More complaints about the TSA occur on a daily basis, and all of them have validity. It is most likely the worst government agency ever created, and it can’t be fixed. The entire system is invasive, tedious, and ineffective. Re-training TSA employees will not make a difference; it simply doesn’t work, and it is far to expensive.
I worked for an airline in Los Angeles between 1967 and 1977. This was the time when air travel was enjoyable, and customer service was a reality. When I began working for ‘Bonanza Airlines,’ the only jet aircraft in our fleet were three DC-9’s; the remainder were 40 passenger F-27A overhead turbo-charged propeller airplanes.
In 1968 the first hijacking of a commercial aircraft was recorded. As the number increased, they became known as ‘skyjacking.’ In the early 1970’s I arrived at work and was surprised to see ten-foot walls surrounding the departure gates. There were three openings staffed by a private security firm. The agents were hand-searching every article carried by departing passengers.
At first there were short delays, but when passengers were informed of the process, they arrived several minutes early to allow the process to be more efficient.
When passengers arrived at the departure gate, the agent checked ID and compared it to the ticket. Before you ask, yes, we profiled; and it was effective.
One final important item; Air Marshalls were in the terminal, and if we suspected something was improper, they were called to search the traveler if the metal detector at the gate sounded the alarm.
This whole system was fast and efficient, and cost one-tenth of what the TSA requires today.
I understand that with all the new rules established by Congress, (many of them can be termed ‘ridiculous’), we cannot go back to something so simple, and something which worked. But we need a new system which has more Marshalls in the terminals and fewer useless TSA agents. The fact that the agency fails nearly every test proves that adding more TSA agents will not solve the problem.
This is a case when something is broken, and it must be fixed. Passengers are missing their flights through no fault of their own.
The TSA budget for 2017 is 7.6 billion dollars. That’s correct; billions of dollars to help passengers miss their flights and experience a degrading process which is not effective. When security began the airlines paid the private agency to perform the function; not taxpayers.
Personally, my wife and I refuse to fly; it is too demeaning and uncomfortable. The cost has become prohibitive thanks to a Congress which voted to bailout the airlines twice, and recently allowed them to merge, offering fewer seats, and less flights to popular destinations which raised fares. Charging for bags is an insult.
The airlines are very profitable, but not because of their customer service. Passengers are charged for everything these companies can think of, and all United States airlines can be rightfully named “cattle cars.”
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 