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New US Air Travel Restrictions
Posted By Jay On January 18, 2010 @ 10:00 am In Featured Articles,Travel Advice | 1 Comment
By now, most everyone has heard of the attempted bombing on Delta Flight 253 over the Christmas holiday. Not as many understand the changes the US government has implemented since this incident to make air travel safer. As someone who travels relatively frequently, I have a few thoughts about how we got here and where we are going.
Before I get to the current restrictions and my thoughts about them, I think it makes sense to understand how we got to this point. Let me see if I’ve got this scorecard correct:
Okay – assuming I haven’t missed any of the facts – let’s recount the steps the US government took immediately after this event:
Errr.. Really???? We have a massive intelligence failure here; the dude’s own father turned him in. He bought a one-way ticket with cash!! He checked zero bags!!! After all of this – the best thing the government could come up with is – “Sir – I’ll need your blanket for the remainder of the flight”?? I’m starting to understand why no one wants government run healthcare. FOCUS People!!!!
Thankfully, more thoughtful deliberations ensued, leading to revised airline security policies. All of the utterly dumb rules above have been rescinded. As of the time of this writing, here are the highlights of the new policy:
The first knee-jerk reaction restrictions where so utterly dumb and ineffective – I seriously strain to understand how these ideas even made into the public’s view. Seriously, turn off the in-flight GPS – while still offering In-Flight Internet access? Even on planes that don’t have Internet access – if the goal is to detonate in the US prior to landing – couldn’t the terrorist just… wait for it… look out the damn window???
Keystone Cops episode aside, the revised security measures provide a little more security for International travel to the US – particularly the increased US Marshal presence. To me, two key challenges have to be resolved to significantly increase US bound air travel safety:
In the end, there is no practical way of making air travel 100% foolproof-completely safe. The key there is ‘practical’ – we could theoretically strip search every single passenger and hand check every single bag – but then no one will fly. There has to be a give and take between security and the rights of the traveler themselves. Over the next couple of months, we will see how far US citizens are willing to waive their personal freedoms for the prospect of increased safety.
In the short term, these changes mean longer security lines – especially for international travel. In addition, there will likely be an increase of random physical searches, potential for abuse of these ‘random’ searches and last but not least increased cost of flying. Expect another “Sept. 11” inspired fee to be tacked on to international travel.
Don’t take my thoughts as reason not to continue exploring the world – I for one will not let this change my travel plans one iota. What it will make me do is plan for the increased time necessary to get through security. Knowing what to expect should help make the entire experience less stressful.
Happy Travels!!!
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