29 more airports...
Oct 14, 2011, 10:19 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 349
I am incredibly depressed these are coming to Austin. Didn't we win that battle here? Some of us thought or hoped so. I used to be able to count on a smooth outgoing trip, flying through security in less than five minutes total and arriving at my gate without any hassles whatsoever. At least, regardless of how crazy they were at whatever airport I was coming home from, they were sane at Austin and it was free of those disgusting radiation porn machines. I was proud of my city's airport for keeping these out even when we were threatened ridiculously with being made into a no-fly zone. Sad, sad, sad.
Oct 15, 2011, 1:10 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Raleigh
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier
Posts: 58
AUS
I noticed the TSA staff here are ridiculously nice. They seem to know how to properly screen while not assaulting innocent travelers. [...] Apparently they are quite aware of the drama in Austin over the body scanners. In fact, a lot more people have been using that airport because of how great it is to fly out of since it doesn't have scanners.
[OMNI/PR discourse removed - Mod.]
[OMNI/PR discourse removed - Mod.]
Last edited by essxjay; Oct 15, 2011 at 1:10 pm Reason: political remarks
Oct 16, 2011, 6:28 am
#34
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
How, with a straight face, can the TSA justify the cost of these machines at such low usage airport? Youngstown/Warren had NO commercial service for years and only recently picked up Alligent Air for a hand full of flights a week. So 99% of the day this machine will sit there doing nothing, just like the TSA staff that works there.
However, it occurs to me that perhaps the TSA was committed to purchasing these devices but for reasons political can't get them into the larger airports any longer and therefore stuck them in the smaller airports with minimal flights a day.
Oct 19, 2011, 9:15 am
#36
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond Medallion 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Car Executive Elite
Posts: 550
I did complain to Delta about this new intrusion as well. Its reply was less "hands off" than previous ones, but still indicated that Delta won't take a stand for its customers.
Oct 19, 2011, 12:27 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Land of ORD
Programs: AA Plat UA Premier
Posts: 9,157
No it does not!
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...e-airport.html
Sorry.... I really liked that airport too.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...e-airport.html
Sorry.... I really liked that airport too.
Oct 20, 2011, 11:25 am
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 627
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/TS...132147543.html
Well, the pornoscanners hath arrived at TLH. Looks like it's time for me to make a recon trip to TLH to see if there's an easy way to SDOO. There's a second floor on landside (leading to an apron observation room), so I can probably go up there and get a good look (or even photo) of the checkpoint.
TLH is never anywhere near crowded, so if I walk up to recon, even with no camera, it might be seen as "suspicious".
FWIW, if you want to get a good kick, keep an eye on the comment section of that article. That website seems to get some pretty far right-wing loons, and so far, the comments are revolving around the cost of the pornoscanners vs. TLH's very low usage, and about TLH's notoriously high fares to certain locations.
Also, I have found the perfect response for pro-NoSers. This doesn't even touch on the privacy part, so even the loons who don't believe in privacy won't interrupt you with "There's no right to privacy!"
"The TSA has refused to allow the devices to be tested in independent laboratories, they don't allow their own employees to wear radiation badges, and the people who service the devices wear lead vests. Therefore, we have no way of knowing how safe or unsafe they are--and it sounds suspiciously like they're hiding something."
Well, the pornoscanners hath arrived at TLH. Looks like it's time for me to make a recon trip to TLH to see if there's an easy way to SDOO. There's a second floor on landside (leading to an apron observation room), so I can probably go up there and get a good look (or even photo) of the checkpoint.
TLH is never anywhere near crowded, so if I walk up to recon, even with no camera, it might be seen as "suspicious".
FWIW, if you want to get a good kick, keep an eye on the comment section of that article. That website seems to get some pretty far right-wing loons, and so far, the comments are revolving around the cost of the pornoscanners vs. TLH's very low usage, and about TLH's notoriously high fares to certain locations.
Also, I have found the perfect response for pro-NoSers. This doesn't even touch on the privacy part, so even the loons who don't believe in privacy won't interrupt you with "There's no right to privacy!"
"The TSA has refused to allow the devices to be tested in independent laboratories, they don't allow their own employees to wear radiation badges, and the people who service the devices wear lead vests. Therefore, we have no way of knowing how safe or unsafe they are--and it sounds suspiciously like they're hiding something."
Last edited by mahohmei; Oct 20, 2011 at 11:36 am
Oct 20, 2011, 12:55 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,607
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/TS...132147543.html
Well, the pornoscanners hath arrived at TLH. Looks like it's time for me to make a recon trip to TLH to see if there's an easy way to SDOO. There's a second floor on landside (leading to an apron observation room), so I can probably go up there and get a good look (or even photo) of the checkpoint.
TLH is never anywhere near crowded, so if I walk up to recon, even with no camera, it might be seen as "suspicious".
FWIW, if you want to get a good kick, keep an eye on the comment section of that article. That website seems to get some pretty far right-wing loons, and so far, the comments are revolving around the cost of the pornoscanners vs. TLH's very low usage, and about TLH's notoriously high fares to certain locations.
Also, I have found the perfect response for pro-NoSers. This doesn't even touch on the privacy part, so even the loons who don't believe in privacy won't interrupt you with "There's no right to privacy!"
"The TSA has refused to allow the devices to be tested in independent laboratories, they don't allow their own employees to wear radiation badges, and the people who service the devices wear lead vests. Therefore, we have no way of knowing how safe or unsafe they are--and it sounds suspiciously like they're hiding something."
Well, the pornoscanners hath arrived at TLH. Looks like it's time for me to make a recon trip to TLH to see if there's an easy way to SDOO. There's a second floor on landside (leading to an apron observation room), so I can probably go up there and get a good look (or even photo) of the checkpoint.
TLH is never anywhere near crowded, so if I walk up to recon, even with no camera, it might be seen as "suspicious".
FWIW, if you want to get a good kick, keep an eye on the comment section of that article. That website seems to get some pretty far right-wing loons, and so far, the comments are revolving around the cost of the pornoscanners vs. TLH's very low usage, and about TLH's notoriously high fares to certain locations.
Also, I have found the perfect response for pro-NoSers. This doesn't even touch on the privacy part, so even the loons who don't believe in privacy won't interrupt you with "There's no right to privacy!"
"The TSA has refused to allow the devices to be tested in independent laboratories, they don't allow their own employees to wear radiation badges, and the people who service the devices wear lead vests. Therefore, we have no way of knowing how safe or unsafe they are--and it sounds suspiciously like they're hiding something."
Oct 20, 2011, 5:15 pm
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 627
The local newspaper also did a puff piece about it: http://m.tallahassee.com/latest/arti...1020006&f=1476 (full article is behind a paywall; not going to bother posting the URL here).
The best part was a comment I made and the response I got. I really, really hope this guy was joking, but looking at his writing style (or lack thereof), I have this sinking feeling he was being serious and is actually angry at me for exposing this vulnerability to the public.
The classic response to pro-TSAers is that "cockpit doors and resisting hijackers are all we need", but I try to stay away from that, since you'll get countered with concerns about plastic explosives that evade metal detectors.
http://talgov.com/airport/stats.cfm <- Since our airport posts their stats online, I'm going to watch the monthly count carefully for a drop. :-)
---
Me: Well, now we're less safe, since these "scanners" fail to detect such things as guns in about 90% of undercover tests.
---
Response: Well, xxxxx, if that 90% flaw is, in fact, true, then I guess we can thank you for divulging that to the thugs out there who want to try to conceal their weapon. What were you thinking, xxxxx? !!!
---
Me: Please tell me you're joking by saying that I put the public at risk by pointing out something that anyone with Internet access can find without too many keystrokes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_bo...neffectiveness
That's right--even Israel, the right-wingers' poster child of "ideal" airport security, doesn't have full-body scanners.
The best part was a comment I made and the response I got. I really, really hope this guy was joking, but looking at his writing style (or lack thereof), I have this sinking feeling he was being serious and is actually angry at me for exposing this vulnerability to the public.
The classic response to pro-TSAers is that "cockpit doors and resisting hijackers are all we need", but I try to stay away from that, since you'll get countered with concerns about plastic explosives that evade metal detectors.
http://talgov.com/airport/stats.cfm <- Since our airport posts their stats online, I'm going to watch the monthly count carefully for a drop. :-)
---
Me: Well, now we're less safe, since these "scanners" fail to detect such things as guns in about 90% of undercover tests.
---
Response: Well, xxxxx, if that 90% flaw is, in fact, true, then I guess we can thank you for divulging that to the thugs out there who want to try to conceal their weapon. What were you thinking, xxxxx? !!!
---
Me: Please tell me you're joking by saying that I put the public at risk by pointing out something that anyone with Internet access can find without too many keystrokes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_bo...neffectiveness
That's right--even Israel, the right-wingers' poster child of "ideal" airport security, doesn't have full-body scanners.
Oct 21, 2011, 9:30 am
#43
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
Oct 21, 2011, 3:12 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond Medallion 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Car Executive Elite
Posts: 550
TSA wasted no time with installing the NoS at FNT. I noted that it's already there this afternoon (10/21/2011) when I walked past the security checkpoint.
That ends any flying by my family members. I know that that means the TSA will interpret our absence as "making flying more safe". But I grind my teeth more and more and disgustedly wait for my next "conversation" and "hands-on welcome" with a TSO etc.
That ends any flying by my family members. I know that that means the TSA will interpret our absence as "making flying more safe". But I grind my teeth more and more and disgustedly wait for my next "conversation" and "hands-on welcome" with a TSO etc.
Oct 21, 2011, 6:04 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,335
Oops! That's not good! 
Yeah, I don't like it at all. That's disgusting!!! We shouldn't told you before not go through the bodyscanners. Why you can't have a file complaint against TSA?
Yeah, I don't like it at all. That's disgusting!!! We shouldn't told you before not go through the bodyscanners. Why you can't have a file complaint against TSA?