FAA Security questions
 

I was just wondering what the consensus is with frequent flyers regarding those 2 infamous questions the FAA required all domestic carriers to ask passengers when they check-in for a flight. Do you think this procedure makes domestic flights more secure?

I am glad they ask, but aren't the answers
to the questions automatic? Wonder what
would happen if you said "No, I did not pack my bag and I left it in the car for 2
hours before this flight". What does please
me is that security does check some bags
when they see something unidentifiable.

jaws 43, if you answer "no" to either questions, they will detain you until they make a complete, item-by-item inspection of the luggage in question. I've seen this happen before. A foreigner was "too honest" about not keeping his luggage with his at "all times," he was pulled to the side, questioned, and luggage searched. I hope he did not have an early flight to catch.

Hey Hiker, In other words, honesty will not
get one anywhere with the flyboys/girls.
Have you or anyone you know had any
problems with the new carry-on policies?
Southwest asked someone I know to gate
check a garment bag. They said "NO WAY!" and squeezed it into the overhead.
No response from Southwest, they let it go.

I incorrectly answered the questions one time (I still swear I told him what I wanted to hear) and they just mark your bags and do a more thorough inspection. I did not get pulled off and questioned and/or searched.

One time United at EUG forgot to ask me the two safety questions. I guess she was new, and busy with the paperwork. I don't think safety has been improved by making people answer two questions that a terrorist would obviously lie to. Phil

Actually these two questions are a breeze compared to what one might encounter in an international flight. I have been asked all sorts of questions in Europe which in my opinion did nothing to enhance the security of the flight.

Boarding UA in Europe: I loose always more than 5 min to answer the questions (I have an old Baghdad-Visa im my passport) ....

in the USA (ORD) my accompanying (less travel experienced) wife once made the mistake/the try to answer correctly, that the luggage was unattendet for an hour or so in our hotel-room (O'Hare Hilton); we lost more than 20 min for a special inspeciton of all bags.

the whole process is a joke. no self respecting terrorist would be stopped...and as for picture ID, every under age college kid in america has a fake one that probably looks better than the original. the procedure was introduced in the aftermath of twa 800, and for good reason. but it is useless the way they do it now. could it be the airlines' enthusiasm for this has to do more with it making it impossible to use non-changeable discount tickets issued in someone else's name? hmmmmmm...

An interesting experience happened with me
and safety on my last trip.

Won't mention the airport or the airline but
the person checking me in forgot to ask me
THREE safety questions (for some reason I
have to answer three.) After I got the ticket I said "By the way, yes, I packed my
own luggage. Yes, it was in my possession
at all times and No I did not accept anything
to carry by strangers."

I smiled and ran so fast out of there. Got
my FREE pgrade to first and was afraid to lose it.

Know those safety questions so well I can say them in my sleep. And I do keep my bags with
me at all times.

I remember when I had to check everything
once coming back from Vegas. Got stranded
overnight in Pittsburgh with NOTHING and
had to sleep with some very angry fellow
business travelers in the terminal. The best
behaved were the two kids with the pregnant
mother.

I agree that Europe asks MORE questions, but I think the safety equipment especially in Switzerland is better. The US should stop with the gimicks, and increase the use of the new bomb detection machines.

Phil

Phil... I saw those new bomb detection machines IN Zurich and I believe Lufthansa's
MEGA airport in Frankfurt (One of the best
and most funky airports I ever been in. I had a lot of fun changing planes there.)

The three questions I mentioned are asked at
Newark Airport. For some reason that airport
has a big concern about safety. Don't mind
the extra questions if it will get me home and back in one piece. The U-S could do better with security. Catman

I don't know about checked baggage, but a lot of airports now have the bomb detection machines that they use on laptops. I first saw them here when I was in Charlotte last Thanksgiving, but since then I've seen them in National and New Orleans also.

The main problem is that of the 20 or so times that I've gone through a checkpoint with the said machines, they've only checked my laptop once, and that was the very first time I saw the machine in Charlotte.

As for domestic security - I think it has been long concluded that the reason airlines want to check a person's photo ID is to prevent someone from using another's ticket, which enhances revenue; yes, it was originated by the FAA for security reasons, but I believe the FAA relaxed that rule...not sure though.

As for international security - It would be nice if the FAA would allow frequent flyers to present their FF card in place of the security check; FF members would still go through the international security check once, but after that, their card could act as a waver. With presentation of our FF card, we could simply say "I am aware and in compliance with the security procedures" - why do we need to keep hearing the same security routine over and over..."I have packed my bags myself, in my hotel, and they have not been out of my sight. I have not been given anything to carry and I have no weapons, no electronics, or anything that looks or could be used as a weapon" ...AAHHHHH!!!!! then they go on to profile....like the 200,000 miles I have flown on the airline was just a clever scheme to get past the security agent this one time.
I no it is not the airlines' fault, but if they pressure the FAA or NTSB enough, maybe something could be changed for FF members or at least elite FF members...oh, and I must pay the airline $10 to have this security interrogation done.

Seems you're having trouble with those of us who like to know what we're putting inside our bodies.