The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) Answers Why

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The TSA has started a campaign to answer a lot of the “Why” questions that they get from travelers and has produced a series of videos.

Here’s the idea:

It is a national effort to build awareness about checkpoint security procedures so that passengers will be better prepared for airport travel. The campaign is committed to communicating why certain procedures and requirements are part of airport security. The goal is to improve security by compelling airline passengers to be better prepared for the security processes, resulting in less frustration and a more positive experience.

This video explains why TSA asks passengers to show photo ID before entering airport security checkpoints. The bottom line, no we won’t take you word for who you are. No, nor a note from your mother.

This video explains why TSA asks all passengers to remove their shoes during the security screening process. The bottom line is that there was this one crazy guy who tried to light a shoe bomb and so you all now should wear slip on shoes.

This video explains why TSA limits passengers to three ounces of liquid or less in their carry-on baggage. The bottom line is that we would rather that if you carry liquids that blow up that you only have them in small amounts or at least have to pour them all together. It’s all about making you feel safer.

With more than 700 million travelers passing through airport security checkpoints yearly, TSA recently began introducing changes to passenger screening at the checkpoints to improve security, and enhance passenger and officer experience. These changes include: calming the checkpoint environment to improve security, deployment of enhanced technology and improved checkpoint signage at airports to help passengers learn the “why” behind what TSA does and self-selected lanes for passengers (like Family Lanes and Black Diamond Lanes for biz travelers). Because of these changes it has become increasingly important to get the public to focus on what they need to do to get through the security checkpoints before they travel.

Visit www.tsa.gov to learn more about the TSA’s “Why” campaign.

The TSA Blogs Back

2 Comments » news, travel

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If you have run into problems understanding some of the new airline security rules then you are not alone. Knowing this, but not wanting to have a lot of long drawn out conversations with passengers in the security line at Newark and elsewhere, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has created a new blog where they will respond to user’s questions and feedback. According to an article at ComputerWorld:

TSA Administrator Kip Hawley noted on the blog that there is no time for agency personnel to answer passenger questions during the airport screening process. Screeners have no time to explain to passengers why they are asked to do certain things and can only demand that they follow orders. The blog, he said, provides a forum to explain processes and to allow passengers to suggest changes to the TSA checkpoint processes.

“One of my major goals of 2008 is to get TSA and passengers back on the same side, working together,” Hawley wrote. “We need your help to get the checkpoint to be a better environment for us to do our security job and for you to get through quickly and on to your flight. We will not only give you straight answers to your questions, but we will challenge you with new ideas and involve you in upcoming changes.”

Here at Tripinator we applaud any effort to open the lines of communication. (Granted we would say that anyway just to stay off “the list”).