What can we do?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

In light of the airlines now not allowing liquids carried on (unless you have a prescription, which now all a terrorist needs to do is swap out a prescription...) what else should we do?

I'm somewhat surprised that security is so lax... When you go to an airport there should still be guys there with M-16's... There should be bomb sniffing dogs. On trains there should be guys walking from car to car with dogs.

I honesly had no problem when I was waiting in line at a McDonalds outside of Times Square in line behind National Guardsmen fully armed.

In fact, I believe the role of the National Guard should be to guard the nation instead of sent overseas...

[MacroGuru]

Well I am not looking forward to my upcoming flights...long lines, and no water on the plane (I have given up soda, and I take 32 oz on with me) it will suck...

[Klinglerware]

ROI.

Blanket use of human security resources even in areas of little threat could bankrupt the country, or at the least, the powers that be don't have the money.

I read somewhere that the extra security in the NYC subways after the London bombings cost an extra $2,000,000 per week that the city could barely manage. The random checkpoints they have now are as much due to cost-consciousness as it is to out-smart the terrorists...

[JonInMiddleGA]

what else should we do?

I think a significant part of the answer is in a phrase I saw in an article somewhere earlier today but can't find at the moment:
"eliminate all unneccessary air travel".

Right now, there's not that many places I need to be that require flying. For the time being, the only thing I foresee getting on a plane for would be something for work. Otherwise, it's just not worth the hassle to me.

I believe the hassle, for lack of a better word, is an unfortunate neccessity.
But there's very little in my life that requires me to get on a plane.

If casual travel drops even more, it would relieve at least some of the strain on the security systems & maybe improve the efficiency just a bit for those who are flying because they really needed to.

FTR, I'm not talking about making travel reductions mandatory or anything like that, I'm just thinking out loud a little about some of the likely effects.

[Jonathan Ezarik]

I'm somewhat surprised that security is so lax... When you go to an airport there should still be guys there with M-16's

Why? Would armed soldiers have stopped the terrorists on September 11th? The only good they could possibly do is if someone pulled a weapon out in the terminal and tried to use it or tried to bum rush through security. Otherwise, they are just there to make people feel safe.

And I agree that the National Guard should not be sent overseas, but they also shouldn't be guarding airports/landmarks/etc. You want someone to do that, you hire more security.

[wbatl1]

I am concerned about the water issue. I always take a good bit of water aboard the plane with me because the dry air dehydrates me and makes me extremely tired and grumpy for whatever I have to do after the plane flight. I sincerely believe that I will lose productivity because of this issue. However, I don't believe that these restricitions will last very long... (or at least they will be scaled back)

[Arctus]

I am concerned about the water issue. I always take a good bit of water aboard the plane with me because the dry air dehydrates me and makes me extremely tired and grumpy for whatever I have to do after the plane flight. I sincerely believe that I will lose productivity because of this issue. However, I don't believe that these restricitions will last very long... (or at least they will be scaled back)

I would think that you can still buy a bottle at the airport after you pass through security.

[Rizon]

I won't fly if I can't have water. If they don't offer it for free, I'm not going to pay $7 a bottle for it. Some of those planes have shitty AC systems.

[wbatl1]

I would think that you can still buy a bottle at the airport after you pass through security.

Which is what I'll have to do in the short term...but bottled water is very expensive and I currently bring my own water bottles from home.

[Wolfpack]

There should be airport fountains on the other side of the check. It won't be purified and crisp, clean stuff, but it's water. Just bring in an empty bottle and fill it up before getting on the plane.

[wbatl1]

There should be airport fountains on the other side of the check. It won't be purified and crisp, clean stuff, but it's water. Just bring in an empty bottle and fill it up before getting on the plane.

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the plan...

But now they are saying that liquids can't pass through the second check (which is at the gate). :( Maybe this will make airlines wise-up and give out free waters when you board or immediately after...

[Butter]

Airlines aren't giving out free anything any more.

[Klinglerware]

In fact, they will cry poverty (which is not that far from the truth) because of this, and find more to cut...

[rkmsuf]

I'm not sure there is anything you can do. If people want to crash a plane they'll find a way. Sure you can make it harder but the reality is a group really doesn't even need weapons...just superior numbers on a particular flight.

Also, take this liquid ban. Are we really going to inspect baby bottles with "formula" in it? How about the guy in the wheelchair with a colostomy bag?

[gottimd]

El Al profiles their passengers extensively before letting them on board. That would be the only thing I could think of, but people would say that it is against their rights to do that.

I do agree with the comment on armed guards in the airports, as that won't deter anything unless a hijacker makes some threats or pulls out a weapon before he even gets to the plane.

[gottimd]

How about the guy in the wheelchair with a colostomy bag?

Somebodys got to taste it! TASTE IT! DO IT...NOW!

[Wolfpack]

Somebodys got to taste it! TASTE IT! DO IT...NOW!

Hey, rook-IE! Gotta job for you!

[Mac Howard]

I don't understand the problem. I've flown at least a hundred times and only once taken liquid onto the aircraft - on a 24 hour flight from Perth to London with a 2 month old baby. There's no shortage of liquid refreshment on board otherwise.

Hell, this modern generation can go nowhere without their comfort blanket ;)

[vtbub]

How about the guy in the wheelchair with a colostomy bag?

Pray he hasn't eaten at Taco Bell?

[Klinglerware]

on a 24 hour flight from Perth to London with a 2 month old baby. There's no shortage of liquid refreshment on board otherwise.


If I were on a 24 hour flight with a baby, I'd get hammered too :)

Luckily for me, I have the gift of narcolepsy when I'm on a plane or any other sort of public transportation. I'm out in 15-30 minutes. Business class is kind of a waste of money for me, since I'm asleep through all of it anyway...

[Izulde]

When I flew yesterday, you couldn't take water on the plane, even if you bought it after going through security.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I have also thought that security on airlines would be more effective if there were fewer flights. This could be accomplished if the US would get over its fascination with air travel and reinvest in trains like they have in Europe and Asia. If you could jump on a train from NYC to DC and be there in just over an hour there would be absolutely no reason for any flights to go between the two cities. (And the amount of fuel saved wouldn't hurt either.)

But I know that will never happen. I take Amtrak all the time. I'm going to Detroit on one in about 4 hours. Once when I was on a train from DC to NYC I was talking to one of the conductors. He told me about how they set up a special train from DC to NYC in September '01 for Senators and Congressmen who wanted to visit NYC and the WTC site. They set up this train with all the top accomidations and informed every representative in DC. Only one Congressman took them up on it. One. So this train went from DC to NYC with ONE PASSENGER, and the rest of the senate and house flew to NYC on the taxpayers dime.

[Craptacular]

I have also thought that security on airlines would be more effective if there were fewer flights. This could be accomplished if the US would get over its fascination with air travel and reinvest in trains like they have in Europe and Asia. If you could jump on a train from NYC to DC and be there in just over an hour there would be absolutely no reason for any flights to go between the two cities. (And the amount of fuel saved wouldn't hurt either.)

Don't worry. Once our government pulls out of the airline industry's backside, they'll find a way to triple the time and cost it takes to use a train.

[AZSpeechCoach]

So, Snakes on a plane = good.
Liquids on a plane = bad.
Snakes with liquids on a plane = ?

[stevew]

I have also thought that security on airlines would be more effective if there were fewer flights. This could be accomplished if the US would get over its fascination with air travel and reinvest in trains like they have in Europe and Asia. If you could jump on a train from NYC to DC and be there in just over an hour there would be absolutely no reason for any flights to go between the two cities. (And the amount of fuel saved wouldn't hurt either.)

But I know that will never happen. I take Amtrak all the time. I'm going to Detroit on one in about 4 hours. Once when I was on a train from DC to NYC I was talking to one of the conductors. He told me about how they set up a special train from DC to NYC in September '01 for Senators and Congressmen who wanted to visit NYC and the WTC site. They set up this train with all the top accomidations and informed every representative in DC. Only one Congressman took them up on it. One. So this train went from DC to NYC with ONE PASSENGER, and the rest of the senate and house flew to NYC on the taxpayers dime. I would definitely take trains to places like that, but they are not convenient to my area.