Originally Posted by AArlington
Easy. Apply a consistent standard nationwide. Drop the hypocrisy and end the charade. Don't say on the website "you do not have to remove your shoes" then have screeners say you must remove your shoes and if you don't you go to the penalty box. Be honest with the public; tell is -- on the website and bia the spokesman Mark Hatfield -- that it really IS mandatory. Then tell the public that cargo still isn't screened for explosives, but we are all still somehow safer.
OK. So you're not really opposed to the policy itself. You criticize the inconsistent manner it is applied across the board. Either it is a threat or it is not. If it is, then all airports should follow the policy. If it is not, then TSA should drop it. Do I read you on that? If so, then I agree with you 100%.
One of my coworkers had to travel recently due to a death in the family. He told me he hit what he considered a cross-section of airports from the small podunk municipal airport to the major ones (LAX and BWI). (He had to make a series of trips, so he got a good view of different airports.) What he told me was quite shocking and appalling; and it admittedly gave me a better appreciation for some of the criticisms I read in here. He shared with me not only the fact that many checkpoints simply ignore the shoe policy, but that many screeners apparently follow a different uniform policy and have quite an unprofessional appearance as well as some pretty rude attitudes. He said I'd pretty much have a field day straightening out a lot of screeners out there, and that he came to appreciate SAT that much more.
Yeah, we have our own internal problems. What workplace doesn't? However, after what he saw, he came to appreciate the professionalism, courtesy and thoroughness of our crew. He said he now understands why so many other airports are having problems with passing the annual certification tests or why the Red Team tests create such worries.
I'm sure there are other good airports. Being honest here: my friend didn't happen to come across any of them. However, like me, he views things with a critical eye. So I make this admission here today but also hope to give you some insights on what you can expect whenever you travel through SAT.