Airport Security Stinks! (pass it on)
 

Goodness, gracious. NBC news reports two more cases of people waltzing right past baggage screeners. The first guy has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. He forgot to leave the gun at home, and he walked right through airport security. The second guy deliberately put a bunch of box cutters in his carry-on to see what would happen. He too got through baggage screening, but was arrested when he admitted what he did. <BR> <BR>All this, just days after WTC when airports are supposedly on high alert. Uh, the system is far from fixed, people. <BR> <BR>I think it is high time Bush decided to LEAD on this issue. Remember how Kennedy declared the space race? Bush should immediately lay out an air security plan to move toward El Al-style security. Announce a real plan and take it to the people; we'll support it. If he continues to say nothing, the special interests are going to drag their feet forever, and nothing will change. <BR> <BR>He said he'd end the bickering in Washington. Let's go, then.

I do agree - I was horrified when I heard the report this afternoon. We are all only as safe and secure as the security workers are responsible and on-the-ball. I'm not sure our American culture yet understands what responsibility we all have to each other. You can not do your job badly when you're in a security position!!! Good security will be costly but will be worth it!

I flew on Monday from Indianapolis to the east coast and was not impressed with the new security. First of all - the same minimum wage people are performing the checks - we need trained security professionals doing this! Second of all - none of my bags were inspected. The only thing different I was asked to do was show my ID and ticket before going through security and then also before boarding. THIS IS NOT ADEQUATE!

My mom works as airport security. <BR>I have been waiting for America to come to this realization as above. <BR>I asked her what was different since the attacks, and no big changes. <BR>They only open the luggage of the people that cannot leave and address and phone number. <BR>HAH!!! Anyone can make one up, and who says the one leaving his address and phone number will not have a bomb? <BR>The pilots on Sept.11 use their real names and I 'm sure they wouldn't have been afraid to use the addresses they had in the US and phone numbers. <BR>My mom is very upset. She said everyone she works with in the airport is upset with the new methods and think they could do more. They all agree that anyone still wanting to do harm can do so easily. <BR>Why isn't the American public standing up and yelling? <BR>Why are we be so placid (calm)? <BR>I wish everyone would start complaining out loud, tell everyone you know that more should be done and can be done. Tell your representatives. They will listen if everyone speaks up.

P.S. And I don't want to see my mom and others like her doing this job any more. <BR>Though I trust my mom, and know she is on the ball, I want professionals doing this job.

Yes, it is bad. <BR> <BR>The Bush administration is considering whether to resist federalizing baggage screening and airport security. According to today's Washington Post, the administration is considering measures like "strengthening federal oversight of background checks for baggage screeners, enforcing tougher standards for screeners' training and skill levels, and establishing some form of public-private partnership authority for airport security." <BR> <BR>You want to hear something else that is downright scary? Also from the Post: "Kenneth M. Mead, the Transportation Department's inspector general, told a Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearing that airlines were not using $1 million machines designed to detect explosives in airline baggage. In some cases, he said, the machines had been left in warehouses. Some airlines had installed them but had underused them. He said, "A machine sitting idle is not a powerful exemplar of security." He declined to say where the machines were not being used, citing security considerations." <BR> <BR>

I know two places they are not being used. <BR>Pensacola and Valpariso. <BR>PNS and VPS <BR>Yes, they are smaller cities, but one can always start from there. <BR>I had also heard Boston was on that famous list too.

Thanks, xxx. I hope there are no terrorists visiting this board! We really needed that chink in our armor announced to the world!

a terrorist doesn't have to read this board to know about the two places I just said. <BR>All they have to do is go there and see with their eyes. <BR>Also, Boston was on tv.

Linda: If you are really so worried about a terrorist being on this board, why are you not more worried about your airports? <BR>This problem exists in more than the ones xxx listed as it has been on your tv more than once. <BR>Why don't you tell your Congress people or local reps. you don't like it? <BR>Get something done, this is a serious problem. <BR>The USA is such a Big and Powerful country, there should be no reason for you all not to be able to do better than you are now.

OK, where specifically can we complain, <BR>beside our reps. I mean, isn't there a web site or a direct email to someone more in authority. <BR>My reps. are afraid of their collective shadows (but not of airline security).

I would write to the Dept. of Transportation, FAA and the secretary of Transportaion, Mineta or whatever his name is .

Web site for DOT: <BR> <BR>http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/

I don't think the next attack will be as brazen as WTC. Given that the terrorists know (and probably have known for a long time, as it is public information) that we don't have checked baggage explosive screening at minor airports (and even some major ones), it's kind of easy. <BR> <BR>I travel on business. When I check in, I am asked whether my bag has been in my possession since I packed it. In the past, I may have answered this question incorrectly, just due to failure to pay attention. But sometimes, I have said "No, I left it at the hotel while I attended a meeting," or "No, it was in my colleague's office during the meeting." The response is, "Oh. Well, that's OK." Never once has my checked bag been hand-searched. <BR> <BR>So all the terrorist has to do is get a job as a bell-hop and put a bomb in the suitcase of a business traveler. Or, when tour groups put their luggage out in the hall at 6:00 a.m., just put a bomb right in it. <BR> <BR>I'm not trying to be alarmist. Really, I'm not. But people would be up in arms if they knew just how shoddy airport security is in the U.S. <BR> <BR>Oh, by the way, did you know cooks at Marriott hotels make $9.00 an hour, and baggage screeners make $6.00?

Writing to Mineta is a waste of time. Based on what I've read, DOT is completely clueless and unwilling to embrace wholesale change. <BR> <BR>Write to the airlines and the management of your airport. The airport execs and airlines are rumored to be supporting federalization of airport security. They claim the job is bigger than they are, and I have to agree. I would think they would like to have all the ammunition they can get.

If you are American, why don't you know who to complain to? <BR> <BR>All your representatives whether they listen or not. Whether they are afraid of their own shadow or not. <BR> <BR>Senators <BR>Congressmen <BR>Judges <BR>Mayor <BR>Governer <BR> <BR>FAA <BR>George Bush (yes, you can write letters and even email to the white house) <BR>DOT <BR>NTSB <BR> <BR>And everyone you can think of. <BR>I know you will say, "OH, they won't read it". Well, you can bet that if more people started complaining about the same thing, they would listen. <BR> <BR>They will listen. <BR>Please people, please America, <BR>PLEASE <BR>write or call these people. <BR>Lets get the ball rolling. <BR> <BR>For those that hate writing, write just one and then make copies. <BR>Send them out to all. <BR>

Just wanted to add--you can use email not just pen and paper and most representatives do have phone numbers so you can call and voice your concerns.

I flew to Germany via o'Hare recently and was shocked by the'improved ' <BR>security.No one even checked our bags.A friend of mine flew to the UK from Greece a few days earlier & was submitted to far more stringent <BR>checks,Every carry on bag was searched & they were not even allowed to take batteries in carry on luggage.We weren't even asked what we had in our bags,very un -nerving after recent events.Sadly the new US security measures don't seem to measure up to the old ones used by the rest of the world.

Lordy, lordy, lordy. Tonight's NBC news reports that the FAA is lifting its veil of secrecy surrounding the air marshall program. How many air marshalls do you suppose the FAA had prior to WTC? <BR> <BR>Answer: 36, all used on international flights. <BR> <BR>OK, you say. We need to raise that number substantially so that we can have at least one marshall on every domestic flight, right? <BR> <BR>Wrong. Bush is proposing that we increase the number of marshalls, but not to cover every flight. It is thought that the mere possibility that there will be a marshall on the flight is sufficient. <BR> <BR>Whoa! Every plane has the potential for a hijack and WTC disaster, so every plane needs a marshall. If the public is willing to pay for it, what's the problem?

XXX, no need to attack me about my Americanism. <BR>Now you have had the perfect opportunity to list who you think will <BR>do something. <BR>Keep your energy towards your cause, not attacking fellow Fodorites.