goofy4tink
No tags...not needed! Transportation moderator
- Joined
- May 2, 2002
Bingo...this is where I want to see better security. It's way too lax. I'm much more worried about what's in a piece of cargo than I am about the person sitting three rows in front of me. As airlines increase checked bag fees, they are able to take on more profitable cargo..and God only knows what's in that cargo..underneath me.WBI - whole body imager, the name was recently changed by TSA to AIT - advanced imaging technology so they were not openly acknowledging that one's whole body was being seen.
First and foremost, TSA must let citizens and other flyers know what to expect when going through airport security. That's the only way we know whether we are experiencing the actions of a rogue employee or proper screening.
Then the process should be along the lines of
Metal detectors and puffers as primary screening for everyone.
Escalate as necessary to explosive swabs if puffer alarms, wanding if WTMD and if neither of these resolve the issue, then a "frisk".
Eliminate shoe removal - swab if an alarm or if the shoes appear to be tampered with.
Eliminate the ID check - that's nothing more than a way for the airline to keep me from selling my "nonrefundable" ticket to you.
Eliminate shoe removal unless explosive detector alarms and then xray shoes. Most of us know which of our shoes have metal and will alarm and most of us are bright enough not to wear them to the airport . . . if just a metal alarm, visual examine shoes and xray if they appear tampered with.
Permit sealed containers of liquids as carry ons. Permit unsealed beverages when the passenger drinks from the container.
TSA scanning of everything that goes into the baggage hold of an airplane . . . eliminate "trusted shipper."
I've been through the WBI several times..have not had any further 'security' measures after that.OK . . . spelling and typos!!! ROGUE employee. But if you see a TSAer with too much rouge, you'll regret not having a camera!
As far as the scanners go, if you get to walk right through it, it isn't a WBI, it a WTMD (walk through metal detector). If you have to stop and assume a specific position, it's a WBI. If you are doing this as a "learning experience," and are willing to get a pat down, then simply say "I opt out." If you do that, from that point on pay very close attention to what happens to you and your belongings.
No problem if you choose to follow the path of least resistance . . .
I have noticed that a lot of people that go through the WBI get a patdown anyway (haven't been through a WBI checkpoint in PHL as yet. I'm interested in what you observe.
Sam
As far as printing the boarding pass at home and TSA doing a match. If you are on the no fly list (NFL), you can't print your boarding pass at home. Show me one, just one TSA document checker that ever double checks a BP and ID against a list. Do you think it's possible that one of the bad guys just might have some authentic looking, if not authentic ID in a name that will breeze right through the NFL checks.