Comments on: TSA wants to know who’s flying 72 hours beforehand

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:10:37 +0000

In case anyone’s come across this entry recently, the new link to Security Theater is here:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/expose/expose_2007/episode219/watch.html

By: No ID at security: Fast-track to a government “list”? Either way, why are we bothering? » Upgrade: Travel Better

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:12:11 +0000

[...] computers, phones, and other electronics at the border – A handy guide for luggage inspectors – TSA wants to know who’s flying 72 hours beforehand – Your shoes remain a threat to security – Would you pay a fee to reserve a time to pass through [...]

By: Gone Fishin’ - Part two « Lobo’s Rants

Gone Fishin’ - Part two « Lobo’s Rants — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:34:32 +0000

[...] now but the spontaneity of travel is going to probably be a thing of the past with the TSA’s wish list of items including “all airline passengers would need advance permission before flying into, [...]

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:04:20 +0000

Bonus:
See Ed Hasbrouck’s Congressional testimony against this policy change here:

http://www.hasbrouck.org/articles/SecureFlight-20SEP2007.pdf

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:03:41 +0000

You’re right, Larry, there is technically nothing in there that prohibits ticket sales within the 72 hour window.

The TSA is effectively guaranteeing, though, that the airlines won’t need to worry about having their flights diverted to Bangor, Maine, if the passenger list gets sent to TSA 72 hours in advance. Less than that timeframe, there’s a risk of being diverted. A disincentive to selling tickets within 72 hours, or an incentive to raise last-minute fares? Maybe. A stretch, but maybe.

But for any and all travelers, the de facto effect of running all names through the “no-fly” list is that we (or the airlines, in our stead) are requesting the TSA’s permission to travel.

And note also that these proposed rules require that all passengers must have a government-issued ID in order to travel, and that these IDs must be shown to any government, airport, or airline employee. That’s a big change from the earlier policy, that allowed you to travel without ID, as long as you were subjected to a supplemental screening. (See “How to cut to the front of the security line” toward the end of this roundup: http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/10/16/short-hops-october-16-2007-golden-ages-sweet-spots-and-the-shortcut-to-the-front-of-the-tsa-line/ )

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:27:46 +0000

Did you actually read the proposal? It says nothing about passengers “requiring permission” 72 hours in advance of a flight. If I’m not mistaken, what it’s saying is that the TSA requests that airlines transmit what information they have for a given flight 72 hours in advance, and send any last-minute changes before the cabin doors are closed. There’s nothing in there to suggest that there will be any restrictions on the timing of reservation and ticket sales.

This is not to say that I approve of what they’re doing, of course; I have serious doubts about the effectiveness and value of any system that’s based on a “watch list” that relies on easily falsified information.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:36:15 +0000

A-freakin-men!!!