New TSA Security Rules - I Feel So Much Safer Now

[mjdmike]

<Just venting>

Is it just me, or does anyone else think we going to secure ourselves right out of our own freedom?

Take for example, the latest TSA rules imposed as a response to the 12/24 incident.

The incident as we know it: This person got up when the jet neared Detroit, went to the restroom, mixed an agent with some PETN, sat down and covered his torso and legs with a blanket and pillow while trying to ignite the device.

What is our response? Let's make sure THAT doesn't happen again!

The new TSA policy changes as Continental saw them -- onboard my flight home Sunday:

1. Pat down everyone boarding a flight to the US. (75 minute delay)
2. No longer store items on the floor under the seats. (if not enough room overhead, it has to get checked, regardless of what it is. Glad I got to board early - I'd hate to have to check my photo gear.)
3. No longer allowed to leave your seat within one hour prior to landing. At 1.5 hours prior, they announced that anyone needing to go to the restroom must do it now, to which half the jet got up and stood in line. At one hour prior, anyone still standing in line had to take a seat for the duration of the flight.
4. No pillows or blankets allowed in your lap within one hour prior to landing. A book or newspaper was OK. I guess they don't think a terrorist could hide anything under a newspaper.
5. Seat backs and tray tables up starting 1.5 hours prior to landing.
6. No electronic devices allowed 1.5 hours prior to landing.
7. No in-flight movie or TV. (what?)

Basically for the last hour of the flight we had to sit with our hands placed neatly in our laps and listen to a 6 month old baby scream because it couldn't have a blanket or food since they were neatly stored overhead for our safety.

What are we doing? How is any of the above going to keep a terrorist from doing something in the future? Does anyone really think this will help?

What do I think our policy changes should have been regarding this incident? NOTHING! I'm all for security, but changing our policies every single time a terrorist tries something is insane.

What if the person hides a device in a book? No more books!! What if a terrorist hides a device in his body? Cavity searches for everyone! What if the next one tries a really radical approach and goes to the restroom to ready his device at 1 hour and 17 minutes prior to landing? What?!? Everyone in their seats at 1 hour and 17 minutes prior to landing, by golly!

Roughly 13 trillion people have traveled by air since the 911 attacks, yet there have been less than a dozen attempts at a US bound jet since then that we've heard of. Yet we feel the need to knee-jerk and change our policies for the 4.5 million passengers a day due to the act of one person.

We have allot more people dying in this country of unnatural acts than we do by terrorism, but those laws don't seem to change very fast, do they?

What's next?

I have to wonder if the primary target of terrorism is not the act itself, but the reaction to it.

Ok, I feel better now. Back to our regularly scheduled program....

[kayumangi]

Good point. But without sounding too political or religious, this I can say, I believe that if my borrowed time is up, no matter what precautions I take, God will take my life away, period. (mods if this statement is against forum rules, please delete).

[Angelo]

It's such a hassle to get through airports now-a-days!
Had proper procedures been followed and correct powder and chemical residue
detection equipment been installed in Amsterdam this would have never happened.

Mike, and thanks for telling us the new regulations for Continental. I travel a lot and carry on my equipment.

[L Stegall]

Yes, I'm so looking forward to future trips where I can't (a) take my camera gear or my laptop because I cannot and/or will not check them; (b) work on my laptop, read or do needlepoint to pass the time during the flight; (c) take a nap because I can't use even my own pillow or blanket, much less the airline issued ones; (d) watch the inflight movie; or (e) go to the bathroom. Yeah, flying will be such fun. I really agree with you Mike. I'm all for keeping the flying public safe, but this seems like smoke and mirrors to make us "feel" safer, but not really BE safer, all while being a royal PITA for the frequent business traveler, in particular. I hate to say it, but this frequent business traveler will be rethinking whether to take any flight that is anything less than absolutely essential - it's just such a hassle.

My 85 year old dad said today he expects we will all be required to fly naked soon. At least it would speed up the security line pat downs and maybe make the plans a little less crowded, because no one will want to fly.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by mjdmike

.....
I have to wonder if the primary target of terrorism is not the act itself, but the reaction to it.
....

I agree. It's getting a little crazy with these knee jerk reactions.
What this one guy did is going to end up costing so much time, money and resources in our reaction that it kind of makes you wonder if the terrorists are getting just what they wanted.

[engstrom]

But on a positive note maybe they'll realize that air travel will be much more of a hassle and then raise the national speed limit on highways to 100 MPH to enable much quicker trips by driving.

Of course many more people will die because of the new higher speed limit than would possibly die due to terrorist attack so maybe it's not such a positive note after all.

[Cajungaltx]

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; by his wife, Discretion; by his daughter, Responsibility; and by his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers: I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, I’m A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not join the majority and do nothing.

- by Anonymous

[AndrewCCM]

Note to self.. Do not travel on Continental for the foreseeable future. There is no way I would travel with those restrictions unless it was a very short flight. And in that case, I'd drive.

[jeffkohn]

It's sad, but no surprise really. After all it only took one shoe bomber before people had to remove their shoes when going through security. It would be one thing if this stuff made us measurably safer, but it doesn't.

Continental was already on my s#!% list for the checked baggage fees (which dovetails nicely with their new policy about stowing items under the seat). I now fly Southwest when it's an option (eg direct flights or at most one stop).

Instead of adding new procedures and regulations, maybe they should just correctly implement the ones we already have. This guy was on terrorist watch lists and never should have been allowed on the plane in the first place.

[dryicerx]

Very sad indeed. The next time someone takes a sunglass bomb, all sunglasses will be banned. A bomb under the shirt, everyone needs to go topless. A exploding cellphone, ah yeah, cellphones are all banned.

One of these days, someone is going to flip out because of the harassment and pain caused by TSA that they will do something stupid and harmful.

Also saw this on a different site, seems so fitting.

[jgrindal]

As a person on the NICS list, getting onto an airplane is very difficult for me. I am always shuffled off to my own private room and given a special search. Because I always get such terrible treatment, I ensure that I always bring my camera with me and take LOTS of pictures. Nothing gets a bee in a TSA agent's bonnet like a photo. I always offer them the option to buy a print as well, because I AM a nice person.

I must find it moderately amusing that all of the precautions that we take to ensure that our freedoms are preserved strip us of them. This is just the latest in a series of charades by the US government to convince all of us peons that they are in control.

[David_3]

Those rules have changed about four times already. No telling what they will be tomorrow.

[engstrom]

Here's an interesting article for those that want to take the time:

Bruce Schneier on Security Theater

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

The most restrictions are on INTERNATIONAL flights not DOMESTIC at this point.

So I guess if you get sick they just want you to set in your seat and have an incident there, wonder how long it would take to change a seat cover out?

Maybe some one will start Bare Ass Airlines, you fly naked but the airline staff is in the RAW too! TSA doesn't have to worry about pat downs just checking luggage and carry on items.

But they would have to keep the planes warm!

[mjdmike]

Originally Posted by engstrom

Here's an interesting article for those that want to take the time:

Bruce Schneier on Security Theater

Here's another interesting read: Is Aviation Security Mostly for Show?

It looks like they are relaxing the new rules a tad, by allowing the pilot to make the call on when people can get up, and what they can hold in their laps.