Will this security nonsense destroy the commercial air passenger industry?

[Scouzer]

I think this is the only possible long term outcome. The hysteria is insane. Air transit is already one of the safest forms of transit yet we spend billions to never stop any actual terrorists and delay all the legitimate people.

The airlines want you to come as long as 4 hours before your flight now. That means anywhere that's less than a 6 hour drive takes much longer to fly to.

That's on top of the high costs and inconvenience factors; with those added I don't know how anything less than a 10 hour drive where it makes more sense to fly.

It's only going to get worse. Good bye are the days where an hour prior to your flight was reasonable!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Yep, I think you can add airlines to railroads and street cars as transportation models killed by the government. I believe small regional carriers will step in to fill the gap. I kind of like the idea of going back to 12 passenger turbo props. 🙂

 

[Capt Caveman]

No. How else will someone get from one part of the country to another? Unless, you're flying internationally, when have you been asked to arrive to the airport 3 hours before the flight?

You have obviously never flown internationally. In Israel where this has been standard for a long time and is even worse, imagine having to wait in line to be interrogated by multiple people once you walk into the airport.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I'm pretty much done with flying unless I absolutely have to. Between security, stupid airline policies, and all the typical flying inconveniences (driving an hour, parking, getting there hours ahead of time, small seats, expensive food and booze), it's just easier and cheaper to plan vacations that are within driving distance.

 

[Scouzer]

No. How else will someone get from one part of the country to another? Unless, you're flying internationally, when have you been asked to arrive to the airport 3 hours before the flight?

You have obviously never flown internationally. In Israel where this has been standard for a long time and is even worse, imagine having to wait in line to be interrogated by multiple people once you walk into the airport.

I've flown internationally many times. Obviously my post was not referring to international cross ocean flights.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I don't understand why we let the TSA get away with all this security theater stuff. I just read an article about airport security in Israel works and I totally saw how it works in Israel and why it works.

 

[Muse]

Think how much worse it would be if that plane on Xmas had blown up in mid-air. Al Qaida is said to have vowed to keep at it. They seem to be a stubborn bunch once they make their minds up to fuck with you. Such as the WTC. Failed the first time, finally they destroyed it completely. Things could get much much worse if AQ does succeed in bringing down an airliner.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah flying is definitely only feasible for 10+ hour drives. I wonder if any of this security can even stop a terrorist with a good plan. Lot of it is probably nonsense and just a false sense of security.

I also find it hilarious how they automatically think everybody is a terrorist until proven otherwise. Say the word bomb or gun once and you're probably perma banned from the airport or even taken away by 30 FBI agents. Making terrorist jokes is probably a good sign you are NOT a terrorist. It's the very quiet dirty ones with long beards and diapers on their head that they need to look out for.

 

[Muse]

I don't understand why we let the TSA get away with all this security theater stuff. I just read an article about airport security in Israel works and I totally saw how it works in Israel and why it works.

The TSA, Obama, all the agencies involved with security of US citizens and property should take a good hard look at what the Israelis do for security. They have been at it for a much longer time, they've dealt with determined terrorists for decades. El Al, etc.

 

[mmntech]

Kill the airlines? No, business travel will keep them afloat. However, I certainly think they're going to loose a big chunk of the casual travellers. I know I won't be flying to the US ever again. If I go there, I'll drive or take Amtrak. Just more convenient. As a law abiding, voting, tax paying Canadian citizen who was born in this country, I don't think I should be subjected to that kind of treatment. It may be trite but I'm always reminded of that famous Ben Franklin quote about trading liberty for security when this stuff happens.

 

[poncherelli2]

I took 4 flights this week and didn't really notice a difference. I got pulled aside for a quick pat-down on one-flight, but everything else was pretty standard. I waited 10-15 minutes at security each time.

 

[mafia]

No one gets it? The war on terrror is over, the terrorists won. They dramatically changed our lifestyles and that was their whole point. They are laughing at us now.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The TSA, Obama, all the agencies involved with security of US citizens and property should take a good hard look at what the Israelis do for security. They have been at it for a much longer time, they've dealt with determined terrorists for decades. El Al, etc.

B/c US Citizens wouldn't stand for it. And the cost and manpower would pale in comparison to what it is now.

 

[SSSnail]

Higher oil prices will.

 

[xanis]

No one gets it? The war on terrror is over, the terrorists won. They dramatically changed our lifestyles and that was their whole point. They are laughing at us now.

terrorism:
1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.

Considering the state of things now, yeah, I'd say mission accomplished.

 

[SunSamurai]

No one gets it? The war on terrror is over, the terrorists won. They dramatically changed our lifestyles and that was their whole point. They are laughing at us now.

My life is the same as it was before 2001.

Youre retarded.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I don't understand why we let the TSA get away with all this security theater stuff. I just read an article about airport security in Israel works and I totally saw how it works in Israel and why it works.

The TSA, Obama, all the agencies involved with security of US citizens and property should take a good hard look at what the Israelis do for security. They have been at it for a much longer time, they've dealt with determined terrorists for decades. El Al, etc.

Israel is a much smaller target. This allows the resources to be used more effectively
They only have 2-3 cities that have flights out of
Few less airlines fly into Israel
Also, they put security ahead of politics. Profiling is used.

It would be nice if the US and others would follow their methods - but the outcry from the oponents would make it impractical.

Look at the issues right now with Europe and the Muslims there. Anytime there is a problem; the goverments react and an outcry is heard aboiut profiling and racism. The governments have usually backed down.

 

[shortylickens]

No.
The government will just keep bailing them out with our tax dollars.

 

[coloumb]

No. How else will someone get from one part of the country to another? Unless, you're flying internationally, when have you been asked to arrive to the airport 3 hours before the flight?

You have obviously never flown internationally. In Israel where this has been standard for a long time and is even worse, imagine having to wait in line to be interrogated by multiple people once you walk into the airport.

Hmm..I didn't encounter any issues entering or leaving Israel about a year ago [the cab driver our company uses said it's because "you are a white boy with an US passport" 😀 ]. The security checkpoint in Germany was a little more secure than most checkpoints I've been through - but I didn't mind as they were trying to ensure the suicide bombers didn't make it into Tel Aviv. A co-worker [Jamaican] was held up for 2 hours when going through inspection to leave the country though - he had an attitude problem so maybe he wasn't in a good mood that day. And a co-worker [Ethiopian] had his laptop confiscated for inspection - they had to send it to him 2 weeks later.

Now that I think about it - security screening in US airports is extremely sloppy when compared to the rest of the world - which is fine by me - keeps the suicidal idiots from boarding the plane. 🙂

Oh..and China wouldn't let me check in until 2 hours before the flight. I think that's the policy of most airlines around the world... did they change the policy? Doesn't make sense to make you sit in the waiting area for 4 hours...

 

[GregGreen]

no one gets it? The war on terrror is over, the terrorists won. They dramatically changed our lifestyles and that was their whole point. They are laughing at us now.

qft

 

[xanis]

Oh..and China wouldn't let me check in until 2 hours before the flight. I think that's the policy of most airlines around the world... did they change the policy? Doesn't make sense to make you sit in the waiting area for 4 hours...

Sometimes checking in and getting through security can be immensely time consuming. I remember arriving 2.5 hours before a flight to Las Vegas and winding up getting to the gate only 20-30 minutes before the first boarding.

 

[mafia]

My life is the same as it was before 2001.

Youre retarded.

Well maybe in 'Muh Pants' nothing has changed, but im from the USA, and obviously, it has. Globally as a matter of fact.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I'm a white man, what is this "security" business all about? It must be happening to somebody else.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'd still rather fly than drive through all the "fly over" states between California and New York...

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Hasn't wrecked it yet although I'm still not sure why a mini-tube of tooth paste is safer in a zip-lock bag than it is outside of it.