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The Web Master Harvey

   AIRPORT SECURITY- END “TICKETED PASSENGERS ONLY” AT U.S. AND CANADIAN  AIRPORTS-NOW!!

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Averill

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This was placed on the Airliners

                     Please take my poll @ End Ticketed Passengers Only at Airports Just click

  PLEASE NOTE

Important-ALSO, SAM STICKA, WHO HAS BEEN A LOYAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS SITE ALMOST FROM ITS INCEPTION  WITH THE ENDING OF “TICKETED PASSENGERS ONLY” PLEASE VISIT IT  AT THE ADDRESS BELOW  AND COMMENT  BOTH SITE.  BUT MORE IMPORTANT, SEND THOSE COMMENTS TO THE AIRLINES, AND YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.  THERE IS POWER INNUMBERS!!  SAM’s SITE ADDRESS IS…          http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1076828202#/group.php?gid=147928556411&ref=ts

Sam also has many links to sites I’ve seen but don’t have room to place here.  Read them, they’re good.

Articles, comments, and opinions on this site are NOT in chronological order, but rather in categories; ticketed passengers obviously being number one.  From there, the site goes on to other airport security issues.  The placements of editorials are not less important just because it is further down on the site. This site is updates almost on a daily basis and one must scroll down the page and look at dates because new stories can be placed on any part of the site. You can also look at the side bar to see what has been updated recently, and click the category with the newest updates.  The comment section is at the bottom of the page.  Thank you!

LAST UPDATE 2009-03-30    __________________________________________________

     WHY TICKETED PASSENGERS ONLY SHOULD BE ENDED

www.spittlevixens.com/reen/airportphotos.html

This site is dedicated to the ending of the policy of not allowing visitors (non-passengers) past security checkpoints at airports (ticketed passengers only) in theUnited States and Canada.  This policy was put into effect at all airports after the 9/11 attacks as a “feel good” solution to airport security. But is nothing more than a waste of time using “smoke and mirrors” and, “window dressing” to make people “feel” safer, yet dose nothing to enhance security.  I work for a major airline in Philadelphia, I know!
At this site, we know we are not the only ones who feel this way.  But, there is no organized effort to end this policy in North America.  It is our hope that this site, and others, will help end this ridicules policy and put the gate areas of airports, beyond security, back to an open configuration, (open to the public with no ticket or pass needed to enter). 
Your help is needed.  We hope that the ideas of writers to this site, and our impute, will help in ending this policy; in the short run, we want to help the average citizen and visitors, (meeter and greeters) to the airport, to get “gate passes” to go through security checkpoints, and ultimately to end this “joke” security policy permanently at all North American airports.
Below is an editorial I wrote which was placed in USA Today (in abbreviated form) which will give my reasons and experiences in dealing with “ticketed passengers only”.  Please read it, heed it andHELP!! 

If there is one thing I can’t understand or stand, it’s when government and other officials create senseless rules for our safety.  Since September 11, 2001,  the FAA has comeout with a river of mandates and rules in order to make flying “safer”, and muchmore cumbersome.  Some of these rules make sense such as reinforcing ofcockpit doors, and better background checks of employees with access to the AOA (Air Operation Area) “the Tarmac” or Ramp.  But many are nothing more thanwindow dressing to give the illusion to the public that security is being beefed-up. Noticeably,  National Guard solders stationed at checkpoints with no Police Power or even bullets in their guns back in 2001.  Or, rules allowing tweezers with roundedheads, but prohibiting pointy-head tweezers. Or the formation of a huge new federalburocracy, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).   If the public feels safer with the knowledge that only allowing one cigarette lighter per person past the checkpoint is permissible, then the average citizen, with their skulls full of mush, waiting 1/2 hour or more to go through the checkpoints, deserve what they get with this so called better and “enhanced” security.  At least now, the TSA is allowing certain items through again, like scissor, which I agree with.  And more should be allowed down in
sterile areas which are of limited threat. (but now, no liquids or pastes).   No water!                                                                                                        But there is another security policy, which everyone should be aware of for the farceit is and represents.  It is the taking away of YOUR freedom of movement at your airport.  This useless waste of time and manpower of only allowing persons with tickets past the security screening areas, known as “ticketed passengers only”.

Don’t be fooled, “ticketed passengers only” is NOT a security measure.  The followingis only a partial list as to why this is a waste of time.  I know, I worked as a supervisor at a security checkpoint for five years, and for the last 10 years have worked for a majorairline.

1. Preventing non-passengers (meeters and greeters) from going to gates does not enhance security since all persons must pass through security and clear checkpoint areas. Meeters and greeters make up a small percentage of all pedestrian traffic (10to 15%), and have little if any effect on security, logistically. 

2. Prohibits friends and loved-ones from providing assistance to children (unaccompanied minors), elderly and handicapped persons.  While gate passes may be available, many people do not know the procedure and are unable to obtain one. This is coupled with the fact that airlines are laying-off employees, thus causingeven less assistance to travelers in need. This could also lead to violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act in the U.S.. 

3. Visitors are less likely to be a security threat. They usually do not have large bags and simply walk through the magnetometer.  And at certain slow times of the day, there are no passengers walking through the checkpoint at all.  There is no reason not to let these persons through to the gate area.

4. The Airport, including all gate areas, is public and should be open to all. This procedure is followed in courthouses and other government buildings. “Ticketed passengers only” is an unnecessary and unacceptable restriction of movement, and serves no useful purpose.  It only leads to the inconvenience of everyone.

5. Businesses and Restaurants,  airport malls,  at the airport are seeing afinancial loss due to less revenue because of “ticketed passengers only”.            I work at an airport and can observe first hand what kind of disruption this securitypolicy causes.  Here are just a few situations where I have personally been involved:

1) I had an elderly frail lady of about 80 years of age who came off a flight and was expecting her son to be waiting for her.  Of course he wasn’t because of “ticketed passengers only”.  She only spoke Spanish.  We did find a Spanish-speaking agent and found that the lady did not want to move until her son showed up.  We finally convinced her to get in a cart so I could drive her to security where he was waiting. Needless to say he was not pleased, either.  I told him that he should write to the FAA,now the TSA, seeing it is they who imposed this “stupid” policy.  I also told him that the next time, assuming this policy is still in effect, he should demand a gate pass.  It seems I was the only one who bothered to tell him about these passes.

2) A mentally retarded young lady arrived on a flight from Charlotte.  Her mother could not meet her at the gate, as she was not aware of this policy, and did not knowabout obtaining a gate pass.  At this point the police were called in because the mother was worried about her daughter.  It took almost two hours to find the younglady.  If the mother had been at the gate, this would not have happened.

3) A couple of days later, I was assisting a couple through customs.  Their connectingflight was not until the next morning.  I thought I would take them through security and put them on an electric cart to take them to the hotel, which is connected toterminal B.  Customs is in A.  Stupid me.  They would not let them through securityeven though I was with them because of “ticketed passengers only”, and their tickets were for the following day.  So I had to take them across and outside, in the pouring rain, on the Departure road.

Boy, I’m so glad my friends at the FAA now (TSA) instituted “ticketed passengers only”, for our safety!  The TSA knows that passengers being

escorted by employees with ID’s do not have to show tickets in the first place.

The rules have changed, even if you have an ID, you now need a sticker on it

showing that you are allowed TO escort!

4) A passenger came in from a flight at the bottom of “C” concourse.  He was wheel-chair bound.  Because of staffing shortages, no one was able to wheel him up to baggage claim or at least to security where the party who was to pick him up was waiting. This should not have been a problem.  If the party picking him up was at thegate, they could wheel him up themselves.  But, of course, there is “ticketed passengers only” and they could not help him.  He waited for nearly an hour until someone was able to take him up. I was coming from baggage claim at the end of this incident.  When the family stopped me, and started to “vent” to me about what had happened. All I could tell them was that they had a good ADA claim.  Not againstthe airline, but the government, because it is their policy which the industry mustfollow by government fiat.

5) An unaccompanied minor was terminating at PHL, the parents were not allowedto the gate and no one told them they could get a gate pass.  It took over a half hourto locate them.  They were less than happy.  On this same note, I had another minortermination in Philadelphia.  They were aware that they could get passes but, unbelievably, denied them.  When we found them, they were understandably livid. After I calmed them down and they told me what had happened, I was angry myself.I told them it was my airlines policy to give passes to all who are letting off or picking up minors

6) And this is my personal favourite:  April 25 was National “bring your kids to work day”. But because of “ticketed passengers only” employees were not allowed to bring their children to work.  Their own children, who we can escort through, anyway!  Outrageous!

Did you know that infants and lap-children now need a ticket to get through?  It’s true!  \

These children need boarding passes.  They fly for free, they have no ticket, we have

to print a “gate pass” now so an 8 month year old infant can go through security!!!

How did these terrorists get on the planes in the first place? The fact is that on September 11,  the terrorists, like everyone else, had tickets!  You can’t get on the plane without one.  How would “ticketed passengers only” have stopped them? In fact several of these thugs were picked out for a more thorough check.  But were passed because the knives they had were less than 4 inches long.  Inaccordance with FAA regulations at the time.  Why did everyone come down on thesecurity persons?  They DID their job!  And box cutters were NEVER allowed past security!

And think about this, how many more freedoms do you want taken away, incrementally.If this policy of “ticketed passengers only” is not ended, it will give government technocrats all the excuses they need to implement even more draconian policies, not only at airports, but also in other facets of our lives.

For right now, however, if you need to pick up or drop off anyone at the airport, andif you want to go with them to the gate to see them off, go to the ticket counter andget a gate pass, if they ask “why”, give them any excuse you want.  It is not up to the airlines or FAA/TSA/ CATSA/FBI/RCMP, pick your own alphabet soup agency, to determine what is a “demonstrable handicap” or a”legitimate reason” for you wanting to go to the gate area.  Who are they to pass judgment on what is the premise of giving out a pass.The ADA in the U.S. and other laws are so wildly interpreted that you could say the person you’re picking up is a drunk, which makes them handicapped.  If enough people write the TSA and their Congressional Delegation, or CATSA and their MP’s, in Canada, plus the airlines withcomplaint aftercomplaint, they will get the message.  This policy only causes confusion andproblems; it does not provide added security. It’s very important to have the terminals opened up again. You can still go through security in Federal buildings.  Why not at the airport?  What’sthe difference?

“Ticketed passengers only” might have its place for short periods of time during emergencies.  However, 5 years after the tragedy of September 11, this policy is still being enforced.  At this point it only adds to the problems of the passengers and meeters and greeter.  Also, the loss of revenue for businesses at the airports, such as “restaurants, clothing stores, etc.”  These businesses serve not only passengers but also the people who visit the airports for dining.  Also, the airlines are as responsibleas the TSA and CATSA.  If they would speak out against “ticketed passengers only”,which they won’t, the policy would end in a month.  In many ways, it’s the airlines whom you pay to fly you somewhere, who are also the ones preventing your meeters from being allowed down to the gate to assist you!

Even assuming “ticketed passengers only” is ended, what is needed is  Federal laws,

which makes this policy illegal except for immediate emergency situations. It could be titled the “Freedom of Access Act, of 2009″.

It’s up to you and me to let our voices be heard by e-mail, letters, etc. to the TSA,  ( CATSA)

in Canada and your Congressional Delegation, or MP until this policy of the illusion of security is ended.

Finally, there’s the question of how our nations deal with the critical question of preserving both a reasonable measure of safety with individual rights in general. Striking a balancebetween feeling safe as opposed to being safe, and being free at the same time, is the most tenuous security concern of all.

Averill Hecht Cheltenham, Pa.

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Contact our Webmaster, Harvey at rdhecht@comcast.net 

Oh, please.  Yes, I remember when I felt safe and free, and it was before 9-11 and the creation of the TSA.  If this flag was past security she would need a ticket to salute and pledge allegiance to it.  Do I feel safer; no, not when my rights are taken away to make me safer.  The poster above makes me sick.  It should make you sick too.  This is the kind of propaganda reminiscent of Stalinist Russia.  Don’t let them get away with it!

Ann, Harvey, Sam, Sam,s; and I would like to thank you for visiting our sit, and hope you will get involved in ending the stupid security policy which is “ticketed passengers only”.  Write your Congressman, Senator, M.P., the TSA, CATSA, and your local airport authority.  Ask for “gate passes” at the ticket counter.  Say the person you are picking up is 80 years old and wants you to meet them at the gate.  Military personnel are aloud to have unlimited gate passes issued to friends and family when they are seeing off or meeting a person in uniform.  Why can’t you?!  Are you more of a security risk than them?

Come back and visit us again.  We are always updating the site.  Thanks for your support, and have a great day!   Averill

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