Comments on: With air security, travelers are flying blind http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/ The travel troubleshooter. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:43:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ames http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27911 Ames Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:38:08 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27911 In answer to why pack peanut butter or why I have packed Cains' mayonaise, Vermont maple syrup or salsa from a special restaurant - this is why one travels. To enjoy special things that are not available everywhere and either bring some home or bring some of home to some one else. I have double plastic bagged, taped and labeled so things could travel in my checked luggage - even throwing in extra bags and a roll of tape with a note to the TSA explaining what the item is and asking for special care in rewrapping if it had to be opened. So far so good, nothing lost, nothing opened. But watching my daughter enjoy the salsa she cannot find anywhere else is well worth all the planning. In answer to why pack peanut butter or why I have packed Cains’ mayonaise, Vermont maple syrup or salsa from a special restaurant – this is why one travels. To enjoy special things that are not available everywhere and either bring some home or bring some of home to some one else. I have double plastic bagged, taped and labeled so things could travel in my checked luggage – even throwing in extra bags and a roll of tape with a note to the TSA explaining what the item is and asking for special care in rewrapping if it had to be opened. So far so good, nothing lost, nothing opened. But watching my daughter enjoy the salsa she cannot find anywhere else is well worth all the planning.

]]> By: Lianne http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27893 Lianne Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:24:57 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27893 Tampa I'ntl also lets you put shoes in the bucket. And I have to say that TPA has probably the nicest TSA I've ever dealt with. I thought there was a rumor that the stupid liquid ban was going to be lifted sometime in 2009 tho...I guess no such luck. Tampa I’ntl also lets you put shoes in the bucket. And I have to say that TPA has probably the nicest TSA I’ve ever dealt with.

I thought there was a rumor that the stupid liquid ban was going to be lifted sometime in 2009 tho…I guess no such luck.

]]> By: Jeanne http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27886 Jeanne Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:38:58 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27886 @Lisa Skier and frostsnowman: The last time I flew out of Eppley (Omaha's airport) I asked about the shoes - belt or bucket? They told me that some shoes placed directly on the belt have had problems entering or exiting the machine, because of straps, laces, buckles, etc. catching. TSA there told me they know about the belt directive, but it goes against common sense and experience, so they still use the bucket. In Rome, I got to keep my shoes on while going through the screening process. Everywhere I've flown in the US, it's been shoes off. I just smile pleasantly and do what they tell me to do and thank them for their help. I've had the additional screening for the oddest things in my carry-on. At Eppley, my husband's corkscrew with foil cutter didn't pass muster the last time (although having passed many times before). The TSA agent there was kind enough to tell him about an airport shop that would mail it back home, and gave me his carry-on to watch while he ran back and mailed the corkscrew to the house. He had to go through screening again, but the agent watched for him and waved him over to her to let him get through quickly. We thanked the agent and made our flight with no problem - but had to buy a cheap corkscrew once we reached our destination! Which of course we left behind when we packed . . . @Lisa Skier and frostsnowman: The last time I flew out of Eppley (Omaha’s airport) I asked about the shoes – belt or bucket? They told me that some shoes placed directly on the belt have had problems entering or exiting the machine, because of straps, laces, buckles, etc. catching. TSA there told me they know about the belt directive, but it goes against common sense and experience, so they still use the bucket.

In Rome, I got to keep my shoes on while going through the screening process. Everywhere I’ve flown in the US, it’s been shoes off.

I just smile pleasantly and do what they tell me to do and thank them for their help. I’ve had the additional screening for the oddest things in my carry-on. At Eppley, my husband’s corkscrew with foil cutter didn’t pass muster the last time (although having passed many times before). The TSA agent there was kind enough to tell him about an airport shop that would mail it back home, and gave me his carry-on to watch while he ran back and mailed the corkscrew to the house. He had to go through screening again, but the agent watched for him and waved him over to her to let him get through quickly. We thanked the agent and made our flight with no problem – but had to buy a cheap corkscrew once we reached our destination! Which of course we left behind when we packed . . .

]]> By: frostysnowman http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27881 frostysnowman Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:18:25 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27881 @ Lisa Skier - that depends on the airport. In ATL, it's the belt. In Omaha, it could be either. In Richmond, it's the bucket. We definitely need some consistency there. I completely agree with what Ben C and Adrian have to say. I know people who've been to Isreal and they've said the same things about security there. @ Lisa Skier – that depends on the airport. In ATL, it’s the belt. In Omaha, it could be either. In Richmond, it’s the bucket. We definitely need some consistency there.

I completely agree with what Ben C and Adrian have to say. I know people who’ve been to Isreal and they’ve said the same things about security there.

]]> By: Lisa Skier http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27871 Lisa Skier Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:25:44 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27871 But do shoes go on the conveyor belt or in the bucket? But do shoes go on the conveyor belt or in the bucket?

]]> By: Liz http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27858 Liz Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:57:16 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27858 To give TSA a tiny bit of credit (which may be more than they deserve), they have gotten better about consistency on some things - I think that all travelers know that shoes come off, liquids go in a ziploc and laptops are to be removed from their bags. I haven't encountered a deviation from those in a while. To give TSA a tiny bit of credit (which may be more than they deserve), they have gotten better about consistency on some things – I think that all travelers know that shoes come off, liquids go in a ziploc and laptops are to be removed from their bags. I haven’t encountered a deviation from those in a while.

]]> By: Adrian Shadowmoss http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27856 Adrian Shadowmoss Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:03:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27856 Want REAL airport security screening? Try Ben Gurion Int'l Airport in Isreal. It has got to be the most thorough of all I've ever been through. They screen and do some things that we would never allow in the U.S. (profile, for example). Anyway, TSA could take a lesson or two from them. APS Want REAL airport security screening? Try Ben Gurion Int’l Airport in Isreal.
It has got to be the most thorough of all I’ve ever been through. They screen and do some things that we would never allow in the U.S. (profile, for example).
Anyway, TSA could take a lesson or two from them.
APS

]]> By: Don http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27853 Don Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:22:35 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27853 I used to carry a very small swiss army style pocket knife - it had a blade about an inch long and a pair of tweezers - I forgot I had it in my pocket once at JFK and of course had to throw it away - only to purchase it again on the other side of TSA. I used to carry a very small swiss army style pocket knife – it had a blade about an inch long and a pair of tweezers – I forgot I had it in my pocket once at JFK and of course had to throw it away – only to purchase it again on the other side of TSA.

]]> By: KF http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27852 KF Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:35:18 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27852 I've had problems with my TSA-approved laptop sleeve - apparently approved is a loose term and before my last flight I had to take off the sweater I was wearing over a tshirt - and both were fitted, so there wasn't a question of me concealing something. I’ve had problems with my TSA-approved laptop sleeve – apparently approved is a loose term and before my last flight I had to take off the sweater I was wearing over a tshirt – and both were fitted, so there wasn’t a question of me concealing something.

]]> By: Brian C http://www.elliott.org/the-navigator/with-air-security-travelers-are-flying-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-27850 Brian C Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:52:34 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9640#comment-27850 The TSA just hung itself with its own words. The rules have to be consistently enforced, not based on what the traveler looks like or how they act. If liquids and "things that can be spread" are going to banned, they have to be banned for everyone. Otherwise, you get enough people trying, and someone is going to get something dangerous through. Checklists are exactly what they need, with the understanding that officers can go "beyond the checklist" to adapt to new threats and evaluate anyone they think may be suspicious. Pilots use checklists to ensure that they have checked everything they need to so our planes fly safely. If lists are good enough to ensure that 300 ton hunks of metal are safe to hurtle through the air at 500 mph, I don't see why lists, and the consistent application of rules, aren't good enough to ensure the people on those hunks of metal don't pose a threat. The TSA just hung itself with its own words. The rules have to be consistently enforced, not based on what the traveler looks like or how they act. If liquids and “things that can be spread” are going to banned, they have to be banned for everyone. Otherwise, you get enough people trying, and someone is going to get something dangerous through.

Checklists are exactly what they need, with the understanding that officers can go “beyond the checklist” to adapt to new threats and evaluate anyone they think may be suspicious. Pilots use checklists to ensure that they have checked everything they need to so our planes fly safely. If lists are good enough to ensure that 300 ton hunks of metal are safe to hurtle through the air at 500 mph, I don’t see why lists, and the consistent application of rules, aren’t good enough to ensure the people on those hunks of metal don’t pose a threat.

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