Monday, April 30, 2012

Special lane for frequent flyers

I find airport security check to be a hassle. I hope that this new arrangement can be implemented soon in many airports around the world, including Singapore. http://www.cnbc.com//id/47089179

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6 comments:

Snowy Beagle said...

The key point about being eligible for expedited clearance is not the passenger being a frequent flyer but the passenger voluntarily participate in the scheme.

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/escreening.shtm
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/howitworks.shtm
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/faqs.shtm

Though TSA did not divulge details, it most probably meant the participants, when they signed up for the scheme, agreed to allow the authorities to scrutinise their personal lives and private affairs, in order for the "Risk-Based Security Initiative" to work.

That means your finances, your circle of friends and acquaintances, your private and public dealings, will all be captured, if not monitored, to see whether the computer program highlight any possible risk.

It is PROFILING by another name, something very controversial, regardless its supposed effectiveness.

Discrimination is taboo in USA, so the scheme cannot be open only to frequent flyers which the poorer folks may not be eligible for, hence they have an open participation, for now.

Another consideration is cost - TSA has an annual USD8.1B budget.

BTW, the scheme is only open to US citizens, or at least Green Card holders.

Singapore's security checks is already very much leaner than the US. Based on the details provided on the TSA website, the supposed expedited clearance in the US is the same as Singapore's current measures, or even more.

April 30, 2012 4:01 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...

Dear Snowy Beagle,
This arrangement is fine. I will be happy to apply to be given special clearance. I know that I am not a terrorist and wish to be cleared once, and not be subject to the hassle every time that I travel.

I accept the screening arrangement, which is voluntary anyway. It is a "common sense" arrangement.

May 01, 2012 8:59 AM
Snowy Beagle said...

Dear Mr Tan,

What specific hassle do you hope to avoid in the case of flying out from Singapore?

As per TSA's website, being on this scheme only means being on a special lane where the pax are not *AUTOMATICALLY* required to remove
1. Shoes
2. 3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on
3. Laptop from bag
4. Light outerwear/jacket
5. Belt

Those in this scheme will still be subject to random checks to remove shoes etc.

The luckier ones will not need to remove shoes etc., but will still need to go through the normal hassle of carry-on bag x-ray and metal detection screening.

On the other hand, in Singapore, passengers at Changi are already not required to remove shoes, laptop, jacket or belt etc., unless they got picked up randomly.

But all will need to go through carryon bag x-ray and metal detector screening.

These 2 are most basic security screenings that no passenger will ever be exempted from, unless you're a government minister or diplomat or official royalty.

In other words, Mr Tan, there is no more measure the Singapore authorities can dispense for non-official travellers.

There're probably still some domestic airports in countries like Indonesia where a passenger can board the plane without x-raying their carryon or go through metal detector - that is not expedited clearance - that is no screening at all.

May 02, 2012 10:35 AM
Tan Kin Lian said...

@Snowy. I find, after removing all the metalic items from the pockets, the screening gate still beep and I get an individual screening. It is troublesome that I now prefer to leave these items in the pocket and go through the individual check.

Our security personnel in Singapore apply rules mindlessly - which is typical of Singapore culture. The rules are written to be excessively cautious and are then implemented even more rigidly.

I have gone through many airports and the process is less troublesome.

If our VIPs are required to go through the same hassle, you can be sure that these unnecessary hassle will be removed. But, sadly, the VIPs are treated differently in Singapore from the ordinary people (99.99%), so we have to bear with the nonsense.





The security check in Singapore is

May 02, 2012 1:00 PM
Snowy Beagle said...

I see what you're referring to.

Unfortunately, from the description given in the TSA website, even American citizens who participate in the expedited clearance lane will also be subjected to the same metal detector that you are subjected to in Singapore.

Personally, if I remember, I put all my metal objects in the carry-on so that my body will not set off the metal detector.

The only alternative to this is the full-body 3D scanner that was piloted in US, but many passenger object because it reveals the real life contours of the person in vivid details.

Singapore is not the only country that exempt government ministers and diplomats from such screening - every country does it in their public airports.

May 02, 2012 3:18 PM
Vincent Sear said...

Most of the 9/11 terrorists were frequent flyers sent on routine flights to get used to the routes.

May 07, 2012 11:40 PM

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