With passport in hand the next step to long distance travel is the
airport! Unless you want to drive, take a train, or sail... but those aren't
very popular choices unless you're talking to a support group for
aerophobia.
One word of advice before you go. Get to
the airport a little earlier than normal. The average recommended time to
arrive at the airport is 90-120 minutes before your flight takes off. This
allows one to comfortably get through security and customs with a little extra
time in case something goes wrong or you're feeling that Cinn-a-bon that's on
the opposite side of the airport compared to where your gate is located. Now
you might want to add a little more time.
Courtesy of G.M. Williams
I wish it worked as well as the cartoon
above. In June 2015 there was a leak of classified information from the
Department of Homeland Security. The slipped report presented the public with a
simple, yet frightening fact; The TSA was unable to identify undercover
personnel with the job of sneaking past airport security with weapons and phony
bombs 67 out of 70 times. Lori
Aratani reported for the Washington Post that the program, known as
Managed Inclusion II was done away with in September of 2015. However the TSA
kept the first rendition of the program (Managed Inclusion I) which
"allows travelers to use the PreCheck line as long as they have been
pre-screened by TSA canines.
But where is the solution?
Neffenger (center) courtesy of Wikipedia
Reveal
News explained that Jason Chaffetz, the republican representative in
Utah, wrote to the TSA that "the high frequency of serious misconduct by
TSA employees" raised serious concerns. The
New York Times wrote that the TSA was planning the retraining of
thousands of screeners according to Peter V. Neffenger, the new leader of the
TSA. Neffenger admitted that "efficiency and getting people through
airport security cannot be" a priority if it compromises security. The
TSA's 'seemingly ever changing priorities' have a large number of people
agitated. In 2013 it was "thoroughly check everyone" no matter how
long the line, but then a year later it turned to, "We have to get these
people through the lines." Managed Inclusion was the start to getting individuals
through lines quicker, but it only seemed to make things less trustworthy.
Neffenger said the agency "would be cutting back on using the managed
inclusion programs," but continued to push people into the PreCheck
program!
Courtesy of the TSA
This PreCheck program is basically meant
to speed up and shorten security lines. "Low-risk" passengers who
qualify are considered trusted and can pass through an easier screening before
boarding your plane. John S. Pistole looks at the PreCheck program through a
risk-based assessment. They "shifted focus, from screening people we know
the most about, to the people we don't know anything about," according to
Pistole. What is the first requirement to be on the PreCheck program? You have
to be a US citizen.
Rebecca Roering, an assistant security
director for the TSA in MN put the PreCheck program another way. According to
her the "TSA is handing out PreCheck status like Halloween candy in an
effort to expedite passengers as quickly as possible." I like her
thought process.
To add more fuel to the fire many
coalitions have been popping up to fight the relapse to stricter screenings by
the TSA. TruthInMedia and Forbes both
reported on the growing coalition.. It's going so far as "raising the
stakes in the TSA mandatory body scan conflict by taking it to Congress."
Previously the lawsuit EPIC
v. DHS had ended with an
appeal that stated the TSA "failed to conduct a public rulemaking as
required by the Administrative Procedure Act" but that the fourth
amendment was not violated due to the option to opt out of the AIT screening in
favor of a patdown. The coalition has reportedly fought the current changes due
to what they feel is a privacy infringement.
The full list of the coalition can be found on TruthInMedia’s
website.
Overall, with stricter guidelines being implemented expect
slightly longer lines to get through airport security, especially during heavy
travel seasons. Try to remember, it’s for your safety!
