Fed-up fliers protest airport security measures

[Contrary1]

Finally, a reality show that will be worth watching. Get your popcorn ready.

"...One X-ray glimpse typically takes TSA employees about 30 seconds, but the more-intimate, physical searches — implemented by the federal government three weeks ago — can last several minutes per passenger. If a large enough portion of travelers choose to “opt out” of the scans, security lines could potentially coil to record lengths at multiple airports — and travelers may miss their flights.

While John Pistole, head of the Transportation Security Administration, called the planned, collective opt-out “irresponsible,” a TSA spokesperson promised Wednesday that the agency will be “well prepared” and “fully staffed” to handle any such actions.

The protesters have their doubts.

“TSA is not going have the manpower to stick their hands in the pants of every man coming through there,” said James Babb, a 42-year-old advertising consultant from the Philadelphia area who co-founded WeWontFly.com. “We are really encouraging people to not just opt out of the radiation scan but also opt out of the groping by not flying at all.”

<snip>

According to e-mails Babb has received this week via his website — which he says gets 70,000 hits per day — some male flyers plan to arrive at nearby airports on Nov. 24 wearing kilts but no underwear. Others are vowing “nude protests” inside local terminals and some demonstrators say they will show up at security checkpoints with “lingerie models” in tow — perhaps creating an angry yet circus-like atmosphere among the milling crowds."

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40242420/ns/travel-news/

[TexasObserver]

1. Good. Refusing the scan and cancelling air travel are the best approaches.

TSA can only search so many before they're ruining travel plans and hurting airline business.

If airline travel lags, TSA will have to make changes.

[damntexdem]

4. I try to avoid air travel whenever I can.

The industry deserves to take a hit because of their policies -- and TSA policies just make such a hit on the the industry more likely.

[TexasObserver]

9. I do likewise. It's not fun any more.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberal N proud]

2. I am thinking - Commando with the pockets cut out

The reach into your pocket and you get a thrill.

You have to pay for treatment like that elsewhere.

:sarcasm:

[jberryhill]

3. It'll be a good day to get a weapon aboard

Hey, let's distract people who didn't make the policy, and can't change it, so that we can fuck up security procedures and make other people who don't care miss their flights!

Woo-hoo!

[democrat_patriot]

5. Agreed.

This is dumb.

Don't like it? Don't fly and call your congressperson. Let people who want to get home,get home.

[Sal Minella]

6. Yet another approach . . .

Got this in an e-mail yesterday --

Here's a simple solution to the controversy over full-body scanners at
airports.

Develop an enclosed booth that passengers step into but, instead of
X-raying them, when the door closes, it will detonate any explosive device
they have hidden on or in their body. The explosion will be contained
within the sealed booth. This would be a win-win for everyone!

There would be no concern about racial profiling. The booth would
eliminate long, expensive trials.

You're in the airport and you hear a muffled explosion, followed by an
announcement over the PA system, "Attention standby passengers, we now
have a seat available on flight number ... "

What's not to like?

The noise might be a little unnerving to people working nearby, but a lot of American workers have had to put up with worse, just to keep their jobs.

[davsand]

10. "Clean up needed in the International Screening area!"

I would NOT want that job...


:puke:



Laura

[Sal Minella]

11. I suspect Halliburton will be willing to handle that contract,

supplying undocumented clean-up workers who will work without complaints, because the ones who complain suddenly disappear.

[tabbycat31]

7. Want an easy way to fix it

Make people who travel on private jets go through the same security measures as the rest of us. Problem solved.