Breaking Flying News: U.S. Raises Flight Threat Levels to Highest Point

[PortieOwner]

Well I think it's a joke that they made them run the weapons thru the scanners. Weren't they SUPPOSE to have bullets etc? (let's hope so!) That's an example of someone not really thinking. What did running them thru prove? It's not like they were going to take the guns away, we WANTED them in the airport.....

According to friends in the Guard at the time, at some airports they were supposed to keep their rifles completely unloaded (with a single magazine in a holster on their uniform). At other airports they could have the magazine (and thus bullets) in the rifle, but no bullet in the chamber.

Don't want an accidental discharge to happen and hurt a civilian!

Portie

 

[chipscinderelly]

Let's hope that things calm down and become more efficient over the next few weeks as we work through this terror plot.

Personally, if it's true that airline employees are exempt I am concerned. Should we forget that schools in this nation trained those terrorists before Sept 11 to fly? (and by that I mean that while I would hate to see it happen it's possible for someone to have a very bad day at work and make a decision that impacts the rest of the plane) Let's not leave loopholes open and make it obvious. I can't take a liquid, you cannot take a liquid, at least we are on the same playing field and have a sense of understanding.

 

[bavaria]

I've browsed through this thread as well as TSA site and various frequent flyer sites.

I have a trip to the US next week; based on the current information (which may of course change for better or worse over the coming days) the only item which I would normally have in my carry on luggage which is no longer permitted is a bottle of water.

Granted, I check my suitcase as my trips are usually for longer duration, but frankly having fewer carry on items will make it easier for all of us who fly.

May I suggest that everyone take a deep breath, and if you are not flying in the next several days, check the TSA site a day or two before you go. Then consider realistically how you will pack.

As someone else pointed out, the priority is for everyone to reach their destination safely....

 

[zurgswife]

Let's hope that things calm down and become more efficient over the next few weeks as we work through this terror plot.

Personally, if it's true that airline employees are exempt I am concerned. Should we forget that schools in this nation trained those terrorists before Sept 11 to fly? (and by that I mean that while I would hate to see it happen it's possible for someone to have a very bad day at work and make a decision that impacts the rest of the plane) Let's not leave loopholes open and make it obvious. I can't take a liquid, you cannot take a liquid, at least we are on the same playing field and have a sense of understanding.

I know my commercial pilot friends made comments that the weren't exempt from the other restrictions...so I can't believe that they would exempt them even this soon from the liquid restrictions.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Cant wait to hear about it. Is it on any website. perhaps you can share the link...

No...personal knowledge.

 

[CarolA]

According to friends in the Guard at the time, at some airports they were supposed to keep their rifles completely unloaded (with a single magazine in a holster on their uniform). At other airports they could have the magazine (and thus bullets) in the rifle, but no bullet in the chamber.

Don't want an accidental discharge to happen and hurt a civilian!

Portie

WHAT A JOKE!!!! This is protection an UNLOADED weapon????

If you trust them enough to call them up to do this, then let them do the job. If you don't trust them enough to let them have bullets in the guns, then just call Barney Fife.

 

[faindrops27]

I am truly through, and pissed off at these darn terrorists!! I mean what person would actually go through with blowing themselves up. Let alone another person. What sick demented people. I say close all the darn borders, and find the monsters Idly sitting in our country hiding!

 

[PortieOwner]

WHAT A JOKE!!!! This is protection an UNLOADED weapon????

If you trust them enough to call them up to do this, then let them do the job. If you don't trust them enough to let them have bullets in the guns, then just call Barney Fife.

There are several good reasons to leave the rifles unloaded. A terrorist or other disturbed person could grab a loaded rifle from a Guardman/woman and kill many people in a few seconds.

Accidental discharges do happen in the military and in combat zones (they happen among the police some too, and their weapons are usually handguns kept holstered). There are something like 70 soldiers/Marines who have died in Iraq from accidental weapons discharges (their own or others in their unit).

Portie

 

[Blumonkeyboy]

what about gameboys? also PUT YOUR SHAMPOO IN YOUR CHECKED LUGAGE! you have to taste your liqueds now and shampoo, NOT YUMMY! not that i would know.......

 

[CarolA]

There are several good reasons to leave the rifles unloaded. A terrorist or other disturbed person could grab a loaded rifle from a Guardman/woman and kill many people in a few seconds.

Accidental discharges do happen in the military and in combat zones (they happen among the police some too, and their weapons are usually handguns kept holstered). There are something like 70 soldiers/Marines who have died in Iraq from accidental weapons discharges (their own or others in their unit).

Portie

My father was in the guard. IF you are wearing your weapon CORRECTY then NO it can't be "Grabbed" away and fired, It's stapped to you! If you are not safeguarding your weapon then you should not be there. That happens in the movies and with handguns!

The guns with no bullets assumes the terrorist are going to WARN the guardsman. By the time they have killed a few people the guardsman will have armed the weapon. Let's just hope the terrorist are slow......

 

[seashoreCM]

The airline should reschedule at no charge or refund the ticket upon request to any passenger not wishing not to check valuables and and prevented from boarding the flight as a result.

It is not the passengers responsiblity to size up the purchase of refundable fares to foresee the possiblity of not being able to keep his valuables safe.

Instead it is the airlines' responsibility to accept as the consequences of added security and as part of the costs of doing business, accommodating passengers for whom sudden changes in boarding policy result in not being able to board the flight.

Alternative the airline has the choice of accepting responsibility for the safe transport and return of the valuables to the passenger.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[bicker]

It would be nice if that were the case.

 

[CarolA]

The airline should reschedule at no charge or refund the ticket upon request to any passenger not wishing not to check valuables and and prevented from boarding the flight as a result.

It is not the passengers responsiblity to size up the purchase of refundable fares to foresee the possiblity of not being able to keep his valuables safe.

Instead it is the airlines' responsibility to accept as the consequences of added security and as part of the costs of doing business, accommodating passengers for whom sudden changes in boarding policy result in not being able to board the flight.

Alternative the airline has the choice of accepting responsibility for the safe transport and return of the valuables to the passenger.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

The AIRLINES are not ANY happier then you or I. Perhaps the TSA should be held finanically responsible for failing to have considered a plan for the secuirng of valuables. Failure to plan on thier part should not be a crisis for the rest of the country!

 

[bicker]

Who is this mythical "they" you're talking about? Saying that TSA is to "be held financially responsible" is synonymous with saying that the American taxpayer is to "be held financially responsible". I'm one American taxpayer unwilling to foot the bill for this kind of expenditure. Rather, passengers should cover the costs for this sort of thing from their own resources, or decide not to travel.

 

[beachblanket]

Beverages purchased in the boarding area are not allowed onto the plane? What are they g onna do, paw through everyone's bag again as we board the plane? ?

YES. I just returned from the Disney Vero Beach Resort today, and at the Palm Beach airport, they were checking bags as passengers boarded my flight. The Feds are not kidding around with the new rules, people - get used to it NOW.

Anyway, can't a terrorist simply open the exit door mid-air and bring us all down? Why do they need shampoo and a cell phone to cause harm?

With all due respect, some people need to read the news. A bottle of "shampoo" (which has been emptied, and instead contains a mix of hydrogen peroxide and acetone, put together by a terrorist who is a biochemistry student, like one of those just arrested in the U.K.) connected to the battery of a cell phone could easily bring down a plane.