Since writing this initial post, I recalled watching an old CNBC program in October, a case study following American Airlines-did you know each week, American Airlines carries 3 Million lbs of US mail, much of it largely unchecked, as the report unveiled, no formal cargo inspection process exists. When asked by the CNBC reporter, the CEO,
Gerard Arpey responded, "There is a security regime for everything...not everything is x-rayed, but everything goes through strict security paradigms." This particular news story aired in 2006. American also stated only "legitimate" shippers mail is part of the cargo aboard the aircraft. TSA, FAA, and any other government agency affiliated with airport security seems to have short memories-can anyone forget the Unibomber? Or the cases of Anthrax mailed using our so secure US Postal Service? That 6 oz tube of toothpaste looks a little less threatening.
Ever since the FAA tightened regulations around carry-on liquids and gels, several notable news channels have uncovered the flaws in the current system.
Having traveled quite a lot during the past 3 weeks, I've noticed inconsistencies in the entire airport security process. In the past, I used to travel between 6-13 times a year for about 4 years straight and only recently have I increased my fly time with a traveling position.
First trip-Denver to Chicago-went through security, no problems, had a couple of items that I forgot to bag properly-lip gloss and chapstick. No one from DIA noticed.
Second trip-Chicago to San Antonio-this time, TSA did notice the lip gloss and just gave me a stern warning about how all liquids and gels need to be placed in a plastic Ziploc container, separate from the other belongings when going through the screening process, to which I piped up and apologized but the TSA agent, recognizing I wasn't a terrorist threat, hushed me hurriedly and continued with the lecture.
Kept all gels and liquid belongings, thank you reasonable agent.
Third trip-San Antonio to Dallas/Ft Worth-remembered to baggie up from the previous security encounter and this time, the American Airlines reservationist graciously offered a plastic Ziploc for my security needs. No hassles, by the book, and away I whizzed through-oops-found a small container of lipgloss, a bath and body works metal tin that didn't quite make it into the Ziploc-must of overlooked and apparently TSA did too.
On a side note, the previous three trips were all SSSS documented on my boarding pass. With the new job, each ticket is purchased one way, usually the day of travel, and I hadn't quite gone through the initiation process. Loved watching my carry-on bags defiled, examined, and wanded.
Although in each instance, every agent I encountered acted very kindly, noticing my youth and gender.
Fourth trip-San Antonio to Denver-after two weeks of on the road, hearing my SSD tell me, I'm sending you home, was the highlight of my trip. Tired of lugging around two rather stuffed suitcases around, each weighing between 45-55 lbs had taken a toll.
Fifth trip-Denver to Seattle-the nightmare. For those of you who've never experienced your flight being cancelled, I hope the trend continues. We all boarded the plane and even made it to the runway, only to turn back after the crew discovered a malfunctioning generator. We sat, and sat, for about an hour on the plane, at the gate, all boarded up, herded up and ready to go.
Finally, the captain announced, we would deplane and the mechanics would investigate the matter further. I chose to go to the bathroom at the wrong time. Damn bladders and their urges. I had literally gotten out of my seat 5 minutes before the announcement, heard it in the bathroom, only to emerge with a sea of people already bolting into the aisles. My seat, 10F, on a 33 row plane. I had to convince people to let me pass so I could return to my quarters and pick up my laptop.
One woman complained, "I have to get my bags too" so I started to joke, "Went to the bathroom at the wrong time-excuse me, may I get through?" Almost made it to my row, but then the wall of humans stopped at row 16. Grrrrrr.
No one moved because the flight attendants hadn't quite opened the doors to actually deplane. Finally, the wall started to move and the herd moved forward enough so I could retrieve my bags.
3 ½ hours later, one of the Alaskan Airlines gate-keepers announced the flight is cancelled, after much hullaboo trying to re-book passengers on departing United and Frontier flights. At least 200 people wanted to get to Seattle on that flight and with two gate-keepers manually rebooking, only a handful managed to get on the other carriers flights. Both had a 15 minute cut-off and passengers who had checked luggage had to make the decision to leave their bags or stick it out, hoping a competent mechanic could identify the generator issue. The united flight departed at 9pm while the frontier flight left at 9:40pm. We were scheduled to arrive in Seattle at 9:06pm.
I made the mistake of checking my bag-the woes of being a woman. Only two bags, a personal and other is allowed per passenger. I had a purse, laptop, and rolling case. In the past, I always carried on all my bags, never really had more than the two, but Frontier allows two carry-ons and a personal, so this new airline cramped my style.
So, after overhearing some Alaskan airlines employees discuss the flight situation, I managed to wander over to the gate-keeper desk, where a line had already started to form.
Sure enough, Alaskan Air announced the flight was cancelled, and passengers could arrange lodging and re-book their flights through the understaffed gate-customer service line. Grrrrr. At least 100 people remained and each person took between 5-10 minutes to settle the arrangements. Hotel accommodations: Crestwood Suites, located 20 minutes away from the airport!
5 th Trip Take Two-Denver to Seattle-working on 3 hours of sleep, I awoke at 3 am to call the office and ensure they knew the flight to Seattle had been cancelled and it would be difficult for me to make the opening time for the survey starting at 10 am. The rebooked flight left at 7 am. SO, this trip is when TSA started to throw away previously taken liquids from my carry-on bags. They took a tube of toothpaste, clearly below the 3.5 oz mark, but because the tube could hold up to 6 oz, they decided to discard the item.
I had taken this tube of paste through security on 6 additional trips over the past year and clearly, the malleable piece of metal encasing the liquid, did not contain 3.5 oz.
6th Trip-Seattle to Denver-the McDonald's parfait purchased at the Airport-bye-bye. My tube of lip gloss made it through without a moment's glance-stored in a pocket of my briefcase.
I always thought it ironic once you pass the security gates, you're welcome to buy liquids from the various vendors located conveniently inside the terminal. Who really wanted to add the additional rule?!? I've never seen the actual revenue report, detailing the growth in sales for airport vendors, but perhaps someone with more connections could someday produce that figure for the average traveler to analyze.
On my trip to DC last June, customer service actually checked me in as Shane Berens, even after I gave her my id. AirTran proceeded to lose my checked luggage, even after I went back to the customer service counter and reminded the reservationist my claim check did not match my destination, nor my name. She of course, took the claim check from me and threw it away. Imagine my surprise when the bags ended up in Raleigh, the city Shane Berens evidently booked.
As with any new rule, it seems the few offenders, once again, ruined it for the rest of us, by passing irrational regulations/rules. When have laws or increased fear ever solved the problem of "I don't care."