I have a suggestion for a Headline.

How about, "It's time to bring the Passenger's Bill of Rights Back"

Mikey 1003, you might also send your excellent letter to Jesse Drucker at the Wall Street Journal. He regularly calls and e-mails several of us about travel topics.

Great letter mikey.

Don't forget Jane Costello at WSJ. Her address is [email protected]

Done....Thanks

Great idea and superb letter. Though it is directed to the wrong people. It is Congress and the administration that is the source of our woes. I heard snippets from the testimony of the new FAA chief for security where everyone says 'can not be done' is not in our vocabulary. Hello, some of the legal requirements were made without any hearings as to what is possible on an expediated basis. How can you make improvements in 60-90 days when it will take that long just to get staff and a plan in place. I believe that all of 2002 will be like the last months of 2001.

yes this is true, but until they hear from the corporations and lobbyists, it hasn't happened. during the gulf war the concourses were sealed of to all but ticketed passengers as well, and after the airports started complaining about lost revenue, the concourses were opened again.

hit the airlines where it hurts, and let them use their influence to get things changed. when was the last time an airline stood up for the customer? why shood we stand up dor the airlines now?

Mikey,

I totally agree with your fantastic letter. I will be composing one of similar interest tomorrow to forward to not only the print media but also the television media.

FYI, I had to show my shoes to the SAME security guard 4 times today. Once at check in, once at the metal detector that, once after the metal detector and once before boarding. I feel much safer because of this.

I sent e-mails and letters to President Bush and I am callyng my Congressmen

[email protected], [email protected]

Mikey,

I'm with you all the way. I had a telephone conversation with Jesse Drucker about the "unreality" of airport security, but I was left with the impression that he was unconvinced. Maybe if more people contact him, he will start to believe!

We need to get reporters to feel what we are feeling. I just dread going to the airport these days.

Incidentally, I flew back from Paris this morning on the Concorde. Security people looked in every bag -- checked and hand-carried -- some multiple times, and IDs were examined so many times I actually lost count. All passengers were wanded at least twice. But the French security people are professional and polite -- a marked difference from the Argenbright morons that we deal with here in the U.S. Nobody displayed my dirty laundry to the waiting crowds!

Bruce

Is this the wrong Forum for this??

Actually, I think he knows, Bruce! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The WSJ ran a rather lengthy article a few months back entitled "How safe is your airport?"

It was not a pretty picture! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

The other day a security official would not let me pass with my valid e-ticket.

However, he subsequently reached for an old expired ticket for another date, albeit on the same carrier, and then permitted me to pass.

One never knows what they will encounter these days. Some are competent and some not just as some are kind and some are quite nasty! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

We truly do need more consistency and additional quality control improvements!

The sooner, the better!

Is this all you do with your time, make posts to say topics are in the wrong forum??? This is the third straight thread I've read where you've made this annoying comment... R-E-L-A-X shheeeeshh

everyone has their pet cause. ranles is obviously very organized.....

I read the other thread proposing this and think it's a great idea. But I was surprised in reading Mikey's letter. While it raised the detail behind the problem very well, it didn't clearly spell out the problem itself. The length of the delays in the name of "security," particularly when combined with fewer available direct flights since the airlines cut routes, makes it more time-effective for the frequent business traveler to drive to many destinations. This, as we know, has a serious ripple effect for all of us: the airlines, the tax payers who bailed them out, and even the leisure travellers who will see fares increase to cover the losses.

I can read between the lines here and see what Mikey is saying. But I think it might be helpful to be more explicit about the problem in trying to get the media to write about it. Grandma and Grandpa may not care that it takes them at least an extra hour or two cooling their heels in airports if they feel safer, but for business travellers, time is money. Combine the time factor with the hassle factor and driving becomes the clear alternative for destinations to which we would ordinarily fly.

Edit: forgot the flyertalk convention of bolding the name of posters referred to in the message.

[This message has been edited by HollyHP (edited 01-02-2002).]

Somehow I've come to a much different conclusion