U.s. Bound Travellers -- More Headaches!

[Jingthing]

Well thanks to that Nigerian terrorist that almost blew up an airline, we all have to suffer. Beats getting blown up, but it just gets more and more unpleasant to travel.

Anyway, here is the new stuff. Also departing the U.S. arrive even earlier!

New rules for airline travel

-- U.S.-bound passengers aboard international flights must undergo a "thorough pat-down" at boarding gates, focused on the upper legs and torso. All carry-on baggage must be inspected.

-- Passengers must remain seated for the final hour before landing. During that time, they may not have access to their carry-on baggage or hold personal items on their laps.

-- While over U.S. airspace, flight crews may not make any announcements to passengers concerning the flight path or the airplane's position over cities or landmarks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9122601773.html

I wonder if these are going to be permanent changes, like the taking off the shoes drill.

Edited December 27, 2009 by Jingthing

[Slaps]

Sounds OK to me

rather that than some tw@t blowen me up

[Jingthing]

The last hour lockdown thing is a drag. Can't even read a book, I suppose, and what if you need a toilet?

[NovaBlue05]

Short of a full strip search of every passenger, I doubt they can stop those who are also willing to kill themselves in the process. Tens of thousands of flights globally each day and one single success at downing a plane will result in such draconian security measures implemented that it will be hard to see how the airline industry can flourish. Lines in the terminal out the door and down the street. Security will always be behind the curve on this.

The only good news is that, with all the flights in the air at any given time, your odds of being on one with one of these nutcases is still remote

[Jingthing]

A lot of this is security theater to make people FEEL they are safe. The reason the latest terrorist didn't succeed was some heroic passengers and flight attendants. Particularly that Dutch guy, he should get a medal!

Edited December 27, 2009 by Jingthing

[Slaps]

It's only going to get worse

When the next one happens there will be another crackdown

and the crackdowns add up

[NovaBlue05]

A lot of this is security theater to make people FEEL they are safe.

That's all they can do....give the illusion of security.

The old saying that they only have to succeed once and global security has to succeed 10's of thousands of times a day (every flight) is true. It's a matter of time before they succeed and, when they do, air travel is going to take a major hit. This doesn't just apply to US bound/originating passengers. Whatever security is applied in the US will likely be applied everywhere. It really sucks. I see no reason to be optimistic going forward

Edited December 27, 2009 by NovaBlue05

[NanLaew]

And then we have the unfortunate Nigerian with a real bad stomach problem on the same flight/route 2 days later.

"Cabin crew became increasingly suspicious, broke the door down and dragged him out. He is then said to have become irate and verbally aggressive."

Hmmm.... I have a bad case of Montezuma's Revenge and someone kicks-in my shi!thouse door. I would be irate and verbally aggressive too.

"US airlines especially have tightened security after the attempt, increasing screenings and body searches and, in some cases, confining passengers to their seats without pillows or blankets for the last hour of their flight."

If anyone can identify this crackpot carrier, let me know so I can fly WAA (with another airline).

Edited December 27, 2009 by NanLaew

[NanLaew]

BTW, I see Obama has ordered an "air security review" so here's hoping that it will STOP the silly shoe examination and focus on getting everyone's pants off and in a tray for the scanner.

The answer to that timeless question, "Honey, does my arse look big in this?" will finally be revealed!

Please don't point. It's considered rude.

[moe666]

Need to do more screening before these clowns get to the check in gate. Follow the Isrealies lead several questions by trained personal before ticket and bag check. If you seem a bit suspect more questioning by more security personel.

[PaulDee]

More security personnel, YES. But the quality of security personnel must be improved.

Even more important, America--as well as European nations-- must revisit PC policies. Profiling

of passengers is a legitimate security measure.

[phetaroi]

The last hour lockdown thing is a drag. Can't even read a book, I suppose, and what if you need a toilet?

Been there, done that. I had been on vacation in Arizona a few years ago, became quite ill, had to go on a new medication and immediately fly back home. The new med gave me serious "D". On the flight from Memphis to Dulles International (D.C.) they suddenly announced about not getting out of your seat for the last hour...even though that provision had already been dropped from the restrictions on flying into D.C. I made it, but it scared the hel_l out of me.

[dsfbrit]

More security personnel, YES. But the quality of security personnel must be improved.

Even more important, America--as well as European nations-- must revisit PC policies. Profiling

of passengers is a legitimate security measure.

You are absoultely right of course - but it will never happen. You suggesting it and me agreeing with it - will make us be accused (wrongly) of being racist by many people I have left behind in the UK. PC policies are here to stay.

I cannot imagine how they will stop someone going to the toilet in the last hour of the flight

Edited December 28, 2009 by dsfbrit

[thaimite]

A lot of this is security theater to make people FEEL they are safe. The reason the latest terrorist didn't succeed was some heroic passengers and flight attendants. Particularly that Dutch guy, he should get a medal!

I completely agree.

It is well known in the airport security industry is that they cannot stop a determined attacker with backup resources who has the brains tothink up a new method. All they can do is hope to stop copycat attacks, while providing the illusion of security.

I wonder how long it will be before all passengrs are issued a robe when booking their ticket and told they must wear only that when traveling and no hand baggage allowed.

[khunjake]

Paranoia at its finest.

Thankfully I rarely have to travel to that part of the world anymore. The less the better...

[anselpixel]

Short of a full strip search of every passenger, I doubt they can stop those who are also willing to kill themselves in the process. Tens of thousands of flights globally each day and one single success at downing a plane will result in such draconian security measures implemented that it will be hard to see how the airline industry can flourish. Lines in the terminal out the door and down the street. Security will always be behind the curve on this.

The only good news is that, with all the flights in the air at any given time, your odds of being on one with one of these nutcases is still remote

We should keep in mind there has been no successful attempt to bring down an airliner by carry-on chemicals. This is entirely tail wagging dog. The attempt suggests a "security" scenario which is then imposed on passengers ad infinitum, with not even a passing nod to logic. At this time, we have no reason to believe any actual prevention has occurred in the nearly forty years we've been subjected to all this breast-beating and gnashing of teeth.

[1weatherman]

-- U.S.-bound passengers aboard international flights must undergo a "thorough pat-down" at boarding gates, focused on the upper legs and torso. I'm all for pat-downs if by female employees.

I read if you have to go to the toilet during the last hour you must be escorted by a flight attendant. No peeking please. Or as we'd say in the military during an "operation golden flow" test, would you like to hold it for me also. Glad those days are over.

And the no blanket thing, those planes are like meat lockers. Dress more warmly or think warm. I need my

blanky.

[surangw]

good thing the bad guys don't fly first class, last flight I was on first ( cathay form hkg to lax) screening was a joke, more hurry and get on the plane than looking in carry on bag.

[jaideeguy]

The next step in this security paranoia will be that we'll all have to fly nud_e with colonostomy tv tubes stuck up our asxes. makes me wanna stay here and not go anywhere.

[Microwave]

1. The "bad guys" on the 9.11 flights were all seated in first class.

2. The Dutch man who attacked the attacker has conducted interviews on various news outlets who posted his name and the city where he lives on the TV screen while he was being interviewed. With these interviews being easily found on the internet, I fear for retribution attacks against this Dutch man as well as his family. He needs government protection as names and addresses can be easily discovered. Such a situation may seem far-fetched or paranoid to some, but I would prefer to err on the side of caution.

3. I wouldn't want to develop food poisoning just before landing... I know people who claim to have had this happen to them. They said they were always going to the loo, so the last hour before landing would be horrible.

~ Microwave

[Microwave]

I think that this incident will have ramifications on airplane travel worldwide.

This time the target was the USA, next time the target could be a passenger airplane headed to the UK, Denmark, India, Australia, Canada, Russia, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia. This incident was a test run to see if this type of explosive could be successfully smuggled onto an aircraft and then successfully detonated, much like an airliner in the Philippines in 1994 or 1995 had a bomb explode which killed a Japanese businessman. This bomb was a test run for future attempts which fortunately were not successful.

So simply because one doesn't travel to the USA doesn't mean that one is any safer flying to another country.

~ Microwave

[PeaceBlondie]

My friend just traveled from Toronto to Ohio, and had the middle-aged old white man insert his hand inside the back of my friend's underpants.

[KK-Mike]

More security personnel, YES. But the quality of security personnel must be improved.

Even more important, America--as well as European nations-- must revisit PC policies. Profiling

of passengers is a legitimate security measure.

You are absoultely right of course - but it will never happen. You suggesting it and me agreeing with it - will make us be accused (wrongly) of being racist by many people I have left behind in the UK. PC policies are here to stay.

I cannot imagine how they will stop someone going to the toilet in the last hour of the flight

This is what concerns me, when I have to pee I have to pee right now! Not an hour later!!

I wonder what the charge will be for peeing in the floor at your seat?? I guess everyone should show up for their flight with a bed pan hanging around your neck.

[Jingthing]

Millions of innocent travelers will now have to suffer because of that crazy brainwashed wannabe bomber. This being the joyous season, would it be out of place to say CRUCIFY HIM!

[nonthaburial]

This proposed "lock down" one hour before landing doesnt make sense, surely if a nutter wanted to down an aircraft he could do it at any time not just on final appeoach !!!!

[Jingthing]

This proposed "lock down" one hour before landing doesnt make sense, surely if a nutter wanted to down an aircraft he could do it at any time not just on final appeoach !!!!

You're right. There is no way to get into the cockpit anymore to direct the plane to a building.

[Losangels]

Each airplane seat will be provided diapers along with barf bags

[Jingthing]

Each airplane seat will be provided diapers along with barf bags

We should be so lucky. In more seriousness, for long flights there is something to be said for taking an anti diarrhea pill.

[bkkjames]

This proposed "lock down" one hour before landing doesnt make sense, surely if a nutter wanted to down an aircraft he could do it at any time not just on final appeoach !!!!

Sorry NT - that makes too much sense. I guess they figured if they didn't tell anyone they were gonna go into lock down mode, they could catch out a potential nutter with this.

"dam_n, if only I had did it earlier instead of watching the movie".

Flight attendants will be happy now.

[NovaBlue05]

The Dept of Homeland Security predicably provided their typical childish, kneejerk reaction after the horse had already left the barn. Maybe they will bring their color coded chart out of mothballs now. Napalitano even said the system worked....before she said it didn't. I guess it worked cuz the bomb didn't detonate. Then the idiots have the nerve to point the finger at Amsterdam security. There is a 100% chance this guy would have passed through security even if boarding in the US. Rahm Emmanual said there is political opportunity in every crisis...or something to that effect. My guess is that the final outcome of this incident will be Obama moving to unionize the TSA workers.

Edited December 29, 2009 by NovaBlue05