Ottawa calls in the Mounties to screen airline passengers to U.S.

Canadian Press via Sun Media ^ | 2009-12-29 | Susanna Kelley,

[Clive]

TORONTO - As weary U.S.-bound travellers queued up to face heightened security measures at airports in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton on Monday, the federal government called in the Mounties to help screen passengers travelling south of the border.

A spokesman for the RCMP said the officers will be trying to help clear up the backlog of passengers delayed by new, stricter security measures imposed after a failed terrorist attack on Christmas Day aboard a plane bound for Detroit.

New security measures facing travellers include a pat-down by security agents as well as tougher restrictions on what passengers are allowed to take on the plane.

Bags with wheels are no longer being allowed as a carry-on, and only one bag per traveller can be taken on the plane. All others have to be checked.

"If you have a purse and a computer, you have to choose between the two," said Lincoln Sivasanmugam, an Air Canada service agent at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

That had some travellers unpacking their bags at the check-in counters. Others had to buy new luggage at airport stores.

The long lineups seemed to be easing from those that snaked through Pearson over the weekend. Tired and frustrated passengers were trying hard to take it all in stride.

Many praised the orderliness of Air Canada's process of checking for American flights.

Yvonne Moynes was travelling from Canada to the United States, where she lives half the year. She said Air Canada was handling the situation well.

"They're very organized. We've been told exactly where to go and where to stand and so far so good."

News reports explaining the new restrictions were helpful, she added.

"People should be really aware of how to be ready before the flight."

[Clive]

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[Bobalu]

[fanfan]

Thanks for the ping, Clive.

Related:

Carry-on suitcases a no-go: Transport Canada

Transport Canada issued enhanced security measures Monday for people flying to the U.S., including not allowing most carry-on items aboard planes.

Among the exceptions are medication or medical devices, small purses, cameras, coats, items for infant care, laptop computers and some other personal care items.

Passengers are only allowed one bag, and small suitcases with wheels typically carried aboard aircraft will now have to be checked with other luggage.

That means a passenger with a purse and a laptop would have to choose which one to bring on the plane.

~snip~

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/12/28/12287491.html

[jwparkerjr]

Typical liberal BS. Don’t bother to find out why and how the system failed, just make it more onerous and inconvenient. Leaving in place of course the part that failed in the first place. You end up with a bigger, more complicated system likely to suffer the same failure.

[jws3sticks]

I totally agree with your comments. How stupid can they be. The problem started in Lagos, Nigeria, a real garden spot to be sure, where the jockey short flier used a round trip, paid for in cash in Accra, Ghana eight days before the flight.

When departing he reportedly got on the Amsterdam/Detroit flight without a pass port. I have not seen if he flew from the Lagos/Amsterdam with or without a passport or just bribed his way on the plane.

One would hope the cash purchased ticket required a passport. Maybe, he ditched the passport in Amsterdam. Surely, his proper name was on the flight manifest.

I hope things relax by a week from this Thursday, as I need to carry on a standard carry-on bag which has wheels.

FUBAR, for sure.

[jwparkerjr]

The only answer at this point is to stop all flights coming in to this country from those who lack sufficient security procedures to satisfy our standards. No if’s, and’s or but’s. Put American security personnel in charge of the procedures for any flight that will end up in America.

It's a draconian measure, but unless and until we show our resolve we're living on borrowed time.

[Buckeye McFrog]

forcing Canadian women to ditch the purse at the checkpoint...yeah, THAT’LL really keep us safe!

[jws3sticks]

I spoke with a TSA representative a few minutes. Our domestic to domestic carry-on rules have not changed, including being able to have on of the carry-on bags being a properly sized wheeled suitcase. The live comments are equal to their website, which is why I called, just to be sure the website was not out of date. Assuming no further changes, I should be good to go next week.

[buccaneer81]

forcing Canadian women to ditch the purse at the checkpoint...yeah, THAT’LL really keep us safe!

Unfortunately, this is an example of a great number of "women" in the Greater Toronto Metropolitan Area...