We imagine that TSA agent has fun sitting around thinking of various things to tell people when they ask what will be done with whatever gooey menace is being confiscated. Hey, at least they didn’t sell her lotion on eBay. —MEGHANN MARCO
TSA
SNL: Training The Crack TSA Team In The Fight Against Liquids
By 5.9.07
A decently humorous (a smile creaked on our craggy face) SNL skit underlining the absurdity of the TSA’s anti-liquid rules.
Box Cutter Found On United Airlines Flight Causes Delay
By 5.9.07
A box cutter was found by a passenger on United flight 490 from Denver to Dallas Tuesday, causing a delay of almost two hours while the passengers were rescreened. From the AP:
Flight 490 had left the gate and was taxiing toward a runway when the passenger found the cutting instrument and notified a flight attendant, United Airlines spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said.
12 Year Old Boy: TSA Stole My Birthday Money
By 5.8.07
A 12 year old buy from Sacramento, California flew home from a family trip, only to discover that his $265 in birthday money had been stolen by a TSA agent. Sadly for the kid, it seems that the San Diego airport doesn’t have cameras, and, naturally, the inspector that stole the cash didn’t leave his number.
“Can’t we just check the video, can’t we just check the camera I mean I can describe the suitcase it had a yellow ribbon on it, she says we don’t have camera’s back there,” says Kim.
TSA Loses Hard Drive Containing Personal Information For 100,000 Workers
By 5.6.07
The Transportation Security Administration, the division of the Department of Homeland Security charged with keeping bombs and pies away from planes, has misplaced an external hard drive containing social security numbers, bank data, and payroll information for 100,000 employees. We say “misplaced” because the TSA is not sure if the laptop was stolen, or “is still within headquarters.”
Ask The Consumerists: Can I Fly With No ID?
By 4.3.07
I have a friend that moved to NYC a little while ago from Iowa. She hadn’t switched to a NYS Photo ID yet, as she isn’t sure if this is going to be a permanent move, so she has been using her Iowa State Photo ID (non-Driver’s License, which is important as you’ll see) around town.
TSA Misses 90% of Bombs At Denver Airport
By 4.2.07
Sources told 9NEWS the Red Team was able to sneak about 90 percent of simulated weapons past checkpoint screeners in Denver. In the baggage area, screeners caught one explosive device that was packed in a suitcase. However later, screeners in the baggage area missed a book bomb, according to sources.
UPDATE: Delta Finally Refunds Man Who Tracked Down And Got Prosecuted Baggage Handler Who Stole His Camera
By 3.17.07
Remember our reader, Charles, who got his camera stolen by a Delta baggage handler? And how Charles found the camera on eBay and got the guy tracked down, fired, and arrested? And how Delta didn’t give a shit and wasn’t going to refund Charles any money? After we ran his story, the fine folks at the PeterGreenberg radio show stepped in, and Delta agreed to reimburse Charles for the full cost of his original flight. Here’s what they said:
American Airlines Lets Al Gore Skip The Security Checkpoint
By 3.2.07
Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority spokesperson Lynne Lowrance said an American Airlines employee took Gore and two other passengers from the airline’s ticketing counter through a door in the baggage claim area where only “badged employees” can enter. The door led to a tunnel and then to a ramp that accessed an American Airline’s gate beyond the airport’s security checkpoint.
American Airlines Opens 1st Class Lavatory To Coach Passengers
By 3.1.07
American Airlines is abandoning a policy that prevented coach passengers from using the first class lavatory on all its flights. After 9/11, the TSA added a rule stating that on all international flights to the US, passengers were allowed access to the lavatory in their own seating section and no other.
Howto: Get Your Name Off The No-Fly List
By 2.22.07
The Department of Homeland Security has finally woken up, and now admits that the No-Fly List has its problems.
Man Tracks Down And Gets Prosecuted Baggage Handler Who Stole His Camera, Delta Still Won't Refund
By 2.7.07
Delta won’t refund Charles’ money after his camera was stolen from his luggage by a baggage checker, even after he tracked the camera down on eBay and got the thief fired, arrested, and prosecuted.
Boy, 9, Sneaks On A Plane to Texas
By 1.18.07
- Police in Lakewood, Washington, say the boy (Semaj Booker) has a history of stealing cars and running away from home. He was apparently trying to get to Dallas, where his grandfather lives, and where the boy himself used to live. But he came up short, only getting as far as San Antonio after hopping two separate flights.
Airport Security Trays To Feature Advertisements
By 1.12.07
- Travelers nationwide could soon see ads for laptops, expensive cars and other products in the trays that carry their shoes and cell phones through X-ray machines at airport security checkpoints.
Charges Dropped in “Liquid Terror” Plane Plot
By 12.19.06
A Pakistani judge has dropped charges against the main suspect in a purported terror plot to blow up airlines with half a sports drink bottle full of dangerous liquids. This plot is the reason you now have to fly with a ziplock bag full of tiny toiletries, and the reason we have started to pay attention to the quality of hotel soaps. From BBC News: “Anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi found no evidence that he had been involved in terrorist activities or that he belonged to a terrorist organization. As well as forgery charges, Mr Rauf has also been charged with carrying explosives. But his lawyer says police evidence amounts only to bottles of hydrogen peroxide found in his possession.”
TSA’s Multimillion Dollar Ion Sniffer Is “Out Of Order”
By 11.29.06
A sign on this multi-million dollar terrorism sniffing device reads, “Out of Order.” Spotted this morning in Charlotte’s airport. From the Smith’s website:
Fake Boarding Pass Creator Goes Free
By 11.29.06
Cnet is reporting that the creator of the fake NWA boarding pass generator has been freed and all charges dropped due to lack of criminal intent on his part. “They’ve given me back my passports, my computers, and I’ll be getting the rest of my stuff back shortly. Essentially, I’m a free man–with no charges filed,” Christopher Soghoian wrote on his blog Tuesday, talking about the investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
