Flight from LaPaz -> LAX -> SEA. I got marked with the SSS of selected death.
Mexican authorities swiped my carry on and checked it with the explosives sniffer. LAX customs was fine but then you have to go back through TSA. TSA saw the SSS and the next thing you know they were unpacking my bags and checking seams in my packed underwear and the underwear I was wearing TWICE! When they took out my laptop they asked me to turn it on. Nope, batteries are dead. When I offered to plug it in to charge it, it was like I offered to light a fuse! 90 minutes of complete security theater. Shared swabs between people's bags, multiple security people in the close in inspection area eating and wandering. At one point they wanted to pat down a Chinese man. The TSA agent was nervous and just said the same statement about touching his genitals louder to the Chinese man. I offered google translate and the TSA guy was super relieved. He said he was clocked by another non-English speaker as he felt him up. (Hell, if some guy speaking a foreign language touched me like that without warning I'd probably clock him too!) The US Airlines will probably figure out a way of clearing your laptop to be used on board. They already have precheck, clear, special first class lines etc. Pissed business customers that figure out that video conferencing works just as well once you get used to it mean a loss of spectacular revenue to the airline. They will fight this tooth and nail. Even Saudi based airlines let their first and biz customers use their laptops up until just before takeoff. ryan -- D. Ryan Spott | NGC457, llc broadband | telco | colo | communities PO Box 1734 Sultan, WA 98294 425-939-0047 > On Apr 25, 2017, at 09:01, Forrest Christian (List Account) > <li...@packetflux.com> wrote: > > We've been remarkably politics free, and I want to keep it that way. I know > the answer to what I'm about to ask could devolve toward that direction. I'd > prefer we don't go down that path. > > What I'm curious about is this: > > The US is implementing various bans on electronics larger than a cell phone > being carried onboard the aircraft into the cabin. Today it's limited to a > few countries, but it sounds like it's going to get expanded greatly. Note > that this doesn't mean you can't take say a laptop with you, but instead that > it has to be checked so it's in the luggage hold instead of accessible to you > through the flight. > > So the question I have is what threat this is supposed to eliminate? The > obvious concern is some sort of explosive making it's way into the passenger > cabin, but a wireless trigger for an explosive device is so simple to rig > nowadays that I don't think the physical separation of a potential terrorist > from their explosive is going to make a bit of difference. > > I can think of several other potential threats, but with the way that they're > implementing this ban, I sure can't see how any of them are affected. > Especially since you can apparently carry your larger electronics all of the > way to the gate, then have them gate check them to be returned to you airside > at your destination. > > Does anyone have any ideas what threat they might be trying to eliminate? > Personally, I'm far more concerned about the risk of a lithium battery fire > in the cargo hold.... > > -- > Forrest Christian CEO, PacketFlux Technologies, Inc. > Tel: 406-449-3345 | Address: 3577 Countryside Road, Helena, MT 59602 > forre...@imach.com | http://www.packetflux.com > >
