Airports Favor Private-Sector Screeners

Washington (com)Post ^ | May 30, 2003 | Sara Kehaulani Goo

[jimkress]

Just months after the federal government took over screening at security checkpoints, airports across the country are starting to show interest in returning to an airport security system handled by the private sector.

With Memorial Day kicking off what the airline industry hopes will be a small but noticeable uptick in passenger travel, airports are worried that the Transportation Security Administration's planned workforce reduction this summer will result in long security lines. Adding to the concern over potentially slow checkpoints is that the agency recently told airports it could not meet its goal of getting passengers through security in 10 minutes.

Many airports would not say publicly that they want to switch to private contract screeners. But an official of the nation's largest group representing airport owners said several dozen airports, including major hubs, have expressed an interest.

[Sir Gawain]

Good riddance.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I guess they noticed I quit flying.

[Mister Baredog]

Many airports would not say publicly that they want to switch to private contract screeners. But an official of the nation's largest group representing airport owners said several dozen airports, including major hubs, have expressed an interest.

Sorry, out of luck. The federal govt will NEVER get rid of these protected Union DEMONCRAT jobs. The layoffs are because they hired way too many to start with.

[T Lady]

Federalized or private, the screeners should just be QUALIFIED. Period.

-Regards, T.

[ilgipper]

While originally against the formation of the TSA as a Federal security force for airports, I have had nothing but good experience with them. The employees have been much more friendly and helpful than the a$$holes that the old companies hired. I wonder if that will last...it may be a big PR move to get public support of the TSA here in the early days.

[Puppage]

are starting to show interest in returning to an airport security system handled by the private sector.

But the Federal Employees look SO CUTE while they're sleeping!

[centurion316]

Kansas City International (MCI) is a test site for private screeners. They are using the same contractor as they had before 9/11, but most of the screeners are new, in order to meet the new TSA standards.

The screeners at the Kansas City are superior, in my opinion, the their TSA counterparts in other airports. They are friendly, courteous, professional, and efficient. I still don't like it when the metal detector goes off, but at least the drill is efficient and the people are civil.

TSA folks are not bad right now, they know they have competition stareing them in the face. But, down the road, they will be your worst nightmare when they become your typical government employee union worker.

[what's up]

Wasn't it Hillary Clinton who had insisted on Federal screeners? I could be wrong, but I seem to remember her bringing up the issue...

[KarlInOhio]

Wasn't it Hillary Clinton who had insisted on Federal screeners?

I remember Daschle blathering that you can't professionalize unless you federalize.

[mewzilla]

I have one word for this idea: Argenbright.

Remember them?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[clamboat]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55670-2003May29?language=printer

He he, very nice linkage - putting "language=printer" on the link ensures we don't see any banner ads or frames when reading the article - and wpost doesn't realize any revenue from the pageviews.

[BeerSwillr]

Adding to the concern over potentially slow checkpoints is that the agency recently told airports it could not meet its goal of getting passengers through security in 10 minutes.

They would be able to get people thru mush faster if they used a little bit of common sense. There is no need to run everyone's shoes through the xray machine like they've been doing lately, there's no need to jack up elderly travelers if they can speak perfectly understandable english, there's no need to wand and pat down small children. We have idiots controlling our airports. The TSA is a complete and absolute JOKE.

[jimkress]

link ensures we don't see any banner ads or frames when reading the article - and wpost doesn't realize any revenue from the pageviews.

Just doing my bit to defund the Left!

[LizardQueen]

My experience has been different - I've noticed an improvement in the screeners since they've gone Fed. I don't understand it, and certainly didn't expect it, but they've been more professional and far more pleasant to deal with, in my experience.

The old ones seemed to be on a power trip and if you joked around in line would take the opportunity to give you the glove. Plus they were incompetent and slow - I had one old lady who took 15 minutes to figure out how to open my bag, and refused to let me show her.

The new ones will actually talk to you and have not treated me like the enemy like the old ones did. And they've been much quicker to get me through, and I haven't had my shoes xrayed as often.

While I don't believe this should be a Fed function I'm pleased with the new attitude they seem to have. Maybe the difference was made by them being able to a lot of the old incompetent ones when the change was made.

LQ

[BeerSwillr]

I agree on two of your points. Pleasantness and professionalism aside. Things may look vastly improved, but it's only a visual trick to get you to believe that things have changed. Underneath all the crisp new uniforms and badges are the same ineffective policies and procedures. It's not so much the folks manning the gates as it is the folks heading the agency.

[Indrid Cold]

I wonder if there was some backroom deal to accept the TSA in exchange for corporate bailouts? Or no, maybe I don't wonder, I just haven't seen any documentation of it.