Travellers squeezed by air security

[emad]

By Matthew Davis
BBC News, Washington

A new US rule banning airline passengers carrying cigarette lighters in their hand-luggage has revived a debate over tighter travel security.

The ban, which comes into force on Thursday, was first debated after Richard Reid, the so-called "shoe bomber", tried unsuccessfully to light explosives hidden in his shoes on a trans-Atlantic flight in 2002.

In the pipeline is a computerised screening system - Secure Flight - which has raised questions over the balance between security and privacy.

Industry experts say that while travellers continue to be hit by anti-terrorism measures, gaping flaws still exist in other areas.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4438273.stm

So...no more spliffing in the gents, lads...

[NoPasaran]

1. If memory serves, Reid used matches

Which are still not banned.

[mike_c]

3. I'm expecting legislation any day now banning not only matches...

...but any objects that might be rubbed together to create friction. In fact, I'll bet it won't be long before air travelers are required to undergo execution by lethal injection before their stone cold corpses are loaded onto the plane, both to prevent-- absolutely-- any of them from committing terrorism, and to render anything that does get through security a moot issue. That'll show those nasty terrorists who's smarter!

[wakeme2008]

2. Let's see...

200 pax per plane, maybe 10% will need to buy a lighter... That's 20 pax.

Buy cheap lighters at 34 cents a piece and sell for $2 Including tax :)

that is $33 profit per plane..

Now do 3 planes an hour.... That is $99 per hour....

Work the busy 8 hours in a day... that's $792 per day......

Five days a week .... that's $3960......

I see a good living here......... :)

[2Design]

4. this whole thing is a farce - those rich enough fly non commercial

airlines - the saudis are rich enough and they are the ones who attacked

this is all show and a pain in the tail for flying and does not insure safer travel - other than from the craziess who are copy cat

this is a major ding for airlines and a major subjucating of the passengers to get them in line - taking your shoes off and then they don't have a chair for putting them back on - very degrading - the rethugs who think we are safer are stupid

our ports are open - and all those planes that no one ever checks the passengers -

people are a strange bunch

[thecrow]

5. Coming through Montreal en route to Washington National...

I was told I would have to remove my SANDALS for inspection.
The Absurdity! SANDALS! I mean you could see right into them and they had a flat sole...!
They had to hold the plane for us.
At least they had a chair to sit in.

[yorkiemommie1]

6. i wore rubber flipflops

and took them off at security in hawaii. another 'duh'.