As one who has begun in the last few years to fly regularly, if not frequently, on one of the low cost airlines, I have a couple of beefs with the system.
I don't know how many readers fly for business or on pleasure trips, but for those who do, I'm sure that they have found some of these same things to be aggravating.
From my point of view, the Transportation Safety Authority is an unnecessary intrusion. Because the CIA and the FBI didn't feel the need to communicate and share their information on suspected terrorists, and those terrorists carried out the actions of 9/11 using commercial airlines, a whole new bureaucracy was constructed for the purpose of keeping terrorists off of our commercial airliners.
As a reasonable person, at the time I thought that this was a proper response to an unknown threat. However, as time has gone by, the regulations and methods used have gotten more than a bit out of hand from my point of view. One guy tries to put some device in his belt and now we all have to remove our belts before going through the metal detector. Another fool tries to light his sneakers on fire on a plane and now we all have to have our shoes X-rayed. I'm surprised that because of the idiot who tried to blow up a plane with his underwear we aren't forced to go through the security checkpoint naked. Maybe that's coming next.
Just as a reminder, each of these unsuccessful attempts at terrorism came on international flights originating from outside the U.S. There have been no events like this on domestic flights since the fateful day. I'm all for passing through a metal detector and having my carry on bags X-rayed. Guns, long knives and the like should be only in checked baggage and the bags labeled with a warning tag to protect the baggage handlers.
What I do not agree with is the way the TSA uses its equipment and personnel to harass passengers. There are many stories of how the TSA agents have frightened very young passengers with pat-down searches, and more, away from the parents. At the other end of the scale, elderly passengers have been openly humiliated by these officers in the name of security.
As an over 65 myself I can sympathize with the lady who was forced to shed her incontinence underwear by an overzealous TSA agent. I have been subjected to extra searches and pat downs on two occasions, once at BWI-Marshall and once at Huntsville International Airport. On each occasion I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt with my watch, ring, belt, shoes and everything from my pockets removed and put in my carry on for scanning. None the less, the new circular X-ray scanner showed some "anomaly" and I was forced to accompany the TSA agent and a supervisor to what was once, and looked to still be, a broom closet for further screening, where I was treated like some vagrant off the street.
I almost expected a full body cavity search for contraband. After finding nothing but my shorts, T-shirt and "tighty whities," I was allowed to go on my way to my flight with the insincere apologies and wishes for a good day.
On other occasions, dressed the same way, I walk through the metal detector or scanner, grab my bags and go. There is no rhyme or reason for the extra searches for me or anyone else unless there is a schedule where every, whatever the number, passenger gets the treatment.
I have flown occasionally since the 1970s when families or friends were allowed to do everything but board the plane with the traveler.
Now I fly a couple of times a year and find the newer rules are an unwelcome intrusion.
Simple procedures and common sense would go a long way in making the experience at least more tolerable.
I won't stop flying because of these intrusions, but I won't like it any more either.
