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Appears as though stripping down and bending over wasn't that far from being true...minus the whole stripping and the bending part :-/

These new machines see right through your clothing and probably soon to be at an airport near you  I know security is tight...but come on.  I don't care if the person looking is behind a screen and the passengers face is blurred or not...theres a fine line between "security" and "overkill".  Its enough hassle as is, now they want to make it even worse.  Shouldn't have to feel like a prisoner just to get on an aircraft :-/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/04/15/ai ... index.html

Whats next...turn your head and cough [smiley=door.gif]

Appears as though stripping down and bending over wasn't that far from being true...minus the whole stripping and the bending part :-/

These new machines see right through your clothing and probably soon to be at an airport near you  I know security is tight...but come on.  I don't care if the person looking is behind a screen and the passengers face is blurred or not...theres a fine line between "security" and "overkill".  Its enough hassle as is, now they want to make it even worse.  Shouldn't have to feel like a prisoner just to get on an aircraft :-/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/04/15/ai ... index.html

Whats next...turn your head and cough [smiley=door.gif]

It's important to remember that this is for secondary screening- in other words, if you set off the metal detector.

It's not like everyone will have to go through this.

It's also intended in lieu of a physical pat-down, which is actually a lot more intrusive and humiliating.

Appears as though stripping down and bending over wasn't that far from being true...minus the whole stripping and the bending part :-/

These new machines see right through your clothing and probably soon to be at an airport near you  I know security is tight...but come on.  I don't care if the person looking is behind a screen and the passengers face is blurred or not...theres a fine line between "security" and "overkill".  Its enough hassle as is, now they want to make it even worse.  Shouldn't have to feel like a prisoner just to get on an aircraft :-/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/04/15/ai ... index.html

Whats next...turn your head and cough [smiley=door.gif]

It's important to remember that this is for secondary screening- in other words, if you set off the metal detector.

It's not like everyone will have to go through this.

It's also intended in lieu of a physical pat-down, which is actually a lot more intrusive and humiliating.

This is the most interesting part of the story:

"Travelers will continuously and randomly be selected to go through the machine. While signs will inform them of the pat-down option, screeners will not announce that choice. But passengers electing not to go through the millimeter wave machine will be given the option of the pat-down".

And how long before some bored minimum wage security employee, agrees, for a "fee" to, just plug in a small black box that a friend of a friends cousins brother who has a "mate" who is "studying something" down loads these images and they are on the internet for all to see. It will happen and it is only a question of time before some celebrity has his or her scanned image in the tabloids.
The thing here is, before there had to be a real requirement for a strip search, now the requirement has all be been removed and you are still being strip searched, even if it is by a machine. I guarantee that in a few more years this will be the norm as walking through a metal detector is today. As for suing and human rights lawyers etc. An airline or airport can refuse to let anyone on an aircraft that does not submit to security requirements, and if you refuse, well that is used as a reason to check you out further. The aircraft will not wait for you and if you miss it, then the airline or airport has in effect prevented you from boarding.
I will be traveling through JFK this summer, so thanks for the heads up, I will now know to ask for a pat down.

Matt

I did miss the part about the random searches... but for me, personally, I'd rather get scanned. I couldn't care less if someone sees me naked (not that I'm proud, exactly, of the shape I'm in these days)... especially if I don't have to do a strip-tease or have someone manhandle my nooks and crannies.

As for the images finding their way onto the internet, etc... I have yet to see an X-ray image of some celebrity's carry-on (wouldn't lots of silly people be just dying to know what's in so-and-so's handbag?, so I'm not too sure about that.
And celebrities, if they're willing to spend a little extra money, can usually bypass the line, the pat-down, and almost all of that nuisance, at most airports.
As a frequent flyer, all I can say is if it speeds up the line and maybe makes flights safer, I think it's worth someone being embarassed.
If it replaces the magnetic detector, that might be a good thing... my observation has been that three out of five pax end up holding up the line because they have not been listening to the spiel about removing metal objects, etc, nor do they seem aware of what that gate is for... they're also usually the ones who cause more delay by arguing about why they have to take off their belt or watch, etc...  ::)  
I always arrive early, but sometimes it's a lot more crowded than usual, and these delays can cause you to miss a flight.

Bloody Norah!.. ...!

Am I glad that I never wished, or do wish, to travel abroad on a bleedin' "Aeroplane"... ...!

For crying out loud.. ....

Catch a 'Bus...

..or a boat...

.or stay at home...

...like I do... ...!

Paul... ...!

The whole World is slowly going down the Pan...trust me... ...!

The most frustrating & time-consuming part of air travel has always been travelling to/from the airport & in the airport terminals at either end. They always used to say "If you have time to spare, go by air". Unfortunately it's ten times worse now & I don't see it improving.

machines that see through clothing and provide a detailed image of a person's body

Perhaps I'm missing something but I don't see the point of this at all. Surely whatever they're searching for would be hidden in the person's clothing or internally in the body orifices.

I figure there are two ways to go with this stuff. One; we can just step, back and take a deap breath, and come to terms with the fact that a crowded skyscraper or major sporting event is just as ripe a target as an airplane.... and just assume the same risks for all of them. Short of strip searching and body-cavity searching everyone... and going through EVERY piece of baggage (carry-on and checked), there's no way for absolute security. It's just not possible. If the TSA was genuinely trying to achieve true security.. well..

I'm just waiting for the day where you have to strip out of your clothes and wear nothing but a hospital gown onboard the aircraft.  Now thats security.

The most frustrating & time-consuming part of air travel has always been travelling to/from the airport & in the airport terminals at either end. They always used to say "If you have time to spare, go by air". Unfortunately it's ten times worse now & I don't see it improving.

machines that see through clothing and provide a detailed image of a person's body

Perhaps I'm missing something but I don't see the point of this at all. Surely whatever they're searching for would be hidden in the person's clothing or internally in the body orifices.

I think it detects by density, so it would probably detect "whatever" hidden in clothes, as well.

But for sure, like the existing system, there's no telling what someone has hidden inside them.  

I figure there are two ways to go with this stuff. One; we can just step, back and take a deap breath, and come to terms with the fact that a crowded skyscraper or major sporting event is just as ripe a target as an airplane.... and just assume the same risks for all of them. Short of strip searching and body-cavity searching everyone... and going through EVERY piece of baggage (carry-on and checked), there's no way for absolute security. It's just not possible. If the TSA was genuinely trying to achieve true security.. well..  have you looked into the eye of the average, airport security person ?  Those aren't the people we'd be staffing this oh-so-important job, with... if we were serious about security. Sorry if this is snobbish, but these are not a bright lot... and it's obvious to anyone who travels that these people, as a group, shouldn't be trusted with much above lawn care.

OR... we can get serious about air-travel security and have a passport of sorts, for regular flyers. Deep background checks and biometric identity checks (retina or fingerprint scan) as they pass through security. Infrequent, first-time, or one-time flyers would either plan ahead and apply for this "passport"... or  line up for the strip search.

Herding every single passenger through security lines is expensive, inconvenient, and time consuming.. and with these minimum wage geniuses in charge, it aint even effective.

Boy, would that not work in skyscrapers...believe me. It's bad enough what you have to go through already, which has nothing, really, to do with terrorism.

As for the collective IQ of the TSA: I've been surprised. A lot of these folks are just tired ... tired, primarily, of the antics of the pax, who are collectively much more clueless.  

I know this is an unpopular take on it, but I feel that considering how poorly paid they are and what they have to put up with, most airport screeners are very professional, and pretty sharp.

I know this is an unpopular take on it, but I feel that considering how poorly paid they are and what they have to put up with, most airport screeners are very professional, and pretty sharp.

If they were sharp.. they wouldn't put up with the conditions, or the pay.

I'm not indicting them, as much as the situation of which they're just a symptom.. Not everyone is an aspiring engineer or surgeon. If you offer 8 dollars an hour, to do a 15 dollar an hour job... this is what you end up with..

I know this is an unpopular take on it, but I feel that considering how poorly paid they are and what they have to put up with, most airport screeners are very professional, and pretty sharp.

If they were sharp.. they wouldn't put up with the conditions, or the pay.

I'm not indicting them, as much as the situation of which they're just a symptom.. Not everyone is an aspiring engineer or surgeon. If you offer 8 dollars an hour, to do a 15 dollar an hour job... this is what you end up with..

Good point, but it beats flipping burgers or handling baggage. All I know is: they're not all idiots... which is more than I can say for those who set the whole thing up (who make a lot more than the screeners!)
And again: although I  initially was supremely annoyed with the post-9/11 system, after a few years of travelling pretty regularly, I've decided that is my fellow pax who are the biggest nuisance. They have every opportunity to learn how to make the whole process easier for all concerned, yet they consistently create problems by being unprepared or just plain uncooperative.

Reminds me of a great post I saw yesterday; not about security per se, but it gives you an idea of how amazingly clueless some travelers are... and they can all afford an airline ticket:

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=20728

   

Soon it's going to the airport is going to be like a scene out of Total Recall!!

Soon it's going to the airport is going to be like a scene out of Total Recall!!

That would be the ideal method if it could be done safely. Unfortunately X-Rays are hazardous.

I know this is an unpopular take on it, but I feel that considering how poorly paid they are and what they have to put up with, most airport screeners are very professional, and pretty sharp.

If they were sharp.. they wouldn't put up with the conditions, or the pay.

I'm not indicting them, as much as the situation of which they're just a symptom.. Not everyone is an aspiring engineer or surgeon. If you offer 8 dollars an hour, to do a 15 dollar an hour job... this is what you end up with..

Good point, but it beats flipping burgers or handling baggage. All I know is: they're not all idiots... which is more than I can say for those who set the whole thing up (who make a lot more than the screeners!)
And again: although I  initially was supremely annoyed with the post-9/11 system, after a few years of travelling pretty regularly, I've decided that is my fellow pax who are the biggest nuisance. They have every opportunity to learn how to make the whole process easier for all concerned, yet they consistently create problems by being unprepared or just plain uncooperative.

Reminds me of a great post I saw yesterday; not about security per se, but it gives you an idea of how amazingly clueless some travelers are... and they can all afford an airline ticket:

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=20728

   

That was a good read . I like the comment: These people then get to vote right after they have watched the news on American Idol.

Matt