In theory, I agree with the people who say that we shouldn’t go toothpasteless into this good night, and should instead rail, rail … etc. But in reality, I could not bring myself to be the person who is holding up a long line of people who are also tired, cranky, and anxious to get on their plane.
Except it does damn little to increase your chances of “getting there in one piece”. Not while the airfreight in the hold is unsecured, y’know…
I said nothing about airlines advertising such a policy, but maybe you’d agree that it would be nice if an airline employee would perhaps volunteer that such compensation might be in the offing, if, you know, you happen to go to the lost luggage desk and report that for the third time this year your baggage has failed to arrive with you.
Then again, maybe I have never bothered to ask for such compensation because in the past, I could carry toiletries on bard the aircraft. You know, like everyone else could until, oh, two days ago or so.
Well, congratulations on your clairvoyance. You koew what the new rules were before they even existed. I know I’m impressed.
Ah, the hell with it. I’ll get out of your way now. Enjoy your smugfest.
Submissive much?
When someone makes the argument of “give them what they want and they’ll leave us alone” with regard to enemy governments or groups, it is roundly mocked. And rightfully so, in my opinion.
Which is why it never ceases to amaze me when this idea is put forward in all seriousness with regard to one’s own government.
Do you honestly believe that A) flying is being made safer by these measures; and B) that these steadily increasing restrictions are ever going to be voluntarily relaxed?
A) Safer? Maybe not on my flight to Tokyo…but perhaps safer for some bloke going from Heathrow to New York… It doesn’t really matter if it makes flying for one singular human being safer than it does for catching the one terrorist with blow-up-paste on a flight with 330 passengers flying over the Azores. Which do you prefer?
Headline: British Airways flight 345 fell into the ocean today off the coast of the Azores, believed to be blown in two by unknown device.
or
Headline: British Airways flight 345 avoids terrorist plot to blow it up in mid air when sky marshal Jack Nickerson found and detained a man with blow-up-paste in his ass tried to light it on fire. etc…etc…
Now, if it was hidden there, they couldn’t have taken it anyhow, so how does giving mine up make anyone safer?
This idea occurred to me as I listened to interviews with passengers dealing with the new security measures this week. One interviewee waiting in lined mused that some people might need some cologne or something in the course of ten-hour flight. Airlines might like the opportunity to pitch in-flight toothpaste, mouthwash, and so on.
shrug I don’t get the whole lawn-tractor-in-the-overhead thing. I’ve been known to fly from time to time, and I put most of my crap in my checked luggage - I basically just bring books, my MP3 player, and some Tylenol on board. I’ve done this for a long time, not because of terrorism but because I hate lugging shit across ten thousand miles of airport. Not once has my luggage ever gone missing; the worst that’s ever happened is that once, while I was flying Montreal-Halifax-St. John’s-Heathrow, my luggage arrived 20 minutes after I did because (go figure) it got a direct flight.
I assume from this that you will be leaving from a small airport? Most of the airports I’ve been through have plenty of shops on the plane side of the security barrier where water and other sundries may be purchased.
Not at all, I just like living…beats the shit outta death yannow
Right, but you aren’t allowed to take the water on board with you, even if you purchase it on the plane side.
At least that is what our corporate newzine stated in an “emergency” email to us this week.
Ooops, sorry, I missed your first sorta kinda question. No, Anchorage is a fairly decent sized airport. It’s a major freight and international flight hub. We even have little renta rooms where you can nap, or do business stuff. Pretty slick, I wish other airports had that. IIRC, they’re about $15 an hour for the small, $20 for the larger one.
They have barcoloungers, internet hookups, rentafax… that sort of stuff.
My point wasn’t that I’m so bright. I’m NOT. My point was that I’m only of average intelligence, but after what homeland security has done along with TSA over the years, how can anyone (especially those much much more on the ball than I’ll ever be) NOT have seen this coming?
Especially since the news reports stated that the items used in the incident were similar to what they are now banning in carry ons? Is anyone really surprised at what the TSA is doing now?
I can see if someone was all set to travel during the time frame or very, very shortly after it happened, and in that case, I DO agree with you, those folks who might have been enroute to the airport during the change in rules should be compensated, but didn’t people watch the news? I really can’t see someone showing up the next day and not knowing.
Don’t you always call the day of your flight to see if the flight is on time, and if any schedule changes have occurred? If someone somehow missed the news reports that would likely have been one of the things they’d find out if they called regarding their schedule.
I agree. So how do we make them change it?
How would they stop you, unless they are doing extra security checks immediately before you get on the plane? (Besides, why would they stop you from bringing on something you bought inside the security barrier and is therefore clean?)
That’s cool. Reminds me of Amsterdam-Schiphol - they have some pretty sweet relaxation facilities, though not little rooms that I recall. It does sound like a good idea.
Security personnel are doing screenings at the gate once again, similar to what they did the first year or so after 9/11. That’s where they stop anyone from bringing purchased beverages on board.
Anyway, it now appears that at least some of the new restrictions are going to be relaxed pretty quickly. Security officials ssem to now be saying they’re not really needed, but apparently airline complaints (particularly in the UK) may have something to do with it as well.
Some time ago, I had the idea of putting in Discovery Zone-type playgrounds in airport terminals to give kids something to do and to burn off energy before they boarded their flights. I think, given the longer waits for security, that it’s an even better idea now.
This morning, I heard on the local news that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania collects the confiscated stuff (but apparently not hygiene items) and sells it on eBay. So far, they’ve made about $300,000 over the past few years.
Robin
It’s not about lost luggage for some of us! I bet you’ve never flown ultra longhaul! If I’m going to be in transit for 20 plus hours (once I got stuck in Singapore Changi for 14 hours en route from Brisbane to London), I like to pack a tracksuit to change into inflight (dressing nicely ups my chances of an upgrade, so I don’t wear the tracksuit to the airport), as well as toiletries so I can brush my teeth, refresh my deodorant, etc. before I finally reach my destination so my loved ones aren’t repulsed by my travel odour when I finally arrive!