New Security Regulations and Procedures

[Monty]

A warning to all air travellers:

As a result of the recent bomb scare, Airport Security is at an extremely heightened level.

TSA and other Airport Security agencies have changed a lot of the rules for air travel. Make sure you familiarize yourselves with the new procedures before you travel and allow a lot more time for security screening at the airports.

I know they have restricted carry-on to a purse, small bag, laptop bag or backpack [one only] and all rolling luggage or suitcases regardless of size must be checked. They are conducting physical pat downs of all passengers prior to boarding.

As a result, there are major delays and cancelations throughout the airline industry. Check your flight's status before you head out.

Air Canada and Westjet have posted the following travel advisories:

http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/trav_adv/091226_3.html

http://kl.am/Sec2

TSA Guidance: http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/dec25_guidance.shtm

My sympathies to anyone travelling by air.

 

[The Mom]

Thanks, Monty! My daughter is flying home today, so I'll have to check on her luggage, etc. I'll be mailing a lot of her presents anyway, so maybe she could leave behind anything she doesn't need right away.

 

[Monty]

Thanks, Monty! My daughter is flying home today, so I'll have to check on her luggage, etc. I'll be mailing a lot of her presents anyway, so maybe she could leave behind anything she doesn't need right away.

I'm not entirely clear on the impact on domestic travel within the U.S. The TSA guidance [I've added it to my OP] seems to say nothing has changed, but then states that passengers should expect to see changes. :shrug:

 

[mousefan1972]

Flying from Orlando to Boston on Saturday (the day after the attmepted terrorist attack) we noticed nothing different at all in regards to security. In fact, the lines were shorter than expected and we breezed through with no problems/delays at all. :shrug:

 

[TP2000]

From the articles I've read, this is primarily changing the rules for flights coming in to the USA from overseas and foreign countries.

The TSA can no longer guarantee that European airports have properly screened all passengers boarding flights (physically and through computer ID checks), etc., so overseas flights entering US airspace are subject to tighter screenings and tougher in-flight rules.

Flights flying within the USA, from one American airport to another, are relatively unaffected. Another good reason why I'm going to be staying home in 2010 and do all of my vacationing in the USA. :animwink:

 

[swimmom]

My daughter flew via American yesterday from Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale. There were no changes in the carry-on policy. She had her swimming backpack as a carry-on item and a book bag as a personal item. The only change she observed in security was that she had to take her laptop out of the neoprene case, which she has never been asked to do before in Chicago.

 

[Courtney1188]

Like someone else said, I would expect to see changes happening overseas since that is where the flight originated. However, I'm from Detroit (where the bomb scare happened), so I'd guess security is probably a bit more of a pain here as well.

 

[mkt]

I flew back from Guatemala and Panama earlier this week, and flew several intra-Central America flights. The only extra scrutiny I encountered on returning to the US were patdowns at both airport, and a full bag screening at the gate. They were polite and quick about it. For the intra-Central America flights it was pre-9/11 security (and god it felt good). Liquids went through, shoes remained on... it was great.

Clearing customs/immigration back in the US was a cinch. I was through and loading my bags in the car in under 20 minutes. Oddly, they stamped my passport, which rarely ever happens to me returning to the US.

Leaving the US though, the TSA refused my valid ID (US Passport Card) and demanded either a drivers license or passport book. I handed them my passport book, and the TSA screener (not customs, not a police officer) stopped at the page with my Cuban entry stamp and my Moroccan/Turkish tourist visas and stamps and raised her eyebrows. I protested and was given a retaliatory secondary screening. I filed a complaint and wrote to my congresscritters regarding the incident, since that agency operates with no oversight.

If I could get polite and efficient security screenings in Latin America, and both flights landed in the US safely, what does the level of rudeness and inefficiency offered by the TSA offer to us? Nothing.

And what does it mean that my flights within Central America all landed safely, with (gasp) people bringing on bottled water and coffee!