I rarely fly, so consider my statement in that context.
I actually approve of the TSA making flying more onerous. Flying comes at a very high environmental and economic cost to society. We need more trains, more hyperloops, and more VR.
Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
101–110 of 512 posts
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#102Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just go get pre check?
Pay billions in your tax dollars to create a huge interference to free movement around the country, then pay hundreds more individually to get around some facets of the interference you already paid for. Also, let's throw in submission of your fingerprints and a background check into a database secured by hugely-ineffectual government organization. I can't imagine why everyone isn't leaping at the opportunity...
My dad grew up under the Soviets, where he learned a thing or two about waste, inefficiency, and systematic corruption. He says the following:
"If the government ever gives you the chance to bribe them, do it immediately and with a smile. Pay double if they'll let you. You'll always come out ahead in the long run."
Precheck/Global entry is clearly unrelated to actual security; instead, it's an obvious shakedown, plain and simple. The TSA has given you a chance to pay them extra to be harassed less. From this perspective the GP is correct in practice - you'd be dumb not to pay up.
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#103Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pay billions in your tax dollars to create a huge interference to free movement around the country, then pay hundreds more individually to get around some facets of the interference you already paid for. Also, let's throw in submission of your fingerprints and a background check into a database secured by hugely-ineffectual government organization. I can't imagine why everyone isn't leaping at the opportunity...
You can drop "around the country". Your nation or any other nation's national borders do not make free and unimpeded travel any less of a basic right for all people, in all places.
Free and unimpeded travel is not a basic right for any people, in any place.
It's supposed to be within the US, though, just like in Schengen. That's due to law, not some magical "right", though.
edit: what is a "basic right" supposed to be, anyway? I missed that day in philosophy class.
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#104FWIW, there's a MyTSA app for iPhone & Android that estimates delays, and http://www.whatsbusy.com/airport can also give you a delay heads up.
In my experience flying domestically & internationally every month for the past 6 months, plan to get there 2 hours early for domestic, and 3 hours before for international, and you'll make it on time. This also depends greatly on the time of your flight and the airport, as both have peak times. When flying early, there is no rush. Red-eye, it can be stressful as some people are trying to make the last flight. When flying at more "convenient" times, expect the abbatoir line.
And when you have to make connections and they may be the last flights of the day, remember that the super-cheap internet-deal ticket you got probably does not include any refunds for delays. Certain airports are _constantly_ delayed, so check all your connecting airports and the connection times before you buy.
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
A standard-issue toy throwing star that every adult has on them when trying to get through security checkpoints.
Yep, the whole point for why pre-check exists is to allow frequent travelers who will always pass screening to get through the security clusterfuck faster. pre-check is for people that know how to travel and are willing to observe the rules. A grown man carrying a "throwing-star" toy through pre-check SHOULD BE banned from this privilege and feel the scorn of other pre-check folks who just want to go through smoothly…
I hope you never find yourself on the other side of someone with the badge, even though these people don't even have the power to arrest me it was very scary feeling like they thought I was a criminal and nothing I could say could convince them otherwise.
"Did you know what you did was a felony? Did you know it's illegal to possess one of these?" - that's what I had to endure until the police arrived. For the crime of forgetting an item in my bag even existed after running a convention.
Of course it's my fault for not checking my bag before I left the house, if I was a weapons collector I'm sure I would've thought twice but I'm not.
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#106Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pay billions in your tax dollars to create a huge interference to free movement around the country, then pay hundreds more individually to get around some facets of the interference you already paid for. Also, let's throw in submission of your fingerprints and a background check into a database secured by hugely-ineffectual government organization. I can't imagine why everyone isn't leaping at the opportunity...
You can drop "around the country". Your nation or any other nation's national borders do not make free and unimpeded travel any less of a basic right for all people, in all places.
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Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#107Earlier quoted context omitted.
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 instea…
TSA already have a deal with USPS in some airports.
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#108Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
Then we probably have to agree to disagree. Air travel is in that sense special that you and up to 500 of your fellow passengers are in a metal tube in 12'000 metres height, which makes it conceptually a bit different from a bus, or even a train. Cockpit doors are already re-inforced, but the cockpit is not the only sensitive part of a plane when a passenger wants to cause mayhem with a high powered rifle, or a - pis…
You can ban the guns on planes and fine people if anyone spots them. That should discourage open carry zealots. You could also ban carry-on bags, so it's harder to hide them. I guess people could bring on knives, pistols, or box-cutters; I don't know if there's a technical way to make planes resistant enough to these to give the pilot a chance to land in an emergency.
There's still room for disagreement even after all of these, though.
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
TSA Pre is the equivalent of "fuck you, got mine". It makes it personally more convenient for you , while simultaneously ignoring or condoning the waste of millions of person-hours without consent, which basically equates to mass murder if you squnt hard enough at the math.
My "favourite" part of the TSA line is how business and premier customers often have access to a shorter regular TSA line (not precheck, just a separate entrance to the normal TSA line). My understanding is that the TSA is partly funded by a FIXED fee on every ticket so I can't see any logical reason as to why they get sent to the front of the line.
This is a non-issue. First class flyers pay for a ticket that allows them shorter lines, not expedited screening. They're still subject to being randomly flagged, and they will go through the same screening process as everyone else.
That's why first/business class tickets cost so damn much - to blind the traveler into believing that they're actually paying for something worthwhile. As it turns out, for many of them, it is worthwhile just to have shorter lines.
Theme parks do the same thing: pay more for shorter lines. Many attractions, such as the Sears Tower (still can't bring myself to use its official name) Observation Deck, do the same thing.
It's a money grab for sure, just not by the TSA. and why should the TSA give a shit about it if the first class passenger gets the same screening?
Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security
#110Earlier quoted context omitted.
TSA Pre is the equivalent of "fuck you, got mine". It makes it personally more convenient for you , while simultaneously ignoring or condoning the waste of millions of person-hours without consent, which basically equates to mass murder if you squnt hard enough at the math.
My "favourite" part of the TSA line is how business and premier customers often have access to a shorter regular TSA line (not precheck, just a separate entrance to the normal TSA line). My understanding is that the TSA is partly funded by a FIXED fee on every ticket so I can't see any logical reason as to why they get sent to the front of the line.
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