Another nightmare at PHX
Mar 30, 2011, 2:16 pm
#31
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: CMH
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, United
Posts: 433
I reported this on Daily Kos here. That's a more general website, but it will help get some exposure to this outside the FT group.
I just saw a Tweet with a link to a Daily Kos story, as well, so it was picked up already.
Mar 30, 2011, 3:31 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 180
A saw a listing for a FSD as PHX on USAJOBS like a month ago, so I'm guessing they're are in the process of replacing him. Give another 10 or 11 months and they just might! For another few months.
Mar 30, 2011, 4:01 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SEA
Posts: 48
I haven't read anything mentioning the terminal at PHX where this happened. If anyone has seen it, please post that. Bet this was at #4, the bane of PHX. I truly despise transiting PHX, but I avoid terminals 3 and 4 at all costs. I've had minor problems in #2, but not like #3 and 4.
I'll pay more to fly on airlines NOT leaving from those two terminals. I just paid $65 more to go out of Terminal 2 on my next flight. That's how much I hate the hassle of that airport's major terminals. If gas drops in price again, I'll just *gasp* drive the 1500 miles each way and be done with it.
My brother drove the last time, just to avoid the same hassle. Mom wonders why we don't visit more often. Here's the truth: that airport. We just can't get the extra time off to drive each time. We'll just not go, rather than put up with the PHX TSAs. If I wanted to get treated like a criminal, have my belongings searched and stolen, and get practically molested just because I need to get home, I would have moved to a Communist country. I expect to hear 'Papers, please' any day now.
It's sad that PHX just showed the rest of the world how dumb US employees can be... calling a Chinese interpreter for a Japanese national? I've seen those forms. They clearly state 'Japan.' There are Japanese translators available. There's a sizable Japanese presence in Arizona.
Do something that dumb in Seattle and I guarantee you'll never get any job in this city again, even asking 'do you want fries with that'... nobody wants to hire someone that stupid!
I'll pay more to fly on airlines NOT leaving from those two terminals. I just paid $65 more to go out of Terminal 2 on my next flight. That's how much I hate the hassle of that airport's major terminals. If gas drops in price again, I'll just *gasp* drive the 1500 miles each way and be done with it.
My brother drove the last time, just to avoid the same hassle. Mom wonders why we don't visit more often. Here's the truth: that airport. We just can't get the extra time off to drive each time. We'll just not go, rather than put up with the PHX TSAs. If I wanted to get treated like a criminal, have my belongings searched and stolen, and get practically molested just because I need to get home, I would have moved to a Communist country. I expect to hear 'Papers, please' any day now.
It's sad that PHX just showed the rest of the world how dumb US employees can be... calling a Chinese interpreter for a Japanese national? I've seen those forms. They clearly state 'Japan.' There are Japanese translators available. There's a sizable Japanese presence in Arizona.
Do something that dumb in Seattle and I guarantee you'll never get any job in this city again, even asking 'do you want fries with that'... nobody wants to hire someone that stupid!
Mar 30, 2011, 4:23 pm
#35
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 389
That was me doing the Daily Kos posting, I've done a number of them over there.
The Kossacks, as they call themselves, do differ from the Tea Party in that they generally don't believe that privatization of the security function would make any difference, and I think that unionization of TSA is generally supported.
Mar 30, 2011, 4:41 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
Mar 30, 2011, 4:44 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: One Pass Gold, Delta Medallion , Avis, Hertz, Budget, most hotels
Posts: 462
I've posted this before in this forum but it may be worthwhile posting again so that these transgressions don't go under-reported.
TSA relies on the lack of a singular complaint forum to document their abuses. As it stands they are the sole arbiter of these disputes and the passenger always loses. Until there is a central body compiling these reports the numbers will continue to appear artificially low.
CONTACT:
Your Congressman, by phone, email and letter. Do all three https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Both of your US senators, by phone, email and letter.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contac...m.cfm?State=PA
The Airline you traveled on, in writing and by phone
Your local newspapers & TV stations.
National publications sympathetic to TSA complaints: The Washington Post [email protected] /The Huffington Post/ NY Times/NY Post/USA Today [email protected] Check for writers email addresses and contact directly.
DHS OIG [email protected]. 1-800-323-8603
DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 2600
Attention: Office of Investigations - Hotline
245 Murray Drive, SW, Building 410
Washington, DC 20528
Fax 202-254-4292.
USTA http://www.ustravel.org/government-a...r-travel-voice
Association for Airline Passenger Right http://www.flyfriendlyskies.com/
EPIC http://epic.org/
The Rutherford Institute http://www.rutherford.org/
ACLU https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageNa...avel_Complaint
TSA Hotline (866) 289-9673 http://www.tsa.gov
This is probably as useless as complaining to Al Qaeda about terrorism but is a negative metric in TSA records.
I hope this is helpful.
TSA relies on the lack of a singular complaint forum to document their abuses. As it stands they are the sole arbiter of these disputes and the passenger always loses. Until there is a central body compiling these reports the numbers will continue to appear artificially low.
CONTACT:
Your Congressman, by phone, email and letter. Do all three https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Both of your US senators, by phone, email and letter.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contac...m.cfm?State=PA
The Airline you traveled on, in writing and by phone
Your local newspapers & TV stations.
National publications sympathetic to TSA complaints: The Washington Post [email protected] /The Huffington Post/ NY Times/NY Post/USA Today [email protected] Check for writers email addresses and contact directly.
DHS OIG [email protected]. 1-800-323-8603
DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 2600
Attention: Office of Investigations - Hotline
245 Murray Drive, SW, Building 410
Washington, DC 20528
Fax 202-254-4292.
USTA http://www.ustravel.org/government-a...r-travel-voice
Association for Airline Passenger Right http://www.flyfriendlyskies.com/
EPIC http://epic.org/
The Rutherford Institute http://www.rutherford.org/
ACLU https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageNa...avel_Complaint
TSA Hotline (866) 289-9673 http://www.tsa.gov
This is probably as useless as complaining to Al Qaeda about terrorism but is a negative metric in TSA records.
I hope this is helpful.
Mar 30, 2011, 4:46 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Programs: Sea Shell Lounge Platinum, TSA Pre✓ Refusnik Diamond, PWP Gold, FT subset of the subset
Posts: 12,509
I've posted the link to this story on Twitter, and I've seen several other Tweets with the same link.
I just saw a Tweet with a link to a Daily Kos story, as well, so it was picked up already.
I just saw a Tweet with a link to a Daily Kos story, as well, so it was picked up already.
...........(or see my link below \/.
Mar 30, 2011, 5:39 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SEA
Posts: 48
We've thought about that, but on the exact dates of my April flight the tix came in at nearly 2x the cost of PHX and the rental cars actually cost more due to the more limited selection in Tucson, notwithstanding the lack of that nearly 100% facility tax PHX has going.
Case in point: $132 7-day rental, PLUS $107 in facility taxes and fees. Somebody's gotta pay for that fancy stadium they built to host the Superbowl, and that off-site rental car lot. They're building one in SEA. Ugh.
Even without that facility fee thing, I couldn't get a car anywhere near $132 in Tucson, and most people don't know that renting a car off-site from an airport in Arizona is now a living nightmare due to the crackdown on illegals renting cars. Lots of questions - they want to annoy you so you'll just go to the airport to get your car and pay the $$$. Two IDs are mandatory. No 2nd ID? No car. (Rent at airport without a ticket? HA. I've never been asked, but if you get asked and don't have a ticket/BP/receipt, no car.)
I have a passport, but to get to the off-site Budget, Hertz, or Enterprise locations in Peoria I'd have to take a shuttle, at $65 r/t. It's not worth the $30 savings (after tips) to deal with that. There used to be reliable hourly public bus service to that area, but after budget cuts that's now a 4-hour trip on 5 different buses and light rail/shuttles. Mom doesn't drive (thank your deity), so she can't come pick us up.
We keep trying to get Mom to move... maybe we'll succeed. Then again, she's 85 and we've been trying for most of the last 15 years. I think we're out of luck!
I saw this thread and immediately told my brother (telecommuting is wonderful). He rolled his eyes and mentioned it didn't surprise him; some of what we've seen out of PHX would make a book's worth of horror stories, and that's just Terminal 4!
I hope this doesn't make travelers avoid the US (not just Arizona), but I'll bet it sure won't help.
Case in point: $132 7-day rental, PLUS $107 in facility taxes and fees. Somebody's gotta pay for that fancy stadium they built to host the Superbowl, and that off-site rental car lot. They're building one in SEA. Ugh.
Even without that facility fee thing, I couldn't get a car anywhere near $132 in Tucson, and most people don't know that renting a car off-site from an airport in Arizona is now a living nightmare due to the crackdown on illegals renting cars. Lots of questions - they want to annoy you so you'll just go to the airport to get your car and pay the $$$. Two IDs are mandatory. No 2nd ID? No car. (Rent at airport without a ticket? HA. I've never been asked, but if you get asked and don't have a ticket/BP/receipt, no car.)
I have a passport, but to get to the off-site Budget, Hertz, or Enterprise locations in Peoria I'd have to take a shuttle, at $65 r/t. It's not worth the $30 savings (after tips) to deal with that. There used to be reliable hourly public bus service to that area, but after budget cuts that's now a 4-hour trip on 5 different buses and light rail/shuttles. Mom doesn't drive (thank your deity), so she can't come pick us up.
We keep trying to get Mom to move... maybe we'll succeed. Then again, she's 85 and we've been trying for most of the last 15 years. I think we're out of luck!
I saw this thread and immediately told my brother (telecommuting is wonderful). He rolled his eyes and mentioned it didn't surprise him; some of what we've seen out of PHX would make a book's worth of horror stories, and that's just Terminal 4!
I hope this doesn't make travelers avoid the US (not just Arizona), but I'll bet it sure won't help.
Last edited by vs_itsallgood; Mar 30, 2011 at 5:42 pm Reason: typos+typos
Mar 30, 2011, 5:48 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,726
Maybe then the powerful people who depend on tourism tax dollars to remain unhanged will do something about these STASI wannabees.
Mar 30, 2011, 5:57 pm
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
I received a reply to my inquiry from :
Jeff Foland, ASC
Security Superintendent
Operations Division
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport
3300 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 273-2766
www.phxskyharbor.com/airportsecurity
"The current FSD for PHX is Heather Callahan <[email protected]>"
Pls make a note of it if needed.
Jeff Foland, ASC
Security Superintendent
Operations Division
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport
3300 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 273-2766
www.phxskyharbor.com/airportsecurity
"The current FSD for PHX is Heather Callahan <[email protected]>"
Pls make a note of it if needed.
Mar 30, 2011, 6:01 pm
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
I haven't read anything mentioning the terminal at PHX where this happened. If anyone has seen it, please post that. Bet this was at #4, the bane of PHX. I truly despise transiting PHX, but I avoid terminals 3 and 4 at all costs. I've had minor problems in #2, but not like #3 and 4.
I'll pay more to fly on airlines NOT leaving from those two terminals. I just paid $65 more to go out of Terminal 2 on my next flight. That's how much I hate the hassle of that airport's major terminals. If gas drops in price again, I'll just *gasp* drive the 1500 miles each way and be done with it.
My brother drove the last time, just to avoid the same hassle. Mom wonders why we don't visit more often. Here's the truth: that airport. We just can't get the extra time off to drive each time. We'll just not go, rather than put up with the PHX TSAs. If I wanted to get treated like a criminal, have my belongings searched and stolen, and get practically molested just because I need to get home, I would have moved to a Communist country. I expect to hear 'Papers, please' any day now.
It's sad that PHX just showed the rest of the world how dumb US employees can be... calling a Chinese interpreter for a Japanese national? I've seen those forms. They clearly state 'Japan.' There are Japanese translators available. There's a sizable Japanese presence in Arizona.
I'll pay more to fly on airlines NOT leaving from those two terminals. I just paid $65 more to go out of Terminal 2 on my next flight. That's how much I hate the hassle of that airport's major terminals. If gas drops in price again, I'll just *gasp* drive the 1500 miles each way and be done with it.
My brother drove the last time, just to avoid the same hassle. Mom wonders why we don't visit more often. Here's the truth: that airport. We just can't get the extra time off to drive each time. We'll just not go, rather than put up with the PHX TSAs. If I wanted to get treated like a criminal, have my belongings searched and stolen, and get practically molested just because I need to get home, I would have moved to a Communist country. I expect to hear 'Papers, please' any day now.
It's sad that PHX just showed the rest of the world how dumb US employees can be... calling a Chinese interpreter for a Japanese national? I've seen those forms. They clearly state 'Japan.' There are Japanese translators available. There's a sizable Japanese presence in Arizona.
Mar 30, 2011, 6:14 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink <glub> Beverage: To-Go Bag™ DYKWIA: SSSS /rolleyes ☈ Date Night: Costco
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Posts: 12,509
It's not often that someone's career path is profiled in a major market newspaper; please keep us abreast of your interactions with Ms. Callahan.
Moving up in a down economy
For the ambitious, entry-level jobs are far from a dead end
By Katie Johnston Chase
Globe Staff / September 12, 2010
When Heather Callahan started working for the Transportation Security Administration screening passengers at Logan International Airport in 2002, she looked at the airport’s deputy federal security director and thought: “I wonder why I can’t have his job?’’
Six years later, she did.
Moving up in a down economy
For the ambitious, entry-level jobs are far from a dead end
By Katie Johnston Chase
Globe Staff / September 12, 2010
When Heather Callahan started working for the Transportation Security Administration screening passengers at Logan International Airport in 2002, she looked at the airport’s deputy federal security director and thought: “I wonder why I can’t have his job?’’
Six years later, she did.