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sacex250

Just to clarify, the TSA is nuts

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>Taking the train (what train!?) or the bus isn't a viable option to the West Coasters.

We've done it. It actually does work. It's a lot more inconvenient though.



which one have you taken?

The San Diego to LA route is viable, though if you were doing that to avoid the train, you could easily just drive the 120 miles.

LA to San Francisco is not so pretty, since it is a bus over the Grapevine and then a train that goes to Berkeley/Emeryville in a non direct route, or a fairly pricey vacation route along the coast that is really most about the travel then getting to the destination.

The trains that cross the country are slow, unreliable, and seem more about torturing your children than a sane idea.

Multiple by 3 if you're talking Greyhound instead of the train.

End result - the TSA can cost enough business to hurt the airlines profitability and make it hard for them to sell tickets at a reasonably profitable price, but not enough to make it obvious that they have to go. Couple that with the sheep who accept it all in the name of safety (*).

* - your stance of take it or take the train isn't much better, in my opinion.

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>They kept the search quick and professional. No actual crotch grab,
>no jamming hands into my pants, no bullshit at all. They were quite polite, as
>was I. In return I gave them no hassle at all either.

So they wanted you to submit to an invasive patdown and you meekly complied with their demands.

You want to make a difference? Refuse any search. Period. If everyone followed your lead the searches would end within a month.



Attached is the form I carry in case they want to send me through the machine or touch me thereafter.

I have not said word the first to a screener for 7 some-odd years, and will not accompany them out of public scrutiny.

They don't like it, but fuck them.



Go in your own plane (if you still have it).
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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End result - the TSA can cost enough business to hurt the airlines profitability and make it hard for them to sell tickets at a reasonably profitable price, but not enough to make it obvious that they have to go.
.



Profit? The aggregated profit of all airlines to date is negative $63Billion.
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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Go in your own plane (if you still have it).



You obviously haven't had to deal with the United States Department of Homeland Security's eApis demands/requirements for cross-border GA flights... both inbound and outbound, BTW.

If I'm departing your illustrious democracy, why should I have to advise the GPS co-ordinates and time (within a 15 minute window) I'll be crossing the border OUTBOUND, and do all this up to 24 hours in advance? Oh. And it must be done on-line only. They will not accept a flight-plan and eApis advice by telephone. Period.

It is onerous enough, by my personal experience, cross-border flights by Canadian private-pilot tourists have fallen by about 50% in the last year alone.

John

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>which one have you taken?

San Diego to LA, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim and Portland, OR.

On our way back from Portland once we were going through a wildlife sanctuary near the coast and I was looking out the window on one of the lower decks at all the seals and sea lions. A steward came by and said "if you want a closer look, you can open the door if you promise not to lean out." Never got to do that on an airplane.

>Multiple by 3 if you're talking Greyhound instead of the train.

Yes. Both are much less convenient than flying.

>your stance of take it or take the train isn't much better, in my opinion.

?? Or the bus, or drive, or stay home. Or fly privately, away from the TSA, if the TSA really does bother people that much.

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Go in your own plane (if you still have it).



You obviously haven't had to deal with the United States Department of Homeland Security's eApis demands/requirements for cross-border GA flights... both inbound and outbound, BTW.

If I'm departing your illustrious democracy, why should I have to advise the GPS co-ordinates and time (within a 15 minute window) I'll be crossing the border OUTBOUND, and do all this up to 24 hours in advance? Oh. And it must be done on-line only. They will not accept a flight-plan and eApis advice by telephone. Period.

It is onerous enough, by my personal experience, cross-border flights by Canadian private-pilot tourists have fallen by about 50% in the last year alone.

John



But WHO would want to go to Canada anyway?
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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Go in your own plane (if you still have it).



You obviously haven't had to deal with the United States Department of Homeland Security's eApis demands/requirements for cross-border GA flights... both inbound and outbound, BTW.

If I'm departing your illustrious democracy, why should I have to advise the GPS co-ordinates and time (within a 15 minute window) I'll be crossing the border OUTBOUND, and do all this up to 24 hours in advance? Oh. And it must be done on-line only. They will not accept a flight-plan and eApis advice by telephone. Period.

It is onerous enough, by my personal experience, cross-border flights by Canadian private-pilot tourists have fallen by about 50% in the last year alone.

John



But WHO would want to go to Canada anyway?



Perhaps you didn't notice the word "inbound"?

Flights by (Canadian) GA tourists TO YOUR COUNTRY (to spend their money on your economy) have fallen (by my limited estimation) by 50%.

We have at my small municipal airport a multi-national corporation who is on the record as saying they do everything in their power to avoid having to land and refuel in your country due to the eApis system and US Customs.

At our same tiny airport there are 10 or so local pilots who flew every year to CA, AZ and TX for a winter vacation. This year? One. The rest are all staying home or going non-stop* commercial to the Caribbean.

So go ahead and be as sarcastic as you wish.

John

*myself included

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Go in your own plane (if you still have it).



Strangely enough, I do commute to the tune of 20 hours a month in the Cherokee. I make the 1,300 mile round trip by POV when the weather is too ghastly to fly even for me, and fly commercially only as a last resort.

I am under no obligation to humor officious morons.


BSBD,

Winsor

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Only in SC can a thread titled "just to clarify, the TSA is nuts" end up in a debate, and not a series of :) icons.

I miss the metal detectors. I just waltzed through them, but for some reason am almost always groped around the waist after going through the porno-scanner. I can request a search, but I can request an old-style metal detector.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

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Go in your own plane (if you still have it).



You obviously haven't had to deal with the United States Department of Homeland Security's eApis demands/requirements for cross-border GA flights... both inbound and outbound, BTW.

If I'm departing your illustrious democracy, why should I have to advise the GPS co-ordinates and time (within a 15 minute window) I'll be crossing the border OUTBOUND, and do all this up to 24 hours in advance? Oh. And it must be done on-line only. They will not accept a flight-plan and eApis advice by telephone. Period.

It is onerous enough, by my personal experience, cross-border flights by Canadian private-pilot tourists have fallen by about 50% in the last year alone.

John


But WHO would want to go to Canada anyway?


Perhaps you didn't notice the word "inbound"?



For me to be "inbound" from Canada, first I would have to go there.:P
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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For me to be "inbound" from Canada, first I would have to go there.:P



Where you're at is a nice place to be from.

Escape while you can, John!!!!
My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

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For me to be "inbound" from Canada, first I would have to go there.:P



Where you're at is a nice place to be from.

Escape while you can, John!!!!


Hey, we have the world's nicest DZ.
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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Only in SC can a thread titled "just to clarify, the TSA is nuts" end up in a debate, and not a series of :) icons.

I miss the metal detectors. I just waltzed through them, but for some reason am almost always groped around the waist after going through the porno-scanner. I can request a search, but I can request an old-style metal detector.

Wendy P.



Does this groping occur at the same airport? If so, then you are probably too hot for the TSA guys to ignore. If at other AP's, then you might look felonious for some reason, and be tripping the profile.
I'm sure that the TSA still have the wand of power available.

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Only in SC can a thread titled "just to clarify, the TSA is nuts" end up in a debate, and not a series of :) icons.

I miss the metal detectors. I just waltzed through them, but for some reason am almost always groped around the waist after going through the porno-scanner. I can request a search, but I can request an old-style metal detector.

Wendy P.



So far I have just refused the porno scanner and went right to the groping.

It gives me a chance to make them as uncomfortable as they make passengers.

They normally explain that they are going to give you a pat down, and some basic info about the back of their hands etc.

I respond by licking my lips, looking like I am really excited and saying "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMM Pat down".

:D:ph34r:
"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

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I'm pissed. I never get groped. You guys are having ALL the fun.
>:(

You remember the story about the guy that got arrested because he got a boner? Only in 'Merica.
:D:D:D

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

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I'm pissed. I never get groped. You guys are having ALL the fun.
>:(

You remember the story about the guy that got arrested because he got a boner? Only in 'Merica.
:D:D:D




It's more fun if you request the groping vs scanning. I've gone through the scanner once and was asked about the metal in my body. I considered that an invasion. It's more fun to be groped in public as Dougie mentioned, while making comments that make them uncomfortable. Just tell them you'd like a "male assist." Depending on the airport (Hartsfield is great at this) they'll proceed to yell "Male Assist!" up and down the line, and then attempt to make you feel small.
Don't whisper, speak up as you say:

"I kinda like this, it's the closest thing to sex I've had today."
"You'll fantasize about me tonight, won't you?"
"mmmmmmmmmm......that's NICE!"
"I've thought about being a TSA officer, I'd love the opportunity to legally grope men all day long."
"While you're there, would you mind scratching....?"
"My girlfriend/wife over there, she likes to watch me with other men."

Leave a tictac or mint in your pocket. It really bothers them when you don't have EVERYTHING including your ticket, out of your pocket. Then invite the TSA officer to fish it out himself. ;)

They are now required to tell you what the pat down entails; it's part of the intimidation process. They no longer allow you to simply say "I understand all that" before they're done with their spiel.
Have fun with it. It's still better than going through the scanner and can be a source of amusement.
They're just doing their job, but that doesn't mean you need to meekly submit.

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It's not a chastity belt; it's a sex toy for my husband.

Wendy P.
There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

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Me personally, I can't wait until the TSA starts scanning people getting on the jump plane....

Are gonna threaten the pilot with that hook knife? You better not be planning on ramming this plane into something.....

The good news is that everyone should be out by the time the plane crashes into something....:ph34r:

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

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I'm pissed. I never get groped. You guys are having ALL the fun.
>:(

You remember the story about the guy that got arrested because he got a boner? Only in 'Merica.
:D:D:D




It's more fun if you request the groping vs scanning. I've gone through the scanner once and was asked about the metal in my body. I considered that an invasion. It's more fun to be groped in public as Dougie mentioned, while making comments that make them uncomfortable. Just tell them you'd like a "male assist." Depending on the airport (Hartsfield is great at this) they'll proceed to yell "Male Assist!" up and down the line, and then attempt to make you feel small.
Don't whisper, speak up as you say:

"I kinda like this, it's the closest thing to sex I've had today."
"You'll fantasize about me tonight, won't you?"
"mmmmmmmmmm......that's NICE!"
"I've thought about being a TSA officer, I'd love the opportunity to legally grope men all day long."
"While you're there, would you mind scratching....?"
"My girlfriend/wife over there, she likes to watch me with other men."

Leave a tictac or mint in your pocket. It really bothers them when you don't have EVERYTHING including your ticket, out of your pocket. Then invite the TSA officer to fish it out himself. ;)

They are now required to tell you what the pat down entails; it's part of the intimidation process. They no longer allow you to simply say "I understand all that" before they're done with their spiel.
Have fun with it. It's still better than going through the scanner and can be a source of amusement.
They're just doing their job, but that doesn't mean you need to meekly submit.


I always opt out of both machines.
It's only reared up at me at two airports (Houston and New Orleans) and in both cases, I escalated it to their supervisors who instructed the newer mutts that one CAN opt-out of both scanners. But, you do have to be willing to accept the pat down... which not unlike you, can have a good time with that.
Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

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