June 5, 2013 I saw this article on CNN.com and thought I’d share it with you.
How Safe Is Your Carry-On Bag?
Do you give much thought to your bags while on the plane? Do anything in particular to protect your belongings?
Personally, I lock my bag before it goes in the overhead and I take anything of value that I keep by my seat with me I get up.
May 7, 2013 Twenty nine baggage handlers for Alitalia were recently arrested in Italy when cameras caught them stealing from passengers’ luggage.
Hidden cameras were placed in the cargo hold of numerous Alitalia aircraft—the one place the baggage handlers felt they were safe from scrutiny. The arrests were made at seven different airports in Italy, including in Rome, and an additional 57 are being questioned.
Here’s a video of the thieves in action:
Still want to check your bag? If you do, at least carry your valuables with you on the plane.
1 Comment | in Air travel news, Security | Email Article | Share Article | Print Article | Permalink April 22, 2013 You may remember in early March we reported that the TSA was going to allow passengers to carry knives less than 2 1/3 inches long bag onto planes starting this Thursday.
Well, don’t rush to pack that “shiv.”
After much opposition, from flight attendants, air marshalls, and much of the general public, the TSA has decided to postpone their decision to allow greater feedback to their plans to change policy.
The delay also means no golf clubs, ski poles or baseball bats.
March 6, 2013 By now, most of you have heard that the TSA is changing some of its rules to allow very small knives and some bats, golf clubs and hockey sticks in carry-ons so they can spend time looking for more serious weapons and explosives.
You can read about it, and see photos of what you can and can’t take, on The TSA Blog.
How did I learn about it? From our own Reader’s Forum. That’s right, one of our reader’s posted it before I even got a chance to see it on my news feed. So, I’ll give credit where credit is due and link to the lively discussion about this decision:
One Bag, One World Reader’s Forum
By the way, I realized that some of you who read this blog dont’ know we have a Reader’s Forum where anyone can start or take part in any number of interesting discussions related to one bag travel. If you haven’t visited, I hope you will.
January 21, 2013 As anyone who reads my reviews or thoughts knows, I’m a big proponent of security while traveling. One of the basics is to protect the money I’m carrying. That’s why I thought a recently published USA Today article on the “Best Ways To Carry Money While Traveling” would be interesting to our readers.
My number one suggestion is to always wear a moneybelt. So many people either use them incorrectly, wear them incorrectly, or have used only one type and don’t like it. You can find an article I wrote on the subject here.
Besides the information found in these two articles, what other ways have you found to secure your belongings?
January 18, 2013 The TSA has announced that all body imaging machines, that show nude pictures of the people going through them, will be removed by June of this year.
That’s when the Congressionall rule goes into effect mandating all scanners be the non-imaging Automated Target Recognition software that only shows a generic outline of the body.
Rapiscan, the makers of the body imaging machines to be removed said they would not be able to convert theirs by this June. In response, the TSA has cancelled its contract with the company.
TSA believes that using the newer technology machines will speed up security lines.
October 19, 2012 The TSA has started to remove x-ray machines, known as Backscatters, from some larger U.S. airports. They will be replaced by millimeter wave machines.
The x-ray machines came under fire because they not only emitted radiation, which at high doses can cause health problems, but also because they displayed a “nude” image of the passenger being screened.
The newer machines are deemed safer than the x-ray and produce a cartoon like image of the passenger rather than a nude photo.
The TSA says the reason the change is occurring is that the newer machines can process people faster and that will shorten wait time.
The x-ray machines removed from the larger airports are being redeployed to smaller ones.
Don’t think the TSA is ruling out x-ray backscatter technology. Recently, it awarded three new contracts for newer model machines, one of which uses the backscatter technology.
Did I mention that the European Union has banned this type of machine because of health concerns?
September 12, 2012 Yesterday was the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It was interesting that it would be the day a group of House Republicans, all members of the Homeland Security subcommittee, issued a reports suggesting TSA reduce the number of patdowns on passengers, reduce its size, and turn over much of its work to private companies.
Sadly, we’ve heard all of this before and in my personal opinion, nothing will get done.
We are one of the few countries left where shoes must be taken off while going through security. Most countries don’t have a problem with us leaving them on. Here, the equipment that’s supposed to make this practice obsolete, failed testing. Yet, overseas, it works fine.
Other countries don’t find it necessary to do so invasive a patdown that I feel as if I need a cigarette afterwards and should ask “was it good for you.”
Security is important and we can’t get rid of it altogether. But we must stop this show, this outright disrespect towards passengers, and the complete invasion of our privacy and rights just to make the skies safer. If I’m being questioned by an airport security officer, it is none of their business where I’m staying or who I’m seeing. Yet if I don’t answer their questions,or give names (McCarthyism?), and politely explain why, they probably won’t let me fly and may even have me arrested.
There has to be a better way.
July 18, 2012 Later this summer, the TSA will make a major change to its policy: it will finally allow snow globes to be packed in carry-on luggage.
There are some restrictions. The show globes must be placed inside the 3-1-1 bag and contain no more than 3.2 ounces of liquid which is about the size of a tennis ball.
I kid you not.
March 27, 2012 Quite often, I get a lecture from a traveler, as to why they always check a bag even if it’s small enough to be carried onto the plane.
“Why should I lug that bag through the airport especially if my airline offers free checking?” they ask. “After all, I’ve never had a problem.”
Yet.
This news story shocked me as to the magnitude of the problem of baggage theft. And it’s not just going on at one airport.
JFK gets upwards of 200 bag thefts a day.
Perhaps we should change the slogan from “Keep calm and carry-on” to “Out of sight, out of luck.”
I’ll continue to pack light and carry on.
March 6, 2012 I understand that it’s important to protect our skies from people meant to do us harm. But occasionally, I question the tactics the TSA uses to get this job done.
One of my biggest problems, and not just mine, is the use of different types of xray machines that can see under our clothing. Not only is this an invasion of my privacy but I often question just how good a job they do. Sure, the TSA is now concerned that someone might take a non-metallic explosive on board, but are these new machines really the answer? How about bomb sniffing dogs or trace detection machines—both of which work extremely well without invading our privacy—in addition to the good old metal detector?
I wonder if these machines are being used for political reasons such as the fact that the lobbying firm owned by Michael Chertoff, former head of Homeland Security, represents the main manufacturer of the xray machines or the fact that some members of Congress are stockholders.
Either way, perhaps the video on this website will answer my main question: can the xray machines be beaten?
I understand that protecting our skies from terrorists is a tough job. And I thank those who are dedicated to doing that. But instead of buying products from the company with the biggest check book, how about listening to the real experts and follow their advice. We, as honest American citizens, will thank you for it.
February 12, 2012 I admit that I’m one of those people who now relies on technology for most aspects of my life. I do business online, pay my bills online, manage my investments online, communicate online and well, basically, run my life online.
However, this weekend, I read an a article in the New York Times entitled Traveling Light In A Time Of Digital Thievery.”
While the majority of the article is about how business people and some government workers have to take extra precaution in some countries they visit to ward of electronic eavesdropping and thievery, it got me wondering—how much does a leisure traveler have to worry about the same things?
When I first started to seriously travel, there was no internet, email, cellphones,smartphones, tablets or the like. Every day I had to call my answering service to see if anyone needed me. If an important message was left, the only option was to call. In most cases, problems would have to wait until I got home.
Not anymore. I can instantly get in touch with almost anyone anywhere without having to actually talk to them. I can buy or trade stocks via my broker’s app, I can respond to emails or text messages, or even “chat” live, I can take care of banking business, edit this website, and if need be even talk to someone—and all via my smartphone. I don’t even need a computer.
But is it now safe to do that? Is it better to use a smartphone or a regular computer? How much difference does a tablet have over these other devices? Is using an app to connect safer than using the smartphone or tablet browser? Or are they all susceptible to hacking?
If it isn’t safe to log on to take care of personal business why bother taking any of these devices with me? But if I don’t, how do I, in this world of cyberspace, keep everything going?
Where is it safe to log on when away from home or office? Should I preload passwords so I automatically log onto a site when I go to it, or is it safer not to? But if I don’t, and I type it in, can someone then steal that password?
I don’t have the answer to these questions. Not being able to “connect” for two or three weeks at a time isn’t realistic.. I guess I’m just going to have to chance it and do the best I can.
But what about all of you? Do any of you take precautions against cybertheft while traveling and what are they? This is an area, I believe, more and more people need to think about.
September 6, 2011 Homeland Security Czar Janet Napolitano and TSA head-honcho John Pistole both stated in separate appearances that we’re moving towards an intelligence and risk-based approach to how we screen airline passengers.
Because of this new approach, and thanks to new technology, we may soon not have to take our shoes and belts off while going through airport security. This is similar to what is done in most of the world.
In nearly 10 years since Richard Reid, the infamous “shoebomber,” tried to carry explosives in his shoes, not one person going through security has tried the same thing.
However, no specific date for the change was mentioned.
Both also went on to say that one of the last restrictions to be lifted will be the one on liquids. Technology is far off on this one according to Napolitano.
It looks like we’re stuck with the 3-1-1 bag for quite some time. But, every little bit helps
(Frank II)
August 3, 2011 The TSA will soon begin an enhanced Behavioral Detection program in Boston where specially trained officers will engage is conversation with all passsengers once they enter the screening process.
After watching the interview below, I have to ask: what would happen if, politely, we explained we preferred not telling a representative of the government about our travel plans, who we’re seeing, why we’re traveling, what we do, etc? They claim it’s not the actual answer they’re interested in but how we respond. If that’s the case, will we be “punished” for refusing. Or, should we be required to answer any question in the name of security?
Just how much privacy are we required to give up to fly?
TSA at Boston’s Logan Airport testing ‘behavior detection’ approach: MyFoxBOSTON.com
(Frank II)
July 13, 2011 Money belts seems to be a one sided issue for most people: either you use them or think they are completely ridiculous.
Ever since I started traveling seriously, I’ve been wearing a moneybelt. I’ve seen too many people who were vicitms of pickpocketing, and the hassle it causes not to wear one.
Yet most don’t wear or use them correctly. Here is a primer on moneybelts:
First, what we are talking about is not the belt with the hidden zippered pocket for a couple of bills.
A moneybelt is always worn UNDERNEATH your clothing. It is not your primary daily source for money, credit cards, etc. Think of a moneybelt as deep storage. You only access it in private when no one is around. In it I keep extra money, credit cards, debit cards, my passport, train/plane tickets (although these are becoming rare), or any other document I want to safeguard.
In my FRONT pants pocket is a wallet with a small amount of cash and perhaps one credit card. This is what I use for purchases. If I should get pickpocketed, the thief won’t get much. Women might want to carry the wallet in their purse but the principle is the same…only enough for the day.
There are four types of moneybelts:
1) The type worn around the waist.
This one is the most popular and can be worn either in front or in the small of your back—whichever you find more comfortable.
2) The Hidden Pocket
This is one for people who wear belts. The pocket has loops that a belt goes through and then the entire thing hangs down inside your pant leg. (This is the one I use and find the most comfortable.) Some women have told me they use this type but instead of a belt, they put a safety pin through the belt loops and pin it to the inside of either their pants.
3) The neck wallet.
This is usually worn a around the neck but some wear it messenger style with the actual wallet underneath one of the arms.
4) The Leg Stash
This one is worn around the lower leg.(I like this the least for as the day wears on, my leg tends to either perspire or my calf muscle would flex and the wallet would drop down around my ankles.)
One other bit of advice. As the day wears on, these moneybelts tend to get wet due to body moisture. I’d suggest that you first put anything you plan to carry in the money belt into a small ziploc bag to keep moisture out.
The photos here show models made by Rick Steves and Eagle Creek. I’ve used both and find them functional and comfortable. Pacsafe is making some with extra security and I’ll have a review shortly.
Whether you use them or not is a personal choice. But if someone asked me, I’d say it’s one of the most important items you can take with you on any trip. It gives me piece of mind knowing the likelihood of having to waste a day either getting my passport replaced or filling out police paperwork is greatly reduced.
(Frank II)
