Back in August, I complained mightily about the TSA PITA at BWI that I had to endure back in July.
I’m not so sure I still agree with what I said then.
For one thing, after I calmed down, I realized that
- I hate to fly…period.
- I hate to be lined up for anything
Both of these concerns were operative at the time (there were probably 300 people in line ahead of me at the Southwest counter). However,
- The line actually moved pretty fast
- Although I was picked for a luggage explosives search, it was done with a minimum of BS, although the young lady could have been a bit more friendly
- There was actually someone at the head of the security checkpoint line directing people to lines that were moving faster than others…and there were plenty of machines
- There was a minimum of BS at the gate
- The plane was only 15 minutes late taking off…because the crew had gotten a red light before they landed and were having whatever it was checked by maintenance
- Finally…we were actually about 10 minutes early getting in to our destination.
At Indianapolis, last Tuesday, there was a humongous line at the checkpoint; at least 200 people when we got there. I think we had just been federalized, because there was a lot of TSA training going on. But the line moved quickly, the folks at the checkpoint were pleasant and helpful, and they didn’t make my wife take her shoes off this time. (I wear sandals year-round, and apparently they never bother with sandals.)
In Ft. Myers (SW Florida International Airport), they were federalized THE DAY WE GOT THERE. I figured we were in for it coming back…but yesterday we practically breezed through what was nevertheless a very thorough security checkpoint, and again, the people were pleasant, joking, helpful, and watching everything very carefully.
But I wasn’t impressed that they pulled three elderly white folks out of the line at the gate for a secondary check. If TSA were allowed to profile, this would not happen. I see no reason to bother our elderly travellers when the people who are more likely than anyone else to try something funny in the air would be males of Middle Eastern descent between the ages of 20 and 40.
On the other hand, I suppose Norm Mineta thinks that the 80-year-old lady who got pulled out of line in Ft. Myers was likely to pull a knife on a stewardess. (That would assume, however, that Norm Mineta actually thinks.)
At any rate, overall I’m impressed with the TSA…so far.