Posted on 12/26/2009 3:21:22 PM PST by Glenn
Before I begin, let me just state that TSA has yet to confirm any of this on its website, so the details aren’t entirely clear at the moment. That said, there are several indications that orders have been issued to cease the use of electronics during international flights. Yes, that means no laptops, no iPods, no Kindles, no CD players, no portable DVD players, no Nintendo DSes — nothing that requires any sort of power on these flights. If this is true, it’s absolutely awful news.
Obviously, this is all in reaction to the Nigerian man who attempted to bring down a plane coming into the U.S. And the TSA is going to do whatever it thinks is necessary to prevent further attacks of a similar nature. But the simple fact is that if the TSA was really this seriously worried about electronic devices, they could have banned them anytime since the attacks on September 11, 2001. Instead, they’re doing it more than 8 years later after a man apparently lit some sort of mixture of powder and liquid in his lap. How that relates to electronics, I’m not sure. This just reeks of a “well, we have to do something” move.
Again, all the details aren’t known yet, and it’s entirely possible that this is just a temporary measure that will be in place during a heightened security time following the attempted attack. Other reports suggest this will only affect planes coming into the U.S. Of course, if you leave the U.S. to go on an international trip, you’re very likely going to have to come back, so this will affect you.
So far, all the TSA is official saying is this:
Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in.”
Those other security measures apparently include not being allowed to get up in the final hour of a flight (so, no bathroom), being limited to one carry-on bag, and not being allowed to have anything on your lap in this final hour.
We’ll update this post when the official policy becomes more clear, but given the previous policies of no liquids, taking off your shoes, etc, it wouldn’t be entirely shocking for a no electronics rule of some sort to be commonplace. And it comes at a time when air travel was becoming almost becoming bearable thanks to WiFi on a growing number of flights (though domestic for now). Instead, it looks like we’ll have to revert back to the old standards: Books, magazines, and newspapers for these flights. If I were the print media companies, I’d jack up the prices in airports immediately. They may have just found a business model that will save them: Fear.
I stand by my statement earlier: If they take electronics away from us on plane, I’d much prefer to be put into a state of hibernation on the flights like in Avatar. That’s about the only thing that will make those cattle cars tolerable at that point.
I said this before and I am becoming convinced that it will come true. You go to the TSA checkpoint, you TOTALLY disrobe, you are given a ticket, you fly like the birds (no clothing), you get back to earth, TSA returns your clothes and you become human again. Will make for interesting sights, good and bad!
That’s very nice of you, but to many on business travel, it would be a royal pain. I travel with no checked baggage, and a Mini-9 and a Kindle in my backpack. So I now have to check that bag, and get those extra delays, plus I’ll not be able to work on say a 13 hour flight to China? And yet the same govt that comes up with this cr*p gave this guy a visa and didn’t pull it when they put him on some half-*ss bad guy list?
Obummer said not to jump to conclusions. This guy might be innocent and a diabetic needing his insulin. He just had a bad reaction to it. Much like Major Hassan.
If I ever have to fly anywhere again I will carry a bag of fried pork rinds with me to snack on.
Outlaw Muslims on airplanes! It's as simple as that.
Bingo!
Paper can start a big fire. guess they won’t be saving print media after all.
Outlaw Muslims on airplanes! It's as simple as that.I stand corrected.
I saw the remains of a laptop someone checked. The gorillas opened it up and had to knee the lid shut to get it to fit back in the case. There were about 3-4 keys left on the laptop when the owner got it back.
Just prior to the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea KAL took all batteries at the gate, put them in a plastic bag with your name on them, and returned them when the flight landed.
We somehow survived. Seems that today without the electronic devices and bottle of water you can’t function.
I used to fly 3-4 trips a month. I don’t fly commercial any more.
So even when terrorists fail, they win, thanks to the lowest common denominator approach of this pathetic government and the knee-jerk reaction of the affirmative action agencies.
Here’s a new plan:
Station 1: Big bag of Pork Rinds. All who sample at least one, go to Station 2, those who decline, go to Station 3.
Station 2: Check boarding pass, ID and you are on your way.
Station 3: Advanced screening, please allow 4 hours for this stage and help yourself to the KY jelly.
Let’s think about this for a second: Every single tyrannical regulation about flying has come from Muslims screwing with ariplanes. Every single one. Why the Hell haven’t we banned those Mad Mo cult members from this country completely???
It’s all so crystal clear now. This “jihadi” was simply a setup and conspiracy by the MSM and Obama’s henchmen to prevent any more Chapter 11 filings and firing of reporters by leftist newspapers. Could be payback to the printers unions, too, for Bam support in ‘08.
Nice.
Another reason NOT to fly. Haven’t flown since June,2002!
First, the TSA is not functioning, (nor is DHS). El-Al and the Israelis don’t seem to be having this problem.
Second, Congress should pass no law that doesn’t adhere to them as well. (Cockroaches come out in the dark to do their damage too.)
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