Margaret Ruling & Catherine Odson
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TSA attitude too much for average Americans
By Margaret Ruling & Catherine Odson
Dear Transportation Security Administration,
We regret to inform you that we wish to replace you as airport security.
It’s not that we don’t appreciate your efforts to keep America’s airports safe — we do — but we don’t like the way you do it. In other words, we don’t like your attitude.
Airport security regulations have been fluidly changing over the past seven years, and for good reason. But passengers have a hard time keeping up, and travelers deserve some help. This became apparent during Catherine’s trip to Washington, D.C., last week
Some ropes to show where lines should form would be a nice start. And how about some handy placards before everyone puts their stuff on the conveyer belt? We don’t know what a “laptop with friends” is when you start laughing at us. (We were thinking a computer with episodes of the popular sitcom on it; really, it’s a computer in a bin with shoes and a sweatshirt, which apparently is not OK.)
We understand that your employees know the rules and regulations well. But the rest of us don’t, and we can’t read their minds at 5 o’clock in the morning. We have enough problems reading our own.
So we would like to suggest some changes.
The National Park Service has also been charged with matters of national security, protecting not only our national parks, but our national monuments as well.
And in dealing with the droves of tourists, NPS officials and their affiliates have performed admirably, taking security regulations in stride and keeping parks safe but not miserable to enter.
Instructions are given in a clear and pleasant manner, and average Americans can proceed through checkpoints without worrying about possibly having done the smallest thing wrong.
During our visit to the Washington Monument, getting into the monument itself was almost as enjoyable as the trip to the top.
We easily found our tour line, clearly labeled and next to a long bench for early arrivals. We would have easily found the line without the sign as well: Multiple park rangers happily pointed us in the right direction as well.
As we got ready to enter the security room, the rangers reminded everyone of the rules — no eating, drinking or gum chewing — and then pointed out the nearest trash cans.
Once we were inside, the eight of us in the group were given the opportunity to check anything weapon-like for the duration of our trip. We were also asked to carry bottles through the checkpoint with us, rather than leaving them in our bags.
It was easy enough, but one woman was clearly thrown by the simplicity of the process as she fumbled with her bags, cardigan and apple as the rest of us did our best to control our laughter.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I fly all the time. I don’t understand.”
“This isn’t the airport,” the screener told her. “We’re not mean. Would you like us to treat you like we’re at the airport? Take off your shoes!”
A few minutes later, we realized that the process had been anything but painful. It was easy, straight-forward and even a bit fun.
And so we think that NPS rangers should be moved into the airports. They have kept our monuments gum- and pocket-knife-free and are ready to keep our airports and skies safe.
Best wishes,
Catherine Odson, Kansas, and Margaret Ruling, Washington, D.C.
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We regret to inform you that we wish to replace you as airport security.
It’s not that we don’t appreciate your efforts to keep America’s airports safe — we do — but we don’t like the way you do it. In other words, we don’t like your attitude.
Airport security regulations have been fluidly changing over the past seven years, and for good reason. But passengers have a hard time keeping up, and travelers deserve some help. This became apparent during Catherine’s trip to Washington, D.C., last week
Some ropes to show where lines should form would be a nice start. And how about some handy placards before everyone puts their stuff on the conveyer belt? We don’t know what a “laptop with friends” is when you start laughing at us. (We were thinking a computer with episodes of the popular sitcom on it; really, it’s a computer in a bin with shoes and a sweatshirt, which apparently is not OK.)
We understand that your employees know the rules and regulations well. But the rest of us don’t, and we can’t read their minds at 5 o’clock in the morning. We have enough problems reading our own.
So we would like to suggest some changes.
The National Park Service has also been charged with matters of national security, protecting not only our national parks, but our national monuments as well.
And in dealing with the droves of tourists, NPS officials and their affiliates have performed admirably, taking security regulations in stride and keeping parks safe but not miserable to enter.
Instructions are given in a clear and pleasant manner, and average Americans can proceed through checkpoints without worrying about possibly having done the smallest thing wrong.
During our visit to the Washington Monument, getting into the monument itself was almost as enjoyable as the trip to the top.
We easily found our tour line, clearly labeled and next to a long bench for early arrivals. We would have easily found the line without the sign as well: Multiple park rangers happily pointed us in the right direction as well.
As we got ready to enter the security room, the rangers reminded everyone of the rules — no eating, drinking or gum chewing — and then pointed out the nearest trash cans.
Once we were inside, the eight of us in the group were given the opportunity to check anything weapon-like for the duration of our trip. We were also asked to carry bottles through the checkpoint with us, rather than leaving them in our bags.
It was easy enough, but one woman was clearly thrown by the simplicity of the process as she fumbled with her bags, cardigan and apple as the rest of us did our best to control our laughter.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I fly all the time. I don’t understand.”
“This isn’t the airport,” the screener told her. “We’re not mean. Would you like us to treat you like we’re at the airport? Take off your shoes!”
A few minutes later, we realized that the process had been anything but painful. It was easy, straight-forward and even a bit fun.
And so we think that NPS rangers should be moved into the airports. They have kept our monuments gum- and pocket-knife-free and are ready to keep our airports and skies safe.
Best wishes,
Catherine Odson, Kansas, and Margaret Ruling, Washington, D.C.