On the plus side, people can't smoke on planes anymore like back in the old days. That was nonsense.Ahh...but, that's the point. It didn't used to be an "evil", necessary or not. I'm old enough to remember when it was actually a fun adventure, and almost always a pleasant experience, too. But, like an awful lot of things, that's no longer true...
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I still love flying and at the risk of being ridiculed I don't find it much more of a hassle than its ever been, to be honest. Now that I'm working in the industry I have some nice perks too, like being able to jump to the front of the security line with my restricted areas access card and cheap flights on several airlines.
I actually wish I had been a pilot fairly often.
I actually wish I had been a pilot fairly often.
TSA rolled out a new thing today, at Chicago Midway. They walked a bomb dog along the line of passengers and unless the dog 'alarms,' you breeze through without the usual shoes/laptop etc nonsense, just like a Precheck passenger. Smart!
SeaTac has that now too. We got to experience it a couple weeks ago.
What I found awkward was a TSA agent patrolled up and down the line, near the conveyor belt for your bags, ridiculing people (mildly, almost comic) for removing their shoes/laptops/etc. A passenger questioned him for the tone he was taking. He replied along the lines of 'do you hear anyone telling you to remove your shoes? See any signs saying remove your laptop?' You're not being told to, so don't.'
That felt inappropriate to me since that's been the norm for years now.
-Mike
I encountered a TSA agent last year that had, 2 months previously, been employed as an intern on the promotions crew at a local radio station. He was the guy who set up the "spin the wheel" gizmo
for people to win koozies and t shirts and swag when they had a remote broadcast. I don't think he even owned a pair of pants since he always wore cargo shorts and free music industry t shirts. When I saw him swiping people with his security wand all decked out in his TSA outfit I was surprised to see him and asked him about the job. He said it paid better and had beneifts. But anything pays better than the intern job he had. I'd say he had zero qualifications for that job though.
for people to win koozies and t shirts and swag when they had a remote broadcast. I don't think he even owned a pair of pants since he always wore cargo shorts and free music industry t shirts. When I saw him swiping people with his security wand all decked out in his TSA outfit I was surprised to see him and asked him about the job. He said it paid better and had beneifts. But anything pays better than the intern job he had. I'd say he had zero qualifications for that job though.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I just had the most miserable, absolutely pointless, and degrading experience with TSA idiocy yet. Bomb sniffing dog. Then luggage search. Then Pat down. Then they demolished my packed luggage to run some of it through the x-ray again. Why? Because I carry slightly weird looking measuring devices I use for work. I have flown with that stuff for years, but you would think that a tape measure and level morphed into an atomic weapon in the last few months.
If anybody was going to do something stupid, would that person carry tools those morons have obviously never seen, let alone used? I absolutely loathe TSA.
If anybody was going to do something stupid, would that person carry tools those morons have obviously never seen, let alone used? I absolutely loathe TSA.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Thanks. I filed an official complaint. I think we should all start doing that to hold them as accountable as possible.
I have friends in the aviation industry that say TSA actually stands for, "Totally Stupid A$$es". Must say, your post supports that title.
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I get patted down by the TSA every flight now. I had surgery and my abdominal area and shoulder always set off the scanner.
They explain what and why they are doing it, pat me down, and I'm on my way. My interactions have always been professional but that may be because of the airports I have flown out of.
They explain what and why they are doing it, pat me down, and I'm on my way. My interactions have always been professional but that may be because of the airports I have flown out of.
I haven't flown in years and only plan to do so if it's really necessary (e.g., clear across the country or I have to be somewhere by a certain time on short notice). The whole experience sucks. Flying used to be a romantic and easy endevour, much like riding a train. Now, it's a giant PITA.
I go thru pat downs due to hip replacements. Most of them are fine. Two of them weren't. One guy had a serious case of "short man's disease" (I'm 6'2"), the other a 'minority' who was clearly on a power trip. I swear I almost punched that guy for his attitude.
On my last trip to South America I lugged a bass down for a friend, in a fender TSA style case, on 4 planes. On one flight, I was talking to the captain at the gate as it was late getting in. We discussed what I did, the bass, and that video. The gate attendant was super nice and going to get me on the plane early to stow the bass before the mad crush of boarding.
So the crew gets on, and as I am about to board the Captain comes back down the jetway and takes the bass to stow up in the crew closet way up front. Carries it on for me and everything. What a guy! Tells me if no room in the closet it's going in the cockpit.
