Is American airport security as scary as it's hyped up to be?

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Flying into JFK for the first time, next week! I'm excited. Will a name like mine (second name Ali) raise any eyebrows or is all the racial profiling business really just a media hyped thing?

Just a thought.

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You're from Britain?

Just make sure you get your approval from here:  esta.cbp.dhs.gov

That allows you to come into the U.S. with a British passport without a visa.  A pain in the ass... but relatively harmless and able to be processed online.  I'm sure you've already done this or know about it.

As long as you've done that, you'll be fine in customs.  Once beyond there... I hope you have a great visit!

Oh, done. It's a college thing, so it's all been done.

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Just remember that they are serious about all the things you shouldn't have in your carryons.  I had a TSA guy yell at me when I accidentally left a pair of scissors in my carryon. 

Oh, i'm normally careful about that anyway. Just my iPod (+ charger), a book, my mobile phone, money, glasses and anything I might buy in the airport.

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I did get taken aside for like an hour at JFK btw. Dulles, on the return flight, was fine though.