TSA Liquid Ban On Its Way Out

Cranky, are you going to LAX today for the Gala?

I think there’s some regime change coming in Washington, which will probably lead to a sensible person being in the top spot at DHS and a better person at the top of TSA. With better leadership, comes better regulations (in theory… this is my theory based on a couple of policy turns at DOL, where we have better leadership than DHS… but really, a headless chicken frequently seems to have better leadership than DHS), better regulations rationalize things for people, and one of the most visible pieces of annoying travel safety that isn’t tied to anything could be a casualty.

Now, if they could only ban matches and lighters. Why do people on a plane need a way to start a fire when you can’t smoke on the plane and the first attempt at any shenanigans after 9/11 was a guy trying to start a fire in coach? Puzzling.

So they need to roll out new xray machines at all airports? How long is that going to take? (and what is it going to cost) And will that lead to a situation where in airport XYZ the ban is lifted because of the new machines, and in airport ABC the old rules still apply because they haven’t phased in the new machines there? Given that many travelers are apparently unable to read/comprehend signage, I’d anticipate chaos and confusion.

When I few from Narita several years back, they put my bottle of soda on a fluid scanner of some sort and said it was “OK.” Wonder what this machine was? It shot beams through it.

Oh no. Will this ban mean that you will not be having a writing contest for best water ban slogan next year?

Darn, I wanted to meet you! maybe next time:(
GRRR

I wanted to talk about the problem of airport security and the TSA.

About a year ago, my family took a vacation to Las Vegas and flew America West Airlines, now U.S. Airways. The flight over to McCarran Airport was unremarkable, we had a nice time in Vegas, we lost our collective shirts but had a good time.

Our problem started once we tried to leave McCarran. We arrived at McCarran early, our flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until 10 p.m. We hung out in the terminal tried to check our bags early, that was our first mistake.

Seems checked baggage wouldn’t be available until an hour prior to departure, so we had to lug our luggage all over the terminal.

Once our flight appeared on the departure board, we checked our baggage. Then we were allowed to got through the TSA screening to our terminal…the TSA was polite and courteous, not like they are portrayed.

Once we got into the departure terminal we waited, waited and waited. Finally, after it got to be around 9 p.m., someone from U.S. Airways informed us that our flight as well as the flights to twelve other destinations served by U.S. Airways were cancelled due to zero visibility. The destinations were from LAX in the south, to Seattle-Tacoma in the north.

We were told that we could take a chance on a flight to Santa Barbara; however, we’d still need to find our own way home to San Luis Obispo. We declined the offer, instead choosing to take a rescue flight the next morning from McCarran to LAX, then from LAX to San Luis Obispo, getting us home at 3 p.m.

We were scheduled with United, they at least were friendly to our situation. We later found out that because of U.S. Airway’s screw up their operators who normally handled overseas connection had to come out and try to rebook 3,000+ passengers on other connecting airlines.

We then had to encounter the indiginity of camping out overnight at McCarran, seems that U.S. Airways doesn’t give hotel vouchers if they have to cancel flights. To say that the furniture wasn’t comfortable is an understatement, second mistake!

Once we made it threw the night, somehow, we had to experience the indignity of going threw another TSA screening. Never mind the fact that I was crankier than a bear, the TSA agents assigned to United were beyond rude. They pulled my mother and I out of line, rummaged through our luggage, and when I asked why, a guard shoved me against the glass partition and said if I moved a muscle they’d shoot me!

Once they had me down to my pants, shoes removed, no shirt on, and my belt and my change in my pockets spilled out on a tray, they informed me I could get redressed, they stopped us because we were acted unusual; not getting any more than 4 hours sleep will make you act funny!

As a result of our expriences, I refuse to fly anywhere anymore, add to that the experiences of overly rude flight attendants who have a God complex, is it any wonder people want to see the airlines fail?