Carry-on fee ban: the bill

Two US senators have introduced a bill to ban carry-on bag fees and clarify à la carte fee schemes. 

Cardin and Landrieu’s “Free of Fees for Carry-On Act” would require airlines to:

• Not charge fees for carry-on bags that fall within their set rules on size, weight and number of bags;
• Make detailed information about the weight, size and number of carry-on bags allowed available to passengers before they arrive at the airport for a scheduled flight;
• Provide a public list of all passenger fees and charges, including ones for checked, oversize or heavy bags; food and drink; exit row seats and other preferred seats within a class; buying tickets from an airline ticket agent or a travel agency. - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad about this. The intent is good. On the other hand, this is one more frontier of ineptitude and inefficiency for our growing-like-Topsy federal government.

Carry-on fee reax

U.S. TRANSPORTATION SEC. LAHOOD - “I think it’s a bit outrageous that an airline is going to charge someone to carry on a bag and put it in the overhead,” LaHood told Christopher Elliott, National Geographic Traveler’s ombudsman, and Charlie Leocha, president of the Consumer Travel Alliance, for an interview published Thursday. “And I’ve told our people to try and figure out a way to mitigate that. I think it’s ridiculous.” - seattlepi.com

AGAINST - “None of the major carriers claim to be contemplating charges on carry-on bags, but there is no doubt they will be looking at how the scheme affects Spirit’s bottom line.” - SF Chronicle editorial

JUSTIFIED - “The personal item is free. And the bag will be $20 or $30, but your fare is down by $40 or more, so the tradeoff is great…You know, the people who are outraged at this, Neil, you know who they are? They’re the people who fly other airlines and are used to being charged $500 to $1,000 for their fare. And they say, I don’t want my airline to charge me for a carry-on, when I’m paying them $600 to get on the airplane.” - Spirit CEO on Fox

AUSSIE CARRIER CONSIDERS - “Tiger Airways has refused to rule out charging for carry-on luggage after US-based Spirit Airlines became the first to slug passengers for the privilege.” - The Australian

SENATOR CONDEMNS - Low-cost U.S. airline Spirit’s “absurd” move to charge for some carry-on luggage shows the need for legislation to force full disclosure of all such fees and charges, a U.S. Senator said …“This is getting absurd. What will the airlines think up next, a fee for reclining your seat?” said Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, lead author of a measure to require airline and travel websites to provide such information to travelers before they book their tickets. - China Post

Your luggage, their profit/loss

It’s luggage to you, it’s profit or loss for the airlines, per New York Times:

At the same time, passengers are now checking fewer, and lighter, bags to avoid the extra fees for heavy suitcases. As a result, the airlines have not been losing as many bags, and baggage handlers appear to be suffering fewer injuries.

In addition, the airlines now have more space available for cargo, which sells at a higher rate than a checked bag. “Freight makes a significant contribution to the bottom line of passenger airlines,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, chairman of the International Air Cargo Association. The revenue potential “cannot be ignored,” he added.

A baggage report released last month from SITA, an aviation information technology company that studies trends in passenger baggage, found that one in four passengers chose not to check bags last year, compared with one in six in 2008 — the first year virtually all the major airlines imposed the fees.

Travel (drink) light, pay to pee is back?

“Ryanair is determined to incentivise passengers to travel light this summer by increasing our checked-in baggage fees for the months of July and August only. These baggage fees, which are avoidable by passengers, will apply to bookings made after midnight (24:00hrs) Wednesday for travel in July and August.  From 1^st September the checked-in bag fee will return to its current level of €15. Over 70% of all Ryanair passengers will be unaffected by these changes because they travel with no checked-in bags.” - Ryanair’s Steve McNamara

All well and good, compared to Spirit. But…

In an interview on BBC television this morning, Mr (Michael) O’Leary said that the low-cost airline was looking at the possibility of installing a coin slot on the lavatory door so that “people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny.” - telegraph.co.uk

But, consider the source, says O’Leary’s flack:

Later, Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: “Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce it.

I won’t believe it when I don’t see it. There’s more than one way to skin an airline customer.

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

O’NO - click pic to ready Daily Mail blog slam

Paying for overhead, oh no!

It has begun: carry-on bag fees. Spirit will begin charging for bags that will not fit under the seat:

Not a good trend; this will open the door for the rest of the carriers to do this. Click here for the fairly complicated policy. They’ll have fun enforcing it!

The free under-seat bag must be 16x14x12 or smaller.

USA Today Today in the Sky blog:

Basic carry-on items — things like a purse or laptop bag — can still be brought on for free, but only if they measure 16” by 14” by 12” and can fit underneath the seat in front of you. The carrier apparently will have new bag sizers at its gates to help enforce its policy,  The Wall Street Journal reports. 

Scott McCartney, The Middle Seat columnist at the Journal, explains what boarding will look like: “Passengers who have paid for carry-on bags will board first. Those that haven’t paid will be warned–their boarding pass will say ‘No Carry-On Bags.’ Once the first group has boarded, it will be easy for gate agents to police the fee rule during boarding, Spirit says.” Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza tells McCartney:  “After Zone 1 is on, there are no more carry-on bags. If you have one, you’ll have to pull out your credit card and pay at the gate.”

WSJ Middle Seat:

One advantage of fees for carry-on bags is that they’ll likely discourage fellow passengers from boarding planes like pack mules. Spirit’s chairman and chief executive, Ben Baldanza, says fees for checked baggage upset the balance between carry-on and checked items as passengers tried to avoid checked-baggage fees. The carry-on fee, he said, “will make our boarding faster and easier.”

Thanks, Ben. No, really - thanks alot. We all grant the “pack mule” problem, but there are rules to deal with that. Apparently enforcing rules is more attractive to the carriers when the penalty for violation is a hefty charge, er, profit.

—

(Thanks to Buzz for the tip on this one)

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Three reasons we should be thankful for this? Maybe, if it really drove down ticket prices and emptied bins. My fear is it just opens wide a door that cannot be shut.

How do you pat down for this?

The British Sun tabloid says MI5 has some really bad news: Terrorists may employ explosive breast and buttock implants. This renders nearly every detection device and technique useless…

The shocking new al-Qaeda tactic involves radical doctors inserting the explosives in women’s breasts during plastic surgery — making them “virtually impossible to detect by the usual airport scanning machines”.

It is believed the doctors have been trained at some of Britain’s leading teaching hospitals before returning to their own countries to perform the surgical procedures.

MI5 has also discovered that extremists are inserting the explosives into the buttocks of some male suicide bombers. - thesun.co.uk

Update on March 29, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

This just in from the Dept. of the Bloody Obvious:

“Napolitano acknowledged that intruding on air travelers’ privacy could be interpreted as a propaganda victory for terrorists.” 

News nuggets

• Obama’s TSA pick favors Israeli-style profiling
• The TSA may be tracking your phone/mobile device — all in the interests of better service

Shoes, refusals, and bins

A few Friday stories of interest:

SHOES

In an attempt to put an end to the frustration of trying to get cleared for a flight at the airport and make the trip through security a little smoother, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is looking to revive an old idea which would handle checking footwear.

Since 2001, the TSA has pushed to have passengers remove their shoes after Richard Reid tried to ignite explosives in his boots on a flight heading to the United States.  By 2006, show removal was mandatory after another failed attempt to blow up planes with liquid explosives.

With close to a dozen companies developing shoe scanning machines, the TSA has stated that it is in the process of buying 100 of these innovative pieces of technology by 2011.  - hiphopwired.com

REFUSAL

Two Muslim women in the United Kingdom refused a full-body scan at an airport, becoming the first fliers to do so, the Daily Mail reports.

The women were traveling together to Islamabad when they were selected at random by security officials to be screened with the full-body scanner.

According to the London newspaper, one of the women refused to pass through because of religious objections, while the other cited medical reasons. - nydailynews.com

BINS

Before I could wipe the stunned look off my face, Mr. Wu hoisted my compact but fairly heavy suitcase stuffed with shoes, books and too many clothes, and gingerly stowed it above my seat. Thanks Larry! Then he proceeded to do the same for other harried passengers as they boarded.

It’s not standard Virgin America procedure but Mr. Wu said it helps speed up the boarding and deplaning process. “I get my workout for the day and people are happy,” he said. He can generally fit more bags in the overhead bins by skillfully flipping them sideways or piling them on top of one another, like a game of Tetris.  And he can help ensure passengers don’t bilk the system by placing their bag at the front of the plane when they are seated farther back. - NYT

Update on March 4, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

USA Today on the shoe scanners…

Update on March 4, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Profs propose profiling

Take time to read the whole story, even if you’re skeptical…

“The biggest challenge is that we are trying to find a needle in a haystack because the fraction of criminals in the population is very small,” Cavusoglu said. “What we say is that it’s not enough to have a screening system, but if the screening system and profiler complement one another, we have a better shot at finding the needle.”

Although previous studies explore the effectiveness of profiling, Raghunathan says this is the first major study that examines how profiling can work with screening devices to create a system that balances the needs of airlines with that of customers. The UT Dallas professors began looking for a security system that provides the benefits of catching attackers while effectively outweighing the costs – in money, time, inconvenience, privacy, and liberties. - entire story at Pegasus News

Pope bashes body scans

Even the Roman pontiff is speaking out against the latest prop in security theater:

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out against airport body scanners, insisting that “human dignity must be preserved.”

Although the pontiff did not use the words “body scanner” during the audience with airport workers, it was clear what he meant as he said: “It is above all essential to protect and value the human person in their integrity.”

Acknowledging that airports were in the forefront of the terrorist threat and suffering economically, he added: “Even in this situation, one must never forget that respecting the primacy of the human person and attention to his or her needs does not make the service less efficient nor penalize economic management.” - National Post

Update on February 23, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

by Matt, telegraph.co.uk

Euro baggies here to stay

European airports will keep restrictions on liquids carried onto aircraft for another three years because the rollout of scanning technology is behind schedule, EU nations have agreed.

The 27 European Union nations have reached agreement to maintain the restrictions on carry-on liquids until April 2013, a European Council document showed Wednesday.

Under the agreement “all airports must have the capacity to screen those products by April 29, 2013.” - AFP via Vancouver Sun

Never fear; the US will help the Euros develop another equally irritating jump-through hoop by 2013. 

Attack of the swabs

USA Today reports that roving bands of swab-wielding TSA agents will make “random” explosive residue checks of carry-on luggage at and around checkpoints and gates. Pack neatly so as not to inconvenience our public servants.

Update on February 17, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Apparently the prime target for swabbing will be your grubby little hands:

Security experts consulted by CNN said swabbing hands is a good move, and privacy advocates said they support the new swabbing protocols, provided the agency tests only for security-related objects and does not discriminate when it selects people to be tested.

It’s a “very good idea,” said security expert Tony Fainberg. TSA screeners currently swab luggage handles and parts of bags that are likely be contaminated by human hands, he said, and swabbing a person’s hands increases the chances of finding explosive materials. “Looking at the hands means you will probably get a better dose,” he said. - CNN

Update on February 18, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

TSA official presser:

TSA Expands Use of Explosive Trace Detection Technology at Airports Nationwide

Press Release

February 17, 2010

WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it is expanding the random use of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) technology at airports nationwide as an additional layer of security.

“Explosive Trace Detection technology is a critical tool in our ability to stay ahead of evolving threats to aviation security,” said TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides. “Expanding the use of this technology at checkpoints and at departure gates greatly enhances security to keep the traveling public safe.”

Since the Christmas Day failed attack TSA has increased its random use of ETD technology within security checkpoints to screen passengers’ hands and carry-on luggage. In addition, TSA piloted the use of ETD technology in both the checkpoint queue and boarding areas for two weeks at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Pitt-Greenville and Coastal Carolina Regional Airports in North Carolina.

Passengers can now expect to see the increased random use of ETD technology in areas where TSA currently conducts screening such as the security checkpoint, as well as in the checkpoint queue, and boarding areas. Officers may swab a piece of luggage or passengers’ hands, then use ETD technology to test for explosives. The swab is placed inside the ETD unit which analyzes the content for the presence of potential explosive residue. To ensure the health of travelers, screening swabs are disposed of after each use. Since it will be used on a random basis, passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport or each time they travel.

To date, the Department has awarded $15 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for 400 fixed ETD units. Additionally, President Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget prioritizes key investments in aviation security, including $39 million to purchase approximately 800 portable ETD machines.

Shocked, SHOCKED! (Scammed?)

The TSA says the “story” that was the basis for the following post is a fabrication. I was skeptical from the beginning but couldn’t pass on the entertainment value (note my question mark on the caption). Unfortunately, the level of trust between travelers and the security agencies is so low that we are ready to disbelieve them almost reflexively. The TSA says:

A rumor is going around that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan had an Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) image of himself leaked by UK Security officers at Heathrow. This rumor, though juicy, is unfounded.

TSA reached out to the UK’s Department for Transport (DFT) and learned that, just like advanced imaging technology machines in U.S. airports, they do not have printers or the ability to store images in the airport setting.

Additionally, DFT pointed TSA to the source of the rumor: an interview with BBCs Jonathan Ross. Though he doesn’t explicitly say that he’s joking, we can confirm in all seriousness that the machines don’t do what he jokingly describes.

Original post:

Like Casablanca’s Captain Renault I’m sincerely SHOCKED at this one (not):

Claims on behalf of authorities that naked body scanner images are immediately destroyed after passengers pass through new x-ray backscatter devices have been proven fraudulent after it was revealed that naked images of Indian film star Shahrukh Khan were printed out and circulated by airport staff at Heathrow in London. - Prison Planet

KHAN SCAN?Wow, that didn’t take long. Thankfully, most of us aren’t desirable or bizarre enough to warrant such attention. Doesn’t make it any more pleasant though, does it? OK, actually Khan didn’t seem to mind since he supposedly signed the printouts for airport workers (SEE VIDEO BELOW).

Update on February 12, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Raise your arms and smile

Invasion of the body scanners:

Body scanners that look under airline passengers’ clothing for hidden weapons could be in nearly half the nation’s airport checkpoints by late 2011, according to an Obama administration plan announced Monday.

The $215 million proposal to acquire 500 scanners next year, combined with the 450 to be bought this year, marks the largest addition of airport-security equipment since immediately after the 9/11 attacks. There are only 40 body scanners in a total of 19 airports now. - USA TODAY

And, chillingly, a USA Today/Gallup poll says 78% of respondents are “OK with TSA full-body scanners.”

WANTED: Lightweight blankies

MAGELLAN’S 12 OZ. OFFERINGWith American Airlines charging $8 for a blanket and pillow combo in coach, the next need for the cold-natured light traveler may just be a super-light travel blanket. Let the search begin. Share your suggestions.

Frequent fryers

As we embark on the era of no scan/no fly:

Pregnant women and children should not be subject to scanning, even though the radiation dose from body scanners is “extremely small,” said the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety report, which is restricted to the agencies concerned and not meant for public circulation. The group includes the European Commission, International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Energy Agency and the World Health Organization.

A more accurate assessment about the health risks of the screening won’t be possible until governments decide whether all passengers will be systematically scanned or randomly selected, the report said. Governments must justify the additional risk posed to passengers, and should consider “other techniques to achieve the same end without the use of ionizing radiation.” - Bloomberg 

Stangely enough, I know a scientist who works with one of the groups mentioned above. This person mentioned this very issue just two days ago when I asked them about a recent trip and whether they had been body scanned. I see a future workplace safety issue here. Lawyers take note.

Update on February 5, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

(NOT ME)Rodale:

In an American College of Radiology release, Mayo Clinic neuroradiologist Peter Kalina, MD, voices concerns over machine maintenance and record keeping, particularly if developing countries adopt the security practice. “As a traveler, I don’t know who’s checked that machine or equipment. Can I be sure there won’t be a larger dose of radiation coming from it?” Dr. Kalina asks.

No scan, no seat

New security rules took effect today at two major British airports that require selected passengers to undergo full body scans. If they refuse, they will not be allowed to board a flight. - AOL

Daily Mail: 

Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 will see the scanners implemented in the next few weeks.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘We understand the concerns expressed about privacy in relation to the deployment of body scanners, which is why we have drawn up a code of practice for their use.

‘This will ensure operators are separated from the passengers being screened, and these anonymous images are destroyed after scanning is complete.’

And the case of “scan everybody” advocates will be bolstered by this unsettling possibility: breast implants of death.

 

Wee fee, monsieur

Cut-rate Irish carrier Ryanair’s rascally CEO is at it again. According to the Irish Times:

“Ryanair says it will press ahead with plans to charge passengers to use its aircraft’s toilets. Despite admitting its announcement last year that it might install coin-operated facilities was a publicity stunt, chief executive Michael O’Leary is now revisiting the issue, according to the airline.

Ryanair would also like to remove the two toilets at the back of each aircraft, leaving only one on board and creating room for six extra seats.

In its in-flight magazine the airline described the coin-operated toilets as a “cost saving proposal” that would help reduce fares by at least 5 per cent.” (Headline for this story: Cross your legs)

This scheme was represented as a stunt earlier; it may have just been portrayed that way after the idea was universally urinated upon. Who knows this time? Go easy on the Guinness, I guess, unless you have a pocket full of change of the right type.

Canada lifts carry-on ban

The Canadian ban is over:

(Canada Air Transport News Release) OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird today announced that airline passengers who are travelling to the United States are now permitted to bring one carry-on bag with some small exceptions. This new measure replaces the temporary restriction on carry-on bags introduced as a result of the December 25, 2009 security incident on Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Following the incident, Transport Canada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) accelerated its actions to protect air travellers. In addition to introducing carry-on bag restrictions, Transport Canada quickly took action to issue security notices, invest in full body scanners and announce our intention to implement a screening method known as behaviour pattern recognition.

The new one carry-on bag rule takes effect on January 20, 2010 in all Canadian airports. Details are provided in the attached fact sheet.

“The Government of Canada is strongly committed to ensuring that air travel is safe and secure, but also to ensure passengers have a reasonable level of comfort and convenience during their trips,” said Baird. “The public has been extremely patient and cooperative with the measures mandated by the United States. Effective today, there is a new and practical carry-on rule for passengers travelling to the United States, which upholds important security considerations.”

The new rule modifies restrictions in place for flights to the United States only and does not have an impact on passengers travelling within Canada or to an international destination. 

As a general rule, passengers are reminded to check with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (www.catsa.gc.ca) or their airline for items that are permitted in carry-on luggage.

Fact sheet:

Transport Canada now permits one small carry-on bag for airline passengers who are travelling to the United States. This carry-on bag must not exceed a size of 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (9 in x 16 in x 22 in), which is equivalent to the size of a small gym bag. The carry-on bag must fit into an airport’s carry-on baggage sizer.

Items such as reading material, personal electronics, and medications must be stored in the passenger’s carry-on bag, and packed prior to the security check.

As always, the Government of Canada is ensuring that exceptions are made to accommodate travellers with medical conditions or travelling with small children:

• A cane, walker, crutches or other life-sustaining items may be carried in addition to the carry-on bag.
• Medical equipment (oxygen tank, doctor’s bag) may be carried in addition to the carry-on bag.
• Diaper bags and other essential items for those carrying infants may be carried in addition to the carry-on bag.

Exemptions Include:

One of the following will be permitted in addition to the carry-on bag:

• a purse or laptop or briefcase or camera bag;
• a musical instrument;
• pets;
• all duty free items purchased after the security check.

Update on January 22, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Purse-cution?

But, what about a purse? The short answer: Yes, but CATSA is still having purse-cution issues. The latest regulations state a purse must be “small,” which CATSA spokeman Mathieu Larocque says is “a little smaller than a laptop,” about the size of a football.

Now, set aside the fact women are prevented from carrying on purses as big as laptop bags. Purses are often soft – the size and volume changes depending on how they’re handled. So, will your almost-empty bigger bag be allowed, if it can be folded to football size?

That will be up to the individual CATSA agents who should be seen as the rough equivalents of border guards. What they say goes – simple as that. - Globe and Mail

Disturbing news...35% favor ban

A new TripAdvisor survey reveals some disturbing findings:

“Seventy-seven percent of travelers said they would rather have enhanced airport screenings, even if it meant longer lines at the airport. Thirty-five percent of travelers said they would favor a ban on carry-on luggage if it would make flights more secure.” - full text of press release

The survey also says 82% favor some form of profiling.

And, from the TripAdvisor blog, on scanners:

We polled more than 2,200 people last week, asking  if they would be comfortable with U.S. airports using full body scanners that can see through clothing.  A resounding 78% said yes, scanners would enhance security.  The remaining 22% felt it was too much of an invasion of privacy.  Looks like the majority will feel more secure, as we’re likely to see 500 or so machines in play at U.S. airports by the end of this year, and many European countries — including the U.K., the Netherlands, France, and Germany — move closer to implementing mandatory scans. - read post