Unfortunately, this is rather the tip of the iceberg. What happened is not surprising, but the reaction and coverage to the incident (no matter which angle you take), is making the situation worse. For the longest time, America, (especially major gateway airports such as MIA and JFK) has been viewed as a major transportation point between the America's (South & North) and the rest of the world. (Heck, even geographically disadvantaged MIA is viewed as a hub for the caribbean.) America's previously fair and free immigration policies supported such in-transits with ease. But with recent immigration policy changes, (good intentions, poor execution IMHO), being an in-transit passenger is now a risky exercise. A Canadian citizen, Maher Arar, was intransit through JFK from vacation back to Canada. He was 'deported' from the US (not that he really wanted to enter the country), not to his home country, but back to Syria! (where he also held citizenship, and admittedly his background is a bit hazy, but his home WAS in Ottawa.) My recent trip to Trinidad encountered several well-to-do individuals who used to make frequent shopping trips to the US, or travel through MIA or JFK to get to far-flung parts of the world. Almost all of the have clearly indicated they have been taking their shopping dollars elsewhere and now traveling through cities like Frankfurt, Toronto and London to get where they want to go. The impact will not be immediate, but I'm sure AA is watching their international connecting traffic drop, as is Iberia looking to move their Latin America hub or close it down entirely. It shall be interesting, and it's also hard to reverse. Matthew On Apr 12, 2004, at 6:04 PM, David MR wrote: >> Members of the prince's entourage called the required >> inspection > of their >> private belongings an ''insult'' and ''humiliating'' -- sparking a >> diplomatic flap that has the United States and Spain on the brink of a >> protocol war. > Too bad. If I, as a citizen of this country, must be inspected, then > foreigners not travelling on official state business need to be > inspected > too. > >> Crowning it off, Iberia Airlines, the prince's carrier of >> choice, > is >> suggesting it might pull out of the airport, according to two sources > close >> to the international incident. > They were threatening this long before Prince Buffo came along. > >> Now, Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas has sent the Prince of > Asturias, next in >> line for the throne, an apology, saying he's asked for an >> investigation > into >> what went wrong. > The mayor is an IDIOT! Just because this guy is a prince doesn't give > him > any special privleges. If he doesn't wan to be inspected, fly on a > private > aircraft. > >> Whether the prince gave U.S. diplomatic officials enough >> notice of > his >> arrival is at the heart of the problem. >> The U.S. State Department requires 72 hours notice to arrange >> for > expedited >> security screening in a private area. The prince's people called with >> six >> hours notice. >> When members of the royal party were told that they and their > carry-ons >> would have to be searched -- just like the masses -- the royal flap > erupted. >> ''We're your allies!'' one member of the royal delegation >> shouted > in >> Spanish to inspectors at a particularly tense moment. > Then follow the rules, you Royal Stupidness. > > >> The need by the princess-to-be to go the powder room caused > another >> flare-up. Ortiz was told her already-searched purse would be searched > again >> on her return from the nonsecure area. She decided to hold it. >> That sparked more angry words and exchanges, delaying the >> process > and >> making the entire royal party late for the flight, which waited. >> At one point, Milton Oribe, Iberia's station manager, said he > would ignore >> the required screening, come what may, witnesses said. >> Oribe also offered to vouch for the prince and his entourage, > adding that >> he would see to it that the Spanish carrier withdrew from MIA, >> according > to >> witnesses on the scene. > Gee. Wish I could get someone to vouch for me. > >> Mayor Penelas, calling the brouhaha a ''lamentable >> situation,'' > immediately >> sent a letter of apology to the the royal family and pointed out those > doing >> the screening were federal employees. > Again, the mayor is an idiot for sending an apology.