Denrael

I’ve been reading with interest, as well as posting here, many of the stories from the new TSA procedures. What I find interesting is that in each case, it’s been a reactionary procedure. First the shoe bomber, so we take off our shoes. Next, the underwear bomber so we resort to “enhanced pat-downs” and invasive scanners. If this process continues, those blue gloves the TSA’s wear will soon take on a new meaning when the act of them pulling them on is followed by a “bend over please” comment.

Given the choice between the two, I have been opting out and choosing the pat-down myself. I don’t do it as a protest, but because I am not convinced that I trust Janet Napolitano for trusted medical advice. I’ve seen too many contradictory stories on the safety of the new scanners, and given the amount that I fly, I am not willing to take the additional risk brought about by the scanners. That being said, there has to be a better way, because playing catch-up never works.

People have pointed to the Israeli system as a model. I agree with the critics that say as they do it, it’s not scalable for the United States. So, what do we do? A few years ago, I joined a group called Clear. Their goal was for frequent flyers to have a less painful security experience in exchange for biometric data, a background check, and I think about $150. Unfortunately the process was a flop because the best they could do was offer skips in line. Once you were handed off to the TSA, it was the same procedure as before. 

It seems however that there is a concept here that could be built upon. A large percentage of traveler’s are frequent traveler’s. Business people who just need to get from point A to point B, and are willing to pay for convenience. I know I would be more than happy to pay annually for a full background check if it was used for profiling at the airport. Now we are not talking about profiles based on race, religion or anything of that nature, but on hard data generated by potentially the FBI. Set up the biometric scanners to insure that I am who I claim, and then allow me to walk through a metal detector with my shoes on, and leave my laptop in my bag. This has the advantage of speeding up the overall screening process, as well as allowing TSA to focus their more intensive efforts on those who haven’t had a background check. Now, perhaps the Israeli methods can be adopted as we are dealing with a smaller percentage.

If we add to the mix the fact that the airlines have a pretty good pattern of my travel, and use changes in behavior there as an added pre-screen, you now are getting much more effective, and convenient intel for decision making.

This doesn’t address the patting down of women and children. It is not a complete solution. It is a proactive step that at least to me makes sense. As for the rest, as much as Ms. Napolitano would like us to believe that the TSA are finely trained professionals, they are not. Trained yes, but still ordinary people doing a thankless task with quite often, union mentality. We need look no further than the Denver masturbation, the overheard comment of an agent to his back room scanner partner of “we’ve got a hot one coming through, or the invasive pat downs of elderly because they made a mistake and sent a bottle of water through. These are actions of people who are trained to follow explicit procedures, or people who poor hiring practices have placed in positions for which they are obviously ill-equipped.

Benjamin Franklin said words many years ago which are no less true today:

“People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.”

The TSA is telling us we need give up our freedoms here in the name of alleged safety. There are other solutions, and other approaches. It is up to us, as the employers of government, and citizens of this country to demand of our government that they find those solutions. As I said above, I am choosing the pat down, not by choice, but because my job requires travel. I am vocally objecting each time however, and I will continue to challenge any TSA agent who fails to act in a professional manner. For the most part, I have dealt with TSA agents who are trying to do their job and follow the rules laid down for them. I don’t condemn them, but their bosses who are trying to convince the public that they know what they are doing.

Please, please for the sake of your fellow travelers, think before you fly.

I’m sitting in the President’s club at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, thinking back on my most recent TSA experience. For a chance, I can’t fault the TSA at all. Arriving at the line, I had only two people in front of me, and the TSA was being fast and efficient. If only I could say the same about all the passengers.

The person at the front of the line, made it through no problems. The person right in front of me was NOT a frequent flyer. Having taken one try, he piled everything into that tray. TSA told him the laptop had to be in a second tray, so he went back and got one. He then tried to go thru the line, and TSA told him he had to put his items on the belt to pass thru the scanner. They had to do this three times, once for each tray and once for his suitcase as he tried to pass thru the detector after each item was on the belt. Finally, he made it to the detector himself, and of course set off the alarms as he still had full pockets, watch, etc.

I now present for those of you that don’t fly, and can’t apply common sense or read signs, a simple method of getting through TSA quickly and easily.

Before You Leave for the Airport:

• If you fly often, it makes sense to get a second set of toiletry items to keep in your suitcase. I suggest stick deodorant, stick hair product and Effident tooth powder instead of paste. These changes will keep you from having to pull out your toiletry items as you will have no liquids, gels or pastes. If you can’t do that, remember that dopp kits are old hat and you now want to invest in 1 quart ziplock bags. Everything must fit in one (1) bag, and each item must be 3 ounces or less.
• Wear a jacket or travel vest. I always wear a travel vest now with lots of pockets for phone, ipod, ear buds, etc. Put all metal items in the jacket or vest.
• Think about wearing loafers or slip-on shoes as you will be taking them off.
• Check-in from home and print out your boarding pass. This will save one line at the airport.

At the airport:

• Since you already have your boarding pass (you did check in at home didn’t you?), you can go right to security. Get in line, and don’t use this time to chat on your cell phone. Instead, open up your laptop case, so you can easily remove your laptop, and get your toiletries ready to remove.
• Make sure you have ID (Driver’s License, Passport, etc.) and boarding pass out when you get to the checkpoint. Hand them to the TSA agent. When he gives them back, put your ID away, but keep your boarding pass with you. A shirt pocket works great for this.
• Get the appropriate number of bins. You will need one just for your laptop, and a 2nd one if you have a video camera. When I travel, I grab two, one for the laptop, and one for shoes and vest.
• Take your shoes off, place them in a bin, remove your coat/vest and place them in the bin. Put your toiletry bag on top if you have one.
• Put your laptop in the next bin.
• Put your laptop bag on the belt right behind your laptop.
• Put your suitcase on the belt last. This way if they do have to check the bag, you can still be getting dressed and putting your laptop away.
• Once all items are on the belt and entering the beast (Scanning machine), step in front of the detector and wait for TSA to wave you through. Step through without touching the sides or pausing, and hand your boarding pass to the agent if requested.
• Get your stuff, quickly dress and move away to avoid blocking the line. Stack your bins as you empty them.

I know this sounds pretty elementary, but having seen far too many travelers be confused by a simple process that should take no more than 1-2 minutes total, I hope these simple steps will help.