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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

#401

Post by santaclaus »

spinlock wrote: post #241
stephengillie wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It may be an unpopular opinion to express, but these "horror stories of TSA incompetence" are somewhat entertaining to those who cannot afford to fly. It's like that "Cops" TV show, on location in the airports of America, with the men and women of law enforcement - the TSA in this case. Your having LEOs violate your rights and go thru your belongings - for someone thinking your box is a bomb - is no different than a…

This is why I can't support high speed rail enough. You get from downtown nyc to Washington dc without having your human rights violated. And its faster too.

Ehhh, I once had the contents of my backpack dumped all over a train station floor by the NYPD while leaving the LIRR.

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

#402

Post by dntrkv »

joering2 wrote: post #247
dntrkv wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are free to travel without body searches, just not on an airplane.

Correct. You are also free to travel without body searches, just not on a subway, at least in NYC where they often setup mandatory checkpoints before you enter the platform. Also more and more COBRA teams are swooping through Amtrack and yes they do search your property. You are also free to travel without body searches, by a car; unless you are in a border zone of 150 miles, which currently covers the entire state o…

Never have I been searched on public transit in NYC, SF, LA, Seattle, or Portland.

I took Amtrak on a weekly basis for about 3 years and I was never searched nor did I ever see anyone searched.

I have driven up and down the west coast from Canada down to Mexico and have never been searched.

Yes, I know my anecdotal experience doesn't mean anything but the picture you paint makes it seem like you can't go anywhere without being searched, realistically the only form of travel where you will be searched is when you fly. Anyways, that's not my point. My point is that we as a society have agreed to give up certain liberties in exchange for safety. For example, we don't allow people to drive without a license. We don't allow you to carry invasive species from one state to another. We don't allow random people to walk through your property. These laws exist for a reason and they weren't created to solely impede on your rights. Sure, we may disagree on where we draw the line but it doesn't help the discussion if you act like we still live in the 1700s where you can hop on your horse and not worry about being searched when you cross the border.

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

#403

Post by Matt3o12_ »

What happens when you miss your flight due to screening? I mean if you really had to wait for over 30 minutes for a domestic flight and did not book any expensive ticket which allows rescheduling. Are you allowed to catch the next flight or do you have to buy a new ticket. Furthermore, how do airlines handle your baggage. They won't know that your too late until everybody is in the plane (because you are already checked in). As far as I know, they may not fly with your baggage if you're not in the plane. So if I was late, wouldn't it delay the flight another 20 minutes to find my bags?

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

#404

Post by PeterisP »

Just had multiple-leg international travel, all the involved airports from different countries ran a set of security and customs checks that were comprehensive enough for real threats (document verification, metal detectors, scanning all luggage, even drug dogs). No security theater though e.g. removal of shoes.

In all cases the process (including queues) took less than 15 minutes. What is the problem in USA? If some of your checking procedures are unreasonably long or require more workforce than you have, then change those procedures.

Arriving for an international trip (either from outside of from another plane) an hour before takeoff is sufficient if airport can organize things properly.

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

#405

Post by enos »

occamrazor wrote: post #400
dionidium wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lighters are not forbidden. I was told to toss out all but one when coming back into the U.S. from Canada, once, but that's about as far as it's ever gone. I travel a fair amount and almost always with one or more lighters.

One can carry one lighter (and no more than one), of the gas type (no Zippo's) and must be carried on the person (not in the hand baggage). Having said that, these rules are usually not strictly enforced.

That's a regulation I support, because unlike toothpaste it's a legit fire hazard. A broken lighter that shorts something out can get nasty quickly.

One lighter on a person means a problem will be relatively small and quickly noticed.

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

#406

Post by peteretep »

menage wrote: post #239
gsnedders wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The TSA has nothing to do with Heathrow where it was found, though. (I don't think in the UK anyone can be fined: if there's any belief of malice, you're likely to be dealt with under normal criminal law such as conspiracy to murder, or potentially terrorism related offences; if there's not, you can either surrender your property or return landside).

A criminal conviction could lead to a fine.

The OP's point was: they either think you're trying to bring down a plane or they don't. Punishing minor infractions is not on their menu.

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

#407

Post by jghn »

dntrkv wrote: post #402
joering2 wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Correct. You are also free to travel without body searches, just not on a subway, at least in NYC where they often setup mandatory checkpoints before you enter the platform. Also more and more COBRA teams are swooping through Amtrack and yes they do search your property. You are also free to travel without body searches, by a car; unless you are in a border zone of 150 miles, which currently covers the entire state o…

Never have I been searched on public transit in NYC, SF, LA, Seattle, or Portland. I took Amtrak on a weekly basis for about 3 years and I was never searched nor did I ever see anyone searched. I have driven up and down the west coast from Canada down to Mexico and have never been searched. Yes, I know my anecdotal experience doesn't mean anything but the picture you paint makes it seem like you can't go anywhere wit…

I was once accosted by cops while trying to enter the subway in Boston. They had a checkpoint and were searching people's bags. I refused and walked away, I could use the exercise anyways. About 5 minutes later there were 4 plain clothes cops chasing me down, shoved me against a wall and started threatening me. All because I chose not to give up my personal property.

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

#408

Post by mpeg »

wutbrodo wrote: post #364
jdavis703 wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, Spain already does this. And I've during high-profile events I've seen TSA patrolling the main subway stations in Washington, DC.

I've been travelling all around Spain for the last month and I wouldn't characterize the Renfe/AVE security as anywhere near the TSAs. You basically just put your bags through a machine and get waved through, and I've yet to wait in much of a line.

Yeah, same thing for the Eurostar, it's a much saner security and check-in process. As much as I love flying, I always take the train from London to Paris or between Madrid and Barcelona.

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

#409

Post by randyrand »

wutbrodo wrote: post #386
rubidium wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because most people like stories more than data.

Yea, and "most people" like racy pictures too. That doesn't mean news organizations like the NY Times that still have some dignity left to shred should start putting racy photos in every article. Just as "most people like stories" doesn't mean they should be quoting random tweets.

That's actually a good idea. I vote for racy photos alongside new articles.

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

#410

Post by randyrand »

spdustin wrote: post #140
grandalf wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Excellent point. I forgot that private aircraft travelers get to skip it.

As much as I despise the whole TSA process, it is ostensibly to prevent terrorists from using an aircraft as a weapon, or destroying it and killing hundreds of passengers. I don't know of any private jets with the amount of chemical or kinetic energy necessary to destroy a skyscraper, nor would the bombing of one result in the deaths of hundreds of passengers. In other words, private jet passengers are not covered un…

How about the NASA anti-gravity-thing plane?

Seems like a good target

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