TSA still frustrates 10 years later

Removing shoes, retrieving laptops, displaying bags of liquids: all are part of the airport screening process and all are cited by air travelers as top issues with flying.

In a survey by the U.S. Travel Association (USTA), the nation’s largest travel trade group, 600 Americans who traveled in the last 12 months were asked to list their top five grievances with air travel. Four of the five issues named by the majority of the respondents involved the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) security checkpoints.

The survey was released to mark the 10th anniversary of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which created TSA in November 2001.

Top Five Frustrations Cited by Air Travelers:

1.) People who bring too many carry-on bags through security checkpoint (72.4%)

2.) Uncomfortable seats on airplanes (70.4%)

3.) Wait time to clear the TSA checkpoint (68%)

4.) Having to remove shoes, belts and jackets at the TSA checkpoint (62.3%)

5.) TSA employees who are not friendly (42%)

However, TSA also received some positive feedback from the survey. About 66 percent of air travelers said they are somewhat or very satisfied with the organization’s overall performance.

For frequent travelers, that satisfaction rate was 54.6 percent.

Additionally, nearly 75 percent of travelers said they were somewhat or very satisfied with TSA’s recent announcement that it will eventually stop forcing passengers to remove their shoes through the security checkpoints.

Bill would scrap checked baggage fee

Fliers hate baggage fees, and the long lines at airport security screening that are made worse by passengers carrying on more bags than they did in the past.

So just before the the busiest air travel day of the year, Sen. Mary Landrieu has introduced legislation to try to put limits on airlines charging for checking in bags.

Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat, has two different proposals. One would prohibit airlines from charging for the first checked bag.

The other would allow the fees, but raise taxes on airlines that charge for baggage. That proposal would raise the $260 million that the Transportation Security Administration estimates it needs to handle the extra carry-on bags going through the screening process.

The TSA estimates that the number of checked bags has decreased by 26% since 2009, while carry-on bags increased by 87 million in roughly the same time period.

"Many airlines consider checking a bag not to be a right, but a privilege -- and one with a hefty fee attached," said Landrieu. She said her first legislative proposal "will guarantee passengers one checked bag without the financial burden of paying a fee, or the headache of trying to fit everything into a carry-on."

The second, she added, would at least make sure taxpayers are made whole for the stresses more congestion at security places on the system.

Not surprisingly, the airline industry's trade group objects to both proposals.

The Air Transport Association says its own survey shows only one in four passengers now pay a baggage fee, either by carrying-on bags, choosing an airline that won't charge a fee or having the fee waived due to the credit card they use or the frequent flier perks they receive.

Southwest Airlines (LUV, Fortune 500) doesn't charge for bags and has made the lack of a fee part of its marketing campaign. Jet Blue (JBLU) doesn't have any fees on the first bag. On the other extreme, low-fare carrier Spirit Airlines (SAVE) charges even for carry-on bags.

"Customers do have choice today," said Steve Lott, spokesman for the association. "In terms of fairness, you pay for the services you get. Under what the senator is suggesting, some people would be paying for a service they aren't using."

Airline consultant Michael Boyd said he believes if the fees were banned, fares would rise instead. That could cost customers even more due to the excise tax they pay on fares and not on fees.

"I hate the fees like everyone else," said Boyd. "When American Airlines (AMR, Fortune 500) initiated a bag fee, I thought they were doomed. But the consumer didn't blink an eye, they just got out their wallet."

Airline fined $900,000 for lengthy tarmac delays

The Department of Transportation said Monday it has fined a regional affiliate of American Airlines $900,000 for keeping hundreds of passengers cooped up for hours on planes in Chicago earlier this year, a clear warning to airlines on the eve of the holiday travel season that similar incidents won't be tolerated.

American Eagle Airlines had tarmac delays of more than three hours on 15 flights arriving at O'Hare International Airport on May 29, the department said in a statement. A total of 608 passengers were aboard the delayed flights.

The airline must pay $650,000 of the fine within 30 days, the department said. But up to $250,000 can be credited for refunds, vouchers, and frequent flyer mile awards provided to the passengers on the 15 flights, as well as to passengers on future flights that violate the three-hour rule, the department said.

The department implemented a new rule in April 2010 limiting tarmac delays on domestic flights to three hours. After that, airlines must either return to a gate or provide passengers who wish to leave planes with some other means of safely getting off. Airlines that violate the rule can be fined as much as $27,500 per passenger.

Five Things You Must Know about Airport Security

Here are five things you must know about airport security; this list will help keep things in perspective next time you hear another outrage story, plus it may even help you have a quicker and easier security experience.

1. Airport Security Mistakes Happen.

TSA screeners are human; they will make mistakes. However, the vast majority of these men and women are simply following the rules they are bound by. If you don’t like the rules, and I for one think they could use a huge dose of common sense, take it out on the politicians, not the screeners. (Click on photos to enlarge)

2. Airport Security Mistakes are Few

Stories of outrage make news: when a former Miss USA described her pat-down as “molestation”, people paid attention. Still, in the United States alone, 2 million people get on planes every day; that’s almost three-quarters of a billion a year. The number of “outrages” is miniscule in comparison.

3. Know the Security Checkpoint Requirements

Passengers have security responsibilities too, and following them will speed your time in the line; know what you can and cannot bring through the security checkpoint. Forget arguing about it; you will not win.

4. Security Changes are Coming

By the end of 2011, the TSA hopes to have a “trusted traveler” program in place, or at least in testing-mode: participants who agree to background checks and interviews will supposedly breeze through security. According to the U.S. Travel Association, a majority of passengers say they’d pay for this service, up to $150 a year. Would you pay for quicker security?

5. Airport Security Will Never be Completely Hassle-Free

If you yearn for the good old days of zipping through the airport, forget it. We’ll never go back. The people behind 9/11 saw to that. All we can do is make the best of a difficult situation. Yes, report any outrages you see, but also do your part to make the security experience a smooth one for you and all the people in line behind you.

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Perfect Solution to Airport Scanning

Here's a solution to all the controversy over full-body scanners.

I think the Transportation Security Adminstration is making things way too complicated.

Have a booth that you can step into that will NOT x-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you.

It would be a win-win for everyone. So simple.

Click on photo to enlarge

The Top Ten Gross Things People Do On Airplanes

We all know about the rare instances of airline passenger misconduct that make it to the headlines, like the case of the naked, angry flyer or the fighting Lohan, but every day little instances of pure gross occur unnoticed or just unreported.

Perhaps you've spotted someone getting a little too frisky beneath their $5 on-board purchase blanket or going about some hygienic business, but chances are you haven't seen all Top Ten Gross Things People Do On Airplanes:

10. Browse dating websites over the in-flight WiFi

We know that having in-flight WiFi is new and great and magical, but it's best to keep your private profile and your preferences for "18/F/Asian" private.

9. Sleep on you/sleep on the floor

It's a long flight back from Hawaii and your seatmate had two too many Mai Tais. Before you can say "Mauna Loa," he's conked out on your shoulder and speedily producing a lava flow of glistening drool.

8. Use the main aisle as a space to do sit-ups, push-ups or change your child's diaper

The aisle is not your gym, nor is it a changing table. No one wants to see your lunging butt centimeters away from them as you attempt calisthenics.

7. Read Hustler, or other "adult" magazines

We realize that airport bookstores and newspaper kiosks sell adult magazines, but that doesn't mean you should immediately "read" them on the plane; those are for after the flight.

6. Attempt to join the Mile High Club

Although it seems flirty and adventurous to get in a mood with your partner and try to see things through while in-flight, keep in mind that you're in a public space.

5. Attempt to join the Mile High Club solo

The provided (or purchsed) airline blanket does not mean you have complete privacy and carte blanche to do what you will underneath it.

4. Eat fried chicken

Don't bring it on a bus, don't bring it on a train, and definitely don't bring it on a plane: smelly, greasy, messy food.

3. Tend to foot hygiene

There are foot fetishists and then there's everyone else. Feet just aren't the sort of thing that you want spending 8 hours a few inches away from the side of your face, especially if they're not your own feet (doing some yoga there?).

2. Vomit into something that is not the supplied barf bag

Thanks. We have a gross image of this in our head: "Saw someone use the plastic wrap from an airline blanket as a barf bag...didn't really work."

1. Sneeze open-mouthed/neglect to wash hands after using lavatory

This in-flight offense takes the number one spot because it happens most frequently and can affect the most passengers.

See more details at: http://bit.ly/ccXhQ7

I just verified the above address and got a warning - probably because the regular address is very long. Don't worrk, it works.

Delta Begins In-Flight Wi-Fi Rollout (and It's Free Until Next Year)

Delta said it was coming before 2009, and it's looking like it's actually managed to pull it off. The struggling airline is indicating that most of its most commonly used shuttle craft between New York, Boston, and Washington D.C. are currently being upgraded to offer in-flight Wi-Fi -- and it'll even be free until the end of the year.

The service, provided by Aircell, will be $9.95 on flights less than three hours and $12.95 for anything longer. These short flights will all fit into the former category, just the beginning of the system-wide roll-out that Delta wants to put in place next year.

However, that expansion will be dealt an early blow next year as Delta replaces many of those shuttle flights with contract carriers that don't offer such fancy features. In other words, we're still not quite to the point where mid-air surfing is standard fare, but we're getting close.

Good Essay on TSA Stupidity

A real-life experience -

"You ain't takin' this through," she says. "No knives. You can't bring a knife through here."

It takes a moment for me to realize that she's serious. "I'm ... but ... it's ..."

"Sorry." She throws it into a bin and starts to walk away.

"Wait a minute," I say. "That's airline silverware."

"Don't matter what it is. You can't bring knives through here."

"Ma'am, that's an airline knife. It's the knife they give you on the plane."

Visit Georg Carlin on Airport Security (Caution: Language may be offensive)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBxzvSbGJ2w

Odd Things Airlines Are Doing to Reduce Weight (and Save Fuel)

No, nobody’s weighing the passengers…yet. But airlines are doing all sorts of imaginative things to drop pounds off a plane, to save fuel. Here’s a partial listing from the International Herald Tribune.

- Japan Airlines suspends beer sales on domestic flights

- Cathay Pacific strips paint off some planes (paint can weigh 440 lbs on a 747)

- American swaps old drink carts for new models (17 lbs lighter)

- Northwest is putting 25% less water in bathrooms on international flights (water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon)

It all adds up: Southwest figures that, since it began washing some of its jet engines on a nightly basis last April (to reduce “drag” caused by dirt), its saved $1.6 million in fuel costs.