Consumerist

Posts Tagged “

Tsa

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breaking

TSA To Stop Being So Crazy About Liquids

Soon you might be able to take your shampoo and booze on the plane once again without trouble. The head of the TSA told WSJ's The Middle Seat Terminal blog, "I think realistically in one year we, the TSA and foreign colleagues, will be a position to relax liquids restrictions...We are within a year of having the ability to differentiate threat liquids through the screening process.” The rule relaxation is thanks to airports deploying new x-ray machines and scanners that should be able to tell the difference between a bottle of water and a bomb. Just don't expect it to happen any time before 2009.

TSA Likely to Relax Restrictions on Liquids in 2009 [The Middle Seat] (Photo: AP)

1:08 PM on Thu Oct 2 2008
By Ben Popken
7,545 views, 74 comments

Latest by synergy: Considering people are broke and can't afford to go down the street... who cares! more »

security theater

Woman Removes Bra To Get Through TSA

Nancy Kates's large underwire bra set off the metal detector in the Oakland, California airport. A TSA agent pulled her aside and patted her down, which set off Kates' personal privacy alarm. "I said, 'You can't do that.' She said, 'We have to pat you down.' I said, 'You can't treat me as a criminal for wearing a bra.'" Kates was given the option to "submit to a pat-down in a private room" or not fly. Instead, she took off her bra and passed through security just fine. Hooray for personal freedom! More »

5:48 PM on Tue Aug 26 2008
By Chris Walters
32,256 views, 273 comments

Latest by TheRedDuke: @srhbks: YOU may not mind strangers touching you in intimate places, but other do. more »

tsa

TSA Employee Grounds 9 American Airlines Planes By Attempting To Break Into Them

A TSA employee used sensitive avionics equipment as a ladder while attempting to break into 9 American Airlines planes to test how well they were secured. The TSA agent was able to break into 7 of the planes, raising questions about the security of the aircraft, but also managed to ground the aircraft — causing at least 40 flights to be delayed at O'Hare. More »

12:21 PM on Thu Aug 21 2008
By Meg Marco
13,426 views, 91 comments

Latest by mrearly2: Thanks for making me late, TSA-Gestapo! more »

tsa

TSA Martinet Claims Her Unpublished Rules Trump Real Ones

TSA, can you at least train your agents to do their jobs properly? We'd appreciate it even more if you'd discipline (read: fire) those who go all stupidly power-mad and think they have to "win" every encounter, even when it means making up new rules on the spot. Here's a story of a soldier who lost a day of leave because one of your agents caused so much trouble. In the end, the soldier says he's happy with the outcome—"Using standard Consumerist customer service doctrine (polite, patient, proper channels and then EECB), I won"—but we're still floored by how difficult you made his trip home. Oh, and NWA, you were no help either. More »

2:17 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Chris Walters
42,213 views, 110 comments

Latest by mrearly2: "Active-duty military"? He should have had his firearm at his side, and no questions asked. This is just another story more »

privacy

Forget Your ID? TSA Places Forgetful Fliers On A List That Helps Track "Potential Terrorists"

USAToday says that the TSA was placing fliers who forgot their ID in a database along with people who have been questioned for "suspicious behavior" or who "violated security laws." In an interview, TSA chief Kip Hawley told the paper that the "the information helps track potential terrorists who may be "probing the system" by trying to get though checkpoints at various airports." More »

12:19 PM on Thu Aug 14 2008
By Meg Marco
5,861 views, 53 comments

Latest by Jandek: Is anyone REALLY shocked about this? REALLY? more »

The TSA congratulates itself for confiscating a homemade battery pack and an empty water bottle, despite the fact that they were aware at the time that neither item was a bomb. According to their website, they were afraid the batteries would "be seen by other passengers as a threat." The other government agencies must really dislike the TSA. Can you imagine if the U.S. Customs website touted how they took down an entire truckload of Domino sugar? [MAKE]

25 comments

tsa

Things You Should Memorize When Flying Without Identification

You may be familiar with the TSA's new rules that went into effect June 21st regarding travelers who try to fly without identification. These travelers are essentially made part of a mini game show where they are the subject of all the questions. Your prize, if you answer correctly, is that you are allowed to board your flight. If you need to travel without ID, Wired magazine has assembled some items which if committed to memory, might help you get through the (game show) process more easily. More »

6:27 AM on Wed Jul 23 2008
By Jay Slatkin
20,139 views, 52 comments

Latest by Aisley: There are quite few things we NEED to know: 1. Short of a DNA test, no actions taken by the TSA more »

travel

Are You Skilled Enough For The TSA's "Black Diamond" Security Line?

Are you a good skier? Do you tackle the "black diamond" slopes without hesitation? Well, the TSA has a new challenge for you — the "black diamond" security line. In an effort to reduce the stress that travelers feel when families are holding up the security line — or when pushy frequent fliers try to cut in front of those families, the TSA has been testing a "self-select" program that allows fliers to choose which line they would feel most comfortable in. More »

10:54 AM on Tue Jun 24 2008
By Meg Marco
23,447 views, 99 comments

Latest by Dansc29625: At busier airports they will have the "3 platinum diamond" line to get the people that need to be in more »

security theater

Privacy: What It's Like To Fly With No ID Under The TSA's New Regulations

David becomes our first reader to fly under the TSA's new ID policy. Formerly, if you refused or were unable to show ID you could still fly — but were required to undergo secondary screening by the TSA. Now they've altered their position slightly— fliers who willingly refuse to show ID are now barred from flying. The new rule went into effect over the weekend, and David says that in order to board the plane after forgetting his driver's license he had to answer questions about his political party affiliation and previous addresses. More »

12:36 PM on Mon Jun 23 2008
By Meg Marco
43,236 views, 169 comments

Latest by aspiringexpatriate: @Michael Bauser: They keep records of what party you're registered with. Here's the thing about this... I don't understand why people more »

tsa

Do You Have Any Naked Pictures Of Your Mother? The TSA Does

The TSA recently announced that airport security scanners which can see under clothing are being installed at 10 U.S. airports, according to the AFP. Travelers will enter glass booths while a 3-dimensional full-body image is rendered using "millimeter waves." Because the image gives a clear representation of travelers' bodies and genitalia, it has some people concerned about their privacy. More, inside... More »

9:02 AM on Wed Jun 11 2008
By Jay Slatkin
23,044 views, 173 comments

Latest by LibertyReign: @couldbebopeep: I prefer neither. Naked xrays at the airport are an invasion of my privacy and they encourage the government that more »