Originally Posted by
Mats
There are bigger issues in Washington, but the TSA has wide-ranging impact:
It's expensive.
It humiliates and hassles tourists and business travelers. I live in a city that counts on tourism, so foreign visitors are less likely to come (and spend money) if our airports are so difficult.
The airlines are struggling, and we need to make flying easier.
If more people drive, the risk of auto accident fatalities is higher, and there is potential for adverse environmental impact.
The TSA does affect my personal and business travels: I'm thinking of turning down a job that would involve greater travel. Why? I don't want to deal with the hassles of flying.
I certainly did not expect a senator to read my letter and write a personal response. I DID expect a staffer to say "we're concerned," or "one of many issues we're looking at," or "thanks for your interest--that's not something we want to work on right now." Instead, I got a lengthy form letter about unrelated issues.
Airport security always was expensive. There were screeners, xray equipment, etc, before and they were all expensive too. The security now really isn't much different than security was before 9/11. The only difference I can think of in my actual go through of security is pulling out my freedom baggie and taking off my shoes. Given that both are readily accessible, it doesn't slow me down at all.
Do you seriously think that people in other countries are saying to themselves that they don't want to come to the US because they have to take off their shoes or actually check a bag?? They have to do similar things in their own countries. You should more be focusing on the customs/immigration barriers to entry for tourists than the TSA.
The airlines are struggles are due to their industry not being profitable in the long run, high costs of fuel, equipment, personnel and there being too many companies in the industry. I don't recall reading any recent article where a CEO of an airline was speaking about TSA instead of fuel and recession.
Your biggest concern in a travel job is the TSA? Seriously, it takes me a good 5 minutes to get through security on the way out and way back. My flights are usually 2.5 hours each. I have to live in a hotel and spend hours driving in a rental car. Not to mention that I have to find food, internet, deal with company travel policies and try to somehow fit in time for a workout each day. The implication that the TSA has on my working week is absolutely minimal. The TSA can maybe cause me a 5 minute delay if they decide to do a secondary search on me. That's it. Hertz not having a car available, Hertz giving me a crappy car, $20 hotel buffets, my flight being late, being stuck on the tarmac, weather, forgetting something at home, wanting to be home with friends/relatives, my hotel room not being nice, etc, etc, all are far more of an issue for me than the TSA.
Traveling for work, quite frankly, sucks, but it's the nature of the beast for many jobs. The TSA has almost no ability to ruin my week. Working 16 hours a day, eating unhealthy food and having no work/life balance are far, far, far worse than anything the TSA can do.
I would seriously spend a lot more time considering the potential company's travel policy than the TSA. It's rather easy to find 3oz travel sized toiletries. Having to book the cheapest flight even if it's a 3 hop and staying in a Motel 6 are your bigger concerns.
Sorry you're disappointed in your Senator. I haven't written one, but perhaps they made note of the issue and sent a generic response. You might have gotten just that no matter what you wrote about.