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Long lines at the airports seem to be the big problem this summer. The government allows people to apply for pre-screening through various programs. Apparently these get you to a faster line that doesn't take as long to get through. When I was an active pilot I had to have a TSA pass to get to my plane which was on a secured airport but it wasn't usable at a commercial airport TSA checkin. Why not some legislation that gets LTC holders through the pre-screened line. They have already been vetted, they have photo ID and they can be rapidly screened to make sure they didn't forget their firearms on their body or carry on bags. Apparently we can enter the Capital building in Austin armed as long as we have an LTC. We ought to be able to get through a TSA line faster.

The best way to speed up the TSA lines is to fire the TSA.

The federal government is not going to recognize state carry licenses until it is dragged kicking and screaming to do so. Maybe President Trump can drag it along.

Or you can apply for the TSA Pre-Check Program.

Back when I traveled a lot (every week) my solution was to drive, whenever possible.

ELB wrote:The best way to speed up the TSA lines is to fire the TSA.

The federal government is not going to recognize state carry licenses until it is dragged kicking and screaming to do so. Maybe President Trump can drag it along.

rotor wrote:Long lines at the airports seem to be the big problem this summer. The government allows people to apply for pre-screening through various programs. Apparently these get you to a faster line that doesn't take as long to get through. When I was an active pilot I had to have a TSA pass to get to my plane which was on a secured airport but it wasn't usable at a commercial airport TSA checkin. Why not some legislation that gets LTC holders through the pre-screened line. They have already been vetted, they have photo ID and they can be rapidly screened to make sure they didn't forget their firearms on their body or carry on bags. Apparently we can enter the Capital building in Austin armed as long as we have an LTC. We ought to be able to get through a TSA line faster.

Politics aside, not all LTC/CCW folks are vetted. So it would be a nightmare to determine which state permits are valid and which are not. Same reasons cops cannot just flash their badge and pass through.

Solaris wrote:

rotor wrote:Long lines at the airports seem to be the big problem this summer. The government allows people to apply for pre-screening through various programs. Apparently these get you to a faster line that doesn't take as long to get through. When I was an active pilot I had to have a TSA pass to get to my plane which was on a secured airport but it wasn't usable at a commercial airport TSA checkin. Why not some legislation that gets LTC holders through the pre-screened line. They have already been vetted, they have photo ID and they can be rapidly screened to make sure they didn't forget their firearms on their body or carry on bags. Apparently we can enter the Capital building in Austin armed as long as we have an LTC. We ought to be able to get through a TSA line faster.

Politics aside, not all LTC/CCW folks are vetted. So it would be a nightmare to determine which state permits are valid and which are not. Same reasons cops cannot just flash their badge and pass through.

Also they vet for different things. Right now our Texas driver's licenses don't even meet the new federal (real ID) standard, though we have a waiver for a few more years.

Additionally, like most things federal the TSA is a hopeless bureaucracy. Hand it back to the states & airlines, like before 9/11. Or suffer more security theater so we can pretend we're safe.

Personal solution- get Precheck as others have stated. Mine was granted at no charge through AA's frequent traveler program.

Solution for TSA (which is nothing more than a failed bureaucracy).

#1> Have someone in front of the TSA agents that are constantly moving people. Having the agent call each person after they are done is a waste of time. It may not seem like much, but when you multiple the 10' each person has to walk after they are called by the thousands of people that come through each day it causes a problem. This is SOP in many other countries.

#2> Have an express lane for those w/o carry on or anything that has to come out of the bag.

#3> Make the conveyor belts in front the Xray machines longer, and have agent moving people past those who haven't flown in a decade and still don't realize that you can't have liquids greater than 3oz. I have a solid system when I approach the belt. Rollaboard first, laptop case second, and if I don't have precheck lap top last. Then when it come out of the machine I can pull my rollaboard off first, slide my laptop case on top of it, and then insert my laptop.

#4>Send TSA agents to other countries for training and observation. I can get through HKIA security, customs, and to my gate in less than 30 minutes. They are doing something right.

steveincowtown wrote:Personal solution- get Precheck as others have stated. Mine was granted at no charge through AA's frequent traveler program.

Same here

This only shows how silly the system is. No vetting, no interview, nothing. We are special snowflakes.

Solaris wrote:

steveincowtown wrote:Personal solution- get Precheck as others have stated. Mine was granted at no charge through AA's frequent traveler program.

Same here

This only shows how silly the system is. No vetting, no interview, nothing. We are special snowflakes.

TSA Pre has become a situation where everyone has it. I also have premium passenger status with one airline and many times that line is considerably shorter than TSA Pre. This is almost always the case in Houston.

I travel a lot and have had more than one bad experience with TSA. I even had one experience where I probably could have presses charges for assault against a TSA agent (I had several witnesses including a police officer and his supervisor, not to mention security cameras).

The bottom line is that they will never be effective as long as they are merely trying to give they perception of being effective. Their screening process is cumbersome at best and there are more effective ways to make air travel safer, but they will never implement them due the stifling bureaucracy that is our federal government.

My last international trip convinced me that elective flying, if you will, is a thing of the past for me.

On that note, I wonder how badly the tourism industry is affected with folks eschewing the TSA hassle?

Hey kids, let's drive to the Grand Canyon.

Do domestic train trips also subject you to TSA theater?

If not and you can afford to take a train, that'd be another way to travel.

txcharvel wrote:

Solaris wrote:

steveincowtown wrote:Personal solution- get Precheck as others have stated. Mine was granted at no charge through AA's frequent traveler program.

Same here

This only shows how silly the system is. No vetting, no interview, nothing. We are special snowflakes.

TSA Pre has become a situation where everyone has it. I also have premium passenger status with one airline and many times that line is considerably shorter than TSA Pre. This is almost always the case in Houston.

Interesting as I have never witnessed this anywhere I fly.

For those that have TSA precheck or global or whatever, is there less vetting than LTC?

txcharvel wrote:

Solaris wrote:

steveincowtown wrote:Personal solution- get Precheck as others have stated. Mine was granted at no charge through AA's frequent traveler program.

Same here

This only shows how silly the system is. No vetting, no interview, nothing. We are special snowflakes.

TSA Pre has become a situation where everyone has it. I also have premium passenger status with one airline and many times that line is considerably shorter than TSA Pre. This is almost always the case in Houston.

I travel a lot and have had more than one bad experience with TSA. I even had one experience where I probably could have presses charges for assault against a TSA agent (I had several witnesses including a police officer and his supervisor, not to mention security cameras).

The bottom line is that they will never be effective as long as they are merely trying to give they perception of being effective. Their screening process is cumbersome at best and there are more effective ways to make air travel safer, but they will never implement them due the stifling bureaucracy that is our federal government.

Houston...groan. Yes, agree. TSA Pre has become crazy now also, well unless they just decide not to be running it at the moment and more times than not you still end up behind an idiot (who seemingly hasn't flow in nearly 20 years) when the lines mix together again. And premium status...well, that also is packed by everyone that now has theirs also. In Houston I've found CLEAR to be the best thing going as I biometric login, then get escorted to the front of the line - and as I have TSA Pre, it is the front of that line. Unfortunately CLEAR is slowly rolling out and isn't yet available for the return at most destinations I have to travel to.

I deal with TSA by not giving my travel money to airlines unless it is absolutely unavoidable. I drove to California on Monday. Spent the night in ABQ and got to Pasadena last night. I didn't have to have my luggage inspected. I carried my gun right up to just before crossing commiefornia's border. Nobody fondled my junk, and there were no lines. Bonus points: I've been on a multi-day play date with my best friend - my wife.

TSA can go blow up for all I care.

I say let the airlines handle security at check points, they have more to lose if something bad happens. Plus anytime the government gets involved with anything there is more red tape and expense.