Hi Fenito -

Isn't CAPPS the program that determines selectees? CAPPS = Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-Screening. Or do you have a different system which determines selectees? It's my understanding that CAPPS is the program which determines who gets selectee status and additional screening.

In my experience, things vary dramaticly between airports and even different terminals & checkpoints at the same airport. I suspect the size of your airport, staffing levels, and the number of people traveling on tickets which would kick-in selectee status are all factors which result in the efficient screening at your airport. I don't have any recent experience at GSO, so I will presume it's efficient as you say.

If things like one-way tickets are factors that result in selectee status, I could see where certain airports could be hit harder with more selectees because of budget carriers offering cheap one ways. If one-way travel is a factor, and I suspect it is, it could easily be avoided by purchasing a round-trip ticket and tossing away the second half, which is a common practice because adv purchase round-trip fares are often cheaper than one-ways in many markets.

Personally, I don't see or understand why a passenger on a one-way ticket is deemed a higher security risk by the system which picks out selectees. Perhaps you can provide some insight?

Is there a pattern among past terrorists using one-way tickets? If there is such a pattern and that is one of the reasons for getting selected, wouldn't you think potential terrorists would know this and not purchase one-way tickets?

Besides, many people traveling one-way often do so on throw-away return tickets for the cheaper fare. That leaves two primary groups of passengers using one way tickets - the first group being those on budget carriers and the second business travelers who use one-way tickets on majors because they're typically refundable, changable, and allow business travelers to hit multiple destinations on one trip with a series of one-way tickets.

Personally, I feel the system that picks out selectees is seriously flawed. It gets me on a regular basis when using last minute (typically high revenue) tickets for work, yet at the same time it gets me when doing leisure travel involving codeshares as I previously described . At the same time, I don't believe all passengers can be treated equal -- everyone gets basic screening, but an effective risk evaluation system needs to be used to determine who gets more screening. That being said, CAPPS II goes way too far and is a blatent invasion of privacy. There are other methods available to determine risk which would work better, IMHO.

Between a few factors, I typically know before I get to the airport if I am a selectee or not. As it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure some of these items out, all a potential terrorist would have to do is buy an adv purchase, non-refundable round-trip ticket with a credit card using the same carrier on all segments -- the chances of this individual becoming a selectee would be low.

I also see it being problematic that selectee status is openly advertised on BP's with the SSSS. To improve security, one should not know if they are a selectee or not (IMHO). If a would-be terrorist knows he/she is a selectee, he/she could avoid gettting caught by not going through security. The person could then leave the airport, get a new ticket, and try again for a BP without the SSSS.

How many 70 lb pound bags do you really get? Most airlines have limited checked luggage to 50 lbs. Those wanting to check more than 50 lbs in one item now have to pay an additional charge. Personally I never get near the 50 lbs limit for most of my travel. I pack light and if there is anything I absolutely need when traveling, I buy it.

I figure if I can't fit it into my suitcase comfortably, I don't need it. On longer trips, I do laundry instead of bringing extra clothing.

It sounds like you have an efficient operation at your airport from what you say. I only wish all airports could operate like yours. Luckily things at SDF, my primary home airport, have been smooth lately, with a few exceptions. On occassion lines will get long and a few times I've experienced screeners on power trips @ SDF - but it seems the screeners on power trips are being weeded out or I've just been lucky lately.

Thanks for your contributions here, Fenito. While lines & problems at other airports are not your fault, I think the above is the first time anyone on this group with the TSA has said they were sorry to hear of the long waits at other airports.

Hopefully the problems will get fixed, but I honestly feel the TSA needs to go. I think airport security can be handled better by a private company with proper funding and proper oversight. In the past, it was the airlines that paid for security - as such, the proper funding wasn't there for professional security.

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. If we are able to pay private companies to provide top quality security, it's in my opinion we'll get it. We won't get it from the government, IMHO -- private industry is the best way to go. If incentives like bonuses (both for employees & the private company) are added in for performance, quality would go up. In regards to performance, I'm not talking about just how fast pax could be screened - but how effective private security is at catching actual illegal items, illegal test items, etc. Things like retention bonuses and the ability to earn more & make a career in aviation security would go a long way too. Of course there would have to be government oversight, but airport security needs to be taken out of the government hands ASAP, IMHO.

When it comes to needed security equipment to be efficient, I also feel it needs to be private industry deciding what to purchase and not the government making purchasing decisions that are political.

Best,

SDF_Traveler

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin