Opt outs in the USA are reportedly down to close to nil and, anecdotally, that's certainly true.
I'm sure there's somebody who didn't fly to/through the UK, but w. overbooked flights most of the summer, it's not meaningful.
I didn't say anything about the number of people opting out in the US. I'm just thankful that you can still do that here. If I were to fly, I'd opt out even if I was the only person doing it. I don't follow the crowd.
As for the UK, I'm sure their airport security workers are nicer and friendlier than in the US. Maybe that could be the reason people don't mind flying there?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T.J. Bender
As of late, it seems that the only people to go through WTMDs are crew and airport staff, families with small children, and those lucky enough to walk up to the AIT machine when there's a line three or four deep already.
I find it probable that opt-opts are doing so farther from the checkpoint, and being counted as "lower ticket sales" rather than "opt outs at the checkpoint."
__________________
"Fear profits a man nothing - unless they're a TSA employee, and then it's the only reason they have a job."
I didn't say anything about the number of people opting out in the US. I'm just thankful that you can still do that here. If I were to fly, I'd opt out even if I was the only person doing it. I don't follow the crowd.
As for the UK, I'm sure their airport security workers are nicer and friendlier than in the US. Maybe that could be the reason people don't mind flying there?
The answer to the original question is: people who are unlikely to cause trouble.
Single woman traveler, being friendly or smiling? I've been singled out for that.
Businessman, knows the drill, needs to get to work? Pick them.
Children, elderly, families? Higher chance of an incident ending up on YouTube.
Middle aged passenger on a obviously once-per-year leisure trip? Wildcard, why bother if there is an easier target?
I don't blame TSOs for selecting passengers that make their jobs easier. I think the true fault lies with a system that allows choices like this to be made.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by janetdoe
The answer to the original question is: people who are unlikely to cause trouble.
Single woman traveler, being friendly or smiling? I've been singled out for that.
Businessman, knows the drill, needs to get to work? Pick them.
Children, elderly, families? Higher chance of an incident ending up on YouTube.
Middle aged passenger on a obviously once-per-year leisure trip? Wildcard, why bother if there is an easier target?
I don't blame TSOs for selecting passengers that make their jobs easier. I think the true fault lies with a system that allows choices like this to be made.
I think the true fault lies in a population that is so paranoid, so afwaid of the big bwown tewwowist bogie man, that it allows such invasive and abusive searches without warrant, probable cause, or articulable suspicion, to be carried out by non-LEO minimum-wage clerks with near-zero accountability and near-limitless power.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. And today, the good people are not only doing nothing about these evils, they're applauding them and actually asking for more of them, out of sheer paranoia.
And today, the good people are not only doing nothing about these evils, they're applauding them and actually asking for more of them, out of sheer paranoia.
Worse, the average traveler is willing to accept an almost infinitely higher probability that their "security" will cost them their dignity and/or belongings in order to provide the illusion that they're "safer" than the original infinitesimally tiny chance of an actual "tewowwist" incident at the checkpoint or in-flight.
__________________
"Fear profits a man nothing - unless they're a TSA employee, and then it's the only reason they have a job."
I want to fly out of airports you all are flying out of. Even families with children go through the scanners at my airport. NO ONE is picked for WTMD except crew (and sometimes not even them). And backups? Scanner can be stacked 20 deep, and nope, everyone's waiting for it.
I think the true fault lies in a population that is so paranoid, so afwaid of the big bwown tewwowist bogie man, that it allows such invasive and abusive searches without warrant, probable cause, or articulable suspicion, to be carried out by non-LEO minimum-wage clerks with near-zero accountability and near-limitless power.
Want to know the really sad part? TSOs are comped well-above minimum wage to, essentially, stand around doing nothing, and occasionally go on a power trip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lovely15
I want to fly out of airports you all are flying out of. Even families with children go through the scanners at my airport. NO ONE is picked for WTMD except crew (and sometimes not even them). And backups? Scanner can be stacked 20 deep, and nope, everyone's waiting for it.
My hunch is that the TSA is conditioning people to expect to be scanned, so that when they roll out of graduated trusted traveler program, with 9/10 security for the top level, 2010 security for the mid-level (undress, liquids out, your laptop can stay in your bag, scanners are for secondary/random use only), and 7/1/2012 security for the untrusted travelers (scanner and/or patdown for everyone in line). My guess on percentages would be 15% PreCheck-style, 60% mid-level, 25% untrusted. If TSA conditions us to expect such a hassle at security now, odds are in their favor of a strongly positive reaction if/when this change is rolled out.
__________________ Every increment of radiation exposure produces an incremental increase in the risk of cancer.
My hunch is that the TSA is conditioning people to expect to be scanned, so that when they roll out of graduated trusted traveler program, with 9/10 security for the top level, 2010 security for the mid-level (undress, liquids out, your laptop can stay in your bag, scanners are for secondary/random use only), and 7/1/2012 security for the untrusted travelers (scanner and/or patdown for everyone in line). My guess on percentages would be 15% PreCheck-style, 60% mid-level, 25% untrusted. If TSA conditions us to expect such a hassle at security now, odds are in their favor of a strongly positive reaction if/when this change is rolled out.
Reminds me of certain other political regimes in which one could avoid much of the harassment by carrying one's "Party Member" card on their person at all times.
__________________
"Fear profits a man nothing - unless they're a TSA employee, and then it's the only reason they have a job."
I want to fly out of airports you all are flying out of. Even families with children go through the scanners at my airport. NO ONE is picked for WTMD except crew (and sometimes not even them). And backups? Scanner can be stacked 20 deep, and nope, everyone's waiting for it.
I'm based out of DFW, too. Do you use terminal E primarily? That's the only one I never use.
Do you use terminal E primarily? That's the only one I never use.
