My comment is about 2 above. Making this automatic would create problems - we all have heard of 2 year old kids with the same name as a terrorist being denied flying at the airport. At least at the airport an "intelligent" reviewer would see that there was a mix up. At ticketing, this is all left up to a computer.

Posted By Allen Dearing on January 16, 2010, 9:24 AM

Aside from the huge expense, Hackett's idea is fine if the airport is your destination, not so great is you're only passing through. See Kansas City MCI.

Posted By Joan M Kind on January 19, 2010, 9:39 AM

I would say the most effective way would be to follow the same procedures as the Israelis. We should not be so proud or arrogant that we couldn't ask them to train our people and organize our systems to utilize the same mehtods. All you have to do is look at how successful they have been and the efficiency of their system to realize it would be a tremendous improvement over our hit or miss weren't we lucky procedures now in place.

Posted By J. Force on January 19, 2010, 10:10 AM

"Screeners would be paid a bonus for each federal agent they caught trying to sneak a dummy bomb through security and docked for each one they let through."

DOCKED ! Did you say DOCKED ! how about FIRED ! what if it's a real one ! wow ..... and this was one of the top 4 ideas ?

Posted By Frequent Flyer, High Blood Pressure on January 19, 2010, 11:20 AM

Here is a problem I have with air travel. I have rheumatioid arthritis and am prescribed the medication Enbrel for relief. This drug is a liquid, contained in syringes. The medication must be kept cold, before being injected. I use an insulated lunch bag and an ice pak when traveling by car. Unless TSA has changed its policy, they will not allow the ice pak to pass through security. I was told that the pak would have to be discarded, but no ice was available to replenish the container for the Enbrel, after passing through security. TSA also asserted that the air carriers would not refrigerate the syringes for me on the airplane. I can make do on a short stay by loading up with over the counter non-liquid meds, but on a longer trip, I'll start experiencing significant pain when off the Enbrel for more than a week. Is there any solution for this dilemma? I tried communicating with TSA following our initial unpleasant experience trying to carry the medication on a trip, and got no satisfactory resolution. Could TSA set up a procedure whereby a physician could authorize transport of this and similar medications?

Mary W.

Posted By Mary Webster on January 19, 2010, 11:22 AM

In October of last year, my husband, my sister in law and myself were coming back from a cruise. We checked in at the Miami airport and because my sister in law needs wheel chair assistance (also she had skin cancer and had had another tumor removed weeks before our cruise and she wore a hat and a patch over the hole). Because we were assisted thru with a special agent, our bags were not properly searched. I went thru with several things that should of been taken from me (i.e. gel liquid hair products, hair spray, shampoo in unmarked bottles, etc. They were more interested in what was under my sister in laws hat and skin patch to check anything else. I we had not been ascorted by an agent (even though they are very helpful), several things would of been taken away from me that could of been used to cause problems if I was a terrist and was planning something. Even though we needed the help we still should of been checked just like anyone else, but were not. No solution to our problems with airports, but a little tidbit as to how easy it is to get thru.

Posted By Brenda Pyle on January 19, 2010, 11:23 AM

Here's a relatively easy one (at least compared to building new airports) - pay TSA screeners more. A lot more. Make the job attrative to educated people, such as those college grads with those oh-so-useful English Lit degrees who would otherwise be giving you condescending looks when you ask them were to find the travel guides at a bookstore.

Granted, the monotony of looking at an x-ray machine monitor will never be a long term option for those people, but I'd rather have a college grad who is biding time for a couple of years screening bags than somebody who just scraped by on a civil service exam.

Posted By John M.V. on January 19, 2010, 11:33 AM

a) Berlin: The airport reached its capacity limits given the ring shaped design. A good idea, but where to would you evacuate passengers if something happens right in the middle of the ring or the access road?
b)Security procedures such as practised by the Israelis have worked for passenger screening and profiling for departures of US carriers since the bomb on that PanAm flight in 1988. However, they had never been practised within the US, and we all know where the 9/11 attacks started, on US domestic airports.
One thing but: the number of passengers that flies to/from Israel can by no means be compared with those numbers flying in/out/within the US. Therefore, the challange for the US security system is significantly higher.
c) A bonus/malus system should be used for TSA agents. They should be awarded when they find suspicious items. They are looking for the needle in the haystack, searching hundreds and thousands of passengers each day.
d) A no-fly-list only works if it does not only contain names, but more thorough additional information. If someone wants to get through the cracks in the system, they'll find someone who provides them with a fake ID.
e) Intelligence systems are now constantly watching hundreds of millions of honest and righteous citizens everywhere in the world. Why not watch intgernational flow of money, as someone outthere must provide the financial support for terrorist organizations. Any word about where all that ransome money went from all those hijacked ships near the Horn of Africa? I don't think they are eating it down there.

Posted By B. Walter on January 19, 2010, 11:39 AM

Customs agents are known for their ability to pick out smugglers from a group. It's a matter of being experienced professional. Hiring and training professionals along with proper tools would go a long way. The poorly trained, insecure, overly aggressive agents now manning the front line may be a deterrent but there are better more pleasant ways of doing a better job.

Posted By Ethan on January 19, 2010, 11:48 AM

As far as security is concerned, our country should follow what Israel does to secure the flying public.

Posted By Joseph J Blazewicz on January 19, 2010, 11:49 AM

I spend a lot of time in South and Central America where smaller commuter planes often still have fire axes in the cabins. My belief is that TSA in America has been a monumental waste of money and untold billions of productive hours.

If people flew naked with no carry on or checked baggage, bad people would still find a way to be bad. TSA seems hell bent on punishing the innocent when they should be focused on actually making us safer.

Posted By Mike Dewar on January 19, 2010, 11:55 AM

Why not use an infrared camera to scan each person as they enter. I understand that there is a company that makes an infrared scanner now at a low price that can pick up anything at all attached to a body and it shows up on a computer screen and there are no x-rays involved. It all works on body heat and is very effective.

Posted By Don Inman on January 19, 2010, 12:28 PM

If someone wants to blow you up they will. The TSA hasn't got a clue what is the primary objective. Isn't it safety for innocents? It, in my opinion, does not work to punish the innocent with the body scanner, physical search, innane carry on rules. All of the money should be spent in identifying those who do committ these acts(how can there not be footprints left?)and definitely, "follow the money". If some source can track me from my internet usage, our government should be at least that clever or better. Authors of books seem to get it, understand it, and know creatively what can be done, if we are spending billions of $'s then there is no excuse for not catching the "bad guy" when the "bad deed" is being planned not when it is almost executed (then punishing us with some absolutely ridiculous act such as "taking off our shoes" when the act was not close to being executed). Again another "knee jerk" for explosives, limiting the size and quantity of carry on baggage (fireworks in underware!). Where is that connection?
TSA is absolutely one of the most incompetent responses of our bureaucracy that should be dissolved!!!!!!!
Let's track using 21st Century tools, ie. banking transfers, tracking, etc. and internet "site red flags" etc.

Posted By Joyce Resh on January 19, 2010, 12:30 PM

For Mary Webster - regarding ice packs. . .you can get them through security. I bring three to four instant ice packs when making 5-6 hour flights across the country. I put them in a clear plastic bag, declare them to the first agent, and carry a note from my doctor. Most likely you could keep them in your lunch box and declare it, telling them you have ice packs for a medical condition. It's best to have a doctor's note just in case, as I've had to show it ONCE (all other times, they just don't care, maybe because it's outside my carry on?).

On TSA in general - what a joke.

Posted By MC on January 19, 2010, 12:43 PM

I concur with J. Force. Adapting our procedures to the Israeli Model would eliminate a lot of problems for us but it would take much longer to get through Security and ALL baggage would be searched and the all the owners questioned extensively. Americans are very impatient for the most part so there would be lots of complaints. The Israelis do profile and so should we, all " Civil Rights" aside. What good are your " rights" if you are dead??? All the problems have originated with Moslem extremists between the ages of 20 and 40 and unfortunate as it may be, all that meet the profile should be looked at much closer. I believe all Security and ticketing procedures should be conducted at a remote location away from the terminal and the the passengers moved in closed systems to their respective terminals. All of this would be terribly difficult, time consuming and expensive to put in place but it would
ultimately work much better than what we have now.

Posted By Charlie on January 19, 2010, 12:58 PM

The idea about checking No Fly names at the time of ticket purchase could be useful if it was accompanied by a system that recognizes the credit cards of those who have been security cleared in the past despite the similarity to names on the list, e.g pass all the Ricky Nelsons but not the actual IRA terrorist. I've never understood why the Feds can't recognize terrorist profiles when a credit agency would be able to tell instantly that somebody was suspicious (i.e. travel patterns, lack of credit history, poor work record, no reason for the travel to the place they are going and no reason to return,...).

IF there were frequent tests of the TSA people wouldn't that frequently shut down the line and the whole terminal when the "fake" bomb was found? Or the line when the "fake" wasn't found and the TSA agent called out? If you get them worried about making mistakes on tests, they will start using the 'zero tolerance' rule and it will all get even more absurd. What about having experts make visits to the lines and give them pointers, a kind of ongoing training and morale booster?

The FBI is so overworked they no longer investigate or prosecute bank robberies, would they have time to patrol airports? I'm sure there are people with American military and firms that have security backgrounds who worked for those private firms in the Mid-east who would like to be working in the U.S. again (age, injuries, family..). Why don't we contract some of this work out?

We treat everyone like they are a potential terrorist. IF looking for a terrorist is like looking for a needle in a haystack, what is the point of adding hay to the stack instead of looking for the sharpest needles. There are many many of us who travel frequently who can be eliminated from the haystack to make it easier to find the needles. If I am buying my ticket a month or so in advance, why am I not checked out electronically well before I get to the airport? Getting thru security faster if you buy earlier might be a boon for the airlines. While there may be a miniscule risk that a 'cleared' person might go nuts and suddenly become a terrorist, the overall risk would be much lower if there were fewer passengers for TSA to focus on and the terrorists easier to sort out.

Posted By ATP2007 on January 19, 2010, 1:13 PM

The first one isn't very practical, but it's possible for those airports that are planning a redesign in the near future. The other three are spot on! Let's do it!

Posted By Mary Carolyn on January 19, 2010, 1:15 PM

its simple....i simply won't fly. its such a farcical exercise, so demeaning and inordinately invasive .... i simply won't fly. trains, cars and ships will be my mode of transport.... until the tsa messes with them. i'm done with all of it.

Posted By mj on January 19, 2010, 1:23 PM

Just sub-contract the whole thing to the Israelis. They've been dealing with terrorist threats for a long time, and they've got a good track record.

Posted By George Lindamood on January 19, 2010, 1:37 PM

I have long espoused the idea that airport security could greatly improved in efficieny and speed if airline passengers were required to check all luggage. Each passenger would be limited to one small bag that could be quickly searched by a TSA employee. This would speed up security going to the gates and the bonus would be to make boarding of planes go so much more quickly and pleasantly because no one would be jockeying for space for their many carry-ons in the overhead bins.

Posted By Catherine on January 19, 2010, 1:50 PM

Using information that airlines have on their frequent flyers, build a profile of flyers that pose no threat. Then compare each passenger, using credit card and other information, to that profile to determine the threat level of each and code that level on the boarding pass. For the 90% or more who pose no threat essentially wave them through security and thoroughly check all of the others. This process will speed things up an be far more likely to stop potential terrorists. This program can be done. Dataining is a well-developed process.

Posted By Clifford Weil on January 19, 2010, 1:51 PM

since a/port redesign is not possible (new a/port design is ok - existing a/ports not practical) do:

1. Use Technology - do FULL body scan (you could separate male / female as budget and time allows)

2. Use Technology - any d/base red flags -

3. Racial profile

4. don't Fly

Posted By usworker3 on January 19, 2010, 1:55 PM

Think about it folks, this is not rocket science! First, NO ONE should be ever allowed to buy a ticket for cash (after all, most airlines won't take cash for onboard purchases anymore); or AT A MINIMUM (if prohibited from not accepting cash by law), anyone purchasing a ticket for cash gets strip searched (including X-rays) and all baggage fully hand and X-Ray searched. Secondly, adopt the Israeli methods of profiling. As unfortunate as it is, it's simply a fact of life. Third, implement a more expanded "Clear Pass" type program where ALL travelers have a rating for security clearance. Those top rated ("top secret clearance" - similar to an approved Clear Pass and Global Trusted Traveler passenger) could go through screening more similar to what exists today (good for regular travelers) whereas other security level passengers would have to undergo much more screening. Unrated passengers would go through the FULL process, as if they were on the terrorist watch list. We MUST realize that suicide bombers can, and will INGEST their bombs, and that we MUST have X-ray and similar new technology that can detect such INGESTED threats; not just things hidden in baggage or on a person!

Posted By Jim on January 19, 2010, 1:57 PM

How is the Isreal government handling their airport security? Pay more attention into buying x-ray devices that can scan the entire body and residual powder associated with bombs. Human being is not designed to detect little pieces of bombs can assemble in an airplane bathroom. You need to reassign top managements at TSA every three years like you do in a military assignment. You need to injecting new blood into the system. Today, top TSA management are not doing their jobs. There are just too much budy to budy friendship to get a management position at TSA organization.

Posted By status "Quo" on January 19, 2010, 2:00 PM

All 4 are great ideas. I'd also urge that they pay attention to current systems and keep them operational - take the Newark incident for example. Make sure cameras are operational and actually taping; replace velvet ropes with hard and fast entryways; staff according to the schedule of flyers so you have adequate staff for the busiest times, etc.

Posted By Linda O. on January 19, 2010, 2:23 PM

Put turnstiles at the secured-area exits that only spin in the 'exit' direction. This will help prevent a fiasco like the one at Newark several days ago. There are all types of them, used on transit lines and secured facilities worldwide. Or something like a revolving door that can only be used one way, making it big enough for luggage also.

Posted By ralphabet on January 19, 2010, 2:25 PM

As for the lady with the drug issue. I had the same concerns with my insulin. I changed by technique. I use a small nalgene bottle with ice in a collapsible cooler. It fits in my backpack. I dump the ice before I go through security and then the vendors inside security are happy to give me free ice. Keeps my meds cool for several hours.

Posted By Thomas on January 19, 2010, 2:30 PM

I like the suggestion of refilling a bottle after security with ice from a vendor.

I did notice at Norfolk, VA on an US Airways sign that a reasonable amount of dry ice could be taken through security if container is labled. Haven't tried it as I have no need. You might want to check with TSA.

Posted By Evan Jackson on January 19, 2010, 3:14 PM

The professionalism of the TSA employees would be one of the first crucial steps. FBI or military people should be utilized. All people in the airport should have to be screened, including employees, but there should be some degree of "profiling" regardless of thepropaganda that it is not politically correct.

Posted By Rena H. on January 19, 2010, 3:44 PM

TSA was put in place so quickly that no real foundation of risk management was instituted and nothing has improved. They are a bunch of Keystone Kops, running every which way and accomplishing only negative response. A member of my family was "selected out" at the gate recently because he was the 5th in line to get on the plane. Because he has some background in security, he asked the KOPS doing the search what risk management procedures caused them to select him. He was told there were no risk management procedures, they were just ordered to take every 5th person. >sigh

Posted By eccentric on January 19, 2010, 3:49 PM

Things would go a lot easier/faster if Americans didn't feel a sense of entitlement.Some passengers feel that they have purchased a ticket and can bring any amount of useless crap on board.The shoe thing has been going on for years,but you still see people in line wearing hiking boots,wrap-tied espadrilles,etc.Between the pillows,blankets,PDAs,laptop,meds,ice packs,cell phones,sleep masks,travel slippers,just the trip to the airport makes me ZZZZZZZZ.

Posted By Terri L.Quinn on January 19, 2010, 3:50 PM

Wow...so many bad and dysfunctional ideas.

1) The Tegel idea seems great right up until you have to make a connection. Most folks flying connect rather than going non-stop. Putting up with the TSA security theater once is more than enough for anyone to suffer through in one day. Making connecting passengers do so at each connection point would essentially kill connecting air service. Not terrible if you live in New York or Los Angeles but pretty awful if you're in one of the hundreds of other cities that has only a couple flights per day to a major hub.

2) The "no fly" list is a terrible red herring. The folks believed to be actually the most dangerous aren't on it because the intelligence services don't want them to know we know about them. The list is based on poor data and is wholly one-sided with very limited options for redress of those flagged. Lists like this are the sort of thing that McCarthy put together in the 50s; many years later folks realized just how ludicrous they were. Let's skip waiting all that time and get rid of lists that don't actually accomplish anything.

3) May as well actually have real training and pay a decent wage. Oh, and require competent folks to serve in the roles, just like the FBI does. Having one FBI agent amidst a few dozen folks who have no clue doesn't improve the performance of the others. Of course, making such a change would cost billions more and probably not reduce the risks all that much from the infinitesimally low point that they are at today.

4) They already have tests. Look up the "red team" results stories. Of course, when folks fail the tests they are simply "retrained" rather than fired and replaced with someone hopefully more competent. All the while we're paying the price, both financially and with the ridiculous hoops we jump through to travel.

Posted By Wandering Aramean on January 19, 2010, 4:17 PM

Some good ideas, and a number that sound good but really aren't.

Having lived in Berlin for 5 years, I know the Tegel airport well. The circle concept is very flawed in it's access, parking, and unloading capabilities. More importantly, moving between gates is fiendishly tedious - even with only 40 gates, getting from gate 1 to gate 20 is a 15 minute walk. But I think the thing that Ms. Hacket was probably most impressed with was the individualized screening at each gate. I hated it. It was necessary because the ring design with central access from your car meant there was no way to have a central screening location. So you had to queue up at your specific gate (in long lines if the plane was of any size) 40 - 60 minutes before departure, and remain corralled in a gate-specific little room (without enough seats)and could not leave to get a coffee or book or anything until you got on the plane. Or you could chance it and stay in the general airport area and hope to get through gate security at the very end and still make it before the doors closed. Heaven help you if you got selected for a puffer-check of your computer or anything. So many missed flights.

As for Israeli type security - have you ever taken a flight from Ben Gurion? I've seen men and women crying as security keeps them for hours over a baby bottle or pack of rechargeable batteries. And to stay even close to on schedule the the agents have to be ruthlessly mean. They just have to.

For me, I'd rather have a bit of my freedom back and take my chances on a crazy person killing me on an airplane. There's actually a higher chance I'll get killed by a crazy person on the highways on my drive to the airport anyway!

Posted By Tom C on January 19, 2010, 4:28 PM

In regard to Catherine's comment about requiring most baggage to be checked, I agree entirely. Instead of a charge for checked luggage, there should be a charge for carry-ons!

Posted By Sue S. on January 19, 2010, 4:41 PM

Will someone please explain the philosophy about names on the so-called
TSA watch list? If I was a terrorist trying to fly from London to the US, do you
think I would use my real name? Instead I would use a bogus name and passport.

Posted By Gary Hall on January 19, 2010, 5:02 PM

Israel has the right idea. Let's stop treating all Americans like criminals. Profile!!! Change the way baggage is handled. All baggage should go through security before reaching the airport terminal.

Posted By Judith Wilson on January 19, 2010, 5:04 PM

I'm surprised that the NRA folks haven't contributed this a long time ago. They want every citizen to be armed to protect themselves. So, if that's the case just tear down all the TSA screening apparatus and when folks get on an airplane (and are over 21)just give each of them a loaded pistol. Anyone who tries to take over the plane would be shot by everyone on board. Of course, a few bullets would go through the fuselage and bring in down anyway, but wouldn't everyone feel safer knowing that they could instantly kill anyone they suspected of doing harm to them?

Posted By Allan on January 19, 2010, 5:10 PM

The TSA Agents are ill-trained, dont give a damn, have bad attitudes and have a personal idea that the public is terrible and that they, because of their uniform, can do no wrong.
No one at the TSA works hard. Can you imagine if they become union-ized?
I fly two times a week, every week, and I am amazed that we- the Customer- put up with their silliness!
Are we Sheep or what?

Posted By George on January 19, 2010, 5:31 PM

Why bother with all these complicated suggestions? Just introduce strip searches for all. The expensive full body scanners are pretty much the same anyway. US public opinion is ready for it, as, by now, they should have been terrorized enough either by real events or the fear of possible events. So there. Save some money and get the best result.

Posted By pana on January 19, 2010, 6:17 PM

Lets all just strip to our underwear. It will embarrass all of the people that think they can be safe and retain their right to personal privacy at the same time. For God sake, you can die just walking across the street. Why/how do you think you should be safer flying in a metal tube at 35,000 feet at 400 miles per hour? Get real people !!! We need the world to know we aren't a bunch of scaredy cats.

Posted By Lee on January 19, 2010, 6:34 PM

This is not a suggestion, but I would like to offer an understanding of TSA and its exploits. Two items must be read and comprehended: the results of airport security will become obvious.
1. The Economics law of Diminishing Returns and how it applies to the federal government, and
2. The Principle by Dr. Laurence J. Peters, beter known as the "Peter Principle."
Both items reveal how less-than qualified and capable employees emerge.

Posted By Bill Hughes on January 19, 2010, 6:55 PM

The TSA should be merged with US customs, giving better training, better pay and be allowed to be unionized like other law enforcement agencies such as, Border Patrol, Immigration, and Customs, the TSOs work just as hard even under the unfair conditions that they are made to work under.

Posted By Nathan on January 19, 2010, 7:32 PM

The TSA should be merged with US customs, giving better training, better pay and be allowed to be unionized like other law enforcement agencies such as, Border Patrol, Immigration, and Customs, the TSOs work just as hard even under the unfair conditions that they are made to work under.

Posted By Nathan on January 19, 2010, 8:37 PM

As someone how has seen how 'ring' designed airports work from both a traveler and an architecture student perspective, they won't work and will not work for the efficiency that an airport demands. Of course, that was the only one I had a problem with. But the one thing the TSA needs to do that is not listed here, and that's technology. First, about this stupid liquids rule, they need to get rid of it. Its stupid, and they know it, and its unnecessary. See, I think most of these stupid idiot terrorist just want to make life miserable, they know they can't bring down a plane, so they want to make our lives harder by presenting the threat. But its so simple to counter this, and they have already been using it for years. Has anyone who owns a laptop ever had it taken by a TSA agent who swipe it with a cloth and places the cloth it in a scanner. THAT IS A BOMB SCANNER! Its looking for specific combination of chemicals that could mean that there could be a bomb in the device. They should use that for bottles as well. Then they need to enhance this technology for individuals, and implement them nation wide. They have ONE at BWI, my airport. This keeps people's privacy and would be able to tell if they are carrying explosives, and if done properly, how much. Of course, if you want to look for knives, they can modify the scanner to look for specific shapes that are pre-programmed into the CPU then judged for density to see if they are possibly dangerous (like telling the difference between a nail and a back up key). They also have having X-rays that can detect materials by the density of the material that they are passing threw. That means, a simple CPU overhaul can tell the difference between liquid C4 (if there is such a thing) and hand sanitizer, and tell if it is a threat. They need better technology at the airports, NOT more security. Our current procedures work. our past procedures worked. Increased pat downs are not going to do anything! Nor is doing nothing for the last hour of the flight, whoever came up with that is a moron. Besides, an hour out, your about five hundred miles from your airport, you haven't even entered the holding patterns to most major airports. The government needs to step up its implementation for high technologies, and not constantly using a Hummer to kill a Cockroach, when what you need is just the edge of your shoe.

Posted By jhmcd2 on January 19, 2010, 9:03 PM

The airport idea is not practical for airport operation. A circle limit the amount of gates as airplane need a lot of space around them to park. That is why most airport is linear, it take up less space and can park more airplane.

Posted By photochan on January 19, 2010, 10:48 PM

The TSA suffers by using people with no common sense. When in doubt, they follow procedures that make them look completely stupid. For example, on a trip from Kansas City I was wearing open sandals and within them I was barefoot. I tried to walk through wearing them. I was told that they had to be X-rayed. I held up my foot. "But they're sandals!" I said. Big mistake. Obviously they were made entirely of gelignite. To made them explode I would only have to add four pounds of dynamite, a blasting cap and a six-volt battery. They were ready to punish me for daring to question their logical thinking ability by making me miss my plane and ruining my life. I'm 73, have flown two million miles, am Irish-English, have blond hair, but to them I looked like I had Terrorist written in lipstick across my forehead. The rules are that if I was wearing a huge turban, they could not inspect it for "religious reasons" and I could carry two sticks of dynamite within it and not be inspected. What is the logic?
Another time also at Kansas City, my wife and I were standing outside the screening area, to finish coffee and a soft drink. Inside there was still a line of about 30 people waiting to show their boarding passes and head into the skyway and board. We removed our coats, shoes, small backpack, removed my belt and walked through the magnetometer. No troubles. A very large, black female screener held up my backpack and told me, "I'm sorry, I can't let you board." The only things in my backpack were two sandwiches, two apples, a bag of Fritos and some raisins. There was nothing contraband. "Why not?" I asked. "You're too late," she said. "Too late? We're not too late! They're not finished boarding." She held on to my backpack. "No, you're too late."
"Like hell we are. Are you nuts? Are you the president of this airline? You're not running this airline. Your job is to examine shoes. Just do your job and don't tell me I'm too late. We've been here almost two hours!"
I turned to another screener. He lifted his hands palms upward as if to say, "She's the boss." I turned back to the woman, who for some unknown reason was out to destroy us. "That bag contains nothing harmful. I demand that you give me that bag, because even without it I am going to board that plane. If you have a gun, you better use it, but you better be right."
She kept my bag and we went aboard.
When we got to Denver we had to hurry to make out connections. No time to complain. But I did when we got to San Jose. They located my backpack, sent it on its way, and it was delivered by an airline messenger with an apology.
I said, "Don't ever apologize for someone else's sin." I was glad to get the bag back, but everything in it was ruined. I feel sure she must have sat on it.

Posted By Ross Murphy on January 19, 2010, 11:01 PM

It looks like most everybody has it backwards. NO security is going to be perfect. The bad guys are always one step ahead. Instead, things get more and more difficult and invasive for the passenger. THAT is one of the terrorist goals. Disrupt, inconvenience, bring the war home.

Let's get real: Bringing a bottle of water on board is NOT a threat. Neither is a tube of toothpaste. How many people have missed flights or become angry (flight rage), because of the annoyances of "security?" Right now we have to come to international flights THREE HOURS EARLY? Can you imagine any other appointment you have to reach that early?

We should be looking at ways to SMOOTH security, be realistic, (a nail clipper is not going to kidnap a pilot), and realize we're never going to be perfect.

Of course, America not acting like a jerk in the world would reduce the number of terrorists in the first place, but that's another story.

Posted By Mykel Board on January 19, 2010, 11:58 PM

So many who have commented have praised the Israeli system except for one who noted the length of time that some are detained over ridiculous matters. I have flown in and out of Tel Aviv only once so I am hardly an expert on Israeli security, but that one time did not impress me. It seemed to me to be quite confusing and uncoordinated as in "take your bag here for checking" and then "take your bag here for rechecking" and "go into that line so we can question you about your bag" and "we see you are carrying books in your luggage. Where did you get them?" After all of these silly questions about my reading materials, I was finally issued a boarding pass and allowed to go through. In case you are wondering what caused this "profiling" of me, darned if I know. At the time I was 65 years old, overweight female with mobility problems because of bad knees. Has anyone of that general description ever been involved in a terrorist plot? Of course, there was also the last 30 minutes before landing in Tel Aviv when we had to sit with tray tables up and our seats in an upright position in case one of their fighter jets should fly alongside to check on us. I don't think most Americans would find these procedures a tremendous improvement over what we have currently from our TSA. I have been checked over carefully at US airports, but none of them has ever been interested in my books. No literary taste, I guess.

Posted By Marilyn Long on January 20, 2010, 12:23 PM

If they are checking my background and I am acceptable why check my luggage? If they are checking my luggage why do they care who I am? If I really wanted to bring down an airliner there are a lot more ways then trying to take a bomb on it through the terminal. Surface to air missile anyone? Dump the TSA, secure cockpit doors (done) and allow anyone to carry a gun or other weapon. No more terrorists (at least on board).

Posted By Robert on January 20, 2010, 3:20 PM

What is needed is enhanced interrogation techniques for ALL passengers. All it takes is the mere stroke of the pen to create a new category called, "non combatent enemy"; after all this is one of the things that worked so well for Adolph Hitler and his people.

Posted By David S. Schneider-Citizen on January 20, 2010, 10:10 PM

Post trained explosive sensitive dogs at security sites. They're already used for drugs at US points of entry. They could be trained to sense a variety of specific explosive possible compounds.

Posted By Helen on January 21, 2010, 3:20 AM

Leisure Travelers ~ choose vacation destinations that can be reached by auto, train, or ship. Stop flying.
Business Travelers ~ use technology for meetings whenever possible in stead of traveling to meeting place. If they MUST fly, allow only one small briefcase and a laptop computer as carry-on.
Personal Emergency Travelers ~ Allow them to go through a pre-boarding clearance IF they opt for it.
Airlines ~ YOU PAY to have armed, well-trained security forces on all flights. Enforce rules already in existence for amount and size of carry-ons.
AMERICAN CITIZENS ~ DON'T GIVE UP YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THE SAKE OF AIRLINE SECURITY.

Posted By JoAnn on January 21, 2010, 12:58 PM

I am appalled at the number of people who seem to think forced X-raying of people is acceptable. This is not acceptable for any reason.

The US has willing surrendered its Bill of Rights. There really is no USA to defend or worry about any more. I can't believe what a bunch of cowards we've become, a disgrace to the patriots who died for the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.

Posted By Ducklady on January 21, 2010, 4:09 PM

I understand the man who stowed explosives in his underwear got on the plane by persuasive pleas from some uppity foreigner. I truly hope this is not true as we need to stop being such wusses with foreigners looking to bend rules. All pilots and co-pilots (if any) should be armed. Staff and passengers should carry Mace, and we should not apologize for eye-balling suspicious people in turbans or other non-western wear. Sorry, but that's the age we live in and our love affair with blanket hospitality needs to end.

Posted By Claire Owens on January 21, 2010, 7:28 PM

None of the techniques mentioned above will do any good, until airports actually start screening the people out on the tarmac. There are hundreds of airport employees, who are hired with no background checks, who are given full access to any airplane. Screening passengers to the last stray hair doesn't do any good, when the person who has the pretense of loading the food trays or cleaning the planes is waived through with absolutely no scrutiny.

Posted By Ajmcphee on January 23, 2010, 8:06 PM

I'am 74, white, blond hair, fair skinned lady, TSA loves to do a number on me. I'am handicapped and they go over me with a fine tooth comb, even feeling my breasts. One blond TSA lady said I looked like a terrist....she had blue eyes, I had brown. Then she said don't talk to anyone and proceeded to take my purse over to the other side of the room. Then took my cane and sprayed it and kept going over it, thou it had already gone thou the screening. Does this happen to anyone else? I hate to even think of flying anymore.

Posted By DORALDA on January 26, 2010, 11:16 PM

Blond, blue-eyed, senior citizen, using a cane? Appalled at being checked and double checked by airport security? If I were a terrorist 'boss', that's exactly the type I'd look for to sabotage a flight! Whose to say that little over-weight granny isn't bein guaranteed a fat pay-off for her g-kids?? And why shd you feel 'above' that kind of scrutiny because you have blue eyes?? That's been going on for waaaay too long. Get over yourself. Get off your high-horse. Experience profiling first hand for a change. Happy trails!

Posted By Desert Dawg on September 17, 2010, 11:57 PM