Annoying part about the kabuki theatre that is TSA is that they are inconsistent airport to airport. Shoes gotta come off, shoes can stay on. Laptop by itself in a bin, or with other things in a bin. Other electronics (e-reader, battery pack, etc.) in a bin, or in your carry on. But if you make the wrong choice they will let you know… loudly.
One time the line split into two, with announcers for each line shouting different instructions. One had you take all electronics out of bags, the other didn’t. One lines instructions included taking your shoes off, the other didn’t. The line without shoes off instruction had agents insulting people for taking their shoes off for not listening to instructions. 10M away there is an agent shouting at people to take your shoes off.
It isn’t wholely the point. It’s also a massive jobs programs.
But specifically for not knowing what to expect is a feature not a bug.
If you don’t know the exact procedure every time - then you can’t plan for every countermeasure. You cannot plan 100% when the variables are always changing.
It also distracts any would-be bomber because they need to waste attention on following whatever rules they decided apply today only.
It used to be consistent for years post-9/11. Rules were enforced more or less consistently. Especially the liquids rules. Some variations but not to the degree that it is at today. This chaos is only the past few years.
Strongly suspect it has nothing to do with security and everything to do with the system breaking down due to abysmal leadership.
Also probably the paid extortion programs like CLEAR which have separate relaxed rules standards for people who pay the extortion fee.
Forget TSA, international travel with my baby for the first time, anxiety problems, little time between connections, laptop and pram fucking freaked me the fuck out.
Annoying part about the kabuki theatre that is TSA is that they are inconsistent airport to airport. Shoes gotta come off, shoes can stay on. Laptop by itself in a bin, or with other things in a bin. Other electronics (e-reader, battery pack, etc.) in a bin, or in your carry on. But if you make the wrong choice they will let you know… loudly.
Inconsistent within the same airport.
One time the line split into two, with announcers for each line shouting different instructions. One had you take all electronics out of bags, the other didn’t. One lines instructions included taking your shoes off, the other didn’t. The line without shoes off instruction had agents insulting people for taking their shoes off for not listening to instructions. 10M away there is an agent shouting at people to take your shoes off.
Almost like security isn’t the point…
It isn’t wholely the point. It’s also a massive jobs programs.
But specifically for not knowing what to expect is a feature not a bug.
If you don’t know the exact procedure every time - then you can’t plan for every countermeasure. You cannot plan 100% when the variables are always changing.
It also distracts any would-be bomber because they need to waste attention on following whatever rules they decided apply today only.
It used to be consistent for years post-9/11. Rules were enforced more or less consistently. Especially the liquids rules. Some variations but not to the degree that it is at today. This chaos is only the past few years.
Strongly suspect it has nothing to do with security and everything to do with the system breaking down due to abysmal leadership.
Also probably the paid extortion programs like CLEAR which have separate relaxed rules standards for people who pay the extortion fee.
Forget TSA, international travel with my baby for the first time, anxiety problems, little time between connections, laptop and pram fucking freaked me the fuck out.
And if it’s busy and you’re in hurry say goodbye to your small electronics in the bin