The TSA is a complete joke

[Ahovv]

I've flown 10-15 times in the past few years. The current procedures are not only ineffective at actually catching terrorists, but cannot keep up with the flow of airport traffic. My most recent trip was utterly ruined by the TSA due to a 90-minute line at Boston-Logan. I asked if I could jump ahead because I was going to miss my flight, but I was told too many people were asking that. Of course, the flight was missed, the next available was delayed and I was forced to stay overnight at a shitty motel for four hours of sleep.

I don't know a single person who even feels safer with the TSA around. This organization is an egregious overreaction to the virtually nonexistent threat of terrorism (compared to other death rates and acts of violence). I can only imagine how it feels to have metal implants and being forced into a full-body pat down.

[Lenonis]

The current procedures are not only ineffective at actually catching terrorists

Devil's advocate question -- how do you know? It isn't like the TSA is going to brag about how they stopped terrorists -- thus giving them ideas on how to circumvent.

I'm not about to defend the TSA but this whole post really just smacks of "I didn't anticipate delays in airport security so I'm going to rant about the TSA".

I have TSA pre-check and my airport experiences are a breeze and I fly just about every week.

[ranzino]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...rlines-flight/

as long as security has time for such silly behavior, your plane will always leave without you more often than not.

[Ahovv]

Devil's advocate question -- how do you know? It isn't like the TSA is going to brag about how they stopped terrorists -- thus giving them ideas on how to circumvent.

I'm not about to defend the TSA but this whole post really just smacks of "I didn't anticipate delays in airport security so I'm going to rant about the TSA".

I have TSA pre-check and my airport experiences are a breeze and I fly just about every week.

A service which costs additional money. As in, on top of what our taxes are paying for. I find that to be an absurd concept. Special privilege from my government if only I pay more?

Also, the TSA does brag about its findings. Unfortunately for them, it's mostly limited to random forgotten firearms, science projects with chunks of possibly "dangerous" material and pocket knives.

[Deleted]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_7485558.html

TSA Fails 95 Percent Of Airport Security Tests Conducted By Homeland Security: Report

https://www.rt.com/usa/322349-tsa-atlanta-loaded-gun/

TSA fails to detect loaded gun at Atlanta airport

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/01/po...reening-tests/

Acting TSA director reassigned after screeners failed tests to detect explosives, weapons

The TSA is completely useless. You'll catch more "terrorists" with a magic eight ball than you will with the help of the TSA.

Also...

http://www.geek.com/apps/tsa-paid-1-...right-1651337/

TSA paid $1.4 million for Randomizer app that chooses left or right

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2016/0...andom-numbers/

The TSA spent $336,000 on an iPad app that decides what line you go in at security

http://9to5mac.com/2016/04/04/tsa-ra...ator-ipad-app/

The TSA paid $336k (or maybe $1.4M) for a random number generator app for an iPad

http://fusion.net/story/287525/tsa-3...andomizer-app/

TSA says its Randomizer app only cost $47,400

Now... Whether they wasted $1.4 million, $336 thousand or $47400 on a software that can be written in 5 minutes, someone over there is a complete and utter moron.



Congratulations.

The TSA must be the worst alphabet agency the US has ever seen. How it's still up and running is beyond any reason.

[Reeve]

I have TSA pre-check and my airport experiences are a breeze and I fly just about every week.

Pre-Check is awesome. Totally worth the $100 and couple minutes it took to get it done.

[Phookah]

http://www.cracked.com/blog/7-reason...s-perspective/
This article is relevant and an interesting read.
Yes, the TSA is fucking worthless. Worse than worthless actually, because it costs us an insane amount of money for nothing.

[aviger]

They are a joke.
The whole tsa pre check thing proves it.
It is supposed to be for people who have done extra back ground checks and such.
When i first got it many times people were let into that line when it was "too busy" at the normal one as well as handicap or pregnant ladies.
What's the point in having a extra check if you just let people in when "its busy"... because its a fucking joke.. thats why.

And yes, the TSA would brag to hell and back if they actually stopped a real terrorist.
But many many many test show they fail so badly

[Narwal]

The most effective method of catching terrorists, profiling, is the one method some in our government are unable to stomach. They can handle nude photos of everyone being put into the hands of TSA employees though.

[Mad_Murdock]

As someone who's flown for 20+ years now, Airport security has always been semi bad to fairly bad. At BWI for a while some of the Security people didn't seem to be full USA citizens (prior to 911 that is). Long lines aren't really anything new especially at large airports, Like Boston, Atlanta, Denver, etc etc. And if you think they are bad now, should have flow the year following 9-11.

Nowadays if you are flying a lot you need to invest the $85 and get the TSA pre check option. Most all USA airports offer it and at places like Denver and Atlanta it was extremely nice

Finally, did you arrive 2 hours before your flight? I know many people hate it, but other than the small kick airports, I pretty much always arrive 2 hours before flight time. My trust isn't fully in the TSA people themselves, but the other technology such as the new body scanners and such.

Do I feel safer now than I did 20 years ago, I'd say yes, if for no other reasons, the processes seem more formalized versus varying from airport to airport.

They are a joke.
The whole tsa pre check thing proves it.
It is supposed to be for people who have done extra back ground checks and such.
When i first got it many times people were let into that line when it was "too busy" at the normal one as well as handicap or pregnant ladies.
What's the point in having a extra check if you just let people in when "its busy"... because its a fucking joke.. thats why.

At the start of TSA Precheck they were letting various people use it, most to get the word out about it and how handy it was. last year, they officially stopped allowing random people from getting to use it.

[Phookah]

Devil's advocate question -- how do you know? It isn't like the TSA is going to brag about how they stopped terrorists -- thus giving them ideas on how to circumvent.

I'm not about to defend the TSA but this whole post really just smacks of "I didn't anticipate delays in airport security so I'm going to rant about the TSA".

I have TSA pre-check and my airport experiences are a breeze and I fly just about every week.

They do internal tests with them. They fail these tests 9 times out of 10. Its sad.

[aviger]

At the start of TSA Precheck they were letting various people use it, most to get the word out about it and how handy it was. last year, they officially stopped allowing random people from getting to use it.

Yeah they "said" that. Would it surprise you when i flew with my wife and parents (who are dutch, non citizen and had never heard of precheck) they got "pre check" on their tickets simply because i went to the desk and had it on mine :P
/boggle

[Lenonis]

They do internal tests with them. They fail these tests 9 times out of 10. Its sad.

Yeah, that's true.

I guess my whole point is it is always challenging to talk about the success of anti-terrorism programs because you'll never know what actually was prevented as it's all classified.

But yes -- the TSA is a good example of wasteful government spending and needs to be majorly improved.

[Crissi]

Yeah they "said" that. Would it surprise you when i flew with my wife and parents (who are dutch, non citizen and had never heard of precheck) they got "pre check" on their tickets simply because i went to the desk and had it on mine :P
/boggle

yeah, had that happen to me when dad, who has prechekc but not me, printed out our tickets. Brought it to a TSA agent and said "thats normal"

[Mad_Murdock]

Yeah they "said" that. Would it surprise you when i flew with my wife and parents (who are dutch, non citizen and had never heard of precheck) they got "pre check" on their tickets simply because i went to the desk and had it on mine :P
/boggle

Wouldn't totally surprise me, I've seen people carrying their spouses and kids through the pre-check lines. I will say, if one person in a family has went through the pre-check process. I'm comfortable with the rest of the family getting to use it. Of course, I only care about how long I have to stand in line and that would be my biggest argument against letting other people to use it.

[mizeri]

[Manabomb]

Devil's advocate question -- how do you know? It isn't like the TSA is going to brag about how they stopped terrorists -- thus giving them ideas on how to circumvent.

I'm not about to defend the TSA but this whole post really just smacks of "I didn't anticipate delays in airport security so I'm going to rant about the TSA".

I have TSA pre-check and my airport experiences are a breeze and I fly just about every week.

Because the FBI have conducted multiple tests and ways to thwart the TSA, almost all of which went completely undetected by the current systems and procedures we have in place.

Long story short, the TSA is an ineffective nuisance that gives a government agency a reason to scan and even search every item you take with you on a flight. What they do with that information is another topic entirely.

[zebreck]

The TSA isn't just useless, it's actively harmful. I've, on at least 3 occasions, accidentally brought hunting knives with me in my carry-on. Full security screening, and a full pat down since I have a pacemaker. I didn't even realize I'd done it until I unpacked my bags after the flight. I've also gotten flagrantly sexually asaulted on a few occasions during those pat downs. People grabbing my junk and winking at me, pinching my ass, that sort of thing. I've spoken up about this twice and once I was simply escorted from the airport and told to stay away. The other time I was locked in a room for hours and interrogated by some whackjob without a badge about whether or not I loved my country, all because some pervert got handsy. The one (1) time they've ever actually succeeded at their mandate was that time they caught the literally retarded guy with the shoe bomb. I wish my tax dollars would get spent on nearly anything else.

[Khaza-R]

I really question how effective the TSA actually is. Personally I think its just a deterrent/method to make people feel more secure. Like one of those signs you stick outside your house saying you have home security.

I remember I my mom was flying domestic a few years ago with some of her friends. The clerk at the check-in had accidentally printed two of the same boarding passes for her friend, instead of one for her. Suffice to say she managed to get pass two checkpoints and to the door of the plane before anyone realized she didn't even have the right boarding pass. Now does that really make you feel safe?

[unbound]

Devil's advocate question -- how do you know? It isn't like the TSA is going to brag about how they stopped terrorists -- thus giving them ideas on how to circumvent.

rofl...of course they would brag about stopping terrorists. They won't tell you how they caught them, but they would absolutely be bragging about it.

Heck, if it wasn't for the fact that there are always hundreds of witnesses that would refute any such claims, I'm sure TSA would be claiming credit for stopping hundreds of terrorists every year.

If you have any doubts, TSA touted the arrest of Kevin Brown at Orlando International Airport in April 2008. They actually just caught another nut job, and no one was ever at risk.

There is a GAO report from 5 or 6 years ago that pointed out that at least 16 individuals later accused of involvement in terrorist plots flew 23 different times through US airports since 2004, but TSA never caught them (including their behavior-detection officers).

It's amazing that a 15 year program with no real results that has only served to harass innocent flyers and negatively impact the flying industry continues to remain a thing. Then again, fear-mongering has its own value...