U.S. to End Random Screenings Just as Passengers Board Plane

dbaker · 09-21-2002, 07:05 PM

U.S. to End Random Screenings Just as Passengers Board Planes

Quote:

Washington, Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration will end secondary passenger screenings at airplane gates in an effort to reduce the hassle factor for travelers.

Quote:

``For some reason TSA thinks that dumping out our passengers' underwear at the gate after it has already been dumped out at the security screening checkpoint makes TSA look like they are on top of things,'' Bethune said in a speech to the Wings club of New York in June.

Related: [Poll] How often are you searched?

Finally! Yay!

Nugget · 09-21-2002, 09:42 PM

I love the quote from Gordon.

chodson · 09-22-2002, 09:40 PM

I must say that in other coutries this isn't an issue (when fying internationally) because they search everyone. Makes for much less hassle when no one feels like they were singled out.

dbaker · 09-22-2002, 09:57 PM

I wouldn't mind the search if they were truly random or truly effective.

If my average flight has 150-200 people on it and 5 or 6 people (at most) are searched each flight, how is it that I'm getting searched 50% of the time?

Additionally, I watch them miss compartments in my briefcase and suitcase. It's totally pointless if they're not going to actually search evreything that you have.

I boarded a flight the other day and was being searched and wanded down. The guy wanded the back of me first, then came to the front. As he wanded me down, the wand came across my belt buckle and didn't beep. He froze for a second. He looked down, turned the device on, looked up at me momentairly (I pretended to not notice), wanded down my legs, and let me go.

ghewgill · 09-24-2002, 04:06 PM

I received the "random gate check" routine for the first time a few weeks ago flying HP to BFL (or back, I forget). The bag check was very cursory (didn't look in all the compartments) and the wand check was similarly quick and pointless. I got the impression that the gate agent didn't want to do the gate check any more than the passengers did.

I'm sure nobody will miss this little ritual.

09-21-2002, 09:42 PM	#2
Nugget Senior Member ITYT Navigator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 610	I love the quote from Gordon. __________________

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

09-22-2002, 09:40 PM	#3
chodson Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: EWR - Newark, NJ Posts: 117	I must say that in other coutries this isn't an issue (when fying internationally) because they search everyone. Makes for much less hassle when no one feels like they were singled out.

09-22-2002, 09:57 PM	#4
dbaker Senior Member ITYT Captain Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IAH/HOU Posts: 2,354	I wouldn't mind the search if they were truly random or truly effective. If my average flight has 150-200 people on it and 5 or 6 people (at most) are searched each flight, how is it that I'm getting searched 50% of the time? Additionally, I watch them miss compartments in my briefcase and suitcase. It's totally pointless if they're not going to actually search evreything that you have. I boarded a flight the other day and was being searched and wanded down. The guy wanded the back of me first, then came to the front. As he wanded me down, the wand came across my belt buckle and didn't beep. He froze for a second. He looked down, turned the device on, looked up at me momentairly (I pretended to not notice), wanded down my legs, and let me go.

09-24-2002, 04:06 PM	#5
ghewgill Junior Member ITYT Cabin Crew Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 26	I received the "random gate check" routine for the first time a few weeks ago flying HP to BFL (or back, I forget). The bag check was very cursory (didn't look in all the compartments) and the wand check was similarly quick and pointless. I got the impression that the gate agent didn't want to do the gate check any more than the passengers did. I'm sure nobody will miss this little ritual.