<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CarmelGreg:
We almost agree! Imagine that.
I also understand the reasoning behind this policy and that reason is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!! Their reasoning is not logical. Just like shoe removal. Not logical. Unless you can't find the metal which caused the alarm. Don't forget to look at my BP/ID several times.</font>
The resoning is....IF a bag has to be opened to resolve an alarm, it is both easier and quicker to open it if it is unlocked. If it is locked, and needs to be opened, the bag may be damaged during the process. If the passenger is paged, and never shows up, the bag does not go on the plane unless the alarm is resolved. If the bag is unlocked, the alarm can be resolved and the bag on its way. The sheer number of bags going through the system daily is amazing. Literally MILLIONS of bags every day are screened. Now, if every one of those bags was locked, and say 5% alarmed (thats over 5 times the actual number) then the backlog would result in tens of thousands of bags not making it onto the aircraft. TIME is the main factor here, not a desire to rifle through anyones bags.
Does this open the door for people to do things they shouldn't? Yes, but since when have there been no doors for these people to exploit? Is this system perfect? No, but if there is a better way, lets hear it.
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Don't take life too seriously, afterall, you won't get out alive.