Are you a complete fool? It is common knowledge that these sort of things can be adapted to do other things….like setting off bombs.

Well Done to all the Police, Special Branch and Airport Security accross the nation.

No I am not a complete fool, I am merely a very regular air traveller who could predict the kind of chaos and significant commercial difficulties that were created. As soon as Willie Walsh, Michael O’Leary and the likes started saying the whole thing was unsustainable, changes were almost inevitable. And as events this morning have proven, I was somewhat closer to the mark than the doom-mongers who said these restrictions would go on for months.

Andy

Every time I’ve been to the US for the past couple of years (except for my last two trips), when I’ve checked in and they’ve entered my name into their computer, they’ve had to go off and “check” something taking my passport and all with them. This has involved me standing around at the checkin desk for quite a time, often being stared at by other passengers. First time it happened, I was concerned and worried because I didn’t know what was happening. After that first time it became less and less of an issue – I got to expect it, I’ve got nothing to hide and I knew from past experience that the outcome wouldn’t be an issue and that my travel would not be a problem. I now gather a name similar to mine was “marked” post 9/11. Earlier this year, I was stopped at customs going into the USA and during the chat with the officer, he mentioned that I had a “marked” name and that he could sort that out for me in particular. So he tapped away at his computer. Ever since then, I’ve not had the extra “check” prior to checkin. Anyhow, the reason I point this out is because I have been singled out for special attention, and I’m not concerned about it because it actually makes things safer.

So, what I actually believe is that its about time we got into proper profiling based on behaviorial, characteristic and yes even ethnic traits. If developing profiles for high risk travellers prove that muslims and responsible for the majority of terrorist attacks, then muslims need to expect to be checked more dilligently and more regularly. Its not victimisation, its a risk assessment based on a person conforming to a certain profile. As long as its done on a justified rather than an emotional basis, then tough on those subjected to it, but that’s how it should be so STFU and get on with it. Sorry, but the time for PC is over, its time to do what is proven to best secure our air travel network in the most effective and efficient manner.

Andy

Just to illustrate the abject stupidity of the “new” rules as they are currently applied…

In the company I work for, if we travel UK domestic with a laptop as most of us HAVE to do every time on business, our domestic travel now has to be on Virgin/GNER/etc trains rather than BA or BMI because the company won’t take the risk of laptops being checked in and getting lost. We put a lot of business BMI/BA’s way, especially MAN-LHR, GLA-LHR, EDI-LHR and NCL-/MME-LHR, and typically £200 a pop MAN-LHR because its booked last minute for peak period flights.

Thing is, you have to check laptops and yet no one (especially not the airlines) will take reponsibility for guaranteeing their security in the hold or that they’ll arrive at the other end. How long before these corporate policies become widespread and shart hurting the airlines? Not long for sure – almost certainly already happening. Again, I’m not suggesting the security problem is ignorred, but someone’s got to find a better way that what we have now, and fast.

Andy

Skymonster and others, you’re going to be eating your words if something ever did happen to harm innocent lives as a result of security measures being stepped down too soon. Yes, all this is very much an inconvenience to all passengers (more so business) but I would like to believe it is being implemented with the passenger’s safety in mind. 4 weeks out of 52 is not much to ask if it means it gives the Government(s) time to ensure that all threats their intelligence have acquired have been controlled. Remember your stereotypical white middle-aged office businessman may also have converted to Muslim and have been brainwashed into terrorist related thoughts?

No I’m not going to eat my words – I’ll just accept it as a consequence of the world we live in. AND I’ll still get on aeroplanes on that basis too – see below.

But in any case, you just don’t get it Judas, do you? 😮 Yes, security has to be in place, but its not about waiting a while and everything will be rosy again. The problems need to be fixed NOW. The choice isn’t between travelling and being subjected to insane levels of security, or travelling and getting blown up. The choice is between travelling and getting subjected to insane levels of security, or not travelling. Those with discretion – and those with discretion are actually the high-yielding business travellers who REALLY make the airlines money, will chose not to travel. Its already happening. These measures will f**k up the airline industry. Sure, a few people may not get blown up if you believe all the hype, but the alternative will be a lot of people on the dole if this carries on much longer. Again, I’m not saying forget security – I’m saying that the government can’t go on for more than a few days buring its head in the sand and saying “go about your business as usual” because it isn’t going to happen and it’ll do immense damage.

It is impossible to totally secure the air travel system, or any other travel system for that matter. I firmly believe that if the country wants to continue to have a viable airline industry (or not having one, with all the consequences to the wider UK economy that entails), sooner or later we are going to HAVE to face up to the fact that air travel carries some inherant risk to life, and we will each need to decide whether to live with the consequences of those risks or not to travel. I can live with the consequences of that, and I will travel on that basis too.

Andy

Personally though i don’t think today is about the Government or Politics its about how our Security service and police have worked today and “Disrupted” a Huge terror attack.

Of course its about government and politics. If our government (and that of the USA) hadn’t messed with the politics and government of other countries, we wouldn’t have this problem today. Ask yourself why this problem has surfaced here, and not in other countries that have taken a much more distant stand to what’s happening in other parts of the world. Whilst not directly CAUSED by the government, this entire problem is of the government’s making. Sadly, they are far too arrogant to admit that.

Andy

What absolute over-reaction! Insane. Does anyone, for example, think its reasonable to put car keys in checked bags just because there’s a remote in the key? And then the bag goes missing (as has happened to me on a number of occasions). What then? No chance. What dick-heads they are. I really have no problem being subjected to additional security screening, even if that means processing takes longer, but to put some of these punative restrictions in what can be taken on board in place will just drive people away from the airlines and if it continues in the longer term will destroy the industry.

Andy

……………. :p

Yeah, but it was further away then… Don’t you understand perspective and distance! :diablo:

Andy

PS: Nice one, I still haven’t got a good pic of an AA 757 with bent wings