Posted on 08/11/2006 5:43:27 AM PDT by jjm2111
CHICAGO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tighter restrictions on carry-on luggage, including bans on liquids, will disrupt air travel for at least several days and make it even more of a headache for passengers already sick of crowded planes and long lines, experts said.
U.S. security officials banned passengers from carrying any liquids onto planes after British officials said they foiled a plot to bomb flights to the United States on Thursday.
The new restrictions were sure to cause major disruptions for at least two or three days at airport security checkpoints as screeners scour carry-on bags for drinks, hair gels and lotions, experts said.
"They've got to search everything extremely carefully right now," said Joe Schwieterman, transportation expert at DePaul University. "Any time you impose a new rule there's instant chaos, but things settle down in a few weeks."
He said the increased security will be especially taxing for passengers already fed up with long lines and crowded planes during the peak summer travel season.
The heightened concern about travel safety triggered renewed calls for improved security, which can be laxly enforced by airlines and airports loathe to inconvenience passengers.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
"But complete randomness in searches makes no sense at all."
Dittos to that! I am a 5'0" white woman, and I have had both of my knees replaced. I set off the alarm going through security when I flew to CA a couple of years ago. I had cards from my doctor proving the knee replacement and showed them to the "security" droids. They didn't even look at them, and told me, "Go over there" and proceeded to wand me up one side and down the other, along with a full pat-down. My husband and I are flying on Sept. 1st to Vancouver to go on a long-planned Alaskan cruise (our first ever). I can't wait for what is in store for me now when I set off the alarms. I guess a strip-search so they can see the scars!
How the gov't refuses to protect our own borders is beyond me. It's criminal, IMHO.
Someone on another discussion board brought up the point that if they wanted to get something on the plane what would prevent them from just putting a plastic bottle in a jacket pocket. It wouldn't be detected the way things are now.
But of course you can.
You're not a muslim are you?
Of course the kids' father will be of great help.
(This, of course, excludes all muslims.)
And just what exactly is being done on the border along these same lines?.......any bet they're just as porous as ever?
If we remain hydrated, the terrorists win!
Security if going to be backed up far enough without having to check to see that a bunch of people's bottles are actually empty.
Beverages are served on the planes. You don't have to worry about dying of thirst on the airplane.
As for while you're in the terminal, just get a drink at that fountain at which you were planning on filling your water bottle.
You're complaining about nothing of any significance.
You aren't being kept from remaining hydrated, or even significantly inconvenienced. You're complaining because you can't do exactly what you want in the way which you want to do it.
This is effective only at teaching people to be sheep for a police state.
They have solid evidence of a viable threat.
Due to that they are limiting taking fluids and gels on as carry-ons to those who have a clear NEED to have them, such as infants with formula. They can take the time to test the fluids for those relatively few people without the security grinding to a standstill. They cannot spend time dealing with each and every person that might want to carry on a bottle of water.
That's reality. Deal with it.
They aren't infringing on your rights. They aren't making unreasonable demands. They are simply responding to solid evidence that a threat of this type exists currently.
I'm sorry that the airlines and airport security, during a time of war, cannot accommodate your every desire to do things the way you want to do them.
However, maybe you should find something more significant to complain about than not being able to carry your preferred water bottle through security rather than drinking the water provided on the plane.
Poor business folks have to stay in touch every minute!
Not so, just those who cannot function without direction!
To me it's all about gov't. rushing in with all these new solutions to problems they've helped to create in the first place. The solutions always tend to center around more loss of privacy, increased taxes or fees, another new bureaucracy that'll bloat up in short order, etc. A perfect example is the huge array of problems associated with refusing to seal off the southern border.......we're importing more thieves, drug dealers, murderers, rapsists, etc. on a daily basis causing all sorts of mayhem and added expense for law enforcement. Soon, right on cue the cries will appear for a mandatory national ID for everyone and 'voila' Congress already has the Real ID Act already in place and due for implementation by mid-2008.
Then again, you might be on to something. We simply have not tried extending the security barrier perimeter into private homes. Yet. Just think how much safer we would all be when we get TSA checkpoints on every streetcorner. Hmmm. A control freak power junkie dream. Of course Government, Union, and Mosque members will be exempt.
Nonsensical? The British have uncovered a plot to carry on explosive in liquid form and detonate them on planes.
We know that Iran has been spouting off about big things coming up in the near future.
What is nonsensical about implementing what is likely a temporary change in procedures to directly address that threat?
Instead of mindlessly scanning everyone and saying 'no water' to everyone, try to find the people who would want to blow up airplanes.
If you have a magical, foolproof terrorist detector, please share it with the rest of the world.
While I agree that we should pay extra attention to people from nations whose societies have a history of producing terrorists, these are religious extremists, not simply nationalist extremists.
While WASP Muslim terrorists are likely rare, it only takes one to blow up an airplane.
However, you're right that airport security cannot scan or search everyone. Therefore, since they have evidence of a serious threat using liquid explosives, they are temporarily banning liquids in carry-on luggage except for the few cases where they are genuinely needed, such as baby formula.
Security can take extra steps to verify that liquids are not explosives if those allowed to carry them are few, but they cannot simply do a reasonable job of checking if everyone is allowed to bring them on.
Once they have had more time to examine the threat and figure out how to best address it, they will likely relax the rules, and tailor them more specifically, as they have done in the past.
In the meantime, just drink what is offered on the plane, and deal with the inconvenience of having to check a bag with your toiletries in it.
This does not appear to be a an unreasonable response, and it appears that the TSA is even doing what they can to limit it's effect on people as much as they reasonably can.
I don't fly as much as I used to, but I still fly about 6-8 times a year. I travel both domestically and internationally.
I've taken 2 trips in the last month.
While everyone is busy giving up freedom and rights, radical muzzies have access to the secured "sterile" areas and will succeed eventually. The solution is clear, yet your mindset says all travelers must be miserable while the aviation industry goes bankrupt.
Miserable? What are you talking about?
The only time security backs up very far at most airports recently (but before this current alert) is first thing in the morning when they open the gate, or at the very highest traffic times.
Even then it goes very smoothly except for the few people who haven't learned to take off their shoes that have metal stiffeners in them, or haven't learned to take their laptops out of their bags.
Unless I have to hit those highest peak times it is rare that the time from walking into the airport to me standing at the gate for my flight is longer than 15 minutes.
The rules you have to follow are not complicated, difficult to comply with, or difficult to find out about in advance of arriving at the airport.
I figured out years ago how to be able to move through security quickly and easily. It's not hard. The most inconvenient part is that I bought new shoes, and I don't know if this pair will set off the metal detector or not. Unfortunately, my well worn pair that I know did not have metal stiffeners became to battered to wear for business trips.
Due to the current alert. It's going to take longer.
About half of that added time will be due to time it takes to implement the increased security measures.
The other half of the increased delay will be because of the few people who will hold up everything because they will ignore the multitude of signs and warning that they can't take liquids in carry-on bags, and then get indignant about it.
Then again, you might be on to something. We simply have not tried extending the security barrier perimeter into private homes. Yet. Just think how much safer we would all be when we get TSA checkpoints on every streetcorner. Hmmm. A control freak power junkie dream. Of course Government, Union, and Mosque members will be exempt.
You're tinfoil hat is on too tight and cutting off circulation to your brain.
The British have uncovered a plot to carry on explosive in liquid form and detonate them on planes.
Hit the proverbial nail right on the head and it is amazing that so few folks understand what's happening right under their noses......this ongoing ad nauseum battle between the left/right, Rep/Dem, neocon/paleocon and other labels that've been created is nothing more than Washington's version of professional wrestling......yell, accuse and feign anger at the other side while the cameras are rolling then afterward adjourn behind closed doors and laugh like hell at the never-ending ignorance, arrogance and naivete of the general public.
So I gather you're for wanding little old ladies and toddlers?
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