Yes indeed - you make a very good point. There are always two (5?) sides to a story/reports such as this. Unfortunately, we have yet to see a report from the "Royals" as to how THEY felt they were (mis)treated. Anyway, it's really a "non-event". As for your example of the US Ambassador ex FCO - I suggest THEY would be better prepared....MXP perhaps, or a military base. ----- Original Message ----- From: "g. mazzeo" <gmazzeo@xxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 6:42 AM Subject: Spain's crown prince in snit at MIA > I am surprised about the negative reactions generated by the Prince of > Spain's "refusal" to undergo a security inspection at MIA. > > People who work at airports know that episodes like this happen, > Some passengers, for various reasons, have similar privileges (diplomats, > members of parliament, etc) but these privileges are given within a known > set of rules and they do not constitute a breach of security. > Most of the times it is just a way of being hospitable to a foreign > dignitary or respecting rules that are internationally accepted. > > I do not know for sure, but I seriously doubt that the US Ambassador is > searched at FCO when he flies to Washington. > G. Mazzeo > Rome, Italy