Jaunted

Tags: TSA Airport Security / TSA / Airport Security / TSA Theater / → All Tags

Internet to Atlanta TSA Agents: Sorry About That!

Gosh it's hard to be objective, and no fun at all. On Friday, a travel blogger named Nicole White posted a harrowing account of being detained in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by TSA Agents. Entitled TSA Agents Took My Son, her post alleges, among other things, that a male TSA agent separated her from her 16-month-old son for a private pat-down, which is against TSA procedures. Christopher Elliott picked up the story on Elliott.org, and despite his sage counsel that we withhold judgment until all the facts come out, the commenting classes rose to the defense of White.

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Tags: TSA Watch / TSA / Airport Security / Technology / Travel News / Secure Flight / → All Tags

The Need-To-Know Basics About TSA's 'Secure Flight' Program

These days, when the TSA announces a new security measure, we are ready to be confused and inconvenienced by it. Their "Secure Flight" program began in much this way as well, with the TSA frustrating travelers with demands for complete names on tickets and a disclosure of birthdate and gender.

But as Secure Flight progresses, we've barely noticed the changes as we fly about the country, and nothing has tripped us up quit yet. Nonetheless, it's important to know what airport security is doing when they scrutinize your ticket and how to handle any possible issues as Secure Flight zeros in on whether or not you are possibly terrorist.

After the jump, the basics of what you need to know about Secure Flight.

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Tags: Travel Bans / Airport Security / Travel News / European Travel / TSA / → All Tags

EU To End Ban On Carry-On Liquids, But England Still Fussing About

Hallelujah, break out the chianti! On Friday, EU transportation officials met to announce the impending end of the ban on carry-on liquids and gels. Just like our often confusing TSA 3-1-1 plan for carry-on liquids in the States, Europe has only allowed air travelers to carry 100ml or smaller bottles in a clear zip-top bag not exceeding 20cm x 20cm in size. It's been almost three years since they implemented these rules, and it's about time they re-evaluated the law.

Wait a second, hold off on that chianti; there has been no date announced for the end of the liquid restrictions, but the EU officials did vaguely hint at April 2012, or whenever new security procedures are in place. Nonetheless, we imagine there will be a collective sigh of relief when European travelers try to sneak through that just-over-100ml bottle of Cotes du Rhone and aren't stopped.

But what about Britain?...

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Tags: TSA Watch / TSA / Airport Security / Secure Flight / Technology / Travel News / → All Tags

TSA's Secure Flight Program Advances, Asks 'A,S,L?'

We sure hope there's going to be an "all of the above" choice come tomorrow's new institution of TSA "Secure Flight" procedures, which involve disclosing your full name, birthdate, and gender when booking airline tickets.

It's all a part of the TSA's campaign to further root out the terrorists from the average Joes just trying to get to business meeting in Dubuque. Once the new information requirements go into effect tomorrow—August 15—you're full name on your ID will need to match up that that printed on the ticket, along with birth date and gender. Say so long to the mistaken identity stripsearch!

For those fretting about how closely the TSA will police the spelling of your middle name, thankfully the New York Time has an excellent article full of possible passenger questions and TSA responses. Just remember that the whole reason for giving the TSA this information is to keep you in the skies and off the No-Fly List. And if this doesn't work? Maybe they ask us our mother's maiden names or our Catholic confirmation names? What about our Kabbalah names? Madonna could then board her flights with tickets sold to "Esther." We suppose we'll have to wait and see.

Related Stories:
· TSA's Secure Flight Program [TSA]
· New Vigilance Over Traveler IDs [NYT]
· The TSA Asks 'How Do You Spell That Again?' [Jaunted]
· TSA Watch Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: TSA]

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TSA Blog: Our Full Body Scans Aren't Porn, Because You're Ugly

Full-body airport security scanning: apparently great for the TSA but not for your self-image. Debunking the idea that the nearly-nude pictures that the scanner produces of you somehow are like porn, the TSA Blog links to a Cleveland Plain Dealer article that tells the sad truth regarding this new technology: it's not porn because the resulting images aren't appealing.

In fact, full-body scans at Cleveland airport, where the machines are being tested, are apparently the opposite of porn because—and we aren't making this up—American travelers are ugly. Now for an obnoxious argument to what should have always been a non-issue:

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Alleged Nutter With Fake Bomb Causes LaGuardia Evacuation

An apparently mentally disturbed man caused the evacuation of LaGuardia Airport's main terminal for a few hours this morning when TSA authorities discovered a fake bomb in his bag. The AP reports that throngs of passengers were cleared from the terminal at 5:30 a.m. as swarms of cops took the man, whose name was not released, into custody for having "a few batteries and wires" that resembled a bomb at the security area of the Terminal C concourse. He "was just acting crazy," said one official, who didn't say if the man had made a specific threat.

The terminal was reopened around 9:00 a.m., but the delay was enough to royally screw up scores of people's summer vacation plans. It's good, of course, that it wasn't a real bomb, but it's a shame that one (alleged) nut has the power to create such chaos. Since LaGuardia is my nearest airport, I'm glad I'm not flying anywhere today. For those who are, go easy on the Cinnabons as you wait for your flight to be rescheduled.

[Photo: sangiovanni-rotondo.it]

Related Stories:
· LaGuardia Terminal Evacuated in NYC, 1 in Custody [AP via Yahoo! News]
· TSA Coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Airport Photo Shoots / Celeb Travel / Lily Allen / Twitter / Serbia Travel / Airport Security / → All Tags

Lily Allen Gets A Head X-Ray In Belgrade Airport

Do not try this at home, even though Lily Allen definitely was far from home when she did it. While leaving Serbia after performing at the Exit Festival this week, the "Smile" singer got "bored at Belgrade airport" and hopped onto the X-ray machine at airport security.

Looking at the photo of the stunt, we say that Lily is lucky she pulled this in Belgrade because it would not be tolerated in the US or Europe, unless she's perhaps headed out of a private hangar with a TSA staff with a sense of humor. But since we know that TSA staff with senses of humor don't exist, Lily better keep her airport antics limited to the former Yugoslavia.

Now Lily heads to Dublin for the Oxegen Festival, and we continue following her as one of the most irreverent travel twitters out there.

Related Stories:
· Lily Allen's Twitter [Twitter]
· Airport Photo Shoots Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: TwitPic]

Tags: Clear / Airport Security / TSA / Travel News / → All Tags

Class-Action Lawsuits For Clear, And It's About Time

To think that we've had to wait a full two weeks for lawsuits to be filed against defunct security pass Clear. It seems like forever ago, though only it was June 22, that Clear abruptly shut down it's expedited airport security lanes, website, and finances from over 200,000 customers each paying $200 a year for the rights to exactly those things.

Although we smelled trouble on the horizon and did not renew our membership in May, others weren't so lucky and are now out both the money and the knowledge that their iris and fingerprint scans are safe. Thus, sue to get it all back.

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TSA's Response To Clear Questions: 'Not Our Problem'

It's quick and it's dirty, but it gets the job done; yes, it's the TSA Blog's Response to your Clear questions. Although most of the post is devoted to reminding people that this whole debacle is not TSA's problem, but Clear's and that's who should deal with it, they nonetheless remind us that two other such companies still function out there: Flo and Vigilant.

Beyond that, the TSA assures that the market for such expedited security cards is still open: "This is purely a market-driven, private sector venture offered in partnership with airports and airlines. Another vender could potentially take up the program."

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TSA Detains Author Over Weird Script; Both Sides Behave Reasonably and Rationally

An interesting TSA-related incident happened at LAX last month that underscores the tricky balance between security and liberty. A comic artist named Mark Sable was detained for additional screening by TSA agents who were alarmed at the content of a script they found in his bag, the latest in a comic (or graphic novel, if you like) series called Unthinkable. As SFScope points out, the script follows members of a shadowy government group that dreams up "unthinkable" 9/11-type catastrophes that begin coming true. Not surprisingly, the agents thought this was a reason to give Sable and his belongings further scrutiny.

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Starwood Lessens The Blow for Its SPG Members Who Bought Clear

As the rest of Clear's members continue to worry about their refunds now that the "registered traveler" service has crapped out, Starwood Hotels' Starwood Preferred Guests members can breathe a little easier. That's because the loyalty program is offering 10,000 SPG points for any SPG member who signed up for Clear through the three-month free trial offer the program extended to its members.

Here's the official letter from SPG:

If you’re an SPG® member who purchased a subscription to Clear after accepting the SPG three-month free trial offer, we would like to credit your account with 10,000 Starpoints® for this unforeseen inconvenience. Please fax proof of your purchase (your Clear receipt or a credit card statement with the Clear/Verified Identity Pass, Inc. charge) along with your SPG number to 519-633-5865 before July 30, 2009 to receive your Starpoints. We will verify your Clear enrollment was processed through the Starwood Preferred Guest promotional site, then credit the Starpoints within 7 business days from receipt of eligible proof.

Remember: This is for SPG members who signed up for Clear through the three-month free trial offer. Coincidentally, we signed up for Clear through this exact offer but since there were no Clear stations near us to complete the in-person portion of the application, we never actually bought a Clear card. (We did get an email saying that all our information has been purged from their system.)

In the meantime, regular old Clear "suckers" can visit FlyClear.com for questions about their membership and refunds.

Related Stories:
· Clear Card Ceases Operations, And We Saw It Coming [Jaunted]
· Starwood Preferred Guests Get Clear Cards for Christmas [HotelChatter]

Tags: Clear / Airport Security / TSA / Travel News / → All Tags

Clear Card Ceases Operations, And We Saw It Coming

Can we confide in you for a moment? We saw the downfall of the Clear airport security fastlane card coming from a mile away. Before we delve into that however, let's talk about last night's huge shock for current Clear subscribers.

An email went out yesterday evening to Clear members at 8pm, with a simple message:

At 11:00 p.m. PST today, Clear will cease operations. Clear’s parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations. After today, Clear lanes will be unavailable.

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