I have been guilty like the majority of people and often refer to TSA in a tongue-in-cheek manner. All kidding aside, these folks to include the agency itself have a hard task to accomplish. After the September 11th attacks, we the public
demanded that our government make our air travel a virtual “Fort Knoxâ€. It is fair to ask for a level of security for our traveling needs. Those needs have shaped the automobile industry for decades (Crumple Zones, Air Bags, Mandatory Seat Belt laws, etc…), and have added to our sense of security while traveling on our roadways. The TSA has only been in operation for a few years. They had to pick up the pieces of a decentralized and uncoordinated security screening system that was in place. Yes, they have added their own hiccups and knee-jerk reactions to the operation, but they have made strides to lessen the discomfort to the public. I too miss the 20-minute counter-to-boarding days, but in everything there is a sacrifice.
Half way through the flight I opened my bottle of water and dropped in an "airborne" tablet to ward off the germs. It's like an alka-seltzer and was efferesing (sp?).
I would hope that the TSA screen for dangerous chemicals (even those that react with water) and not worry about “airborne†tablets or Alka-Seltzer.
To this day most of the passengers pulled aside for secondary screening are over 75 years old.
Where exactly did you get this information? This is the unfortunate power and glorification of the media. Do you seriously believe that out of the thousand of passengers that go through security on a daily basis, the elderly are pulled aside that often? Out of all the times I have gone through security I have seen an elderly person pulled to the side 3-4 times. Most of the secondary screening is done on 20-50somethings like myself. When the elderly or a nun does get chosen for screening the media pounces on it, take it twice around the dance floor, and call it good journalism. Me, I call it a waste of airtime.
NOBODY IS GOING TO GET IN THE COCKPIT.
That’s the kind of thinking that got us where we are today.
What is with plastic knife wrapped in a napkin with a steel fork? Do they think a fork can't kill??? Let's be real here.
I agree steel forks can be used as a weapon. I believe this is a compromise between security, and the airlines however. Some are still grumbling over the fact that airlines are using plastic-ware to serve wine, imagine if they take away the nice shiny fork too.
😛
Just think how much you could make selling lighters & matches outside the terminal.
Oh and how I do hope that someone is smart enough to have little shops ready and waiting once you get past baggage claim. I don’t smoke, but the household-six does, and I’d pay big money after a 3 hour flight (not including time after security/waiting for boarding) when said better half realizes she can’t have a puff while I wait on bags.
😀
