Comments on: A guy tries to blow up a plane and all I get is these dumb new rules… what stinks, and what’s next http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:21:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Airport security gets more sensible | Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-34840 Airport security gets more sensible | Upgrade: Travel Better Tue, 06 Apr 2010 01:14:50 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-34840 [...] - Upgrades and Downgrades: New security rules, airport scanners, and lousy hotel website editing - A guy tries to blow up a plane and all I get is these dumb new rules… what stinks, and what’s ne... Categorized in: airport security No CommentsSHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Airport security gets [...] [...] – Upgrades and Downgrades: New security rules, airport scanners, and lousy hotel website editing – A guy tries to blow up a plane and all I get is these dumb new rules… what stinks, and what’s ne… Categorized in: airport security No CommentsSHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Airport security gets [...]

]]> By: RJP http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31423 RJP Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:38:44 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31423 Brian, my answer is "nothing." Absent better non-intrusive systems, there is only so much airport security can do. For example, even with backscatter x-rays, a terrorist would still be able to get through security with a keistered bomb. 3 terrorists with 3 butt-bombs similar to that used recently in Saudi Arabia might be able to assemble something big enough to do some damage. So, unless you think TSA should start instituting cavity searches, there is always a risk. The better solution is always on the intelligence side. Rather than trying to catch an unknown terrorist in the act, find out who they are beforehand. (That means more money for the CIA, not the TSA.) Brian, my answer is “nothing.” Absent better non-intrusive systems, there is only so much airport security can do. For example, even with backscatter x-rays, a terrorist would still be able to get through security with a keistered bomb. 3 terrorists with 3 butt-bombs similar to that used recently in Saudi Arabia might be able to assemble something big enough to do some damage. So, unless you think TSA should start instituting cavity searches, there is always a risk.

The better solution is always on the intelligence side. Rather than trying to catch an unknown terrorist in the act, find out who they are beforehand. (That means more money for the CIA, not the TSA.)

]]> By: gypsealeah (Leah Kaiz) http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31387 gypsealeah (Leah Kaiz) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:33:22 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31387 <strong>Twitter Comment</strong> <a href="http://twitter.com/gypsealeah" title="Twitter Comment" rel="nofollow"> <div class="ccimg1" title="gypsealeah (Leah Kaiz)" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;padding:0;width:60px;height:60px;"> <img name="cc_image" title="gypsealeah (Leah Kaiz)" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;padding:0;width:50px;height:50px;" src="http://purl.org/net/spiurl/gypsealeah"> </div> </a> Happy #traveltuesday (or unhappy as the case may be with new TSA regs) Great points in this article! [link to post]<br /><br /> - <a href="http://chatcatcher.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Posted using Chat Catcher</a> Twitter Comment


Happy #traveltuesday (or unhappy as the case may be with new TSA regs) Great points in this article! [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

]]> By: nancynally (Nancy Nally) http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31386 nancynally (Nancy Nally) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:08:20 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31386 <strong>Twitter Comment</strong> <a href="http://twitter.com/nancynally" title="Twitter Comment" rel="nofollow"> <div class="ccimg1" title="nancynally (Nancy Nally)" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;padding:0;width:60px;height:60px;"> <img name="cc_image" title="nancynally (Nancy Nally)" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;padding:0;width:50px;height:50px;" src="http://purl.org/net/spiurl/nancynally"> </div> </a> @mayf Yeah, it is pretty ridiculous. You'll like this take on it: [link to post]<br /><br /> - <a href="http://chatcatcher.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Posted using Chat Catcher</a> Twitter Comment


@mayf Yeah, it is pretty ridiculous. You’ll like this take on it: [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

]]> By: Brian http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31379 Brian Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:52:42 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31379 I'm all for writing letters and intend to do so on this subject. However, while its easy to rail against the dumbest of the rules, it's unclear to me what we should be suggesting the TSA do instead. That is, what reasonable proposals has the TSA yet to implement? Someone wiser than me must have a manifesto for the TSA that I could support. I’m all for writing letters and intend to do so on this subject. However, while its easy to rail against the dumbest of the rules, it’s unclear to me what we should be suggesting the TSA do instead. That is, what reasonable proposals has the TSA yet to implement? Someone wiser than me must have a manifesto for the TSA that I could support.

]]> By: Michael Stillwell http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31375 Michael Stillwell Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:57:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31375 @Mark Actually, that was the "return" trip! The captain's excuse for the plane's late arrival in SFO was the new security procedures being put in place in London, so it's quite likely that flights to the USA are getting greater scrutiny. @Mark Actually, that was the “return” trip! The captain’s excuse for the plane’s late arrival in SFO was the new security procedures being put in place in London, so it’s quite likely that flights to the USA are getting greater scrutiny.

]]> By: SixSuitcaseTravel http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31366 SixSuitcaseTravel Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:09:36 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31366 [...] A guy tries to blow up a plane and all I get is these dumb new rules… what stinks, and what’s ne... -  Upgrade Travel Better    Best article I’ve seen on the subject. [...] [...] A guy tries to blow up a plane and all I get is these dumb new rules… what stinks, and what’s ne… -  Upgrade Travel Better    Best article I’ve seen on the subject. [...]

]]> By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31345 Mark Ashley Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:16:02 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31345 @Mike Nash The "final hour" rules have been revised and are now at captain's discretion. Which means it's a crapshoot. <a href="http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/29/upgrades-and-downgrades-crotch-bomber-aftermath-edition/" rel="nofollow">See here.</a> @BJW Indeed, voting with your feet (and wallet) is powerful. The most powerful voting will be by those who choose not to fly to (or through) the United States. For example, if I were flying from Auckland to London, you couldn't pay me to fly via LAX. I'd do what I could to avoid touching down in the US. @greg Thanks, I looked into this a while back, but it was not yet very widespread, so thanks for pointing it my way again. The program overview is here. It requires a "rigorous background check," which I'd like to hear more about. Global Entry has expanded to a number of airports since I last looked: BOS, ORD, DFW, DTW, FLL, IAH, ATL, HNL, JFK, LAS, LAX, MIA, EWR, MCO, PHL, SFO, SJU, SFB, SEA, and IAD. (SFB? Orlando-Sanford? And not CLT? Really?!) @Oliver and @Michael Stilwell Thanks for the trip reports. Michael, it will be interesting to hear what happens on the return. The stricter procedures are only in place for flights headed to the US, not leaving the US or within the US. Go figure. @Antonio Thanks for the link. Indeed, the odds remain very slim. It's a worthwhile read. The takeaway: "the odds of being on given departure which is the subject of a terrorist incident have been 1 in 10,408,947 over the past decade. By contrast, the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are about 1 in 500,000. This means that you could board 20 flights per year and still be less likely to be the subject of an attempted terrorist attack than to be struck by lightning." @Mike Maddaloni Thanks as always for your kind words. @Mike Nash
The “final hour” rules have been revised and are now at captain’s discretion. Which means it’s a crapshoot. See here.

@BJW
Indeed, voting with your feet (and wallet) is powerful. The most powerful voting will be by those who choose not to fly to (or through) the United States. For example, if I were flying from Auckland to London, you couldn’t pay me to fly via LAX. I’d do what I could to avoid touching down in the US.

@greg
Thanks, I looked into this a while back, but it was not yet very widespread, so thanks for pointing it my way again. The program overview is here. It requires a “rigorous background check,” which I’d like to hear more about. Global Entry has expanded to a number of airports since I last looked: BOS, ORD, DFW, DTW, FLL, IAH, ATL, HNL, JFK, LAS, LAX, MIA, EWR, MCO, PHL, SFO, SJU, SFB, SEA, and IAD. (SFB? Orlando-Sanford? And not CLT? Really?!)

@Oliver and @Michael Stilwell
Thanks for the trip reports. Michael, it will be interesting to hear what happens on the return. The stricter procedures are only in place for flights headed to the US, not leaving the US or within the US. Go figure.

@Antonio
Thanks for the link. Indeed, the odds remain very slim. It’s a worthwhile read. The takeaway: “the odds of being on given departure which is the subject of a terrorist incident have been 1 in 10,408,947 over the past decade. By contrast, the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are about 1 in 500,000. This means that you could board 20 flights per year and still be less likely to be the subject of an attempted terrorist attack than to be struck by lightning.”

@Mike Maddaloni
Thanks as always for your kind words.

]]> By: Michael Stillwell http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31342 Michael Stillwell Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:19:04 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31342 I flew from San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) yesterday and actually security at SFO didn't seem all that different to usual--had to take shoes off, but that seems to happen about half the time anyway. There was no inflight map, and no landmarks were announced, although the pilot did announce the route shortly after takeoff. We weren't allowed blankets or pillows on laps while landing. (And flight attendant said that this rule would be taken "very seriously" or similar.) I flew from San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) yesterday and actually security at SFO didn’t seem all that different to usual–had to take shoes off, but that seems to happen about half the time anyway. There was no inflight map, and no landmarks were announced, although the pilot did announce the route shortly after takeoff. We weren’t allowed blankets or pillows on laps while landing. (And flight attendant said that this rule would be taken “very seriously” or similar.)

]]> By: Mike Maddaloni - @thehotiron http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/12/28/a-guy-tries-to-blow-up-a-plane-and-all-i-get-is-these-dumb-new-rules-what-stinks-and-whats-next/#comment-31341 Mike Maddaloni - @thehotiron Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:57:33 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=4494#comment-31341 Thanks Mark for once again the best summary of the aftermath of the terror attempt! mp/m Thanks Mark for once again the best summary of the aftermath of the terror attempt!

mp/m

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