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Starting on Saturday, some of the nation's airline passengers will not have to remove their laptops at airport checkpoints.Passengers who have what the Transportation Security Administration calls "checkpoint-friendly" laptop cases — so-called because X-ray machines can easily see through them — will be free to go through security without opening the case. The policy change by the TSA could speed up security lines for the 2 million people who take U.S. flights each day and reduce incidents in which laptops are damaged, lost or forgotten in airports.
The TSA is not certifying or approving laptop cases, brands or styles. Instead, the agency has published guidelines for the checkpoint-friendly cases, essentially requiring that they provide a clear and uncluttered view of the laptop through an X-ray machine.
This from the same agency that has us run liquids through X-ray machines to ensure they're not explosives, and rountinely fails to detect news anchors and i-team investigators (!) who bring guns and knives through security.
Instead of doing the smart thing (mandating standards to manufacturers and certifying models and brands), they're creating yet more confusion and disarray for the 90% of the flying population who already can't figure out how to print their ticket at a kiosk or that they need to remove the 200 lbs of metal they're wearing so the machine doesn't go BEEP or can't figure out why they have to pay $15 to check a bag, or feel the need to check a bag, or....
That said, much of what the TSA does now is based on inconsistent guidelines anyways, so maybe they're getting good at making up their own rules with no regard to how much time they waste.
It's no wonder they're always upset; I think I would be too if my job added absolutely no value to society.
[news.cnet.com...]
In a major change of policy, the Transportation Security Administration has announced that passengers refusing to show ID will no longer be able to fly. The policy change, announced on Thursday afternoon, will go into force on June 21, and will only affect passengers who refuse to produce ID. Passengers who claim to have lost or forgotten their proof of identity will still be able to fly.
So if you "refuse" to show your ID, you cannot fly.
If you "claim" to have lost or forgotten your ID, you can fly.
The TSA has become really good at protecting us from people who are incapable of lying.
Explosive-Like Item Intercepted at Checkpoint
The passenger was an engineer and said he built the battery to power his DVD player for the long flight to Hawaii. After recognizing that the item could be seen by other passengers as a threat, the man surrendered it to Supervisory TSO Raiford Patterson and was allowed to board the flight.
[tsa.gov...]
The TSA is one of those government organizations that our kids will look back on in 30 years and wonder how we could possibly be so stupid to let it continue for so long, much like Joe McCarthy's madness 50 years ago.
I got right up to the security questions, "any liquids..." and I had to declare having the perfume. The security representative said you have to surrender it or get a zip-lock bag. I daren't surrender it as my wife would not have any perfume (a fate worse than death ;) ), so i asked, "where do I get a zip-lock bag?" I didn't even know what a zip lock bag was. The security guard was, at first unhelpful, but after some persuasion, I managed to get her to at least point me in the correct direction. It was back at the check in desk, back at the start of the long line!
I looked at the flight departure time and noticed my flight had been delayed. Whew! I opted to retun to check-in and ask for a zip-lock-bag. Luckily, at the desk, the check-in staff were helpful and looked and found a zip-lock bag. Incredibly, it is simply a plastic bag with a press to close mechanism! I asked, "is that all I need?" The check-in representative replied, "yes."
I proceeded to rejoin the 20-minute security line again.
When I finally got to the end of the line, once again, I got to the security questions, "any liquids..." and declared having the perfume. Showing the same package I had earlier, now in a clear zip-lock bag, the security representative seemed completely unphased and waved me through.
What a complete waste of time and effort, imho.
I'd add that it wasn't the security operatives that were the problem, it was the crazy situation of putting an already factory sealed package into a plastic bag. Doh!
By the way, I found this link about the bags.
[tsa.gov...]
I'm surprised the TSA or some enterprising staff doesn't offer to sell you a bag on the spot for a dollar. They could probably make more doing that than their salary.
Maybe I'll put my laptop in a ziplock bag next time I travel.
I'm soon going to Prague for a while. Doesn't anyone know how laptops are treated in the EU of late?
