Increased Security Measures implemented

[HighFlyer]

quote:Originally posted by Bill S
New measures:

Additional hands on security screening at the gate

PAX must remain seated for the last hour of the flight

No access to carry on luggage for the last hour of flight

No personal effects in the posession for the last hour of flight including bags or airline pillows blankets etc.

No internet.

No satphone calls.

No P/A announcements from the flight deck about where the aircraft happens to be flying while in US airspace.

No moving map displays


Sorry, is it April 1st today? Is this correct?

Thanks,
Sarah

Sorry Sarah,
That's the new regime until further notice.

[Darren Wheeler]

Of course it plays right in to their hands by making us change our way of life.

[HighFlyer]

Thanks Bill. Its totally crazy, another knee-jerk reaction that I would think will be phased out in time otherwise there will be some damage to the US air travel industry.

Thanks,
Sarah

[buns]

No doubt the next weak link is being probed as we speak[V]

If people are dissuaded from travelling as a result of this latest change in tactics, then the Terrorists will have achieved their objective[:(!]

buns

Not really sure what to say, apart from if it makes air travel safer than I'm all for it.

quote:Originally posted by buns
No doubt the next weak link is being probed as we speak[V]

If people are dissuaded from travelling as a result of this latest change in tactics, then the Terrorists will have achieved their objective[:(!]

Isolation of the US from the rest of the world!

[Darren Wheeler]

A lot of scrutiny on ESTA and Amsterdam too.

If anyone thinks their name might be on the Watch List (eg. unable to do OnLineCheckIn...) it may be a good idea to do TRIP asap.
Get early in the line!

Ridiculous knee-jerk security theatre that will achieve nothing other than to upset and inconvenience innocent people. Hardly surprised.

Glad that I'm:

a) Currently on holiday in a sane country, far, far away from this madness.

b) Flying on a seemingly sane airline for the next few flights.

Mike

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by buns
If people are dissuaded from travelling as a result of this latest change in tactics, then the Terrorists will have achieved their objective[:(!]


Totally agree with you Andy, but there is almost a sad irony that people may be put off flying by the reactions to the terrorists, rather that the terrorists themselves.

I am all for meaningful anti terrorist measures, and will put up with major inconvenience and queues if the measures are likely to catch / deter these people.

Nick

How on earth do you keep 450 people sat down for the last hour when people need the toilet etc and how do you confiscate 450 people's personal items so they dont have access to them for the last hour? I cant wait to see how this works, thanks god my next flight isn't to the states! And who is going to police this, is the TSA going to have a rep on every flight? Fun fun fun!

quote:Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

I am all for meaningful anti terrorist measures, and will put up with major inconvenience and queues if the measures are likely to catch / deter these people.



Absolutely Nick - I mean, taking pillows off old ladies an hour before landing is going to stop the next terrorist training camp in Pakistan, right? Not watching a film is going to lessen the risk of youths being turned into extremists in Lagos. These stupid rules are akin to locking the stable door after the horse has bolted - and, as people say, it's simple (read simplistic minded morons who run these things) to inconvenience millions to put up the perception something is being done, rather than intelligently apply resources to prevention.

According to the BBC news site, it looks like its only Air Canada that have put in the new measures, but I am sure others will follow suit.

David

quote:Originally posted by David
According to the BBC news site, it looks like its only Air Canada that have put in the new measures, but I am sure others will follow suit.

It's just that Air Canada have shorter flight times: they have had pax land and report....

Also reported same measures on CO flight from Costa Rica...

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by virginboy747
How on earth do you keep 450 people sat down for the last hour when people need the toilet etc and how do you confiscate 450 people's personal items so they dont have access to them for the last hour? I cant wait to see how this works, thanks god my next flight isn't to the states! And who is going to police this, is the TSA going to have a rep on every flight? Fun fun fun!

That was my first thought initially. [:0] The 30 minute rule in the US on domestic flights was bad enough but to spend an hour without any IFE and not being able to read or do anything except twiddle one's thumbs is only going to increase people's perceptions that they need the loo!

quote:Originally posted by virginboy747
How on earth do you keep 450 people sat down for the last hour when people need the toilet etc and how do you confiscate 450 people's personal items so they dont have access to them for the last hour? I cant wait to see how this works, thanks god my next flight isn't to the states! And who is going to police this, is the TSA going to have a rep on every flight? Fun fun fun!

As reported elsewhere:
quote:I can tell what did happen on a couple of flights that I worked into DCA right after 9/11..
We, had some yahoos who decided not for follow the rules about not getting up when they were told to remain seated because of the new rules into DCA. The Air Marshals on the Flight tackled them and we diverted to IAD. They were taken off in handcuffs.
Won't take many of these to change attitudes.
Will they need someone on 'every' flight?

[Darren Wheeler]

What about children or the elderly/infirm?

This sounds completely bonkers.

I am on a Continental flight to Houston in a few weeks, and 2 Air Canada flights shortly afterwards. I hope they will have worked out these issues soon. They just don't appear to me to be workable.

Mark

[Scrooge]

Oh boy, this really isn't good for anyone, I am thinking that taking the QM2 across the pond really is the way to go.

[Darren Wheeler]

Hopefully this is the thinking of the office junior because 'the boss is away.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Hopefully this is the thinking of the office junior because 'the boss is away.

The Boss is away - but she's not that junior.[;)]

The more I'm reading this the more I'm freaking about my flight next May - I have various medical conditions (advised to special assistance and evidenced by a dr's note), I *need* certain medication on my person, not tucked away in my hand luggage out of reach for the last hour, also one of my conditions requires sudden/urgent/no warning (!) visits to the loo - a great flight it's going to be for me that's for sure, I'm hoping this will be all sorted for May!

[fozzyo]

How absolutely stupid and over the top! Ok so this guy did it coming into landing, so lets turn off everything in the last hour and stop anyone doing anything. Because you know, a terrorist won't do something the 5 to twelve hours before then will they!

I really can't see how most of these measures improve our safety. Yes, checking people, what they are carrying onboard etc makes sense. But even there you need limits!

There is risk in everything we do, how many people die in crashes on the roads everyday? Everytime we get in a car, on a train or plane we are accepting the risks involved.

As said, you can't live in a completely safe and secure bubble. Not even President Obama ... gatecrashers at a party.

Mat

Complete knee-jerk reactions from the airlines.
Why one hour before landing?
a) this would tell the terrorist that you are over USA soil
b) A fire at 30,0000 ft in a pressurised contaier will cause more destruction to the aircraft than at decent, close to an airfield where you can do an emergency landing.
c) pissed off passengers not allowed to use the loos, in certaing flights, what will they do until some enterprising salesman sells portable personal toilets? Take UK to orlando, two hours or more over USA soil, full of young children, full of sweet drinks 'no you can't go to the toilet johnny' what will the youngster do? can't hold it in can they? they are children. So a flight full of wet seats and full nappies, oh how can Virgin for example sell that?