We are going through all kinds of personal hassles and reduction of freedoms. Most of America seems to shrug it off as "The price to be safe". As most experts have pointed out, all this hassle is window dressing. Personally I beleive that most flights have plenty of knives, nail clippers and tweezers on them. And I am sure there are a number of guns within our "clean areas" of Americas airports. By the way, I feel safe and don't think MORE security is the answer.

Today it was proven again. A man went through multiple checks before they happened to spot his gun in his carryon.

"MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 29 � A Florida man arrested in the Memphis, Tenn., airport for allegedly carrying a loaded gun in his carry-on luggage after apparently boarding flights in two other cities was free on bond Saturday, the FBI said."

Full story at : http://www.msnbc.com/news/679425.asp?0dm=C24JN

My vote: we are hassled*

*footnote: we are slightly safer. During the shoe terrorist attack, the FA fought with the man. Pre-9/11 there may have been a prolonged discussion followed by "ka-boom".

If there is better luggage checks, then we will be safer. Add employee checks and smart questioning (not dodo questioning like they do now) and we will be reasonably, but not perfectly, safe

Another vote for just hassled.
The next time you are seated on a packed 757 just try to imagine what would happen to 1 person (or 10 for that matter)if they tried to threaten someone with a pair of nail clippers or a sewing kit. Makes you laugh, doesn't it?

hassled...

Definitely Hassled!

How can we put these opinions to good use to find effective security and get rid of the useless hassles??

Any ideas?

OH BOY... I hope this guy was not a Flyertalker!!!!

Quote: "Brunstein may have taken the flights in order to build up frequent flier miles and improve his frequent flier benefits level, the official said. It was not clear whether he passed through a security checkpoint when he changed planes in Atlanta."

Hassled...Groped..and wasting a hell of a lot of time being abused

Hassled.

Big deal about changing planes and not passing through security?! I do this all the time. Did he get landside or something?

Dorian

Hassled to the point that I am reducing my flying time. Those short trips just arent worth bothering with anymore.

------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop

NoStressHere, I couldn't agree more. This "security" is more steak than sizzle, more hassle than real.

It's the tyranny of the majority -- most travellers who go once or twice per year to the airport don't care. The frequent travellers are the ones who are hit, and the airlines.

Not only is it a hassle, you are absolutely right that this is a massive invasion of our individual rights and abridgement our liberties.

Just Hassled!

------------------
When all Frequent Flyer programs become equal, they will cease to exist! Be careful what you ask for!

I think the answer is Yes. That is we're both. All of the security stuff won't stop the determined bad guy but it will deter the occasional crazy IMHO.
edited for the dreaded typo.

[This message has been edited by exitrow (edited 12-29-2001).]

Err..I'm not so sure it's the tyranny of the majority in the way you think. True, at certain times of the year the travellers outnumber us, but the Business FF'er IS the industry bread n' butter. We pay (generally) higher fares and are travelling the Wednesday redeye...

Regards,
-Bouncer-

Most definitely we are hassled!!

It doesn't help that when it comes to coverage of these increased security measures, the media always seem to interview someone who only flies once or twice a year and is routinely quoted sweetly and innocently saying something like "Even if we do have to come down two or three hours earlier, if it makes us all safer I'm all for it!" For good measure, the camera then pans on some innocent children nearby.

GRRRRRRR>>>>>>>!!!

The other factor that is rarely publicized is that unless there's a gun involved, passengers are now likely to be much more proactive in their response to someone messing with their flight. Witness the immediate and effective assistance rendered last week in AA Passengers vs. Richard Reid.

This is all typically classic American over-reaction. Cigarettes, alcohol, heart disease and workplace accidents still affect and kill many more Americans each year than terrorists ever have but because they do not present as dramatic a demise as a downed airliner, we don't take more strident action to prevent them. (Although I dare say the numbers of people killed daily by the aforementioned afflictions may well rival if not exceed the total number of people who died on 9/11.)

It's a fact of the human condition that there are alot more followers than leaders out there. Most people are just going to adapt a Go Along - Get Along attitude on this thing. God forbid we ever make waves!!

Two things may bring some sensibility to the current security procedures: One - Someone Important and respected like Rush Limbaugh or The Back Street Boys tells Americans to speak out on a larger scale against this nonsensical approach to security, or Two - as is so often the case, the very people who implemented these measures will themselves will get fed up with them and make changes. Remember Prohibition? It was only repealed by our "leaders" because it ultimately became too much of an inconvenience to them as well.


[This message has been edited by Seat 2A (edited 12-30-2001).]

Hmm, you know maybe we should come up with some talking points to share among us, in case one of us get a chance to be interviewed on this sort of thing? If we come up with some points to get across beforehand, then we'll be more prepared in case we get interviewed by the press.

Here are some points I've thought of, off-head...
- Too much focus on little things like nailclippers, tweezers, etc.
- Paxs are willing to take action nowday
- Checking ids isn't going to stop anyone, since terriorists are not going to be stopped by id.

Anything else?