Two-faced TSA ticks off air travelers: Here’s what you need to know

No wonder we’re so confused. The Transportation Security Administration is telling airlines one thing, and it’s telling us another.

“Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a prepared statement yesterday. “These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in.”

Meanwhile, the TSA has been busy ordering airlines to take specific actions (Emergency Amendment EA 1546-09-01, which I can’t confirm or deny that I have received from several sources). The interpretation of this order is certain to inconvenience travelers. Airlines have already turned off their in-flight entertainment systems, forced passengers to remain in their seats an hour before landing, taken away pillows and blankets and limited the use of electronic devices and in-flight wireless Internet connections.

Worse, TSA hasn’t said a word about these directives to the flying public, despite repeated requests for comment.

It’s as if TSA is operating in a parallel universe: In one, everything is just fine; in another, it’s having a kneejerk reaction not unlike the kind the government had after 9/11, when it federalized airport screeners. Based on some of the comments I’m getting from air travelers, I’d say no one is happy with this duplicitous behavior.

Here’s what we know so far:

The measures appear to be temporary. Several of the TSA security bulletins to the airlines that I’ve seen expire on Jan. 1, which suggests the agency is taking a wait-and-see approach to some of its new security measures. That makes a lot more sense than telling airlines to turn off the inflight entertainment systems until further notice.

They only affect international flights to the United States. None of the new security measures seem to affect domestic flights. Many air travelers report that the security lines are no longer than usual for flights within the country. So if you’re traveling domestically, there’s no need to worry about this.

They’re a work in progress. Late yesterday after I posted another update to this story, an airline insider suggested TSA had issued yet another security bulletin that rendered the previous security measures obsolete. Nothing is written in stone, in other words.

A lot of you have asked what I think about this. I’m disappointed that the TSA can’t be a little more up-front with the taxpayers it’s supposed to serve. I respect the fact that it’s trying to be unpredictable, as I’ve noted in a past column, but I’m left with the impression that it doesn’t have a clue about what to do.

In the meantime, what should you expect at the airport?

If you’re on an international flight coming to the U.S., get to the airport early and expect the unexpected. You’ll probably be asked to check in all of your carry-on bags (except for a purse, briefcase or laptop). Fortunately, some airlines are temporarily waiving their baggage fees. You’ll be subjected to extra screening and the cabin crew will be policing your behavior on board. You may not be able to use the in-flight entertainment systems, on-board wireless Internet or even open your laptop computer during the flight.

If you’re on a domestic flight, nothing changes. I just spoke with a traveler who said it’s business as usual, which is what air travelers were telling me yesterday. No additional screening. No laptop police. Nothing. Clearly, TSA is concerned with a threat from outside the United States.

Bear in mind that this could change at any moment. But for now, that’s where it stands.

(Photo: lamusa/Flickr Creative Commons)

  • Toni

    Worried about not being able to use IFE?
    Do something about it. Something radical. Bring a book.

  • http://www.budgettrouble.com/ AnnaI

    It looks like TSA is making up this shite as they go along. And the fact that domestic flights are not affected is ridiculous. There are enough home-grown crazies in the US, who if they felt like it, could take advantage of this whole mess.

  • Americorps

    Are they the TSA or the house of Un-American activities?

    what a bunch of maroons.

  • http://www.singleparenttravel.com John W. Frenaye

    I just heard on the news that American (under the guise of adding a level of security) was pulling all blankets and pillows from its aircraft.

    Yeah right, like it might not save a couple hundred million dollars!

  • Marc

    This is ridiculous. If you’re going to implement these stricter policies, why just for flights coming into the US? Like @AnnaI said, there are enough home-grown crazies out there. Here’s what is so silly about this:

    1) International travelers (coming into the US) are being asked to check in 4 hours before their flights. At what point do we just ask them to sleep in the airport so they can be there 12 hours before their plane leaves?

    2) Nothing on your lap an hour before the flight lands? No getting up (sorry, gotta wear diapers) an hour before the flight lands? Why? Why an hour? Is it because the idiot who tried to light his ankles on fire this past week did it an hour before the plane landed? So… it’s ok if you blow the plane up at 36,000 feet two hours before the plane lands, but not an hour before? The timing makes absolutely NO sense.

    3) Why are the measures temporary? Will all the terrorists go away on January 2?

    The TSA needs to seriously get its act together. They are REACTIVE and not PROACTIVE and that unfortunately provides no real protection to us.

  • http://www.driftingfocus.com/blogs Kelsey

    @Anna: I agree. My boyfriend did his graduate thesis on domestic terrorist recruiting practices, and he has always told me that one of America’s major weak points is the fact that we very wrongly assume that “no American would want to hurt America”. That’s downright incorrect, and it’s ignorant to believe it and especially stupid to base a policy that effects so many people on it.

  • http://www.alaskatravelgram.com Scott McMurren

    The TSA is FUBAR. It’s unfortunate that we Americans are the enablers, because of our willingness to fund what I politely call the “Department of Redundancy Department”. I’m just short of breaking out in hives when considering this “Security Theater”. On the one hand, we have an expensive, meddling federal agency with sweeping powers to snoop and invade our privacy. On the other hand, we have no ROI in terms of enhanced security. In this particular case, it reminds me of the farmer’s wife leaning out the window: “Sadie, the cow’s done left the barn. Best to close the door now.” ACK.

  • http://traytables-travels.blogspot.com Traytable

    They should be concerned with ALL threats, not just flights from outside the US. Timothy McVeigh, anyone?

  • tekwriter

    As far as pillows and blankets disappearing, when I flew over Thanksgiving and couldn’t get any on Southwest flights, I was told they had been eliminated due to the H1N1 threat. I suspect they’ll never come back now.

  • Joe Farrell

    “Ok, folks, we are one hour out from our destination, I have turned on the “No Bomb Detonation Light” and am informing the terrorists that we have passed the point of detonation. We’ll have you on the ground shortly.”

    “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ll be coming through the cabin shortly to warn you to take all of your explosive devices out of your laps and place them at the feet in front of you.”

    Once again the organs of state security react to the last thing that happened. What on God’s green Earth is banning the use or possession of anything in your lap for the last hour going to do for the other 5 hours of the crossing from London to JFK? How does that make us safer?

  • MikeS

    It sounds like TSA never heard of Timothy McVeigh. Even though he has been put to death there are bound to be more like him.

  • Carrie Charney

    Of course they’re turning off the in-flight entertainment. On my last flight it was Julie and Julia. Didn’t you know Julia was a spy? There were secret orders on the screen directed at whoever was on terror call that day!

    Leave it to lax security in Schipol to cause punishment for the rest of us. The agents in Amsterdam should be taking full responsibilty for this and paying the price.

  • http://www.bylandersea.com Debi

    Thanks for attempting to keep us updated.

    The nothing on the your lap bit for the last hour is the most ridiculous. Does that mean you have to put your reading away? What about baby?

  • rolybert

    When will we all wake up to the fact that these are not terrorist attempts to blow up planes. They are terrorist attempts to disrupt our air travel any way they can. Since 9-11 no planes have been hijacked or brought down but boy has our inconvienence been brouhght down. Can anyone say 3 ozs of liquid or take off your shoes. Now we can add stay in your seat for an hour no pillows or blankets and arrive 5 hours earlier to the airport.

    What next arrive 24 hours in advance for the body cavity search cause a terrorist had something up his ass. Actually they do. Their heads :)

  • MarkieA

    @Scott McMurren

    You confused me with “It’s unfortunate that we Americans are the enablers, because of our willingness to fund…” Willingness to fund? Really? When was the last time you were asked by your Congress if you’d like to fund this project or that? A truly representative government, we do not have.

  • Brian C

    There are also these new-fangled things called watches. Any idiot who can do basic math can figure out when you’re an hour out, or 2 hours out, or 10 minutes out. And forget the fact that you have all these other cues like flight attendants taking your pillows, blankets, and making you stow your luggage. Not to mention that anyone who flies regularly can feel the plane leaving cruising altitude for it’s initial descent.

    Are we going to stop publishing scheduled arrival times? Start banning all devices that can tell time? Additional screening on the ground would be great, but all this stuff going on the in the air makes us no safer than we were on December 24.

  • The Book Doctor

    The flight attendant who tries to take my book away one hour before landing is going to have tooth marks on her wrist (yes, the new rules say you can’t have ANYTHING in your lap). Reading is my refuge from the miserable conditions in today’s airplanes. In-flight “entertainment” I won’t miss. But it does seem silly to turn off the screens in the cabin–are they going to remove the little screens in Business and First Class that show where your plane is?

  • http://mlbx@hawaii.rr.com Mort B

    Once again we see the ineptness of TSA. They are not protecting us; they are protecting their jobs! Their gut reaction to last week’s attempted terrorist act does NOTHING to protect us. When will they realize that the problem lies not with things, but with people. Those of us who are old enough to remember a radio program called ‘The Shadow’ will recall the phrase, “Who knows the evil that lurks within the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!’ Obviously the TSA does not know, and makes no attempt to know, preferring issue stupid rules which only serve to make the travel experience a nightmare for most of us.

  • Ames

    I was just reading another site and not only are electronic devices not permitted in the last hour but neither are books, newspapers or magazines. And of course when there is a delay and the the last hour becomes two, then three, what are all the frustrated passengers to do with themselves! The movies and iPods at least kept some of us quiet.

  • Aaron Gold

    Marc says> At what point do we just ask them to sleep in the airport so they can be there 12 hours before their plane leaves?

    Better question: At what point is it faster to drive?

  • Joe Farrell

    sure makes me glad I own my own airplane – a small 4 seater – but this recent insanity [on the part of the govt - not the terrorists - I expect it from the terrorists] I can drive to the airport and then get in my airplane and go – and be most places before the average person gets finished getting felt up by TSA.

  • http://rjtalestold.blogspot.com/ Dick Jordan

    Here’s what my travel writing colleague, Terry Gardner (whose stories appear in the Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, and the L.A. Times) told me about her Dallas-Los Angeles flight on December 27th: “My timing, 1 hr 40 minutes before my flight, [and] taking carry-on bags only, must have been perfect because TSA took only about 5-6 minutes [to clear me through security]. Main thing I’ve noticed lately is that after first TSA person checks your boarding pass and ID you can put it all away. No longer any need to carry your boarding pass through the metal detector screener.”

  • Michelle Raand

    Talking about spreading infections, one thing that bugs me in the plane is the people who cough and sneeze without restraint. Most times they do that without consideration for the people sitting next to them and pass on their germs to us. I’ve wished for some form of protection from the microbes they are spewing out. I could wear a face mask but it is so uncomfortable and moreover it scares away everyone. So I came up with a product idea and patented it. I want to know how many others like me will find this product useful and so created a survey. Just fill it up and give me your valuable feedback. Thanks!
    http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/air-travel

  • http://tetradyn.com Dr. Martin J. Dudziak

    I wrote a longer letter (including scientific test data) to Mr. Elliott at his email. Here is the brief comment:
    Validated, experimentally “rock solid” methods for detecting the type of new terrorist “modus operandi” have been ready since 2006, even earlier, and we are part of the R&D lead team responsible for those, and the improved processes of use.
    These have been soundly ignored by TSA and parts of DHS in particular, and I believe it is mainly due to the stranglehold over those agencies by (a) bureaucrats without good knowledge or experience, and (b) the corporate contractors that virtually control all decisions, purchases, policies – and they are numerous, but Booz-Allen, SAIC, Smiths GD, LMCO, Mantech and a few others stand out.

    We did it, made it, proved it, and it is still being ignored, because it is cheaper, more accurate, simpler, faster, and not part of the “club.”

    What we did and have should be made more visible, “known” through the media. Eventually the bureaucrats will give in, since they live principally by the “herd instinct” and mainly want to not be seen as potentially, or actually (legally) responsible for the deaths of hundreds or thousands. But they will not give in to Rational Change until they are pressured by the public, by “critical mass”, and that means media noise and coverage.

    Sincerely,
    Dr. Dudziak, TETRADYN Applied Bio Cyber Sciences, Inc. (Charlotte NC)

  • Mary H

    Got a news update this morning. DeMint (R) of SC is holding up appointment of Obama’s choice for new head of TSA because, it said, he claims he doesn’t want TSA workers joining a union.
    DeMint is part of the shadow government that really rules this country.
    The more havoc among travelers, the more disgust with government in any form. Follow the thread……

  • Andrew

    Or – here’s a novel idea…
    We all fly naked? that way nobody can hide any shite up their pants legs or in their shoes.

  • MORT HERMAN

    FIRE THE TSA AND HIRE ISRAEL’S EL SECURITY.