Up at 3:30 to introduce myself a little before 4:30 at the counter of boarding American Airlines to Halifax airport. This morning we leave for the U.S. and customs formalities at the airport are on Canadian soil. When I go to the hostess to store my luggage, she said that I should wait my "escort", Bob, before doing my paperwork. Armed with my boarding card (first to New York JFK and then to Paris CDG), I spend my bag through security. All is well ... for now ! So I sit at the entrance of the corridor from ferries to wait Bob. 5:00: still no ... 5:15: Bob would it have prevented at the last minute? ... It would be a shame to stop there! In such a way! ... 5.30 am: a man of sixty years approached me with the hostess. Phew, it's Bob! We do know quickly and we headed towards the check-on baggage. Passing under the gantry, Bob triggers signal and is the subject of search earlier, he had to keep a few metal objects in his pocket! It comforts me because I spend all my turn without incident. Wink ;-)
And we arrive at passport control. While there, you change the registry! Obviously it was expected. After a quick check of the identity of Bob, the customs official took my passport and asked me to put my hands on a machine fingerprint. That's it, I'm new in the box ... may not be the same! (See previous episodes). He then invites us to follow him in an office where I have to declare my full identity, I bow again to the fingerprinting and background of the eye, pay a fine (yet!) $ 65 U.S. (how?) and undergo a search of my carry-on bag (up copying of personal documents and viewing photos from my camera - what indiscretion!). It takes time and it's already 6:30, theoretical time of departure. Provided that our plane does not leave without us ... Guaranteed Stress! After the last matters, a customs takes us at a run to the gate of the plane, it is 6:45 ET we sit at our place last. Moments later, the plane finally took off with 20 minutes behind schedule. No need to draw a picture, but the flight went without incident (it's good, I'm vaccinated ... for life!). Bob tells me that I should answer a few questions of security officers to AA and that I will probably call my long (12:00) in New York in a show of the company. I thank in advance for this attention because I may well rest in a quite nice.
Arrival at JFK, 7:30 am local time (1 hour ahead of Halifax). On leaving the aircraft, two plainclothes officers of the company offer me to follow them to answer their questions. There I was expecting ... By cons, a few yards away, just out of the corridor removable, two customs weapon, I suggest putting your hands on the wall and I dig the body to see if I'm not wearing a weapon (see bin !). Puzzled, I look at Bob and his cronies I understand that the situation eludes them. The restful stopover turns into a nightmare of continuity lived a few days earlier. To top it off, customs asked me to remove my jacket and put his hands behind his back to handcuff me. And here we go again! but why do they treat me like a criminal! it's hard! ... It is obvious that in this type of situation, it is better to execute what they want you rather than trying to discuss ... In shock, hands handcuffed behind his back, I'm taken, framed by these two fellows armed to the headquarters of Airport Customs. This path seems endless to me, what torture! I meet many quizzical looks, and even guilt, passengers walking through the hallways. I do not feel well ...
We finally arrive at the main Customs and I am taken directly to the cell where it is expected that I spend the duration of the call (it is almost 8:00 ET for my flight to Paris is at 17.45). They take me away in handcuffs that were beginning to ache at the wrists. I take off my watch and my belt and give them all my business. I wait a few minutes and a customs officer asked me to follow him into an office for questioning by a federal marshal and an airport security officer, while two plainclothes. So I tell them my story and they finally decide to make me wait in a large room. They make me my business and my carry-on bag and I understand they have grasped the character I am: an engineer who made a small mistake with big consequences.
In the morning, I agree to the entry of this large room the two company agents who were waiting to exit the plane. Rebelotte for questioning. But this one, it was expected ... We head then to a small room furnished with four comfortable armchairs and a coffee table. In the presence of a customs officer and two officers, I start my story and, at their request, I wrote a testimony of my story. I insist on the lack of effective communication with the crew and at no time have I been warned of the risk of diverting the flight because of me on Newfoundland.
The interview over, I find myself alone in this little room in which is arranged games for children (waiting room for families). Occasionally, a customs officer comes up to me asking if I need anything to bring me dining, or reading ... Care, what! The atmosphere is relaxed, I venture to ask a favor: "Please, Mr. Customs, could not you put me in handcuffs when you escort me to the plane." "Of course" he replied in a tone of sovereign. Phew, it's still less a humiliation in perspective. I would also do the request to call my family to confirm my arrival in Paris tomorrow morning and that everything goes (... almost) right here! Accepted! Could this be my luck I caught up ... I would really need.
Towards 17.00, Customs and other 3 m'escortent people to the gate of the plane to Paris. Escorted to my seat in the camera, I sit, taking care to remove any electronic device. The plane took off and I began to consider freedom. Rest
arrival in Paris CDG ... but we'll see it tomorrow ...
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