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Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

nytimes.com

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Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#91

Post by panglott »

MichaelBurge wrote: post #74
CaptainZapp wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, the TSA sucks big time and should be abolished. I get that. But what about the alternatives? In this day and age it's just not thinkable to let people enter a plane without a security check. So you need some entity performing it. I think one factor on providing successful and to the passenger acceptable (they will never be pleasant) security checks is adequate funding and employing adequately compensated professi…

I think the original plan was that the TSA would set some rules and make the airports comply with them, and the airports would be responsible for doing screenings. Somehow that got warped into government agents doing the work. Why is it 'unthinkable' to let people enter a plane without a security check? We let people get on a bus without a security check. If you're worried specifically about someone taking over the p…

You're thinking about this backwards. Passengers are willing to tolerate hour-long intrusive security screenings before boarding an airplane, so we should look at implementing security screenings on buses and trains. Right now, they're totally unsecure!

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#92

Post by peterwwillis »

xirdstl wrote: post #63
spyspy wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't actually have to take your belt off for the full body scan. I left it on once by accident and wasn't questioned, nor was I the next dozen or so times I've flown.

I think it's highly dependent on which airport you're at and the current mood of the people working there. Last year I was flying home, and there was a sign in the security line saying they we don't need to remove our shoes or belt, I cannot remember which. When I got up to the front of line, I was told, yes, I need to remove both.

For CLEAR, PreCheck and airline-specific special class passengers you can skip removing shoes/belt/jacket, depending on the policy, when traveling through US airports. Non-US airports, and certain international destinations, don't require them removed. And sometimes they just don't give a shit and will let you through regardless.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#93

Post by lmcnish14 »

Reasons I've been chosen for extra screening by the TSA: - They saw something in my bag (I didn't bring a bag) - They needed to confiscate contraband (granola bar) - My sweatshirt zipper "interfered with scanning my breasts thoroughly enough" - They "randomly selected me" 15 times in a row

At this point, I make sure to budget lots of extra time to get through their nonsense procedures in order to make my flight.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#94

Post by bglazer »

danieltillett wrote: post #47
Hondor wrote: post #35

If a terrorist wanted to kill a lot of people confined into too small space to run away, what better target than these densely packed zig-zag queues? Really, what's the point of protecting a plane carrying hundreds of people by putting those same people into harm's way like that? It already happened in China - Muslim terrorists killed dozens of people waiting in a ticket hall a couple of years ago.

Isn't that exactly what happened in Belgium.

Yes, and in Moscow as well.

If the actual mission of the TSA was preventing terrorist acts, then they would have done something about this massive and completely obvious vulnerability.

My opinion, however, is that the TSA has become an arm of the DEA and the "war on drugs". They make a big security theater production in the name of stopping terrorists but 99% of their daily activities are centered on seizing drugs.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#95

Post by sixothree »

coldcode wrote: post #79
Hondor wrote: post #35

If a terrorist wanted to kill a lot of people confined into too small space to run away, what better target than these densely packed zig-zag queues? Really, what's the point of protecting a plane carrying hundreds of people by putting those same people into harm's way like that? It already happened in China - Muslim terrorists killed dozens of people waiting in a ticket hall a couple of years ago.

They have no plan what to do when that happens? Do you start the line at your house, pick you up in a prison van and deposit you in the airplane after 24hours? Anything that creates a choke point creates an incentive point.

I think you just answered your question. Remove choke points.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#96

Post by peterwwillis »

nfriedly wrote: post #67
tehwebguy wrote: post #25

Here's an awesome TSA story for you: Late last year while trying to fly out of LAX a TSA employee thought I was carrying a throwing star. They called the police, who correctly identified as a toy in seconds. I thought the whole ordeal was over until I got a "notice of violation" in the mail from TSA 45 days later. Now I'm banned from pre-check for three years, even though I have global entry and even though the fine…

They're just as bad at identifying actual "weapons": I flew to South America with a layover in Miami a few years back. Got past TSA without any trouble on the domestic leg, then I had to go through again for the international leg. The second time through security, they said they saw a blade on the x-ray.. turns out they were right. I forgot I had left a multi-tool in my bag. Thankfully, they just trashed it and let m…

FYI you are allowed to carry on screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers less than 7 inches long. More bulky than a multi-tool, but at least you can carry something? https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/prohibited-ite...

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#97

Post by jerf »

Hondor wrote: post #35

If a terrorist wanted to kill a lot of people confined into too small space to run away, what better target than these densely packed zig-zag queues? Really, what's the point of protecting a plane carrying hundreds of people by putting those same people into harm's way like that? It already happened in China - Muslim terrorists killed dozens of people waiting in a ticket hall a couple of years ago.

There are a large number of places with densely packed people. The unique thing about airports is their access to airplanes and their capacity to be used as weapons. (I'm taking a broad view of "weapon" here; even old-school hijack-and-divert is still a political "weapon".) If it weren't for that, they wouldn't be particularly interesting and wouldn't need special security. If someone blows up the line, well, they didn't get control over a plane.

Thoughtful terrorists... and thank goodness, a lot of them really aren't... would not choose an airport line, just because it's an airport.

It's also why when we hear about the TSA claiming they need to secure trains, it's a sign that politics has 100% overtaken their supposedly-core mission; trains don't have any of these characteristics that make them any more dangerous than any other large groups of people.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#98

Post by CuriouslyC »

tehwebguy wrote: post #25

Here's an awesome TSA story for you: Late last year while trying to fly out of LAX a TSA employee thought I was carrying a throwing star. They called the police, who correctly identified as a toy in seconds. I thought the whole ordeal was over until I got a "notice of violation" in the mail from TSA 45 days later. Now I'm banned from pre-check for three years, even though I have global entry and even though the fine…

I had to go back and check a necklace because TSA agents claimed it could be used to whip or garotte. A freaking necklace!

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#99

Post by koolba »

tehwebguy wrote: post #49
raldi wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What kind of toy was it?

It was from League of Leagends (Sivir). It's not sharp or aerodynamic, just a "spinner" toy. One of the vendors from the League convention I put on gave it to me as a token of thanks just before the event ended. I dropped it in my bag and forgot it until flying a few weeks later. Bonus: My business partner was given the same one and the same thing happened at BUR. TSA asked if she wanted to mail it home, she said "to…

> Bonus: My business partner was given the same one and the same thing happened at BUR. TSA asked if she wanted to mail it home, she said "toss it" and never heard another word!

Free business idea!

UPS/FedEx/USPS packaging site at the end of the TSA line. When they say you can't take your cologne, knife, or toothbrush because it's too dangerous, you can immediately give it one of our helpful agents and they'll instead mail it your home!

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#100

Post by pavel_lishin »

CuriouslyC wrote: post #98
tehwebguy wrote: post #25

Here's an awesome TSA story for you: Late last year while trying to fly out of LAX a TSA employee thought I was carrying a throwing star. They called the police, who correctly identified as a toy in seconds. I thought the whole ordeal was over until I got a "notice of violation" in the mail from TSA 45 days later. Now I'm banned from pre-check for three years, even though I have global entry and even though the fine…

I had to go back and check a necklace because TSA agents claimed it could be used to whip or garotte. A freaking necklace!

Don't let them see your belt or shoelaces.
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