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yet another Microsoft blogger

# Sunday, January 13, 2008

The Circus of Airport Security

I was reminded how absurd our airport security system is when I was returning from Mexico and I was:

  1. not required to remove my laptop
  2. not required to remove my shoes
  3. was not allowed to bring water on board purchased past the security line

This article in the New York Times, by Patrick Smith, who wrote one of my favorite books, Ask the Pilot, hits the nail on the head.

Six years after the terrorist attacks of 2001, airport security remains a theater of the absurd. The changes put in place following the September 11th catastrophe have been drastic, and largely of two kinds: those practical and effective, and those irrational, wasteful and pointless.

It seems by looking at the comments, I am not alone in how I feel.

BTW, Family made it home safe from Mexico. Thanks to everyone for the words of support. It was a long 4 day trip home, but thanks to our fantastic and supportive family, we made it back and are happy to be home.

I am drafting a letter to Alaska, and a few other folks letting them know about the flight. We'll see what happens.

 

Monday, January 14, 2008 8:05:03 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
When you fly domestically in India, you don't ever need to show photo ID!
Monday, January 14, 2008 8:27:34 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
I never understood why all of the sudden laptops needed to be scanned separately. Same goes with shoes. For years they never set off the metal detector, then all of the sudden if you had a metal shank (read: dress shoe) they did.

Your story reminded me of how much I hate flying. Glad to hear you made it home.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:53:21 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
Keep us posted as I want to know how it end - after your story we decided not to take an Alaska flight on the second leg of our AA flight back to the states (we had missed our connection due to their fault) - however, in retrospect, both of our AA flight were delayed due to mechanical problems making a long day into a 29 hour travel day - sigh, I think there are many airline out there that really need to pull their act together!
Paula
Friday, January 18, 2008 8:30:20 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
After reading your story, i too started to avoid Alaska Airline when possible. Even if it means a few buck extra. I wouldn't want to go through the same torture that you and your family went through.
Praveen
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3:48:28 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
It's bad the world over. We were flying from Ireland to Spain last year and the security guard wanded me because I set of the detector for some reason. He found a spot on my thigh that set off the wand. Strange thing was this: there was nothing metal there.

I turned out my pockets, he wanded me a few more times, it beeped each time on my thigh. I told him I had nothing there, he shrugged his shoulders and I went on without any more challenge.

Turns out the jedi mind trick works well on airport security.
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