View Poll Results: As crew or as a passenger, do you think airport security is good enough?
Yes
115
8.40%
Yes, but there is room for improvement
464
33.89%
No
613
44.78%
No, but there is not much more that can be done
170
12.42%
I have no opinion
7
0.51%
Voters: 1369. This poll is closed
Airport Security
I had an arsehole transplant but the arsehole rejected me, which is why I write such rubbish
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The TSA...first hand experience
Took my 1st trip with my girlfriend and her son (11) since the TSA took over control of security at US airports this past Tuesday. You think it was bad before.
At Newark, we were signalled out for a complete bag and body search at the gate prior to boarding which is fine with a couple of glaring exceptions. I quote here: " We don't need to search the boy and you can give him his bag too"...say what !! Secondly, when the inspector, maybe 22 or 23 searched my girlfriend's toiletry bag, a couple of tampax / pads fell out onto the floor and table. After fumbling with them and subsequently re-dropping them, the inspector turned beet-red and said everything looked fine. All he did was search her toiletry bag and nothing else.
If you thought this was bad, you have no idea what occured in Las Vegas. This time, we checked our luggage as opposed to carrying it on because we had no desire to see a sniffling nosed kid checking out our dirty clothes. All we put through the x-ray machine was a M&M bag full of gifts. We sailed through security. For those who don't know MaCarron, we were taking Continental out of Terminal A which is a good jaunt from the check-in terminal. It's interspersed with slot machines and smoking lounges on the way to the gate.
As we had time to spare, we stopped in one of the smoking lounges / gaming areas for that one last elusive jackpot. Shortly after, a couple of TSA employees came in and started looking in the garbage cans. There were 2 rather large ones...the cans and not the employees. We thought they were looking for explosives, incendiary devices etc. which is a good thing. But NO. They were looking for discarded empty boxes of Marlboro cigarettes. When the 1st lady found a "buy 2, get a 3rd one free carton", she almost came unglued once she found she would acquire double points by cutting off the bar-code on the wrapper. She became positively giddy when she found an additional 2 empty boxes in the 2nd trash-bin.
God Bless her though, she tore off the bar-codes, and then put the remaining trash back into the bins and sat down with her friend for a well deserved smoke break. No exaggeration as God is my judge. While I'm not trying to duplicate Danny's security theme topic (and feel free to move this if need be), I thought you might all want to know that sometimes new isn't necessarily better and sometimes it's far worse than it's predecessor.
At Newark, we were signalled out for a complete bag and body search at the gate prior to boarding which is fine with a couple of glaring exceptions. I quote here: " We don't need to search the boy and you can give him his bag too"...say what !! Secondly, when the inspector, maybe 22 or 23 searched my girlfriend's toiletry bag, a couple of tampax / pads fell out onto the floor and table. After fumbling with them and subsequently re-dropping them, the inspector turned beet-red and said everything looked fine. All he did was search her toiletry bag and nothing else.
If you thought this was bad, you have no idea what occured in Las Vegas. This time, we checked our luggage as opposed to carrying it on because we had no desire to see a sniffling nosed kid checking out our dirty clothes. All we put through the x-ray machine was a M&M bag full of gifts. We sailed through security. For those who don't know MaCarron, we were taking Continental out of Terminal A which is a good jaunt from the check-in terminal. It's interspersed with slot machines and smoking lounges on the way to the gate.
As we had time to spare, we stopped in one of the smoking lounges / gaming areas for that one last elusive jackpot. Shortly after, a couple of TSA employees came in and started looking in the garbage cans. There were 2 rather large ones...the cans and not the employees. We thought they were looking for explosives, incendiary devices etc. which is a good thing. But NO. They were looking for discarded empty boxes of Marlboro cigarettes. When the 1st lady found a "buy 2, get a 3rd one free carton", she almost came unglued once she found she would acquire double points by cutting off the bar-code on the wrapper. She became positively giddy when she found an additional 2 empty boxes in the 2nd trash-bin.
God Bless her though, she tore off the bar-codes, and then put the remaining trash back into the bins and sat down with her friend for a well deserved smoke break. No exaggeration as God is my judge. While I'm not trying to duplicate Danny's security theme topic (and feel free to move this if need be), I thought you might all want to know that sometimes new isn't necessarily better and sometimes it's far worse than it's predecessor.
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Sharm-El -Sheikh Int AP
Having had a late hols for a week on the Red Sea I was discusted at the airport orocedures.
Not a million miles from Isreal, Jorden and a host of other dodgy areas to say the least, the security and the normal procedures where non existant.
Arrival was a do it yourself thing with baggage from 5 flights spread all over two halls.
Departure was even worse.
Arriving 30 mins prior to the transfer coach, antisipating delays, we arrived to a security check whith a long cue. Money however allowed bypass and entry into the departure hall.
Once inside it was obvious it was goinig to be anything but smooth.
For a fairly old airport it obviously had the technology with new air traffic tower and the lounges had large plasma screen notice boards etc but on no occassion were these used to indicate anything other than the previous flight pr even before.
Massive cues are fairly normal but these where not moving due to baggage not moving through the conveyor belts. This problem was solved by the whole line of passengers leaving their baggage in a pile in front of the check in desk and proceding to the passport control. Who knows what could of been placed on the aircraft not accompanied by a passengers bum in seat.
This was evident on about five occassions while we waited to check in and also happened to ourselves also.
This s not over reacting and I have photos to boot.
The actual check in was a pharse at which a passenger list was passed to us and we where asked to tick off our names. (DIY)
If indeed you where not sat next to each other then a small contribution would secure this pleasure to the disruption later to JMC crew who thought they wnew who was sat where for meals. minor I know but just goes to show a plan (OR PROCEDURE ) is only good if followed.
Thats my whine and as a an aircraft captain in the rotory world I feel very sorry for the fixed wing boys and girls out there who have to put up with this every day to allow the big companies to make cash.
Not a million miles from Isreal, Jorden and a host of other dodgy areas to say the least, the security and the normal procedures where non existant.
Arrival was a do it yourself thing with baggage from 5 flights spread all over two halls.
Departure was even worse.
Arriving 30 mins prior to the transfer coach, antisipating delays, we arrived to a security check whith a long cue. Money however allowed bypass and entry into the departure hall.
Once inside it was obvious it was goinig to be anything but smooth.
For a fairly old airport it obviously had the technology with new air traffic tower and the lounges had large plasma screen notice boards etc but on no occassion were these used to indicate anything other than the previous flight pr even before.
Massive cues are fairly normal but these where not moving due to baggage not moving through the conveyor belts. This problem was solved by the whole line of passengers leaving their baggage in a pile in front of the check in desk and proceding to the passport control. Who knows what could of been placed on the aircraft not accompanied by a passengers bum in seat.
This was evident on about five occassions while we waited to check in and also happened to ourselves also.
This s not over reacting and I have photos to boot.
The actual check in was a pharse at which a passenger list was passed to us and we where asked to tick off our names. (DIY)
If indeed you where not sat next to each other then a small contribution would secure this pleasure to the disruption later to JMC crew who thought they wnew who was sat where for meals. minor I know but just goes to show a plan (OR PROCEDURE ) is only good if followed.
Thats my whine and as a an aircraft captain in the rotory world I feel very sorry for the fixed wing boys and girls out there who have to put up with this every day to allow the big companies to make cash.
Sims Fly Virtually
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2 incidents -
first, flying Mid-East airport to LON via Bucharest. Held up for an hour at transit while they tried to get an x-ray working. Finally took us to another X-ray to check our carry-ons ("what on earth for - we've already been checked first sector?")
A few days later I found a "Stanley knife" (box-cutter) in my laptop bag that I use as a carry-on, which had been in a side pocket since I bought it ages ago and forgot to transfer it to my tool box. Very startled, to say the least - I know the X-ray profile of these things must be quite small, with most of them being plastic, but I got it through X-ray twice! And that's what, I understand, was used on Sept 11th.
second, flying from UK to USA and last in the line to board. Most of the pax had their bags physically checked but I was just asked "anything sharp?", or words to that effect, and let on board.
Was that because I was holding a "staff ticket"? or because they were running late geting the plane boarded?
Still an awful lot to do before we can be sure there's no "bad boys" getting on with us I'm afraid.
first, flying Mid-East airport to LON via Bucharest. Held up for an hour at transit while they tried to get an x-ray working. Finally took us to another X-ray to check our carry-ons ("what on earth for - we've already been checked first sector?")
A few days later I found a "Stanley knife" (box-cutter) in my laptop bag that I use as a carry-on, which had been in a side pocket since I bought it ages ago and forgot to transfer it to my tool box. Very startled, to say the least - I know the X-ray profile of these things must be quite small, with most of them being plastic, but I got it through X-ray twice! And that's what, I understand, was used on Sept 11th.
second, flying from UK to USA and last in the line to board. Most of the pax had their bags physically checked but I was just asked "anything sharp?", or words to that effect, and let on board.
Was that because I was holding a "staff ticket"? or because they were running late geting the plane boarded?
Still an awful lot to do before we can be sure there's no "bad boys" getting on with us I'm afraid.
Join Date: Oct 1998
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Airport Security - Where Are the Good Ones ?
I've just been reading Danny's straw poll thread that seems to have had a lot of us identifying places where security is not of the standard we would like.
I always like to "light a candle rather than curse the darkness"
so...
Are there any airports out there that are getting it right ?
(As far as security goes)
I don't mean things like not taking eye lash curlers out of ladies handbags - a security guard has orders to remove them even if thinks it's a silly order.
I'm talking about the entire system at the airport ;
Access to airside is genuinely secure.
Airport staff are actually 'security aware' in all things they do.
The Security guards are doing it right (how ? why ?)
And so on.
I would like to offer Hong Kong as a place that seems to be getting it right. Perhaps also Singapore.
Hong Kong's hand baggage checks really impress me. No guards chatting with their friends instead of looking at the X ray monitors. They have have supervisors right there checking the security guards to see they do their jobs properly, politely and thoroughly. The guys with machine guns also give the impression that they mean business.
Please, there will be loads of you ready to bad mouth Hong Kong. Don't lose the premise of this thread.
Lets find the good airports, see what they are doing right, and then try to get the other airports to change for the better.
Cheers
I always like to "light a candle rather than curse the darkness"
so...
Are there any airports out there that are getting it right ?
(As far as security goes)
I don't mean things like not taking eye lash curlers out of ladies handbags - a security guard has orders to remove them even if thinks it's a silly order.
I'm talking about the entire system at the airport ;
Access to airside is genuinely secure.
Airport staff are actually 'security aware' in all things they do.
The Security guards are doing it right (how ? why ?)
And so on.
I would like to offer Hong Kong as a place that seems to be getting it right. Perhaps also Singapore.
Hong Kong's hand baggage checks really impress me. No guards chatting with their friends instead of looking at the X ray monitors. They have have supervisors right there checking the security guards to see they do their jobs properly, politely and thoroughly. The guys with machine guns also give the impression that they mean business.
Please, there will be loads of you ready to bad mouth Hong Kong. Don't lose the premise of this thread.
Lets find the good airports, see what they are doing right, and then try to get the other airports to change for the better.
Cheers
I had an arsehole transplant but the arsehole rejected me, which is why I write such rubbish
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Thasnksgiving Booty
The Government reported today that over Thanksgiving Week, they confisicated over
15,000 knives
9 box-cutters
6 guns
1 Brick
as well as over 20,00 items including
knitting needles
nail-clippers
ammonia
and Meat Cleavers !!
The icing on the cake was the confiscation of a toy cannon in O'Hare made out of live ammunition!! They are still studying why anybody would need a brick on a airplane !!
Don't these people who fly over a holiday weekend ever watch the news?
Andy
15,000 knives
9 box-cutters
6 guns
1 Brick
as well as over 20,00 items including
knitting needles
nail-clippers
ammonia
and Meat Cleavers !!
The icing on the cake was the confiscation of a toy cannon in O'Hare made out of live ammunition!! They are still studying why anybody would need a brick on a airplane !!
Don't these people who fly over a holiday weekend ever watch the news?
Andy
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Its rather obvious, but as no one has pointed it out on this thread, then please let me!
Airports are large, complicated facilities. Access to them is neccessarily unrestricted in order for the public to make use of them. There are a great many of them.
It is not possible, by ANY means to raise Airport Security to a level which will stop very determined men from doing what the want to do.
The only way to achieve this is by removing the very real grievances, by political means, which drive the terrorists to such extreme acts.
Unpalatable I know. But fact.
Thankyou. Now feel free to return to stories about the time you went through security and they didn't spot your pen knive.
Airports are large, complicated facilities. Access to them is neccessarily unrestricted in order for the public to make use of them. There are a great many of them.
It is not possible, by ANY means to raise Airport Security to a level which will stop very determined men from doing what the want to do.
The only way to achieve this is by removing the very real grievances, by political means, which drive the terrorists to such extreme acts.
Unpalatable I know. But fact.
Thankyou. Now feel free to return to stories about the time you went through security and they didn't spot your pen knive.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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My Daughter and I flew PHX-LHR on Sunday and found the very heavy duty TSA presence polite, cheerful and professional. This despite my daughter having scissors in her hand luggage (again!!) and my failing to remove my laptop from my briefcase, evidently a misdemeanor that requires explosive sniffing and re-xray.
We just have to live with it and these guys had a good attitude. But I wonder what they do when their sniffer gets a false alarm?
We just have to live with it and these guys had a good attitude. But I wonder what they do when their sniffer gets a false alarm?
Swounger
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Upgrading US security
Well what do you think of this:
Under the headline "Retarded Immigrant Strives for Independence," reporter Arthur Bovino notes approvingly that 21-year-old Kareen Dupervil, a mentally retarded Haitian woman "with a first-grade reading level," has applied for a job as a baggage handler at La Guardia Airport in Queens, N.Y.
The Times writer tells us that Dupervil "took a test at the airport with two other mentally retarded adults . Though Ms. Dupervil did not pass, the trainer who gave the test called (her job counselor) to encourage her to study and try again." Thanks to help from the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service, a government-funded charity that provides disabled and "undocumented" persons with employment assistance and is supported by the Times's Neediest Cases Fund, Dupervil will be tutored "for the test twice a week. She will take the test again in a few months."
And she will take the test again and again, presumably, until she passes -- or sues under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act to get the job. Only the best and the brightest security professionals at our nation's airports . http://www.townhall.com/columnists/m...20021204.shtml
Under the headline "Retarded Immigrant Strives for Independence," reporter Arthur Bovino notes approvingly that 21-year-old Kareen Dupervil, a mentally retarded Haitian woman "with a first-grade reading level," has applied for a job as a baggage handler at La Guardia Airport in Queens, N.Y.
The Times writer tells us that Dupervil "took a test at the airport with two other mentally retarded adults . Though Ms. Dupervil did not pass, the trainer who gave the test called (her job counselor) to encourage her to study and try again." Thanks to help from the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service, a government-funded charity that provides disabled and "undocumented" persons with employment assistance and is supported by the Times's Neediest Cases Fund, Dupervil will be tutored "for the test twice a week. She will take the test again in a few months."
And she will take the test again and again, presumably, until she passes -- or sues under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act to get the job. Only the best and the brightest security professionals at our nation's airports . http://www.townhall.com/columnists/m...20021204.shtml
Join Date: Dec 1999
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As a passenger, I was distinctly underwhelmed by the security at Hong Kong earlier this week. Before checking in for my flight just before 7 am on Dec 2, I noticed a large suitcase standing unattended by the seats near the Cathay Pacific counters. Twenty minutes later, it was still there, in solitary splendour. I pointed this out to one of the CX staff, who inanely responded that it probably belonged to a passenger who had been called away. I agreed that this was the likely explanation but asked her if she didn't think it still should be pointed out to Security. She then said she would do so. I went through to my gate, so don't know if she did.
I passed through CLK several times during the last two weeks and don't recall ever hearing announcements concerning unattended baggage.
Rockhound
I passed through CLK several times during the last two weeks and don't recall ever hearing announcements concerning unattended baggage.
Rockhound
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Announcing unatteded luggage.
Rockhound,
Does it make sense to be announcing unattended luggage over the terminal loudspeakers to already nervous travlers?
Is this the normal procedure for airport staff to be alerting security services to the fact that baggage has been left unattended?
Does it make sense to be announcing unattended luggage over the terminal loudspeakers to already nervous travlers?
Is this the normal procedure for airport staff to be alerting security services to the fact that baggage has been left unattended?
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Apollo,
What I meant was regular admonitions over the loudspeaker to not leave baggage unattended and warning that such items would be removed. Such announcements are common in airports (eg Toronto), train stations, bus terminals, etc.
Rockhound
What I meant was regular admonitions over the loudspeaker to not leave baggage unattended and warning that such items would be removed. Such announcements are common in airports (eg Toronto), train stations, bus terminals, etc.
Rockhound
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American airport security was a "Connected Crime" scam before 9-11; and a very profitable one, at that. Huge cashflow - low overhead.
In the year prior to 9-11, the American security companies were merged into three, then sold to European investors at a discount; implying a foreknowledge of 9-11.
As it now stands, American airport security is programmed to go back to private hands in 3 years; per the American Nazi-like "Patriot Act."
The scammed American "Homeland Security Act" (complementing the "Patriot Act") provides the funding for the alleged airport security.
For those who don't know the story, the original "Homeland Security" law was known as H.R. 5005, containing 230 pages. In the background was H.R. 5710, containing 484 pages. The difference was billions of dollars in corporate "pork."
At the last second, the numbers on the two bills were switched; the "pork" version was passed. The White House advertised only the smaller of the two bills. Thus, an example of neo-American corruption.
For a decent account on American Airport Security, see:
http://home.attbi.com/~skydrifter/asn.htm
Look toward the bottom of the page for the "9-11 REDUX" account. It's quite interesting. Especially when you note that no viable measures are being taken, as opposed to the obvious sabotage of 'government' security, versus "privatised."
In the year prior to 9-11, the American security companies were merged into three, then sold to European investors at a discount; implying a foreknowledge of 9-11.
As it now stands, American airport security is programmed to go back to private hands in 3 years; per the American Nazi-like "Patriot Act."
The scammed American "Homeland Security Act" (complementing the "Patriot Act") provides the funding for the alleged airport security.
For those who don't know the story, the original "Homeland Security" law was known as H.R. 5005, containing 230 pages. In the background was H.R. 5710, containing 484 pages. The difference was billions of dollars in corporate "pork."
At the last second, the numbers on the two bills were switched; the "pork" version was passed. The White House advertised only the smaller of the two bills. Thus, an example of neo-American corruption.
For a decent account on American Airport Security, see:
http://home.attbi.com/~skydrifter/asn.htm
Look toward the bottom of the page for the "9-11 REDUX" account. It's quite interesting. Especially when you note that no viable measures are being taken, as opposed to the obvious sabotage of 'government' security, versus "privatised."
