Plane & Simple on Southwest

TSA Security measures post 9/11

It’s been almost 9 years since the terrorist attacks on September 11th. Can you believe that? 9 years. Unbelievable. It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.

As I was sitting in my apartment tonight, I started thinking about what flying was like before September 11th. The more and more I think about it, I’m in awe that certain security measures weren’t implemented sooner.

The list you’re about to read are security measures that have been put in place post 9/11. Some security measures were added years after 9/11 because of potential security threats. I’m going to include them all.

• Before 9/11 you didn’t need a boarding pass or security document to go through security.

• Before 9/11 you didn’t have to show your ID to security.

• Before 9/11 you didn’t have to remove your shoes or jacket to pass through the metal detector.

• Before 9/11 you didn’t have to remove your laptop from your bag when it went through the screener.

• Before 9/11 you were allowed to bring through any amount of liquids that you wanted. Water bottles, sodas, drinks, alcohol, soup, etc.

• Before 9/11 you boarded a plane with a plastic boarding document. No identification other than a number. In fact, you could purchase your ticket, get your boarding document and give it to a random stranger and no one would know.

• Before 9/11 you were allowed to bring scissors and pocket knives on a plane.

• Before 9/11 gathering in the forward galley of an aircraft was allowed.

• Before 9/11 there were no security locks on the door to the cockpit.

• Before 9/11 full body scanners weren’t even a thought in anyone’s mind.

• Before 9/11 you were allowed to carry on as many matches and lighters as you wanted.

This list will continue to grow as the years go on. I can only imagine what the next restrictions will be.

TSA @ LAS Part 3

Ah yes, another rant about TSA in Las Vegas. When will they stop? When TSA gets their stuff together!

Today I was dropped off at the airport early. I had about two hours until my flight, so I didn’t really fret about which security check point would get me through the fastest. I decided to go through the old security check point. I counted 32 people ahead of me in line waiting to have their IDs checked, and about 7 people in line waiting to load their bags to be screened. At this security check point they have a speedy lane for employees and those that have purchsed business select fares. I’d say about 15 people went through that line in the course of my wait time… And what was my wait time?

25 minutes! 25 minutes for 45 or so people? That is ridiculous. When I first got in line, a TSA agent approached a couple behind me and said they’re in the process of testing wait times. She then handed them a sheet of paper to give to the TSA agent monitoring the metal detector. I’m happy they’re looking into the issues, but really, there is no need to look into it. Just ask some frequent fliers what a pain it is to go through that security check point.

I just don’t understand why TSA doesn’t open up more lanes for the C gates. They already have the lanes open for the D gates, why not give up a lane for D and share it with C?

Absurd.

How to get through airport security in a zip!

The dreaded airport security line – it takes too long to get through, and the time you have to get your stuff all together is too short! Here are some of my recommendations:

Before you have your boarding pass screened:

- Have your ID ready to go. This is something easily done ahead of time and will save you a lot of time digging through your bag. It’ll also save other passengers getting frustrated because you’re backing up the line.

- Take off any small items on your body that you will have to take off when it’s your turn to have your bags & self screened while you’re waiting in line. Wallet, spare change, jewelry, belts, etc. Put these in a plastic bag or somewhere inside your bag so you can quickly access them after they’re screened.

- If you’re wearing a jacket, take it off and throw it over your arm so you won’t take any extra time taking it off (especially if it has tedious buttons). Also, if you’re wearing a hat they’re going to want to see that too. Take it off and throw it in your bag.

When in line to have your bags checked:

- If you’re like me and wear a belt buckle (or have any other item that is always being double checked by security), put it in a bin (instead of your bag) so airport security can easily look in the bin and see what it is.

- Wear easily removable shoes. I recommend slip on shoes or sandals. If you don’t want to wear these shoes for the rest of the day, have your desired pair of shoes in your suitcase so you can put those on after you get through security.

- Assume airport security will want to see your bottled liquids. Pull these out ahead of time and place them in a bin to prevent any unnecessary rescreening of your bag.

- Assume airport security will also need to see your boarding pass – so keep it in your pocket. If they need to see if after you’ve gone through the metal detector, you will have easy access to it. If they don’t need to see it, no harm done.

After your stuff is screened and you’re ready to go:

- Gather your items as best you can and head to the nearest chair to get yourself situated. There’s nothing worse than someone backing up the line because they insist on having everything together while it’s still on the baggage belt.

- If you do prefer to have all of your stuff situated before you leave the screening area, move your items to the end of the bag belt so that you’re not in the way of anyone else trying to get through security quickly.

That’s it! Getting through security quickly does take some practice – so don’t get frustrated if it takes a little longer than you expect. If your bag does have to get rescreened or if you have to be individually screened, don’t throw a hissy fit  - they are just doing their job to ensure that all passengers will be safe on their flight.

***All ideas and recommendations are my own and not those of any airport, airline or TSA.***

TSA @ LAS

Is it just me, or is it slightly ridiculous that the Las Vegas airport keeps the old C Gate entrance very limited to Southwest travelers? Sure sure, I’ve heard the argument, “Oh well they made a new security checkpoint just for Southwest!” I don’t care. The new security checkpoint is nonsense – not only is it located in a horrible spot in the airport, but it’s not convenient for anyone except the few people flying out of C24 and C25. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Las Vegas airport, it’s big. The area that Southwest flies out of is quite large – going off of memory I’d say somewhere around 20 gates. The new security checkpoint is located in an area that really only makes sense to go to if you’re flying out of either two gates listed above. All of the other gates are quite a long walk away – and if you’re like me I’m at the airport to travel, not to workout.

So today, I’m flying out of C2 – one of the more farther gates from the new security check point – and decide that I’m going to go through the old security checkpoint since it will put me closer to where I need to be. There were quite a few people in line but I figured it should go pretty quickly. My mistake. To cater to around a consistent 50 people waiting in line, TSA had planted one (let me say it again, ONE) person to check all of our IDs and boarding passes. To make the situation worse, there were only two metal detectors for this consistent line of people. If you do the math, it doesn’t make sense. Bring more people in to check IDs, have more security detectors designated for C Gate passengers, something! Because that situation just isn’t working. It took over twenty minutes to get through the security checkpoint.

Can I also point out that today is a Friday and for a lot of people Monday is a holiday? You’d think TSA would’ve planned a little bit better for this.