2008 Woodie Awards
Airline regulations out of hand
By: Jeremy Homan
Issue date: 1/29/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
It seems to me the safety precautions used by airlines are getting out of hand.
Since 9/11, "high risk" individuals have not been allowed to board a plane. Those who book flights at the last minute are put through extra searches and, recently, a family was even kicked off of a flight home from Florida because their three-year-old daughter wouldn't stop crying.
I can understand where the airline is coming from; they need to worry about the well-being of the other passengers. But I still find it absurd.
Because of the great need for security against rising terrorist threats nationwide, passengers have been subjected to longer waits, more metal detectors and additional searches of suitcases as well as other carry-on items.
Don't get me wrong, having stronger security is a much needed and beneficial thing. And the idea of terrorist attacks are by no means something to disregard.
But how far is too far?
The most recent sanctions were put into play at the end of last summer when passengers were forbidden to carry toiletries and other liquids or pastes such as shampoo, deodorant or even chapstick on board with them. It took hours getting through security and absolutely everything was getting searched. People were even forced to take their shoes and sweatshirts off while going through security checkpoints.
Even booking a flight has become harder. Not only does a person need two forms of identification, but they also need to understand that once a flight is booked, even a year in advance, there is no going back. If something happens and you can't make your flight, don't even think about getting a cash refund because it won't happen.
Even with all the precautions in place people still manage to get passed security or sneak prohibited objects onto the plane. So, what exactly is the added security doing for us, other than creating a plane full of irritated passengers?
Maybe it's not what the security entails, but how the airlines are going about it. If things were more quick and organized, there wouldn't be such a problem.
Since 9/11, "high risk" individuals have not been allowed to board a plane. Those who book flights at the last minute are put through extra searches and, recently, a family was even kicked off of a flight home from Florida because their three-year-old daughter wouldn't stop crying.
I can understand where the airline is coming from; they need to worry about the well-being of the other passengers. But I still find it absurd.
Because of the great need for security against rising terrorist threats nationwide, passengers have been subjected to longer waits, more metal detectors and additional searches of suitcases as well as other carry-on items.
Don't get me wrong, having stronger security is a much needed and beneficial thing. And the idea of terrorist attacks are by no means something to disregard.
But how far is too far?
The most recent sanctions were put into play at the end of last summer when passengers were forbidden to carry toiletries and other liquids or pastes such as shampoo, deodorant or even chapstick on board with them. It took hours getting through security and absolutely everything was getting searched. People were even forced to take their shoes and sweatshirts off while going through security checkpoints.
Even booking a flight has become harder. Not only does a person need two forms of identification, but they also need to understand that once a flight is booked, even a year in advance, there is no going back. If something happens and you can't make your flight, don't even think about getting a cash refund because it won't happen.
Even with all the precautions in place people still manage to get passed security or sneak prohibited objects onto the plane. So, what exactly is the added security doing for us, other than creating a plane full of irritated passengers?
Maybe it's not what the security entails, but how the airlines are going about it. If things were more quick and organized, there wouldn't be such a problem.
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