quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
One more reason to have TSA Pre

Which is of course the whole point. Soon everyone will be pre-check and that system will be a cluster. But wait, if you just enroll in platinum pre-check you will be one of the elite. In the meantime the gov't steals more of our money

quote:

Originally posted by mark_a:

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
One more reason to have TSA Pre

Which is of course the whole point. Soon everyone will be pre-check and that system will be a cluster. But wait, if you just enroll in platinum pre-check you will be one of the elite. In the meantime the gov't steals more of our money

Too late. TSA is going to limit further enrollment due to the numbers signing up.

quote:

the geniuses at the airlines decided to charge you $50 per checked bag

which they said was to offset the at the time high fuel costs. Which since have gone way back down. Still have the fees, though.

Just flew last weekend. TSA made it interesting.

They decided my laptop was unusual and flagged it for a swab and sniffer test. When I got home I heard something rattling inside my laptop and discovered a tiny piece of metal that looked like it came from a threaded hinge pin (certainly a non-laptop part).
It evidently entered the laptop through the cooling fin holes on their examination table. Could have shorted out my device and caused some scratches to the hinge cover.

Then TSA behaved as if they had “never seen” a device that was my toothbrush travel case. Sonicare toothbrushes have a travel case like a clamshell (probably 3-4 years old) that charges the toothbrush handle. Because of this they sidelined my small carry on and kept me there about 20 minutes while they discussed it.
I will say they were all polite.

Good thing I arrived early-

Flew American Airlines. Right after we took off an older gentleman gently tapped the female steward (Oh, the humanity- I almost said stewardess...) on the arm.
She immediately spun around and snarled at him- “Don’t touch me, I don’t like that!!!”…

Wifi didn't work (no big deal for me- seldom use it), one bathroom immediately went out of commission, flight was packed with all overheads full.

I flew a lot more in the past. It was more enjoyable then. Now I avoid it if at all possible.

Just home last nite - I DROVE 10-1/2 hours down for a project and back again instead of flying. Luv'd the solitude and the missing

Too
Stupid for
Arby's
gang...................

I used to fly fairly frequently for business and pleasure. Yes: Pleasure. And flying used to be a relatively pleasurable experience. It was made all the more pleasurable because, on most airlines, you could upgrade from coach to business, or even business to first, for a relatively modest fee if the next class up had unfilled seats.

Even in coach, even at my 6'4" height, the seating was not exceptionally uncomfortable.

I was only ever once detained, and that was because of a license plate in my carry-on. (That was Newark.) Even flying out of Frankfort Airport when the Red Brigade was active, or London <-> Belfast during The Troubles, was relatively painless.

Then we got airline deregulation. Somehow I knew, I just knew, what would happen. And it has. Now something that was once only moderately inconvenient, and could even be enjoyable, has turned into a thing that everybody, passengers and crew alike, dreads.

Good job, U.S. Government and airline industry! Good job!

My wife wants to visit friends and family in Europe this fall. Hasn't been back in ten years. She wants me to go with her. I will, because she wants me to. But, where I once would have looked forward to the trip, now I dread it.

If I had my way I'd never go near another airport for the rest of my life.

quote:

Originally posted by tanksoldier:

quote:

One more reason to have TSA Pre

So TSA is so frustrating that you give the government permission to investigate your life in ways they wouldn't be able to without your permission.

...but that's not the point of the whole exercise or anything.

This. US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendment IV.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Maybe if these goddam airlines would give up the $50 or so to check a bag, this wouldn't be such a problem.

I saw this firsthand recently flying from Philly to Tennessee, its like NO ONE checks a bag anymore and they all crowd around the gate loaded up with all kinds of huge bags and suitcases that shouldn't even be allowed as carry-on.

As did I on my recent flights to visit family.

TSA goons at Spokane were so far in the dark ages that one can only wonder how they managed to eat without help.

Finally got on the plane, and watched a bunch of dingbat women bringing on their foot locker sized bags on board, and then struggle to put them in the overhead bins.

And the flight crew did nothing to stop it.

Oh, and the TSA goons at Spokane required me to take off my suspenders and go through their ancient "scanner" again, and then they pissed and moaned about my belt buckle, which was nothing other than standard style.

The TSA operation at Spokane was a typical gubbermint MCF, where there were at least 30 of them, with 28-29 standing around doing nothing while 1 or 2 of them actually dealt (poorly) with passengers.

There was a newer style (but still ancient) scanner there, not in use. Why? I asked and was told they didn't know how to use it.

Will not be flying again. Rather spend the money and time driving than getting mind fucked by those idiots.

Vegas is to be one of the 12 test sites for the more comprehensive program.
Today (right now) they are doing the K-9 screening instead. Dog walks the line and then everyone is treated like Pre Checks. Nothing out of the bags etc. I like dogs and all but not sure I trust that process. Especially when we are supposedly going to more restrictive screening.

Try traveling back and forth from Mexico with a full compliment of cave diving gear!

As I put my carry-on bag on the machine I walk through and immediately go to the table, because I know they will check me.

The Totally Stupid Assholes need to go away.

Idiots are worthless. Only thing they manage to do are make people's lives miserable. If it weren't for that job, I suspect most of them would be: in jail, dead or pumping gas.

A federal government job that's unionized. What could possibly make it more inefficient?

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:

Today (right now) they are doing the K-9 screening instead. Dog walks the line and then everyone is treated like Pre Checks. Nothing out of the bags etc. I like dogs and all but not sure I trust...

Ouija Dogs for the Win!!

If God wanted man to fly commercial, we would be born with a blue fist up our ass.

Tub Stacking Assholes and Security Theatre are no longer adequate descriptions of their obscene uselessness and ludicrous procedures. Is there a worse example of our gov't?

It's appalling, really. I used to think it would never come to this, but I don't think I'm going to fly commercial anymore unless it is a dire need or some rare dream vacation to a far away place, and that's a shame because I've always enjoyed it for the most part, but enough is enough, and we all have limits. I'm not afraid of terrorists, I'm allergic to b.s.

I guess I'll be driving to anywhere I can get to without this and the rest of their idiocy.

May every person of the TSA and Govt who are responsible have the runs, perpetually!

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:

quote:

Originally posted by tanksoldier:

quote:

One more reason to have TSA Pre

So TSA is so frustrating that you give the government permission to investigate your life in ways they wouldn't be able to without your permission.

...but that's not the point of the whole exercise or anything.

This. US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendment IV.

I think the system would work much better if folks couldn't just sign up for PreCheck.

Mrs.BurtonRW and I enrolled in Global Entry b/c we vacation out of the country on a regular basis and it's a hell of a lot easier to spend 5 minutes in line and 2 minutes at a kiosk than it is to wait 1-2 hours + getting through customs and immigration when we come back.

Since I have absolutely no problem with .gov controlling entry in whatever ways are necessary (because that's actually one of the 18 enumerated powers), it doesn't offend my sensibilities in the least.

Just so happens that PreCheck comes with Global Entry enrollment, so that's a nice bonus.

-Rob

BurtonRW,
I have a Social Security card, a Selective Service card, paid federal income taxes and did tax returns for 45 years, applied for and received Social Security benefits, passed numerous NICS checks, applied for a National Parks pass, etc. You think they’d know me by now.

I made an appointment tomorrow to get a TSA PreCheck card. If another card will make them happy...

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
BurtonRW,
I have a Social Security card, a Selective Service card, paid federal income taxes and did tax returns for 45 years, applied for and received Social Security benefits, passed numerous NICS checks, applied for a National Parks pass, etc. You think they’d know me by now.

I made an appointment tomorrow to get a TSA PreCheck card. If another card will make them happy...

I had a TS clearance for 36 years of govt and military service, that meant nothing to the TSA.

Pre-Check (we have it thru Global Entry) makes a potentially painful process less painful. Be sure to add the number to your airline profile so it appears on your boarding pass.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
BurtonRW,
I have a Social Security card, a Selective Service card, paid federal income taxes and did tax returns for 45 years, applied for and received Social Security benefits, passed numerous NICS checks, applied for a National Parks pass, etc. You think they’d know me by now.

I made an appointment tomorrow to get a TSA PreCheck card. If another card will make them happy...

I had a TS clearance for 36 years of govt and military service, that meant nothing to the TSA.

Pre-Check (we have it thru Global Entry) makes a potentially painful process less painful. Be sure to add the number to your airline profile so it appears on your boarding pass.

For $15 more (aka $3 more per year since they're both good for 5 years), Customs and Border Patrol's Global Entry is a much better deal. You get fast entry back into the US (can save hours) and it includes TSA PreCheck.

quote:

I had a TS clearance for 36 years of govt and military service, that meant nothing to the TSA.

Going through Manchester, NH, a failed Walmart greeter demanded identification. Curious, I handed over my military identification card. She looked, called her supervisor over, then said: "You'll have to show us a driver's license." OMG.

One of my Eagle Scouts from years ago hasn't had a problem with TSA for a decade. (He works in exec protection for the Secret Service).