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TSA Takes A Chill Pill, Lets Pilots Make Call On In-Flight Security

Last night, after a full three days of enhanced security measures and new rules, the TSA relaxed slightly and announced that they'll leave it up to the pilots to decide "whether to allow passengers to keep items in their laps or require them to be seated during portions of the flight." Hopefully this means that we'll still be able to get up and re-stow our items, use the bathroom, and keep our pillows during that final hour, but the heightened airport security and personal bag checks are still very much in place.

Keep in mind that domestic flights are not affected by these rules, unless the pilot is super cautious and decides that blankets are the enemy. All of these new security measures, resulting from the failed terrorist attempt on Christmas Day onboard Northwest Flight 253, are for USA-bound international flights, with a huge emphasis on flights leaving London and Amsterdam.

So although the worst of the new rules have been pulled back and left to pilot discretion, you'll still be contending with limited carry-on allowances, 3-1-1 liquid rules, the occasional pat-down, baggage searches, and the possibility of having the LiveMap channel disabled. Perhaps in another week, the knee-jerk reaction of the TSA will relax even more.

Related Stories:
· 'Keep Your Hands Where We Can See Them,' Demands New TSA Flight Rules [Jaunted]
· TSA updates US airline in-flight security rules [Reuters]
· Travel Security [Jaunted]

[Photo: caribb]