one always have to go through security at JFK even on connecting flights? I would have though that one only goes through security in the airport where the trip starts. I'll admit to not having traveled much internationally, but I've never had to go through security in a connecting airport that's in the US. Only transit security in another country.

I have a trip this summer booked that connects in EWR enroute to EZE. The connection is only 70 minutes. Will I have to go through transit security there?

I'm interested in what your solution is to the TSA, Lucky. I rarely find them personable or charming, but I also think they do a significantly better job, with better English-language skills, than the private sector security firms prior to 9/11/01 (and to which the TSA's safety record can attest, I think).

I certainly don't begrudge you your feelings towards them, but in the context of rude people who one comes across while traveling, I might start with some of those who actually get paid to be nice...

I should modify my comment above. I've never been through transit security in the US when departing the US. Only when arriving.

@ concorde02 -- Hah, they're pretty bad as well.

@ wwk5d -- Business class passengers get access to the business class lounge, while Star Gold passengers get access to the Senator lounge.

@ Mason -- In this case I was leaving out of a different terminal that isn't connected airside, so I did have to clear security. Usually you don't have to clear security if you're connecting from another US domestic flight, though there are exceptions (like when a terminal change is required, and they're not connected airside). 70 minutes should be enough if everything is on-time.

@mason
EWR doesn't require transit security if you're connecting from United to United in most cases. Your departure to EZE should be from terminal C assuming you're on UA and most UA flights arrive to C as well. Some UA Shuttle flights (ie DC) come to A but have a bus airside. A few UA intl flights arrive at B and other airlines at B and A need to transit landside via airtrain and do security in C.

I've had similar thoughts about the TSA. They shame America in so many ways.

lol Lucky I totally pictured you running like the Mccallister family in home alone 2.

Speaking of TSA, as an Australian who visits the USA once a year, I'm so scared of them! I just smile and comply with everything.

Last year at Newark, this guitarist was taking his guitar on board and when he was putting it through the scanner, he told the agent to be careful cuz it was worth $13,000. So the TSA agent said he was giving him attitude, so after he walked pass the scanner, the guy says to the other guy "Hay Mike... this guy needs to be searched" and they delayed him for about 10 minutes just for the sake of it.

and then came my turn, i got to the star trek teleporter thing, and i stepped in and basically followed the instructions properly but the TSA agent said something however i couldnt hear her since i have bad hearing, so i said "pardon me?"
and she yelled back "sir i dont need attitude, just follow the diagram".

but that was exactly what i was doing! lol I just shut my mouth, did the thing, pick my bag up and went to the gate, i didnt want to get into a debate with her, just in case it might encourage them to do a cavity search or something.

I mean, USA is a great country and I love to visit each other but the TSA agents don't exactly give first good impressions.

But then again, our Aussie immigrations agents aren't exactly daisies and roses either lol

Have to agree TSA, plus CBP for visitors/foreigners coming to the states really shame america..I was yelled by a TSA agent in SFO several years ago when my english wasnt that fluent. The bet thing I do every time is just keep quiet, not looking and give a poker face lol.

Always get a kick out of tsa guys. JFk is my primary airport and you simply have to laugh ( to yourself) and be glad that working for the TSA is not your day job.