However, the implementation of those regualtions varies from airport to airport. The expierence at Eppley in Omaha or at Orlando airport are quite pleasant. The expierence at LAX or at Midway in Chicago is a nightmare. Same regs, different implementation. I just chalk it up to the ignorance level of those the TSA has to choose from in the job pool in various cities.
Very true, Fort Wayne (FWA) is a wonderful experience...they have received awards for their friendly staff and greeting services. Always a pleasure to fly in and out from there. But its very small with the biggest aircraft the Allegiant Air MD-83s that started service since I flew from there a year ago. Before that it was all regional jets/props. Don't know how Allegiant has effected things though, before it was rare to have more then 3 or 4 people in front of you in the security line unless its right before a flight departs. When I departed to Dallas on my first leg to Taiwan I was the only one in the line, breezed right through, all personnel had smiles and actually had a conversation with me when they saw my passport. Then when I returned 3 weeks later the gate agent stopped me, happened to be the same one who checked me in, asked how the trip was 8-) Wont get that kind of service at any major airport
LAX on the other hand, came in from Dallas an hour late, lucky my checked bag was being transfered to Malaysia for me. Had to run to Tom Bradly, find the MH desk in the mess of people, got checked in 1/2 hour later then waited an hour in the security line with nothing but b*tchy security people who must have been having a bad night. After the metal detectors was when they took my carry on for the extra screening...already running late. Flight ended up switching gates then delayed an hour
Got into TPE and once I finished the long walk to the customs area it only took 5 minutes to fill out this little paper and get my passport stamped, legally in the country and out of the airport 10 minutes later.
Coming back to LAX, landed an hour late, first greeting was a security women grabbing my arm as I headed down to the customs area and tell me to get off my f#cking phone...never did I see a sign saying anything about phones, couldn't get reception there anyways. Waited in line forever to finally clear the first check point, then had to pick up my checked bag (which was big bulky and over weight but never had to pay a fee since I had just one.) and lug it to another check point where was asked a couple questions about where I had been etc. Then lugged it to the last check point where I had a customs card for items brought back. Got through there to lug my bag through a mess of halls to a drop off point where I finally met the first friendly person in the staff and a smile...took roughly 2 hours before I was legally back in the country. Got to the American terminal and took an 45 minutes just to check in (but at least the staff was friendly) Then came the pain of clearing security again. That took an hour. Flight ended up delayed 1/2 hour which later turned into over an hour before an aircraft pulled up to the gate. So out of the 5.5 hours I spent there I only had freedom for an hour with walking times. Chicago O-Hare was nice friendly staff, had a conversation with a guy running one of the shops I stopped to get coffee at after my flight to FWA ended up delayed over an hour. Then came into nice friendly FWA and greeted by a staff member who actually remembered me after 3 weeks
LAX brags on there website about friendly staff...what a joke
They have nothing on FWA staff
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:33 am
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