Rant: sterile-area mailboxes and inconsistency
 

Why is it that some airports have them and others don't (and of course, it's always for "security reasons")?

I routinely work on written correspondence while traveling and it's nice to mail it en-route, especially if arriving at final destination after the last mail pickup or if leaving the country.

Yesterday I did LAX-SFO-MSY-ORD-IND on my way home in a pseudo-mileage-run to pick up a few extra status miles. I have friends that like to get postcards from "exotic" places, so I planned to send out postcards from LAX, SFO, and MSY.

None had mailboxes in the sterile area. UA agent at LAX understood my frustration. SFO information desk told me it was for "my protection" so somebody doesn't "blow something up" (guy made bomb/explosion motions with hands while saying this--I'm sure if I'd said those words and made those motions a LEO would have been called.) Same concept at MSY (I can forgive them; they're not a hub with connecting traffic.)

I actually left security at SFO and MSY to get to a mailbox. At SFO, I had to go all the way outside to the curb to a big blue mailbox. At MSY, there's a full post office in the building outside security that has an accessible mail slot.

I know for a fact that DEN, ORD, SEA, and PDX have sterile-area mail slots, yet all these other places think they're a "threat," and SFO is so scared they put them outdoors (of course, you could easily put a bomb into the big blue box and blow up the curb area).

I'm not asking for the ability to drop packages, just a slot that will take an envelope. And it's not like a determined terrorist couldn't leave a device in a trash can instead of a mailbox.

Whoever's making the decisions at these airports needs to undergo a serious reality check. Does anyone know if it's TSA or the airport directors that are making these particular inane policies?

Same with the stupidity that has kept many sterile-side storage lockers off-limits. There was talk from the TSA of allowing their use as long as the machines captured a thumb-print (as if that would stop the detonation of a bomb).

It's because the TSA gives the FSDs at each airport too much latitude for stupidity.

The previous FSD at LAX was among the dumbest in the system; hopefully his replacement will be brighter. Sadly, I had the same hope when Admiral Loy replaced Norman Mineta and that was truly Dumb and Dumber.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

I think I recently saw Idiot Stone was appointed acting head of the TSA. So his ideas might become the TSA's new ideas. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/frown.gif

Yep - I was right:

www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/1208/web-tsa-12-09-03.asp

What a maroon. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/frown.gif

Is that something about the TSA that requires ex-navy personnel to head it, that we don't know about?

Now it's Dumber & Dumberer http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/rolleyes.gif

Flying out of ONT last year I encountered the same problem. In fact, the airport terminal directory/map even showed the location of the "Business Center" on the upper level inside the sterile area. The center had been gutted...no photocopier, no fax machines, no postbox, just a payphone--as though there weren't already 40 phones near each gate?!

So I flag down Officer Friendly and ask him where to find the mailbox. He told me they had to take them out "airport orders." And something about screening the mail carriers coming in blah blah blah. So the only mailboxes are downstairs near the ticket counters! Which means I'd have to clear security again! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif But then he smiled and said if I trusted him to, he would take my letters and post them since he was on his way down to the airport police control room anyway.

Perhaps it is required that one like to be out on a ship with those 2-minute showers for months on end? (Otherwise, why pick Navy?) http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

What an insult to the Navy,he's a x-coastie!

Dear studentff:
There is a perfectly logical explanation of why there must not be any mailboxes in the sterile area, although I must state in whispers lest they take them out, that in some airports such as Seatle, there are mailboxes in the sterile area. That's our trap for the terrorists, to lure them to Seatle and then ship them off to Canada. Inconsistency keeps the terrorists on their toes.

It is an established fact based on a history of terrorist acts that terrorsim is perpetrated by air travellers, who are generally found loitering about sterile area in airports around the world. The solution is elementary; get rid of mailboxes in sterile areas. Oh but why can't we have boxes that will have slots small enough so that no packages err, bombs can be dropped into them? Oh but bombs are not the only threats. Moreover 9/11 hijackers did not use bombs or explosives. The terrorists might want to mail back their extra pointy obejects, that escaped keen eyes of our sharp TSA patriots, back to more terrorists. SOme of them terrorists like to send a note to their mom or to Osama. We are not here to make it easier for them to do that. We will provide no comfort to the enemy. It's ok to have mailboxes by the curb outside the terminal since, firstlly all the passenegers, I mean terrorists, are in the sterile area, and secondly no one is allowed to park within a certain distance of the terminal.

If I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to write to me. And please don't seal your letter http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Yours Truly

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/thumbsup.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by CarmelGreg (edited Dec 11, 2003).]

It makes even less sense...

PIT has a full-service mini-sized post office in the sterile area. During the hours they are open, you can buy stamps, etc. and I believe that there are drop slots open 24/7.

You know, I'm really getting tired of being told what ludicrous measures are "for my protection" these days... I would just rather be "unprotected" and take my "chances"...

Originally posted by clrankin:
And the machines will offer two choices of stamps. If you don't choose the American Flag stamps, they will know you are a terrorist and arrest you. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif
If You Don't Want American Flag Stamps, Watch Out!