Hi Denys,
My last visit in the States was for HPWorld'02. My boss and I took 6 domestic flights inside the USA. I agree the procedures were more stringent AFTER 9/11 as compared to BEFORE 9/11, which of course makes tons of sense. I was asked to take off my shoes once. So why the heck once in 6 flights ? I had not started the buzzer. Random searching ? Could be, I don't know. I was also once asked to open my laptop bag. Each of the 6 times, I was asked to open my briefcase. A few times (I can't tell if it's 2 or 3), I was more thoroughly searched. I did not view all that as a humiliation. All that is standard procedure in Europe, and has been since the mid-70s.
Once, my boss had to take off his belt, his shoes, and he was more thoroughly searched. I would put that on his misunderstanding a question that the TSA people asked him, and thus probably giving an unexpected answer.
That being said, I agree that, were it only for the sake of extra delay, it's probably better not to start the buzzer !
If that's the price to pay for securely flying a domestic flight, so be it. I do not have a problem with that.
Christian Lheureux
Directeur BU Infrastructure / Manager of IT Infrastructure BU
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> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] De la part
> de Denys Beauchemin
> Envoyé : jeudi 4 novembre 2004 15:49
> À : [log in to unmask]
> Objet : Re: [HP3000-L] Blatant disrespect for the international community
>
> Hum, it's probably been a while since you visited the US then. Showing
> an ID with a photo has been in force here for as long as I can remember.
> What is a more recent addition is that most people have to remove their
> shoes to go through the magnetometer. In fact, you want to make sure
> that you have absolutely no ferrous metal on you when you go through
> them, because they have set the sensibility way high. I take off my
> belt, totally empty my pockets and even remove my watch. These days I
> even forego my daily vitamin pill with iron if I fly that day.
>
> If you happen to go through the portal and you make it ding, woe is you!
> You will be treated like a mass murderer as they hustle you to the side
> and start a thorough frisking of your entire body, from the soles of
> your feet to the very top of your head. What's even more fun is that
> this is done in plain view of everyone. Now, I don't know about you but
> I do not like having someone name Sammy, who the week before was
> butchering horses going all over my body. So I make sure to NEVER ding
> the buzzer and that means I take the steps listed above.
>
> I even got a pair of shoes that are totally metal free to travel on
> planes. They still want me to remove my shoes. If I try to explain
> that there is no metal in them, that they will not ding the buzzer, they
> simply explain that if I do not remove my shoes, they will personally
> search me, buzzer or no buzzer.
>
> I check all my luggage, even for short trips, so that I can concentrate
> on keeping my laptop safe from the TSA gorillas, as I try to wrestle it
> from their grasp while holding my shoes and keeping my pants from
> falling because my belt is still being inspected in the X-ray machine.
>
> After you reassemble yourself you can then walk away from the checkpoint
> secure in the knowledge that everyone goes through the same procedure.
>
> Not.
>
> Denys
>
>
> > > In a post-9/11 world, who wants to go through the humiliation at the
> > > airports to fly from Houston to Dallas?
>
> No problem. What you call "humiliation" (basically, showing an id with a
> photo) has been standard in Europe since the mid-70s, even for domestic
> flights. And yes, I've been in the States before and after 9/11.
>
> > In the 3-hour drive from
> > > Houston to Dallas, one would have gone through 12.3 countries in
> Europe
> > > and still not have found anywhere to park.
>
> That's if you shun public parking places. They are very common in Paris,
> Frankfurt and most major cities I've been too. Of course, if you mean
> parking along the curb, they that's clearly an uphill struggle ! BTW,
> this is one of the few decent features of driving in Europe : you always
> find a place to park. Always.
>
> > Not me. I drive for any trip that will take 8 hours or less, now, and
> some
> > that will take longer (for example, where a significant drive is
> needed at
> > either end).
>
> Makes sense. I'd probably do roughly the same. In fact, having a company
> car, it even makes economic sense to do so.
>
> Christian
>
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