Pennypincher

I understand that to pay for the new security at the airports a new tax (on top of the existing excise taxes, PFC's and 10% federal ticket tax) will start being charged immediately after the congress passes the bill on airport security. That will increase the effective taxes on a typical airplane ticket to as much as 45%.

I thought it was interesting that the republican plan for airport security had a higher tax than the democratic plan. Up to $20.00 per round trip ticket. That will pay for alot of mimium wage security guards!

Buy your tickets now before this silly tax!

Dave

As they cut income taxes usage taxes will increase, you will end up paying the same at the end.

Linda

Besides, they can't charge it until the President signs the bill. Simply being passed by Congress is not enough. Has he signed it yet?

Beth

Bill is not even close to being signed into law yet. The house passed it a couple of days ago but in a different version than the Senate did. It will go to joint committee to hash out a compromise and then back to senate to be voted on. Once same same bill passes in both senat and house then will go to Bush to sign.

L

Thanks, Pennypuncher, for that insight. The Fodors board seems to be suffering from a certain ennui >>, now no fair looking!). A silly tax, you say ... for that ole silly security we all say we want. I'd suggest there's some min. wage thinking at work. Ciao

Ann

What I don't understand is how they think that federalizing airport security is going to make it better? I've worked in the federal government, and the incomptence and waste that goes on in there is simply incredible. I got out as soon as possible because I couldn't stand it.

anon

I believe the intention is two-fold. First, all security at each airport in the US will be the same across the board. Right now I believe that some airports have truly trained security personnel while others have off the street people being paid minimum wage with little or no background check. Second, the federal govt. has access to the resources to do extensive background checks and profiles as they do with those who apply for jsutice department or investigator positions. It is further the intent to train all security in much the same way FBI, sky marshals, ATF,CIA, SS, DEA, agents are trained with a true law enforcement background and therefore the workers shopuld earn more than minimum wage.

Ann

I'm all for standardization.

But I've also seen the poor qualify of federal workers who are paid "more than minimum wage". Simply giving lower level workers more money does not magically make them better and more vigilant at their jobs.

Also, people are pointing fingers at the security companies--why aren't they blaming the airport authorities? After all, the airport authorities solicited the bids for security contracts. Then they selected the cheapest bid. Not surprising, then, that airport security workers aren't paid or trained very well.

Maybe federalizing the process will solve some problems, but it will cause many others. For instance, it now takes up to 27 months to receive a security clearance for those jobs in the federal government that require such a clearance.

Norka

Anon,

You think we are going to train airport screeners like we train the FBI??????? Are you nuts??

Pennypincher stated his political viewpoint. Very easy to spot. As with most political viewpoints, very little substance. Obviously voted for the great loser, Algore.

Ann laid it right out on the line. Way to go Ann.

FBI????

Norka

L

I don't think the biggest problem will lie with the security folks, Federal or not, but with the other folks who have direct access to planes ... baggage handlers and loaders, fuel, maintenance, food, cleaners, etc. The government is talking about the need for background checks on all these people ... literally tens of thoursands of people where I just bet the turnover rate is fairly high, and some of their work is done well away from the airport. What about the food services that are special for private jets ... you order, they deliver to the jet. What about private jet services like Indigo, where they advertise you need not show up until 15 minutes before the flight. This looks extremely tough to me. I think passengers are going to have be very wary and willing to report what they suspect. Ciao

Beth

I think what anon means by training like FBI is this, though he may not have had the particulars. All federal law enforcement people 18-11 positions is what I think they are called are required to attend 3 months traing at the Federal Law Enforcemnt Training Center (FLETC school) in Georgia. After that is completed each individual division has another school specializing the training and tailoring it to that agency. Some agaencies have a very short (couple of weeks) specialized training others such as FBI and SS send their trainees to lengthy schools of an additonal 4 or 5 months (FBI in Quanaco; Secret Service in Maryland) It is my understanding of the proposed bill and hope that these federal airport security personnel will go to the FLETC school with everyone else including FBI and skymarshals for 3 months. They however will then have acouple of extra days specilizing in airports on top of that rather then several extra MONTHS of schooling. These will be highly trained professionals and deserving of the higher pay they will receive. At least I hope it works this way in reality, right now its only on paper.

Pennpincher

Hey I was complaining about the tax, I did not want alot if silly talk about airline security.

Can't they pay for airport security out of national security funds instead of nickle and diming the poor air travelers to death.

Anon

Airport security and the tax go hand in hand. I for one dislike paying extra just like everyone else, but am willing to pay the price for better standardized security. National security funds I would imagine have already been budgeted and allocated somewhere else leaving no extra to pay for this previously unanticipated cost.

Topper

ttt