Been to the USA 4 times I think and each time going through Heathrow here it has felt oppressive doing so. It’s as if the security (or whatever they call themselves) are after any excuse at all to stop you boarding. I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been pulled for a security check just because of my tattoos. But it’s something that makes me feel uncomfortable. The drinks/liquids thing is annoying. The 100ml thing is pure crap and from what I’ve read no security expert on the planet can justify why they picked 100ml – except those paid by the airlines and the governments. So you go into the airport and at first security you have to give up the liquids. Nice visible way to start scaring.
In Narita airport at Tokyo I landed and left the secure area, went outside. Just before getting on the plane at Heathrow and in the ‘secure shopping area’ I had bought 2 large bottles of water. One had been drank the other was half full. So I go outside then come back in. Checked in and went to first security. Bag went through the machine I went through the detector. My belt set it off so that meant a pat down and that handheld detector. The guy then goes to my bag, opens it and removes the opened bottle of water. I start to apologise but he places it in an angled recess at the end of the conveyor. I see a green symbol light up and he tells me the bottle is okay and puts it back in my bag.
So the same security stage and the approach is as different as it gets. Maybe the japanese government doesn’t see a reason to scare the hell out of it’s citizens and so keep the imposition of oppressive laws.