The JOKE that is American Airport Security

[BJ_M]

If you want to experience REAL airline security, try flying El Al to Israel.

I have not personally done so, but a few friends and colleagues have.

i have more than once and yes -- very high security, but i didn't worry about things getting stolen and everyone acted very professional and was well armed ..

[BJ_M]

now that you are not allowed to lock your luggage as all luggage is checked in a hidden area -- there has been millions in $$ of stuff stolen (not an exaggeration) .

i lost a leather jacket for one thing.. i know of many people losing stuff out of their suitcases --

even the ntsb knows about and is swamped with claims ..

Which comes back around to:
Look at the total MORONS and delinquents that are left in charge of checking the luggage.....the ones you can see. I'm sure it's the same behind the scenes as well.

This was a problem before the new security measures locked baggae or not. I'm sure it's gotten worse but it's nothing new.

it has increased as a problem by 600% i read .. in the last 12 months alone

[Roundabout]

So the 52-year-old special education teacher was handcuffed, put into a police car, and charged with carrying a concealed weapon.

Reminds me of that scene in one of the "Airplane!" movies where the terrorists walk through the scanner carrying all kinds of rifles, guns, bombs, RPG's, etc. and no one notices. Then when some grandma tries to walk through, they grab and manhandle her, frisking her and such.

That's just about what it's come to, unfortunately.

[Doramius]

If anyone wants to know, I assasinated Bambi. Bambi was the forefront leader of a ring of terrorist crimes starting from Hit & Run in Pensylvania and NY, then webbing across the northern US attacking various US citizens. His accomplicaes have not all been caught or dispatched, yet.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0804/165394.html

[jimmalenko]

I'm about to fly halfway across my country on a domestic flight. I'll be interested to see what happens.

[thecoalman]

If anyone wants to know, I assasinated Bambi. Bambi was the forefront leader of a ring of terrorist crimes starting from Hit & Run in Pensylvania and NY, then webbing across the northern US attacking various US citizens. His accomplicaes have not all been caught or dispatched, yet.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0804/165394.html

I've seen many of these terrorists with my own eyes, be very very careful. They run in packs and are very smart. They will run onto the road and stop dead attempting to make you swerve and crsh into a tree. One even attempted to use me and my truck as a weapon against other innocent people. He ran out in front of me but hit the bumper dead center propelling him forward as if he was a ball off a bat. If there had been a motorist travelling in the opposite direction they would have encountered him at approximatley 100 mph if they were standing still Speed of terrorist + speed of oncoming innocent motorist. Once a year for a week we send terrorist killers into there lair to weed them out, this is the worst time of the year as they are running for there lives :P

BTW terrorist meat is very tasty when done right

[BJ_M]

for a week only ? must be those little scrawny Pittsburgh mini terrorists ..

everywhere i go - first you got a bow season , then a rifle , then a shotgun maybe , then some more bow and or muzzle loader .. then in the end you got a ford ..

[thecoalman]

Actually I was referring to rifle season, and it's two weeks. There's a bunch of different seasons for bow, muzzleloader, handicapped, junior hunters...the list is endless.

There aren't scrawny, maybe compared to some of the behemoths out west they would be. Now maybe it Pittsburgh that may be true but Pitt is about 7 hours from here.

[ViRaL1]

Actually I was referring to rifle season, and it's two weeks. There's a bunch of different seasons for bow, muzzleloader, handicapped, junior hunters...the list is endless.

They let you hunt handicapped animals?

[thecoalman]

They let you hunt handicapped animals?

If it has fur at some point it's in season :P

[smearbrick1]

now that you are not allowed to lock your luggage as all luggage is checked in a hidden area -- there has been millions in $$ of stuff stolen (not an exaggeration) .

i lost a leather jacket for one thing.. i know of many people losing stuff out of their suitcases --

even the ntsb knows about and is swamped with claims ..

I just came back from LA (California) and I was very surprised to find that all of my bags had these little pink tags on them stating they had been searched. Also, I found a slip of paper in the pocket of suitcase stating that my bags had been randomly searched. It also said that if the bags were locked, the locks had to be broken for the search...

My locks were all intact. No one touched a single lock on any of my 3 bags. What did they search?

[thecoalman]

Considering the type of employee they seem to be hiring they probably just picked it. If it was one of those common baggage locks they probably had a key. I used a regular lock, small but it was a regular keyed lock. I haven't travelled in a while but I guess I won't be using them anymore.

[Doramius]

They don't necessarily have to open the suitcase. If they go through a scanner and they can verify the items inside without opening it, then they won't. If there are things like a hair dryer, a Laptop, A metal brush, or anything that could be construed as a potential weapon while the aircraft is in flight, then they will open the case and go through everything by hand. They do a better job of packing than my wife. I had one come back and they had more cleanly placed everything back in.