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The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

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Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#161

Post by logfromblammo »

rhino369 wrote: post #64
jrcii wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_Security_Admini... "In July 2007, the Times Union of Albany, New York reported that TSA screeners at Albany International Airport failed multiple covert security tests conducted by the TSA. Among them was a failure to detect a fake bomb."

I wasn't very clear, but what is a fake bomb? some timer taped to a couple circuits like clockboy and with no explosive residue? Or a real bomb with the detonator removed but with a fake detonator? How realistic the bomb was would radically change the test.

A fake bomb is a real explosive with safe, inert detonators. You need the real stuff, or the bomb-sniffer dogs and gas chromatographs won't be able to help.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#162

Post by ams6110 »

dragontamer wrote: post #136
Amorymeltzer wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. That costs money. Many people take the train or a shuttle or lean on a friend. >I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. You paid for that TSA PreCheck privilege which, while not in the…

> 3. Profit! The Department of Homeland Security (of which the TSA is a part of) has a budget and its priorities are set in Congress. There is no "profit" motive here. The US is throwing money at this problem, and money that only creates inconveniences for us.

There is definitely a personal profit motive for the people involved, i.e. promotions and raises, having more reports (huge in the government sector), not to mention to crony pork handed out to companies providing the xray/detection and other equipment.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#164

Post by kazinator »

two2two wrote: post #29

TSA is the number one reason why I don't fly and drive instead. From my POV most of the world's industries have progressed positively, but not air travel. I took a train a couple of years ago and it was a beautiful example of old merging with new. Walking through an antique of a train station, iPhone in hand, with my digital ticket ready to board; so easy and pleasant. At that point I realized that air travel is by f…

> If an alternative airport wanted to do things a little different, such as "fly at your own risk" "no lifeguard on duty", aka no TSA b.s ...

... that airport and flights emanating from it would be perfectly safe! Why? Because, like everyone, terrorists, too, would love this airport so much, they wouldn't want to do anything to prevent it from operating.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#165

Post by ams6110 »

pc86 wrote: post #93
tptacek wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Private jet travel is probably _not_ within reach for the average SV developer.

I know the poster specifically mentioned a jet but GA in general is absolutely within reach. With a license it costs maybe $150/hr to fly a Cessna 172 (and you're usually only billed for time the engine's actually running).

GA is also orders of magnitude more dangerous than flying commercial. Most life insurance specifically excludes it.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#166

Post by cloudjacker »

Amorymeltzer wrote: post #131
cloudjacker wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. I am at the gate in 5 minutes. I like how trains basically let you show up last minute, and a 3 hour train ride actually means a 3 hour train rid…

>I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. That costs money. Many people take the train or a shuttle or lean on a friend. >I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. You paid for that TSA PreCheck privilege which, while not in the…

Thats cute but I just like privileged treatment. I would be pissed if TSA Pre had more people in it.

I also consider my time to be more valuable.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#167

Post by sehutson »

cloudjacker wrote: post #79
two2two wrote: post #29

TSA is the number one reason why I don't fly and drive instead. From my POV most of the world's industries have progressed positively, but not air travel. I took a train a couple of years ago and it was a beautiful example of old merging with new. Walking through an antique of a train station, iPhone in hand, with my digital ticket ready to board; so easy and pleasant. At that point I realized that air travel is by f…

I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. I am at the gate in 5 minutes. I like how trains basically let you show up last minute, and a 3 hour train ride actually means a 3 hour train rid…

I do the same, but some airlines don't participate in TSA Precheck (like Frontier), and it's not uncommon for the Precheck lanes to occasionally get shut down, especially later in the evening. It's also possible to randomly NOT get Precheck, even though you're flying with a participating airline and you are in the program.

On top of that, I've seen a number of recent reports from people who said that the Precheck lanes were randomly shut down at peak travel times, forcing Precheck members to get stuck in the regular lines with everybody else. Others report that large numbers of non-Precheck people are getting randomly sent through that lane, dramatically slowing things down and causing wait times of 30-60+ minutes.

Precheck is great, but even those of us who have a relatively privileged flying experience need to stay involved and aware about the monster that is the TSA.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#168

Post by sehutson »

rconti wrote: post #144

I hate security, though I hate the discomfort of air travel even more. In fact, I just got back to the US from Europe, and the cold that struck 12h after I left lasted 7-10 days (and I rarely get sick!) That said, am I the only one who doesn't have these long security waits? I typically show up at the airport ~1h before boarding is to begin, and am often at my gate 50min before boarding begins. I typically fly out of…

The abnormally long waits are a recent thing. Earlier this year, there were warnings that it would be bad this summer as peak travel season begins, and now that it's here, the horrific wait times have become a reality at many airports around the country.

Even a month or so ago, things were reasonable. Now, the biggest airports are recommending getting to the airport 3 hours early.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#169

Post by sehutson »

What's crazy is that the article doesn't even mention the effective lost lives in the sheer number of hours people waste by getting to the airport so early.

If you assume 75 years x 365 days x 24 hours, that's 657,000 hours in a fairly typical life. Millions of travelers waiting an hour or more each = a lot of "lives" wasted standing in line.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#170

Post by ams6110 »

capote wrote: post #35
ndirish1842 wrote: post #7

I wonder how autonomous driving will affect shorter flight commutes. I'll probably never take a car from Philadelphia to LA, but I might prefer to travel by car from Philadelphia to Chicago if I know that I can sleep throughout the car ride (as well as leave whenever is most convenient). When you take into account driving to the airport, checking bags, security, flight delays, baggage claim, and rental cars/driving t…

I wonder why so many people immediately jump to thinking about a car as an alternative to short distance air travel. Would people in the US never even consider a fast train system as a good option between Philadelphia and Chicago? (If it were built, of course. But self-driving cars need to be built too. But I guess they're easier; I'm just dreaming)

Cost to construct high speed rail is not insignificant. There is not sufficient demand for it given the established interstate highways and air travel industry.

Cars are more flexible for more people. Trains travel to and from fixed points on fixed schedules.

For some reason people get all romantic about the idea of train travel but in the 21st century USA it's not going to happen.

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