2012 Survey: How Effective is the Transportation Security Administration?
Aug 26, 12, 7:52 pm
#106
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Aug 27, 12, 7:13 am
#108
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Originally Posted by mbstone
Unable to locate link to survey, is this browser-specific?
Go to http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler....frica-contest/
Sep 3, 12, 12:34 pm
#109
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Originally Posted by UA2PEK
Great video!
Thanks for posting it!
Sep 4, 12, 2:34 pm
#110
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,195
Originally Posted by Canarsie
[COLOR="Silver"]
I will start...
Recently, I had the opportunity to pass through an airport security checkpoint through the TSA Pre✓ line even though I never signed up for it. I did not have to remove my bag of liquids or take off my shoes. The agents were friendly and polite. This was by far the quickest, easiest and most civilized passage through an airport security checkpoint for me since before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The experience at airport security checkpoints in the United States should always be similar to this particular experience for me.
However, I do not believe that frequent travelers should have to pay or register for this privilege. It should automatically be a benefit as part of elite membership status in a frequent flier loyalty program.
In general, I would say that with its inconsistent policies, the Transportation Security Administration has little effectiveness on the implementation of airport and airline security overall. It is a bloated federal agency which needs a significant reduction in agents, and those agents who remain should be qualified to perform proper security measures at airport security checkpoints which mitigate the inconvenience to passengers as much as possible.
I have other opinions and thoughts, but I will leave them for other FlyerTalk members to post in this discussion...
I will start...
Recently, I had the opportunity to pass through an airport security checkpoint through the TSA Pre✓ line even though I never signed up for it. I did not have to remove my bag of liquids or take off my shoes. The agents were friendly and polite. This was by far the quickest, easiest and most civilized passage through an airport security checkpoint for me since before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The experience at airport security checkpoints in the United States should always be similar to this particular experience for me.
However, I do not believe that frequent travelers should have to pay or register for this privilege. It should automatically be a benefit as part of elite membership status in a frequent flier loyalty program.
In general, I would say that with its inconsistent policies, the Transportation Security Administration has little effectiveness on the implementation of airport and airline security overall. It is a bloated federal agency which needs a significant reduction in agents, and those agents who remain should be qualified to perform proper security measures at airport security checkpoints which mitigate the inconvenience to passengers as much as possible.
I have other opinions and thoughts, but I will leave them for other FlyerTalk members to post in this discussion...
Sep 4, 12, 3:01 pm
#111
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Original Poster
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Originally Posted by TSORon
You DO realize that by posting that link here you have ended any possibility of it being an unbiased (and therefore accurate) survey, right?
How would you have handled it differently?
Sep 4, 12, 3:09 pm
#112
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Originally Posted by TSORon
You DO realize that by posting that link here you have ended any possibility of it being an unbiased (and therefore accurate) survey, right?
The survey takers had to provide significant demographic info on themselves or the survey didn't count and the people who took the survey are definitely among the most frequent of frequent fliers.
This is in contrast to the Gallup poll, where half of the people taking the survey hadn't crossed through a TSA checkpoint in the past 12 months.
Sep 10, 12, 9:32 am
#113
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Originally Posted by Canarsie
Please click here for the article and poll results. <-- This link will not be activated until the results are released.
Approximately 91 percent of the survey participants indicated that they believe the Transportation Security Administration is doing either a fair or poor job of managing security screenings at domestic airports in the United States.
Please read the article for additional details.
Sep 10, 12, 10:05 am
#114
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Interestingly anodyne.
The results might have been different if nationality was factored in.
We Brits invented queues/lines, you know
And we regard TSA, CBP and the rest as 'just one of those things the Americans do', without getting over-heated about the subject.
Anyway, I'm heading back there next week on vacation, so I haven't been put off yet.
The results might have been different if nationality was factored in.
We Brits invented queues/lines, you know
And we regard TSA, CBP and the rest as 'just one of those things the Americans do', without getting over-heated about the subject.
Anyway, I'm heading back there next week on vacation, so I haven't been put off yet.
Sep 10, 12, 6:25 pm
#115
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Originally Posted by TSORon
You DO realize that by posting that link here you have ended any possibility of it being an unbiased (and therefore accurate) survey, right?
Sep 11, 12, 5:40 am
#116
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3
I have to agree with Travis and also add that it really shouldn't matter what we think of TSA just like it shouldn't matter if we like the police or firefighters. Their popularity is not at issue. And lay people really aren't qualified to make gut judgements on effectiveness. What we might deem to be security theater might very well be something else.
I received a parking ticket the other day from a motorcycle cop. You bet I would rate motorcycle cops ineffective in a survey. But that's not really relevant.
We have to stop treating everything like a popularity contest. Not everything gets to have constant public condemnation just because it's inconvenient. I don't like going trough TSA anymore then anyone else. I've experiences inconsistencies just as much as anyone else. But think of it another way - if you are a criminal and TSA is always doing everything the same way every single time, then it would be very easy to beat the system.
Nothing is perfect. Let's gives these men and women and break and focus on the management.
I received a parking ticket the other day from a motorcycle cop. You bet I would rate motorcycle cops ineffective in a survey. But that's not really relevant.
We have to stop treating everything like a popularity contest. Not everything gets to have constant public condemnation just because it's inconvenient. I don't like going trough TSA anymore then anyone else. I've experiences inconsistencies just as much as anyone else. But think of it another way - if you are a criminal and TSA is always doing everything the same way every single time, then it would be very easy to beat the system.
Nothing is perfect. Let's gives these men and women and break and focus on the management.
Sep 11, 12, 5:55 am
#117
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Nonsense. Let's look at TSA's effectiveness. In over a decade, they have caught exactly zero terrorists. Sure, they've caught people carrying drugs and using fake IDs, but so what? Was TSA created to do that? And to spend $8 billion annually for that? Of course not!
The TSA is a colossal waste of our tax dollars. It's a huge collection of thugs and thieves who abuse the traveling public for no benefit at all. The agency is hopeless and needs to be abolished. Nothing less will do. It cannot be reformed.
Bruce
The TSA is a colossal waste of our tax dollars. It's a huge collection of thugs and thieves who abuse the traveling public for no benefit at all. The agency is hopeless and needs to be abolished. Nothing less will do. It cannot be reformed.
Bruce
Sep 11, 12, 6:13 am
#118
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 555
Originally Posted by larry91403
I have to agree with Travis and also add that it really shouldn't matter what we think of TSA just like it shouldn't matter if we like the police or firefighters. Their popularity is not at issue. And lay people really aren't qualified to make gut judgements on effectiveness. What we might deem to be security theater might very well be something else.
The waste of time and money to test for non-existent substances is theater. Waving test strips over drinks in the "sterile area" is pure theater. The shoe carnival is theater. (I returned from Europe a couple of weeks ago ... three countries, never removed my shoes once. Haven't heard of any aircraft falling from the sky in Europe, have you?) The ID game is theater. To say nothing of the easily beaten body scanners, the dangers of BSXR and the inanity of the BDO program - which is ridiculed by the entire scientific community.
Originally Posted by larry91403
We have to stop treating everything like a popularity contest. Not everything gets to have constant public condemnation just because it's inconvenient. I don't like going trough TSA anymore then anyone else. I've experiences inconsistencies just as much as anyone else. But think of it another way - if you are a criminal and TSA is always doing everything the same way every single time, then it would be very easy to beat the system.
Welcome to FlyerTalk.
~~ Irish
Sep 11, 12, 6:28 am
#119
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Originally Posted by bdschobel
The TSA is a colossal waste of our tax dollars. It's a huge collection of thugs and thieves who abuse the traveling public for no benefit at all. The agency is hopeless and needs to be abolished. Nothing less will do. It cannot be reformed.
Bruce
Bruce
Sep 11, 12, 6:58 am
#120
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
TSA Punishment for Opt Out
Just flew from ATL in the "Expert Traveler" Lane. When I asked to opt out of the full body scan (per doctor's orders), TSA agent was visibly annoyed and at once proceeded to tell me all the horrors of what this entailed ("pat down", additional screening.. etc.) I told him I was familiar with this and waited for "female assist". Then about 10 people went through metal detector because full body scanner resets itself every 45 minutes. TSA agent informs me that if I had waited a few minutes, I wouldn't have had to go through pat down. After watching all the people go through and my computer, purse, wallet all at the end of the line now, I asked if I could keep my eye on my valuables. TSA agent said "NO! that's the price you pay to OPT OUT". So I suppose we are punished if we are medically unable to go through the body scan....not my best ATL/TSA experience.
