# More air travel hell **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893 "2009-09-04T18:46:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/61 "2009-09-08T10:21:42Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Do you guys need someone to write press releases or articles for in-house publications? 🙂 Possibly, but that wouldn’t involve much, if any, travel :(. Unfortunately the more administrative positions have you stuck in an office in Adelaide. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/62 "2009-09-08T11:34:10Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > You are correct, sir. The flying world will sadly not change. Workers of the world unite!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/63 "2009-09-08T11:50:37Z")
> [@qubed](#): > > That’s not really true. The whole ‘take your shoes off’ crap is endemic to the USA only (as far as I know). Nope, it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/64 "2009-09-08T12:37:26Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > This next paragraph is entirely off the subject, but why the hell can’t they figure out some way to allow people to smoke, without going through security? I know some airports have 2-drink minimum smoking lounges that are sealed off from the concourse and resemble a smoky boiler room, but most don’t. MSY used to have a bar that had a small balcony that looked out onto a concrete wall, but you didn’t have to go through security to have a cigarette. I guess someone could’ve jumped down from the balcony and run out onto the tarmac and hijacked a plane though. Maybe it’s to keep passengers from having to sit next to someone who just smoked a cigarette. No smoking after security means there’s more time to de-stench before the flight and less likelihood of befouling the closely-packed cabin space. I wonder if the airlines are allowed to boot people for BO, excessive perfume, etc. Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/65 "2009-09-08T12:45:56Z")
My passport is an older version, the barcode won’t scan…I tell US Homeland Security(formally Immigration) that it won’t scan the number has to be punched in. Of course they try and scan it two and three time before relenting and punch in the info. Thankfully I haven’t shown up and on any lists but try travelling with Arabic on and in your passport! Might as well have “special screening” tatooted on my forehead. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/66 "2009-09-08T13:29:57Z")
> [@Waffle\_Decider](#): > > I’m annoyed that US permanent residents now have to use the furriner line at passport control. Not at JFK as of May, or Philadelphia International as of two weeks ago they don’t. I stood in the US citizens line with my UK passport and green card. ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/67 "2009-09-08T14:02:06Z")
> [@villa](#): > > Not at JFK as of May, or Philadelphia International as of two weeks ago they don’t. I stood in the US citizens line with my UK passport and green card. It sounds like every airport may be different then. At O’Hare just a few weeks ago, green card holders were very clearly directed to the “other” line. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/68 "2009-09-08T17:22:14Z")
> [@Waffle\_Decider](#): > > It sounds like every airport may be different then. At O’Hare just a few weeks ago, green card holders were very clearly directed to the “other” line. ☹ My most recent experience was about 5 weeks ago, entering the US at LAX. As a green-card holder, I went in the US citizen line as normal. I know it sucks for those in the “aliens” line, but as a green-card holder I’ve already gone through a screening process, and they have information about me (including finger prints) on file, so it should be as quick to process me as it is for an American. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/69 "2009-09-08T17:46:31Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > Might as well have “special screening” tatooted on my forehead. Because I can’t spell worth a damn.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/70 "2009-09-09T00:13:29Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:61, topic:508893”] Possibly, but that wouldn’t involve much, if any, travel :(. Unfortunately the more administrative positions have you stuck in an office in Adelaide. [/QUOTE] That’s a shame… Still, if you ever need a nice Feature Article about who you guys are and what you do, let me know! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/71 "2009-09-09T02:27:01Z")
Does “Complaining about air-travel,” have its own entry on [StuffWhitePeopleLike.com](http://StuffWhitePeopleLike.com) yet, or shall I suggest one? [http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=53120702](http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=53120702) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/72 "2009-09-09T03:33:29Z")
As my partner and I stumbled through a security checkpoint yesterday, trying to take shoes off, not get diabetic toes stepped on, watch the valuables, collect and get the medical equipment examined and swabbed, stand by while the packet of neatly coiled USB and cell phone charger cords was dubiously inspected, grab the liquids before they were mashed by the next guy, not get the laptop dropped, and put shoes back on, it became really obvious that the point of the exercise is not so much “security” (since you can kill a person with dental floss) as it is keeping passengers off-balance and anxious, and therefore not in fighting trim. That’s the only explanation that makes sense to me. I don’t think it would be that difficult to reorganize the screening area to make it safer and more efficient, but I don’t think that’s the goal. I’m still really surprised that there hasn’t been a lawsuit related to foot fungus, foot smashing, or slips and falls. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/73 "2009-09-09T07:32:42Z")
A few weeks ago I tried to report a security violation to a woman at the VIP express security check in at terminal three at London Heathrow. (People going airside by walking the wrong way through the staff exit,turned out that they were staff so no harm done). I reported what I had seen to her and though looking at me she totally ignored me which didn’t do my temper much good. Eventually when I had asked her several times if she was “taking the piss” (For none Brits thats mocking you)she with very great difficulty managed to come out with a mangled version of I dont understand English. So what was the point of her being there in the first place? To help anyone who by sheer luck happened to be of her own nationality? Or was she given the job for other reasons,the ability to do the job not being one of them? Luckily her boss came over and I was able to speak to him,but I still find it frightening that in these dangerous times people still think that they get away with "giving jobs to the girls "at one of the worlds main terrorist targets. You couldn’t make it up. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/74 "2009-09-09T12:18:23Z")
> [@susan](#): > > …it became really obvious that the point of the exercise is not so much “security” (since you can kill a person with dental floss) as it is keeping passengers off-balance and anxious, and therefore not in fighting trim. That’s the only explanation that makes sense to me… We can only hope and pray this is the deal – that they want everyone hassled and agitated so that in that condition, somewhere off to the side a highly trained profiler can notice the clues a real threat gives out when they’re stressed. Now I shall go off to the side to recover from the laughter… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Captain\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893/75 "2009-09-09T13:04:54Z")
[obligatory daily mash link][NSFW][the Daily Mash](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/war/guilty%3a-the-twats-who-made-airports-even-worse-200909082040/)[/link] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-air-travel-hell/508893.md?page=3)