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Made in us
Confessor Of Sins




WA, USA

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/aviation/airport-frustration-tsa-passenger-screening-lines/index.html

Spoiler:

Atlanta (CNN)Get ready, America, for a summer full of long security lines at major airports, missed flight connections and millions of grumpy passengers.
That's the warning from authorities at the nation's most congested and busiest airports and the Transportation Security Administration.

Airports are starting to take matters into their own hands.
In an unusual, strongly worded letter to the TSA, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- which oversees the New York City area's three major airports -- has essentially threatened to fire the TSA by privatizing their passenger screening process.
The letter mentioned the "inadequacy of TSA passenger screening," fears of widespread "customer dissatisfaction" and described wait times as "abysmal."
From mid-March to mid-April, there were hundreds of times that passenger waits lasted more than 20 minutes -- and sometimes more than 55 minutes, the letter said.
"The patience of the flying public has reached a breaking point," said the letter from Port Authority Aviation Department Director Thomas Bosco and Chief Security Officer Thomas Belfiore.
The airspace surrounding New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport ranks among the most congested in the nation. About 126 million passengers passed through those airports last year.
Read the Port Authority letter
Airports in other cities, including Seattle, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta have expressed similar frustration with the TSA.
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport -- which handled more than 100 million travelers last year -- sent a similar letter to the TSA threatening to privatize passenger security lines.
It's partnering with Delta Air Lines and the TSA to figure out a better passenger screening procedure.
They're calling these experimental lines Innovation Lines -- or I-Lines.
Two I-Lines are expected to debut at Atlanta's south domestic terminal checkpoint on May 24, the TSA said. Here's how they'll be different:

Baggage bins automatically move to a separate conveyor belt if a TSA agent IDs them as suspicious.
Baggage bins automatically recirculate after they move through the security machine.
The I-Line includes special "divestiture" areas where passengers can take off shoes, belts, etc. at their own pace.

The TSA has been talking about these ideas for years, said Chad Wolf, a former TSA assistant administrator.
"All of these things will save time," he said. "We just don't know how much time."
The biggest time saver, Wolf said, likely will be re-routing suspicious bags.
"Re-routing bags to a different conveyor is a big deal," he said. "Once that belt stops, the whole line stops."
The X-ray machine that screens passenger bags is a "big time suck," Wolf said.
The decision that goes into stopping the belt and flagging a bag for extra scrutiny takes time and holds up the line.
The new equipment is similar to systems employed at London's Heathrow and Amsterdam's Schiphol, the TSA said.
The I-Lines will operate side-by-side with two regular lanes. Officials will gather data to compare and analyze the two systems.
The results will help the TSA create a pilot program that could be replicated at other airports.
Related story: Expect epic lines at the airport this summer
The TSA has already warned that staffing issues might create long waits at the nation's big airports during the upcoming summer travel season.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh C. Johnson said he has called on Congress to approve more money to pay overtime for TSA officers working at airports across the nation this summer.
So far, that hasn't happened.
Factors like relatively lower fuel prices and fares are likely to drive passenger traffic higher this summer.
As for the carriers, American Airlines has blamed missed flights by thousands of its passengers on the TSA checkpoints.
The airline lobbying group Airlines for America has kicked off an aggressive social media campaign asking people to share photos of long security lines and post them with the hashtag: #iHatetheWait.
Related story: Stuck in line? Take a picture
But what happens after passengers pass through the metal detectors and put their shoes back on and get on the planes and settle into their seats?
Apparently, a lot of us are able to put that unpleasantness behind us, according to a recent survey.
That's what we can surmise from the 2016 J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study, released Wednesday.
Satisfaction with North American airlines rose for a fourth straight year, measuring at a record high 726 points on a scale of 1,000.
On the other hand, airline customer complaints are at their worst level in 15 years, according to the 26th annual national Airline Quality Rating report, which was released in April. From 2014 to 2015, complaints rose by 38%.


I travel a lot for work, so I find this story interesting and rather close to home. And I can see it happening given how slow and ineffective at security TSA has become. Though I can't help but wonder what a privatized system would look like.

 Ouze wrote:

Afterward, Curran killed a guy in the parking lot with a trident.
 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






New Orleans, LA

I travel out of O'Hare weekly, and typically travel from either Houston, Pittsburgh, or Philly for my projects.

ANYTHING that makes O'Hare and Houston TSA less of a gak-hole is A-OK in my book.

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Made in us
Confessor Of Sins




WA, USA

I go through Seattle for all my travel, and there are days where it is an utter nightmare and some where it is not bad at all. I'd be more than happy with an upgrade as well.

 Ouze wrote:

Afterward, Curran killed a guy in the parking lot with a trident.
 
   
Made in us
Last Remaining Whole C'Tan






Pleasant Valley, Iowa

There really isn't a good reason for the TSA to exist. They routinely fail to perform their core functionality - detecting dangerous weapons from being snuck on a plane - in incredibly high numbers every single practice run, ever. I don't believe there's been a single documented case of them foiling a terror plot.


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 Flinty wrote:
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Norwalk, Connecticut

Not to mention the TSA does a gak job anyway. My roommate accidentally flew for half a year with a live bullet in his bag (he forgot it was there, carry-on), I flew with an exacto knife and a full bottle of tooth paste. Yet other times I'd get screened because I had an Alkaline Trio shirt on (for those not familiar, the shirts are usually black with a heart and skull design). And the screenings happened every time I wore the shirts, so after 3-4 times, I stopped bringing them.

Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

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Ephrata, PA

I travel to Richmond from the Philly Suburbs once a month or so. They offer to fly us (the airport is 15 minutes from the campus down there). I've chosen the 6 hour drive every time due to my mom's horror stories about the TSA. Glad to see there might be change.

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USA

 Ouze wrote:
There really isn't a good reason for the TSA to exist. They routinely fail to perform their core functionality - detecting dangerous weapons from being snuck on a plane - in incredibly high numbers every single practice run, ever. I don't believe there's been a single documented case of them foiling a terror plot.



You clearly want the terrorists to win!


   
Made in us
Last Remaining Whole C'Tan






Pleasant Valley, Iowa

Such is the TSA that statistically, if you took 10 terrorists and gave them some kind of weapon that wasn't totally obvious on an x-ray, at least 9 of them would make it onto the plane with the weapon.

If it was something that would show up unambiguously on an X-ray, like a loaded pistol or a hand grenade, I bet at least 7 still would make it onboard. We tolerate an unbelievable, unprecedented level of mediocrity on the taxpayer dime with these clowns.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/05/11 19:11:54


 lord_blackfang wrote:
Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.

 Flinty wrote:
The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
 
   
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On moon miranda.

The TSA is pretty much there just to provide a presence deterrence. Beyond that, they're largely worthless.

IRON WITHIN, IRON WITHOUT.

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Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





TSA (and a lot of the airport 'security') is just security theatre to make people feel bettet.
   
Made in us
Last Remaining Whole C'Tan






Pleasant Valley, Iowa

 Vaktathi wrote:
The TSA is pretty much there just to provide a presence deterrence.


Sure, and that's a function that can be done by private security at the airlines expense, where the cost can be passed on to the people actually flying.

Anyway, I'll stop ranting now


 lord_blackfang wrote:
Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.

 Flinty wrote:
The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
 
   
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 timetowaste85 wrote:
Not to mention the TSA does a gak job anyway. My roommate accidentally flew for half a year with a live bullet in his bag (he forgot it was there, carry-on), I flew with an exacto knife and a full bottle of tooth paste. Yet other times I'd get screened because I had an Alkaline Trio shirt on (for those not familiar, the shirts are usually black with a heart and skull design). And the screenings happened every time I wore the shirts, so after 3-4 times, I stopped bringing them.


Thanks for the heads up. I own a black and white letterman Alkaline Trio jacket and I wouldn't be surprised if they stopped me.

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 Ouze wrote:
 Vaktathi wrote:
The TSA is pretty much there just to provide a presence deterrence.


Sure, and that's a function that can be done by private security at the airlines expense, where the cost can be passed on to the people actually flying.

Anyway, I'll stop ranting now

I wouldnt disagree with that

IRON WITHIN, IRON WITHOUT.

New Heavy Gear Log! Also...Grey Knights!
The correct pronunciation is Imperial Guard and Stormtroopers, "Astra Militarum" and "Tempestus Scions" are something you'll find at Hogwarts.  
   
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San Jose, CA

 kronk wrote:
I travel out of O'Hare weekly, and typically travel from either Houston, Pittsburgh, or Philly for my projects.

ANYTHING that makes O'Hare and Houston TSA less of a gak-hole is A-OK in my book.
I travel through O'Hare a few times a year. The only thing that makes it tolerable is the "Priority" tag on my Virgin America tickets - the first class lines are SO much shorter it's not even funny.

Edit: Although, if you're traveling that often, why not jump through the hoops for the Pre check program?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/05/11 21:24:54


Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? 
   
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Its been proven unequivacally that the TSA is useless. Sack'em I say.

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Leerstetten, Germany

I thought there was a process for airports to opt out of the TSA if they can show they have the same screening standards?

I found this old article, but nothing more recent:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/us/airports-with-new-law-are-freer-to-split-from-tsa.html?_r=0
   
Made in fi
Confessor Of Sins




 d-usa wrote:
I thought there was a process for airports to opt out of the TSA if they can show they have the same screening standards?


Huh? Screening standards as in screening their own personnel or the passengers? Both can be met by handing out badges to anyone who walks in from the street and telling him to stand behind a desk looking important.
   
Made in us
Douglas Bader






 d-usa wrote:
I thought there was a process for airports to opt out of the TSA if they can show they have the same screening standards?


So, a chain-link fence with the door code written on a sign next to the keypad, like the local small airport? Or do they need to include a fake owl like one of the other nearby airports?

There is no such thing as a hobby without politics. "Leave politics at the door" is itself a political statement, an endorsement of the status quo and an attempt to silence dissenting voices. 
   
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Leerstetten, Germany

To be fair, just because the TSA sucks at meeting the standards doesn't mean the standards don't exist to begin with
   
Made in au
Lady of the Lake






Spetulhu wrote:
 d-usa wrote:
I thought there was a process for airports to opt out of the TSA if they can show they have the same screening standards?


Huh? Screening standards as in screening their own personnel or the passengers? Both can be met by handing out badges to anyone who walks in from the street and telling him to stand behind a desk looking important.


Setting your standards too high, they need to be able to stand behind the desk but you're asking too much for them to look important doing so. They're not politicians.

   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






New Orleans, LA

 Janthkin wrote:

Edit: Although, if you're traveling that often, why not jump through the hoops for the Pre check program?


I actually have an interview set up for TSA pre-check. Just 2 more months wait!

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Fate-Controlling Farseer





Fort Campbell

 kronk wrote:
 Janthkin wrote:

Edit: Although, if you're traveling that often, why not jump through the hoops for the Pre check program?


I actually have an interview set up for TSA pre-check. Just 2 more months wait!


I'm curious about that process. As military, it's automatic for us. No "interview".

Full Frontal Nerdity 
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

 kronk wrote:
I travel out of O'Hare weekly, and typically travel from either Houston, Pittsburgh, or Philly for my projects.

ANYTHING that makes O'Hare and Houston TSA less of a gak-hole is A-OK in my book.


Kronk- I know you are also a "Efficiency and Quality" guy for work. Nothing drives me crazier than airports. Aviation is one of the most tightly controlled and efficient processes in the world in order to avoid catastrophic failure, yet somehow the people management side of airports do not adopt any of the best practices from the larger Aviation industry. It is just mind-boggling to me.

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Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






New Orleans, LA

When I see 3 body scanners not being used and a mile long line at the same time every day, it just solidifies that the TSA has the "Cares more about costs than customers" management. Also, this systems needs a team of LSS Black Belts.

And by association, so does United Airlines, which essentially owns Terminal 1 and half of Terminal 2 at O'Hare. If they actually cared about the customers, they would do something about the TSA there.

Having Frequent Filer status with United helps, as I get to go through the Premier lines, which are much faster. However, if I were just a regular Joe Shmoe, I'd be out of my mind waiting in those damn lines.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2016/05/19 13:16:50


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Pragmatic Primus Commanding Cult Forces






Southeastern PA, USA

 kronk wrote:
I travel out of O'Hare weekly


My condolences.

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Houston, TX

The TSA baffles me. It shouldn't even be a thing. Why can't the feds just set security requirements for airports and leave it up to them to comply? Oh, they can, but it wouldn't create a whole unnecessary agency.

They are not law enforcement, they are security. We don't have an agency that provides nuclear plant security guards or security for bus stations, and nobody seems terribly upset about that....

-James
 
   
Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)




The Great State of Texas

United is like Sherman's revenge on Texas. They took the clients of a decent airline and just ed them royally. About 90% of the flights I take with them are bad. I will go out of my way to drive down to Hobby and take Southwest. Its just so much better.

one method of getting through security better there is going through Terminal B security. But yes I find Hobby's security line much much better. IAH, they just act hostile, although not as hostile as Philadelphia. The way one was shouting when I went there, he would have been decked by the end of the day in Texas by somebody.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/05/19 13:50:01


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New Orleans, LA

If only there was a SouthWest hub close to me, I would use them.

O'Hare doesn't fly SouthWest. Midway flies SouthWest, but that's a 2 hour drive. Milwaulkee does fly SouthWest, but nearly every flight I would want takes me to Midway, which adds about 2 hours to every trip. None of that helps me get where I want to go as fast as United from O'Hare.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/05/19 13:50:47


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Curb stomping in the Eye of Terror!

The Airlines will have to pull some muscles to straigten out the TSA (or, ask the airport to drop them).

I personally know a few people who decided to drive than to fly this summer.

If the airlines are financially hurt by this, they'll fix this gak.

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