New Air Passenger Screening: Round 3

by Catherine Bodry on

The U.S. is finally figuring out how to screen flight passengers without compromising the privacy of its citizens. The Associated Press reports that a “new” and simpler program, called “Secure Flight,” was introduced recently to improve security and keep terrorists off airplanes.

The solution? Passengers must give their full names when booking a flight, whether it be online or by phone. Not only that, but they are also asked to agree to a confirmation of their age and gender in order to reduce the chance of a false match with names on the watch lists.

Hasn’t this always happened? Not only do I give my full name when I book a flight, I also show my i.d. a bazillion times as I check my bags, pass security, and board my flight. But according to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, airlines are passing along their manifests after flights have left, rendering a lot of those i.d.-checking measures a waste of time.

It makes me wonder — if asking for my name, gender, and birth date when I fly is a “new” security tactic, what were the old tactics? If these measures are “simpler,” what other measures will they do away with? With all the flight delays happening, it would be nice not to spend an hour in a security line. But I have little hope of this happening any time soon.

Airport Security, Knife Woes and a Hypodermic Needle

by Jamie Rhein on

When I read about the actor Ed Harris recently throwing a fit in the Heathrow Airport in London because there was a knife in his pocket, I could relate. I almost threw my own fit at the airport in Bellingham, Washington before our Skybus flight. One of my husband’s carry-ons was picked for closer inspection.

Here’s what came out: liquid hand-cleaner, a pair of scissors (we have no idea whose scissors) and a mini-wine tasting kit. The mini-wine tasting kit was still in its packaged box, never opened. It’s one of those gift-items that has a corkscrew, a how to give a wine-tasting party booklet and wine glass charms. Real cute. Perfect for a stocking stuffer. TSA security opened the kit and took the corkscrew. There was a knife attached. I offered to break the knife part off–no sense in leaving behind a perfectly good corkscrew, but she said I would have to go back through security to do that.

The pair of scissors, metal ones and adult size, was allowed. The liquid gel wasn’t given back, but it should have been since it was less than 3 ounces. We couldn’t use it again unless we went back through security. Here’s a list of what is allowed and not allowed on flights if you need a refresher.

While we packed, I forgot to look through my husband’s carry-on. It had been the catch all when we cleaned out the car. Darn it. I would have liked to have kept that corkscrew.

Oh, here’s the irony of all this security checking. I found an unused hypodermic needle and syringe still in the packaging and two empty medicine vials under my 5 year-old son’s seat about halfway through the flight. One of the crew said there had been a diabetic on board on the flight from Columbus. That’s fine, but with all that security, it was an interesting experience to be on the lookout for a used needle when searching for my son’s spilled crayons.

Play Airport Screener Online

by Neil Woodburn on

Most of us have never thought about the tough challenges facing those who work as airport security screeners. Imagine having to sift through baggage all day confiscating prohibited items from an ever-growing list of contraband.

I suppose there is probably a certain amount of Schadenfreude involved here, as sadistic screeners merrily strip travelers of their liquids, jells, and other personal items. But, it probably isn’t all fun and games.

With this thought in mind, Addicting Games has produced a free little web game called Airport Security in which screeners rush madly to keep up with an ever evolving, and increasingly absurd list of items which need to be confiscated from a growing list of passengers anxious to get through security. Let too many through without properly confiscated the correct goods, and you lose the game.

Okay, it’s not the most brilliant thing out there on the web, but it is worth a few minutes of your time. But only a few…

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of January 14

by Adrienne Wilson on

There have been some tear-jerkers, some inspirational pieces and a couple of new faces this week, but I’m in a quirky mood and with that said I’m giving you five of the weeks quirkiest posts, sort of. In no particular order here they are:

5. Dance of the Flight Attendant:
I can’t say that we’ve posted comics in the past or how many more we’ll touch on in the future. With this particular comic Justin brings our attention to the daily ritual performed by flight attendants daily and so many often ignore as drawn up by Jen Wang. It’s short, sweet, and actually quite nice.

4. Quiz: What’s Your Travel Personality?:
After I took this quiz I wasn’t quite sure about myself. In fact I wasn’t quite sure that I’d taken the correct vacation for my um, travel type at all. I came out as a Mind-Venturer, which when I really think about it – it is all so very wrong, but maybe I just never knew my true traveling self. Apparently I’m not the type that would enjoy sleeping under the stars, yet one of my best travel memories was camping on the beach in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Who creates these quizzes again and what type of traveler are you? Think you know?

3. LP’s The Perfect Day:
Say you’re in Dubai and you’re looking to experience the perfect day… Well this could be tough for some, but not all. Perhaps you’d like to experience the perfect day according to what the locals might consider it being or maybe you’re just in need of another great Lonely Planet selection. Think quick insight and travel advice you can trust all to help you find true bliss on your backpacking excursion.

2. Silk Sleep Sacks:
Not comfortable with the hotel sheets? Yeah, I can understand. Before your adventure outdoors ever begins there is the mind-battle every traveler faces indoors the night before in their very own hotel bedroom: To crawl under the sheets or sleep standing up? That is the question. Just like being in the great outdoors you’ll need the right gear if you’re going to get a great night sleep. Now you can buy a Silk Sleep Sack. No clue what I’m rambling about? Check it out then!

1. The Arcade Wire: Airport Security:
In my younger wonder years I used to stick to the joystick of a good ole’ arcade game like glue and since I’ve loosened my grip I’ve come to explore the real-world and not the mind-warping scenarios in most arcade games. Now I and you too, can delve into the world of Airport Security via an arcade game. It’s not mind-warping – it is real! I just wonder how many points you score for discovering hyper-active and explosive lip-gloss.

Fake Boarding Passes

by Iva Skoch on

The NY Times had a story about a grad student at Indiana University who created a web site with a fake Northwest Airlines boarding pass. Designed so that families could print out the fake pass get past the TSA check-points to see off or greet their loved ones, it got him in hot water: a cease and desist letter from TSA and an FBI raid of his home.

Obviously, the pass couldn’t be used to board a plane, but it sure points out the foolishness of this ID-plus-boarding-pass check at airports these days. I’ve noticed it’s common to have two different people do a check, in the same line, thirty feet apart.

Security experts note that the fake pass ploy is obvious and surely would have been thought of long ago by bad guys, so this is nothing surprising. In fact, one security consultant said he’d get rid of this useless checking altogether–and get rid of secret no-fly lists too–and spend the money on well-trained, plain-clothes agents milling around airports looking for suspicious activities. He said airport current checks are designed only to “catch the sloppy and the stupid.”