Airport Security Scrutiny

Posted in Security | 11 comments

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Would you like to travel the world for free? How about being able to pick your preferred seat on board the plane, including First Class? Board first? Yes Please!

Welcome to the life of a Federal Air Marshal.

The Air Marshal program has been in the news a lot recently because airlines are asking the organization that their Marshals no longer request first class seats.

Airlines are losing revenue on each flight a Marshal flies on because they have the ability to select any seat they like, including already booked and paid for first class seats. In this case, airlines usually bump the paid or upgraded passengers to the main cabin, refund the difference in their ticket or the miles used for the upgrade, and then confirm the Marshals in the originally filled seats.

Alternatively, if the seats were vacant the airlines are losing the ability to sell the upgrades at the gate for increased revenue.

For a while the conditions of the Marshal program have been kept under wraps, for good reason. These fliers are out there to protect the flight deck at all costs. The recent media mentions are calling a few of their practices into question.

I don’t believe there is a reason for them to sit in the First Class cabin. The last few attempts made to do something screwy on board an airliner all took place in the coach cabin. The shoe bomber and the underwear bomber were both seated in the back. The argument can be made that the Marshals location in the front is and was strategic in these instances guarding the flight deck, but, couldn’t they be seated in the first row of coach?

I can understand that because they fly so often and so far that the added comfort of sitting in first class is appealing. Trust me, I know. This is coming from someone who usually only has a jumpseat to sit on (and I assure you, it’s like sitting on ply wood). However, the economy is still on shaky ground and slowly on the rebound. Airlines, especially after September 11th, were hit the hardest when the recession and are finally on the mend, shouldn’t be they allowed to sell their most coveted locations? Not to mention, the first row of coach on more airlines include additional legroom making for a better seat pitch.

The news definitely raises a lot of questions for debate. As a paying first class passenger, how annoying is it for you to get bumped to coach because of an air Marshal? And, though the airline isn’t allowed to tell you the reason for your being moved, if you knew why you were, would it lessen the blow or further irritate you?

Airport security is getting some heat this week as well. It was reported that an ExpressJet pilot commuting to work was passing through a security check-point in Memphis. He was asked to go through the full-body scanner, and he declined. Did you know you could do that? Yeah, I didn’t either. Apparently, you have the ability to decline passing through the scanner, should you want to, but you must subject yourself to a “secondary” screening.

The secondary screening process seems to be a pat-down of sorts which may or may not include a hand wand metal detector as well. This particular pilot refused the secondary screening.

Now, he didn’t want to pass through the scanner, and reportedly claimed that because he was a crewmember he didn’t need to be “secondarily searched.” Not true.

Please allow me to set the record straight. The only differences between me and you going through security is this: I can bring a full size tube of toothpaste..and you can’t. That’s it. Everything you do, we must do as well. Laptops out, coats off, etc. There are some instances where we can leave our shoes on, however, if they don’t set off the metal detector. Other then that, if I set off the detector, I too get “detained” and searched.

A lot of progress has been made in recent years to keep our air travel system safe and secure. I for one never complain when passing through the checkpoint, though I hear a lot of travelers doing so. For me, the process of going through security with the directives that are in place isn’t the problem, it’s the waiting around and time involved leading up to the actual check point. Travelers who don’t know the directives and procedures that slow down is what leads other travelers to become stressed out and annoyed with the process.

The next time you go through security keep this in mind: though the line is long and the wait is tiresome the process is in place to ensure your safety and security. If you haven’t flown by air in a while check out www.TSA.gov for the latest airport security information. Going to the airport prepared to go through the checkpoint will make the process move quicker for yourself and your fellow traveler.

References used: Airlines to Air Marshals: No more first class; Airlines want Air Marshals out of First Class.

Disclaimer: The information in regards to the air marshal program that was discussed in this post was previously reported by other media outlets. I did not reveal or divulge any new information.

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