Year: 2010

Why TSA ‘Enhanced Pat Downs’ Are Not Effective

For the past few months the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been testing the new ‘enhanced pat down’ at airports around the United States, before implementing this new security measure at every airport under its authority. The ‘enhanced pat down’ is in place primarily for airline travelers who choose to ‘opt out’ of being screened…

National Opt Out Day … why I am not supporting it

The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new security procedures are ruffling a lot of feathers.  These procedures include the roll out of the new whole-body-imaging scanners … and for those who “opt out” of the scanners, the experience of an ‘enhanced pat down.’ These two options are upsetting airline passengers throughout the United States.  Many dislike…

Travel Etiquette : Your Seat Is Not A Rocking Chair

Personal space is at a premium for passengers on flights, especially in economy class. While many will debate whether or not passengers should recline in their seats, the fact is seats recline and are intended to recline (on most planes).  Yes, there is proper etiquette for reclining your seat, namely … do it slowly ……

Reader Mail : What’s The Deal With The Red Striped Planes In Vegas?

Today’s reader mail is one I received a while back … and as I glanced out the window upon landing at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) yesterday, looking at the answer to the question, I figured this was the ideal time to answer this reader mail. This week’s reader mail comes from Peter E….

A Run In With The TSA “Respect My Authority” Attitude … it was bound to happen

Readers frequently write me complaining of their interactions with the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) front line Transportation Security Officers (TSO). For the most part over the past few years my interactions with the TSA’s front line agents have been generally been fairly uneventful … even pleasant at times … although I knew at some point…

Midland Int’l Airport Claims Travelers ‘Enjoy’ TSA Enhanced Pat Down

With the implementation of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) “enhanced pat down” screening process last week many travelers have complained that they feel violated by the TSA Transportation Security Officer’s (TSO) touching their body. With the new ‘enhanced pat down’ TSOs are allowed to placed their hands, palms forward, between a travelers legs, touch a…