New TSA security measures in the aftermath of the NW AMS/DTW flight
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AC, VIPorter, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 368
New TSA security measures in the aftermath of the NW AMS/DTW flight
Maybe I missed it, but I'm surprised I haven't seen a thread on this yet. Per Air Canada's website:
Under new rules enacted by Transport Canada and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, passengers and their carry-on baggage will be subject to full searches both at airport screening points and prior to boarding at the aircraft gate area.
In addition, new rules imposed by Transport Canada will limit the amount of carry-on baggage to one item per person travelling on flights from Canada to the United States.
New rules imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration also limit on-board activities by customers and crew in U.S. airspace that may adversely impact on-board service. Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Orlando
Programs: DL 4MM/PM, UA 1MM/Gold, AA Paper
Posts: 1,386
So for the last hour of an international flight, the passengers and kids will have to stay seated and not be allowed to use the rest rooms! That should be interesting. I wonder how that will work out?
Let's punish the masses for the action of one whackjob from Nigeria!
Let's punish the masses for the action of one whackjob from Nigeria!
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
I believe that the rational, 100% secure response is to immediately begin deploying BDOs overseas. They would have caught this guy, no question. Of course we will want US BDOs since we obviously can't trust foreigners. We will just start shipping them off to AMS, CDG, LON,... Of course we will have to pay their housing and other costs while on assignment, so TSA is going to need a few billion more dollars.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
So for the last hour of an international flight, the passengers and kids will have to stay seated and not be allowed to use the rest rooms! That should be interesting. I wonder how that will work out?
Let's punish the masses for the action of one whackjob from Nigeria!
Let's punish the masses for the action of one whackjob from Nigeria!
#5
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Too many
Programs: Lots
Posts: 5,760
The "final hour" rule is especially hilarious. Ok, fine, The Bad Man will just blow up his stuff before then.
I'd like to see the TSA try and enforce my not having a magazine on my lap. I'd also like to see the TSA explain that passengers on one hour domestic flights may not get up at all.
Pure and simple overreaction. Go TSA!
I'd like to see the TSA try and enforce my not having a magazine on my lap. I'd also like to see the TSA explain that passengers on one hour domestic flights may not get up at all.
Pure and simple overreaction. Go TSA!
#6
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,143
Hold your horses. There's no confirmation yet from TSA. For all we know, Air Canada could have made that part up.
I still am holding firmly on the fact that I strongly doubt TSA will enact any new policies. Why? This was an international flight that happened to land in Detroit. TSA had nothing, zilch to do with the screening. Therefore, they have no say about this.
I still am holding firmly on the fact that I strongly doubt TSA will enact any new policies. Why? This was an international flight that happened to land in Detroit. TSA had nothing, zilch to do with the screening. Therefore, they have no say about this.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
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#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,723
Hold your horses. There's no confirmation yet from TSA. For all we know, Air Canada could have made that part up.
I still am holding firmly on the fact that I strongly doubt TSA will enact any new policies. Why? This was an international flight that happened to land in Detroit. TSA had nothing, zilch to do with the screening. Therefore, they have no say about this.
I still am holding firmly on the fact that I strongly doubt TSA will enact any new policies. Why? This was an international flight that happened to land in Detroit. TSA had nothing, zilch to do with the screening. Therefore, they have no say about this.
I just checked the status of UA's flights from FRA to ORD and IAD, and they all look badly delayed, indicating that something is probably going on.
I fear you are too optimistic about TSA having a rational response. TSA's entire philosophy is based on reactionary restrictions after an incident. The "liquid bomb" incident involved international flights, and no bad guy with a liquid ever bought a ticket, let alone boarded a plane. Yet they banned all liquids for several months, implemented absurd restrictions on UK - US flights (virtually no carry on) for quite a while, and continue to have absurd restrictions on liquids.
Granted, we haven't seen a domestic response from TSA yet (or any statement by a US carrier). It's possible what we are seeing is all the overseas stations going into some pre-planned "fail safe" mode with the se restrictions until they get directions from the mothership (DHS/TSA at home, who are certainly still in holiday mode and not running at full force), which could in theory take a deep breath and realize that no action is needed (and that the proposed actions do absolutely nothing to mitigate the threat).
But I have little doubt that this incident by another bungling nutjob will in the end cost us more of our freedom and dignity, cost more $, and make traveling even less fun.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,143
That makes sense. I guess I am still in holiday mode myself, and kind of thinking oh, no, is one person gonna screw it up for all of us again? Call it denial or hope, I'm just not up to yet more changes in policy, and this was totally unexpected. I guess we've been kind of "lulling" for the past 3 years since 2006's liquid fiasco, so this kind of came as a surprise.
I too wonder about the domestic response. My gut tells me there may be a few changes domestically, but not as severe as the international flights. Not being allowed to get up >1 hour prior to landing, and not having access to your luggage seems way too extreme, IMHO. I'm sure some airlines will protest against those policies, too, especially due to serving first class and the such.
One thing that makes me wonder...if JUST one person can screw it up for all of us, then how effective is our security system, really? We need to be more proactive than reactive. Kneejerk reactions never do any good (2006's liquid bans a perfect case study of this).
I too wonder about the domestic response. My gut tells me there may be a few changes domestically, but not as severe as the international flights. Not being allowed to get up >1 hour prior to landing, and not having access to your luggage seems way too extreme, IMHO. I'm sure some airlines will protest against those policies, too, especially due to serving first class and the such.
One thing that makes me wonder...if JUST one person can screw it up for all of us, then how effective is our security system, really? We need to be more proactive than reactive. Kneejerk reactions never do any good (2006's liquid bans a perfect case study of this).
News outlets are reporting imposition of these draconian rules on UK - US flights : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...S-flights.html
I just checked the status of UA's flights from FRA to ORD and IAD, and they all look badly delayed, indicating that something is probably going on.
I fear you are too optimistic about TSA having a rational response. TSA's entire philosophy is based on reactionary restrictions after an incident. The "liquid bomb" incident involved international flights, and no bad guy with a liquid ever bought a ticket, let alone boarded a plane. Yet they banned all liquids for several months, implemented absurd restrictions on UK - US flights (virtually no carry on) for quite a while, and continue to have absurd restrictions on liquids.
Granted, we haven't seen a domestic response from TSA yet (or any statement by a US carrier). It's possible what we are seeing is all the overseas stations going into some pre-planned "fail safe" mode with the se restrictions until they get directions from the mothership (DHS/TSA at home, who are certainly still in holiday mode and not running at full force), which could in theory take a deep breath and realize that no action is needed (and that the proposed actions do absolutely nothing to mitigate the threat).
But I have little doubt that this incident by another bungling nutjob will in the end cost us more of our freedom and dignity, cost more $, and make traveling even less fun.
I just checked the status of UA's flights from FRA to ORD and IAD, and they all look badly delayed, indicating that something is probably going on.
I fear you are too optimistic about TSA having a rational response. TSA's entire philosophy is based on reactionary restrictions after an incident. The "liquid bomb" incident involved international flights, and no bad guy with a liquid ever bought a ticket, let alone boarded a plane. Yet they banned all liquids for several months, implemented absurd restrictions on UK - US flights (virtually no carry on) for quite a while, and continue to have absurd restrictions on liquids.
Granted, we haven't seen a domestic response from TSA yet (or any statement by a US carrier). It's possible what we are seeing is all the overseas stations going into some pre-planned "fail safe" mode with the se restrictions until they get directions from the mothership (DHS/TSA at home, who are certainly still in holiday mode and not running at full force), which could in theory take a deep breath and realize that no action is needed (and that the proposed actions do absolutely nothing to mitigate the threat).
But I have little doubt that this incident by another bungling nutjob will in the end cost us more of our freedom and dignity, cost more $, and make traveling even less fun.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Posts: 2,115
Just bring on Israeli-style security for everyone, but do it all at once. We'll all be "safe" and the airlines will all go "bankrupt" because so many fewer people will fly.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
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Hold your horses. There's no confirmation yet from TSA. For all we know, Air Canada could have made that part up.
I still am holding firmly on the fact that I strongly doubt TSA will enact any new policies. Why? This was an international flight that happened to land in Detroit. TSA had nothing, zilch to do with the screening. Therefore, they have no say about this.
I still am holding firmly on the fact that I strongly doubt TSA will enact any new policies. Why? This was an international flight that happened to land in Detroit. TSA had nothing, zilch to do with the screening. Therefore, they have no say about this.