In May, TSA chief John Pistole said the agency was considering a program that would allow pre-vetted “trusted travelers” to get through airport security faster. Today, the TSA announced actual details of the program it will begin testing on a small group of fliers. [More]
TSA To Test Trusted Traveler Program With Certain Delta & American Airlines Frequent Fliers
By July 14, 2011
Woman Arrested For Being Verbally Abusive To TSA Agents While Refusing To Let Daughter Be Screened Or Patted Down
By July 13, 2011
A woman was arrested over the weekend at Nashville International Airport after her refusal to let her daughter be scanned or pat-down turned nasty. [More]
TSA Screener Accused Of Stealing $50K In Electronics From Travelers
By July 8, 2011
As if worrying about having your private parts groped — or being scrutinized and mocked — by TSA screeners wasn’t enough, yet another airport security staffer has been arrested and accused of using his position to pilfer thousands of dollars worth of travelers’ treasures. [More]
The TSA Is All Worried About Surgically Implanted Bombs
By July 6, 2011
The threat of drinking water and toothpaste has been securely locked up in a plastic sandwich bag. And those new-fangled scanners can see if you’re carrying a huge knife and/or grenade in your crotch. But a new threat has the TSA focusing its interest on something that its fancy electronics and grabby hands can’t detect so easily: Surgically implanted bombs. [More]
Airlines Can't Convince Court They Are Being Overcharged For TSA Screening
By July 6, 2011
Even though the screeners at airport security checkpoints in the U.S. are employees of the Transportation Security Administration and those fancy new see-through-your-clothes machines are technically paid for by the feds, the airlines still have to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars per year for security theater. Several of them claim the TSA is overcharging to the tune of $115 million. An appeals court disagrees. [More]
JetBlue Now Offering Access To Speedier Security Lines For A Fee
By July 1, 2011
Access to expedited security lines has generally been something that the largest airlines offer to their first class and business class passengers. But JetBlue, which has no first or business class seats, has just begun offering a service — for a fee, of course — that gives travelers access to the TSA fast lane at 14 airports. [More]
Man Boards Flight Using Someone Else's Expired Boarding Pass
By June 30, 2011
Last week, a Nigerian man was able to board a Virgin America flight from NYC to L.A. without presenting valid ID and a boarding pass that not only didn’t belong to him, but was for a flight from the previous day. [More]
TSA: We Didn't Force 95-Year-Old Woman To Remove Diaper
By June 28, 2011
Transportation Security Administration agents were accused of making a 95-year-old woman take off her diaper before a flight from Florida to Michigan, but the TSA now says it has investigated the incident and found that its agents did no such thing. [More]
TSA Defends Forcing Elderly Woman To Remove Adult Diaper (Updated)
By June 27, 2011
UPDATE: The TSA said in a statement its agents did not require the woman to remove her diaper: [More]
You Can Carry-On More Than 3oz Of Contact Solution
By June 22, 2011
If you don’t have time to buy a travel-sized version instead of your mondo bottle of saline solution before the next time you fly, don’t sweat it. It’s totally cool to fly with more than 3oz of contact solution, as it is covered under the TSA “liquid medication” provision. [More]
TSA Modifies Screening Of Young Children
By June 22, 2011
After incidents like this pat-down of an infant at a Kansas City airport landed the Transportation Security Administration in a public relations mess, the head of the agency said this morning that TSA has changed its policies regarding the screening of small children. [More]
Chef Gets By TSA Screeners At O'Hare With Four Huge Knives In His Bag
By June 16, 2011
Another day, another example of the ineptitude of the TSA screeners at American airports. The latest news comes from an award-winning Chicago chef who says that while the screeners were busy worrying about the contents of his pockets, they completely missed an arsenal of knives in his carry-on. [More]
Newlyweds: TSA Ruined Our Honeymoon Over Bottle Of Contact Lens Solution
By June 14, 2011
If the last decade has taught us two things it’s that Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio is a prime entry point for terrorists and that a bottle of saline merits a lengthy talking-to from the Transportation Security Administration. Oh, wait… scratch both of those. [More]
Toy Security Wand Lets Kids Play At Being TSA Agents
By June 14, 2011
There’s nothing cooler than being a TSA agent for Homeland Security and now the Spy Gear Security Scanner lets kids live out their dreams. It’s a handheld security wand whose LED lights flash and an alarm goes off when it detects metal, just like the real thing! [More]
TSA Agents Who Allegedly Failed To Screen Luggage Face Dismissal
By June 14, 2011
Those Transportation Security Administration agents in Hawaii who allegedly let un-screened baggage through on flights will have to start looking for a new line of work. [More]
Current, Former Washington Redskins Make Goal Line Stand For TSA Worker Unionization
By May 27, 2011
Transportation Security Administration workers have some unlikely allies in their struggle to organize: A pair of pro football players. Noting the need for labor solidarity across industries, one current and one retired Washington Redskin are speaking out in favor of the much-maligned airport security workers. [More]
TSA Could Ban Flights From Texas If State Passes Anti-Patdown Law
By May 25, 2011
A showdown is in the works over an anti-patdown law, which the Texas House of Representatives recently approved by a unanimous vote. The government warns that passage of the law could cause the TSA to “cancel any flight” where it couldn’t ensure passenger safety. Texas legislators say the rule is needed because existing laws “let government employees fondle innocent women, children and men.”
TSA Forgets To Tell Police It's Running A Bomb Test, Hilarity Ensues
By May 19, 2011
One of the keys to running a successful test of a TSA agent’s ability to detect a bomb in a traveler’s suitcase is to give the heads-up to the authorities that a drill is being run. That way, when — or rather if — the screener finds the device in question, their call to the police won’t have the cops drawing their guns in the middle of an airport. [More]
