Flutterby™! : Airlines & travelers push back 2010-11-10 19:20:37.406067+00

Airlines & travelers push back

2010-11-10 19:20:37.406067+00 by Dan Lyke 12 comments

As pornoscanners and preflightfondlers and security theater in general are pissing off more and more travelers, we're finally getting some pushback from airlines and air travel industry groups: NY Times: T.S.A. Screening May Be Taking a Toll on Travel

The U.S. Travel Association, in fact, is worried that the more onerous screening process will discourage air travel.

“The system is broken, it’s extremely flawed and it’s absurd that we all sit back and say we can’t do anything about it,” said Geoff Freeman, executive vice president of the association. The group has convened a panel of transportation leaders to recommend a better way to balance security with a more efficient and honed screening process.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-11-15 21:44:53.957332+00 by: meuon [edit history]

I have very low personal touching limits, and have had some very good "pat-downs" in foreign countries by sharp efficient military types without crossing my personal boundaries. But in the "Total Sexual Assault" link above, she sums it up well in terms that anyone would have to agree with:

I make sure to warn all my fellow flyers within earshot to beware going through 'un-security' because I fear for all the smallish loose items - watches, rings, laptops...it's nearly impossible to keep your eye continually on your things and it seems to me that someone with sticky fingers would have it fairly easy. What if I told TSA "I'm sorry...doesn't this conflict with your warning to not let my bags out of my sight?"

Oh, and in interests of inclusiveness...TSA is also the "Titty Stroking Authority." They start with "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to touch your breasts." And I always try to answer excitedly, "Oh, please do!" just because I can. Lately, though, they've been wanting to feel my stomach...which makes me think something like: "Yea, I didn't think I was gaining weight...but when TSA suddenly quit feeling up my boobs and kept going for my stomach, I decided I'd better cut back on the sweet tea."

Based on experience: They don't think it's funny if you offer a tip if the girl does it rather than the guy. And don't offer up that the guy squeezing your testicles might be gay, as might the girl, but at least you would enjoy it more.

Heard a friend call the TSA the "Testicle Squeezing Authority" yesterday. Figured it's worth passing on to this crowd.

It's an amazing testament to the TSA's diligence that in their short existence they have managed to rack up a record of injustice, incompetence, indifference, and just plain stupidity so strong that they now rival the DEA as the agency most likely to ruin a citizen's faith in their democratically elected government.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-11-11 19:50:46.218166+00 by: ebradway [edit history]

It's been almost two years that I've been driving to places I used to fly to, but I'm perhaps less tolerant of the crap imposed on the process by the goons and the airlines. It also doesn't help encourage me to fly when NWA has been absorbed into Delta and the new airline seems to combine the worst traits of the two.

Funny how none of the science fiction I read as a kid predicted air travel being killed off by bureaucracy.

For business, we have recently done some 6, 8 and 12 hour road trips because the air travel hassle and time wasted doing BS security checks. Leaving the continent or across the Rockies, flying is the only option. Nancy just spent 14+ hours on a flight (door to door) that was only a 6 hour drive, if I drove slowly and we stopped for dinner.

For business, especially carrying a lot of technical gear, flying has become a real hassle. It is our last option.

If I keep it under 90.. my Mini-Cooper gets 40-44mpg and it's fairly comfy for a big guy like me.

#Comment There's no "may" about it! made: 2010-11-10 19:56:55.022005+00 by: Mars Saxman

All the bullshit security crap sure is discouraging me from flying, if there is any other way I can travel! My wife and I are going to drive 750 miles to visit my family this Christmas in no small part because flying has become such a humiliating, frustrating experience, and neither of us wants to deal with it. We're talking about nipping across the border to Vancouver BC when we next take an international flight, just so we don't have to deal with U.S. airports.

The only reason I can imagine getting on an airplane for the foreseeable future is to visit my sister in New York. Driving from Seattle to NYC is a big deal. On the other hand maybe it would be fun to try it - I haven't driven cross country since I was a kid. I'll just have to plan to go for one long visit instead of dropping by for a couple weekends a year.