US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Observations on recent DCA trip

My latest trip to DCA had a few interesting (at least to me) things. They asked for ID at the RDU/geo Club consistent with the new rule (they did not ask me http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ). When I went to the designated "secure" DCA gate, 2 police officers there and they tell me they need to see the BP so I show it to him but he says he meant the gate agent (at AA at RDU the cop does look at the BP). The gate agent studies it and asks for ID so I show the DL. They also ask everyone else for ID. Thought this is weird but maybe this means that they will not check when they collect-wrong! The same agent looks at IDs and BP when collecting. Another agent nabs the 2 elderly ladies behind me for extra screening. I had noticed their accents and foreign passports and wondered if they would be selected.

On the way back in DCA, the woman in front of me with a kiosk BP gets it reviewed in detail by the gate agent and he says you have to go for extra screening. I have looked and cannot find anything obvious on my kiosk BP so I am wondering is there a code that I am missing? The AA BP prints CLR on it, so has anyone noticed what US prints. Is it the dreaded S is selected and nothing if not?

BTW, the Dash 8s are newer with leather seats and no pen marks.

While I think most of the 'new security procedures' are silly, at least the kiosk-printed BP makes SOME sense. You told a computer, not a live person, the answers to the security questions.

I know, if you're gonna lie, it doesnt matter who asks you. But there's a human element at work that might detect people getting nervous by being questioned.

All of this begs the question: why do they allow kiosks if this is going to happen? It saves a few minutes of check-in time, which you then give back at the gate..

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hscottm:
While I think most of the 'new security procedures' are silly, at least the kiosk-printed BP makes SOME sense. You told a computer, not a live person, the answers to the security questions.

I know, if you're gonna lie, it doesnt matter who asks you. But there's a human element at work that might detect people getting nervous by being questioned.

All of this begs the question: why do they allow kiosks if this is going to happen? It saves a few minutes of check-in time, which you then give back at the gate..</font>

I agree completely. Security at US airports is still a joke. I sure hope the TSA gets it fixed once they are in control of all the nation's airports.



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US-CP; UA PE; Hilton Gold VIP; Crowne Plaza Gold

I do find security interesting with respect to the DCA and RDU/geo route. Last trip, the flight attendant in first class asked me to stand up about 5 minutes out of DCA to reach back in the overhead compartments and try to find a blanket for a woman complaining about being cold. I responding "are you sure" and she responded "yes." It must be my caring eyes and none-threating musculature (or some word spelled close to this one).

Also, my companion had two water bottles in a carry-on bag and these showed up during x-ray. A security agent removed them and conducted a "nose" GPC! Can one really sniff a water bottle and determine safety?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PersonalCareChemist:
Can one really sniff a water bottle and determine safety?</font>

I don't know about safety, but I'm pretty good at judging the quality of vodka with a sniff. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Do you know that some people in First Class actually waste Vodka by putting it in Mr. and Mrs. T's bloody Mary mess?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PersonalCareChemist:
Do you know that some people in First Class actually waste Vodka by putting it in Mr. and Mrs. T's bloody Mary mess?</font>
Wouldn't it be nice if they would pony up for some Grey Goose or Belvedere instead of that nasty Smirnoff!! It would make the connections much more pleasant.

What has been described is a good reason for not using DCA unless you are going to Washington.. It's a shame. That mini-hub was the best kept secret in the system. DOD is calling the shots on this one, for obvious reasons. A gratuitous thought. If the proximity of that airport to the Pentagon troubles the military, maybe its time to move to the outlying suburbs like other agencies have.