Airport Security

[minnesota_liberal]

I flew back from San Francisco to Minneapolis on Monday (11/12/07) and was decidedly unimpressed with the airport security.

1. The Northwest Airlines worker checked in my luggage without inspecting (or even asking for) my ID.
2. A recording repeatedly announced the Security Threat Level, information that's absolutely useless to all except potential terrorists.
3. The TSA agents apparently hadn't heard about the rule limiting liquids and gels to 3-oz containers and requiring that they be placed in a 1-qt clear plastic bag for inspection. There was no signage and no supply of bags.

What's your airport security story?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The TSA no longer requires passengers to show ID.

The 3-oz rule doesn't apply to checked baggage, only to carry-ons. If they didn't enforce it for carry-ons, maybe they've finally figured out that it's a totally stupid rule. So is the multicolored threat level code, which doesn't do anything helpful for passengers or airlines and doesn't give terrorists any useful information, either. The whole thing is a big charade -- Security Theatre.

[minnesota_liberal]

4. Where do I start?

Knowing that the "3-oz rule" doesn't apply to checked baggage, it was safe for you to assume that I was referring to the TSA's screening of carry-on luggage. At MSP, the rule is clearly posted and 1-qt bags are provided for travelers who aren't prepared. I'm not sure why things are so different at SFO.

Here is the TSA's explanation of that rule:
http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Boarding passes and identification are required of adults at security checkpoints, which are manned by the TSA.

Again, the TSA explanation:
http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/summer_tips.pdf

And except for this one time at SFO, I've always had to show ID while checking luggage. Usually it's the airline employees who accept the luggage from passengers. Sometimes the airlines make the passengers haul their (checked) luggage directly to the TSA screeners.

As for the color-coded Threat Level, it supposedly reflects the amount of diligence with which security agents inspect passengers, cargo, luggage and so on. Hearing the Threat Level might make "soccer moms" feel safer, but announcing it is counterproductive insofar as it lets anyone who's up to no good know how thorough the screening and surveillance is likely to be. Israel knows a little something about security and I hear that they don't tip off anyone by announcing how closely they're watching at the airport.

I agree that most of it is "Security Theater" - a term coined by Bruce Schneier. Except for securing cockpit doors, most of the "security" measures implemented since 9/11 are a waste of time.

[TransitJohn]

6. Actually, ID is not required to fly domestically.

You can say you don't have any, and you get SSSSS'd for extra screening, which sometimes gets you ahead of long lines at the walk thru metal detectors. Internationally, of course, you must have a passport or equivalent document.

[kdmorris]

2. Since April, I've been through 4 different airports

Palm Beach International, West Palm Beach, FL
Hartsfield-Jackson International, Atlanta, GA
Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Chicacgo-O'Hare

I've had different experiences with each of them, with O'Hare being the biggest pain in the ass I've ever had to deal with. None of them announced the threat level anymore, all of them limited liquids, with O'Hare again being the pickiest, and without fail, they all asked for my ID (American Airlines, Delta and United) before checking my bag in. I do know that they don't supply bags. You have to buy them yourself. All of these airports had big signs telling what you can and can't take on. Atlanta even has a little display that is highly amusing, showing the chain saw that you are not allowed to take on board. FLL and PBI had signs that were more like movies, shown on an LCD screen.

In fact, I would say that in most of the cases, I thought security was rather ridiculous and a little too strict. But it's hard to believe that Northwest would allow you to check baggage without ID.

[MindPilot]

5. I about busted a gut when I first saw the chainsaw on the list

Who knew? Let's see three onces of gas, three onces of oil, that's six ounces of chainsaw fuel and now I can't even bring it on board?

Almost as good as the cartoon bomb.

[RC]

3. They were asking about liquids and video recorders for carry-on at KCI yesterday.

At least they were not using passengers as training aids for new hires this time.

My last time through KCI (last month) their wand picked up my passport. Neither the trainer nor the trainee knew about the chip or the shielding in it. I've had my passport for a year now. That didn't make me feel secure.