Airlines are hurting for a bunch of reasons, one of the biggest being soaring
fuel costs. Most airline profit comes from business travelers and, as one
myself, I can tell you that the security protocols (useful or not) haven't
stopped my traveling or those of most of my cohorts. If most airlines had
their way they wouldn't fly recreational travelers at all: they pay far less
for their tickets yet demand more attention from gate agents, cabin crew, etc.
Frequent travelers tend to do a lot more themselves.
I'm on at least two planes a week and even though most of the security
screening is useless you get used to it. I rarely check bags but I can be
through a checkpoint in under a minute assuming no hangups like inexperience
flyers in front of me who are unfamiliar with the latest TSA regulations which
- granted - do seem to change arbitrarily every couple weeks. If you know what
you're doing the invasion of privacy is no more now than it was before 9/11. I
haven't been pulled aside for additional screening in about 100,000 flown
miles. As with anything else come prepared and you'll be fine. Bitch and moan
and you can bet they'll make an example out of you. :-)
As for being safe before, airlines were safe before metal detectors - want to
take those away too? Technology marches on for both sides of the security
equation and, unfortunately, it's a constant game of catch-up.
On Wed, 2 Jan 2008, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> And people wonder why airlines are hurting. Who wants to fly when put
> through such nonsense and treated as a criminal until proven innocent? I hate
> flying now - and only do it when I absolutely have to. It used to be the
> start of an adventure - and fun. Now it is just being put through the ringer
> and frisked, stripped, etc. Those who like it - you can have it.
>
> And don't even try to tell me that this is done for our safety - we were very
> safe for decades without this terrible treatment. And these efforts only
> work to give the TSA people an out should something happen. A finger to point
> - as you will.
-Jason, certifiable privacy and security nut
-----
--- There are no absolute statements. I'm very probably wrong. ---
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
- Albert Einstein
