just wondering...

are we also giving out tips to those who should be screened and caught, and hence defeating the "random" nature/purpose for such screening

To the best of my understanding this is not a "security tactic." Rather, it happens more when the people who are called don't show up. That is, the security people are supposed to be used for constant screening. So, if the randomly selected people haven't shown up yet, they take someone from the line to keep the security person busy. Therefore, this happens less at AA where they call about 10 seats worth of random before any boarding starts. The security person is then so busy that they don't have the temptation to take someone else out of line.

OK, I've said this before, but I'll say it again...

They call the first FC victim not because they are a security risk but because they are there...how "secure" the next few passengers will feel to see some rent-a-wander going through some poor schmuck's dirty skivies in search of a nail file...and once they are finished with that one, pray to God you are not the next in line because you too will get it....


APPEARANCE OF SECURITY/AWARENESS OF SECURITY...we should all repeat these meaningless phrases over and over as we give up more and more of our rights for the opportunity to spend hard earned cash to fly.

The only "tip" we're discussing here is not to be the first in line, and I don't think that's classified material. I'm in complete agreement that airline security techniques should generally not be published, but this first-in-line method is something easily observable to anyone at the gate.

I have noticed on my last couple of flights they are still picking the first person to board for secondary screening.

The system sucks. In trying to be politically correct they are offending everyone.

I am sure that there is something about cross posting but I feel that this should be here also:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum21/HTML/004581.html

I was one of the last passengers to board my flight from SFO to JFK yesterday and UA was still pulling "random" people aside for screening. One gate agent had been stationed several feet in front of the boarding pass reader and I watched as she scrutinized each boarding pass and occasionally adorned some with a yellow marker. Having thus lost the boarding lottery, the victim was then led off to the side for a thorough search.

If they don't want to sound ignorant, they would be better off not using "momentarily" at all. It means "for a moment" so, unless they are boarding one or two pax, they are simply sounding stupid.

You are right, of course. But as the term seems to have increasingly evolved in oral language to mean "real-soon-now," then combining it with "at this time" is either self-contradictory or redundant.

Were you really on Flight 666? I didn't think that they would give a flight this number?

PA Announcement: Ladies and Gentleman, at this time we will momentarily begin boarding flight 666 .

That's because it has lots of syllyllyllyllables and makes you sound mo ' smarter.

Regards,
-Bouncer-

I got back last night from an 8-segment mileage run. On three of the flights, I was randomly selected-- My good lucks? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Add my favorite air related oxymoron "near-miss"