Cynthia from US Air called me and stated that they will now waive the $150 change fee (the letter I posted earlier today said that they will not waive the change fee). So, I've booked my new flight going through a scanner-less airport*, but had to pay the $100 fare difference and will also have to (as of now) pony up for the one-way rental car.
*In case you're interested, Allentown, PA, Atlantic City, NJ, and Norfolk, VA are the nearest airports to DC that have no scanners. All are about a 4 hour drive. Let me just say that if I were not going clear across the country, the amount of time I'll be investing in this trip would not be worth it.
With all due respect, I am not so sure I would accept US's revised offer. So to keep from being irradiated and/or molested by some TSA thug you have to spend a $100 more for your ticket(s) plus pay probably another $50-100 for a rental??? I think I would tell US to forget it and to give you ALL of your money back. Then I would pack your car, get on I-80 or whatever and head west and enjoy the country. Furthermore, I think I would make a big production out of it by placing protest signage on your vehicle excoriating US Airways and the TSA. Perhaps even see if you can make some media contacts prior to traveling or while en route? I personally know of several privacy-oriented radio shows with considerable national exposure and marketshare that would most likely give you plenty of airtime to further expose this lunacy.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably more hassle than you want to endure but this is ridiculous beyond quantification and it will only get worse and more tyrannical unless and until a whole lot more people wake up and stop their passive acquiescence and affirmatively fight back.
This is a really great blog by the way and I am so glad that I found it. Been checking it everyday and telling others to do so as well.
Keep up the excellent work and best of luck to you in your travels in whatever mode you choose.
While I applaud your effort to avoid scanners, you can still be patted-down at any time, which to me, is just as invasive. They don't need a reason; it can be "random". From the TSA Blog:
ReplyDelete"Passengers may receive a pat-down in a number of circumstances: to resolve an alarm at a walk-through metal detector; if an anomaly is detected during screening with advanced imaging technology; or during random screening."
http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/08/enhanced-pat-downs.html
@C. F. Chase, I think I may "steal" your vehicle-protest-signage idea for myself when I go home for the holidays. I live in the DC area but when I go back to the MidWest I ALWAYS drive. Those seven hours will be much more pleasant if I know that I'm speaking out for freedom along the way!
ReplyDeleteAnd Kathryn, I've been following this blog since its beginning (as a longtime LRC reader) and I just want to say thanks for the updates and thank you for hard work as a fellow freedom-fighter. I'm always excited to read every new update.
@Chris - I know. My husband and I have already decided that if I have to decline a pat-down 2 days before Christmas, so be it. If you read my 2nd letter to US Air, I say that I was in tears this past weekend... and this is why.
ReplyDelete@CF - I agree that this offer is beyond unsatisfactory. Don't worry... I'm not done with them yet.
ReplyDeleteI weighed the driving cross country option, and I just can't commit to that much time. With a baby, it will take no fewer than 5 days (and probably 6-7) each way.
@emspeaks - Thanks! Please send pictures of your protest.
ReplyDeleteUSAirways is one of the top three WORST airlines in the world to deal with or fly (Amerikan and United are the other top two, not that any of the other domestic airlines are significantly better), so I agree that no offer you get from them will be acceptable. I'm sure that if you had known two or three months ago what you know now, you'd probably be boarding a Greyhound Bus for your holiday travel. Let's be honest: is the atmosphere onboard a Greyhound Bus significantly worse than that of a major domestic airliner these days?
ReplyDelete@CF Chase: What a great idea about the signage and the media coverage!
ReplyDeleteKeep fighting the good fight. I know I am. I practice mine through comedy. When passing through the metal detector at Dallas/Ft. Worth, the metal detector I did not set off, a big Texan male motioned me over to secondary screening. I am a smaller male (married with two little girls) from the Midwest; I figured I would have some fun prior to my pat down. I extended my arms out, winked at the guy, and said, “You know, I’m going to enjoy this. I haven’t had a chance to experiment with my bi-sexual side yet.” He never went below my armpits. I am not bi-sexual, but he didn’t know that.
ReplyDeleteKeep fighting checkpoints as I plan to do the same.
I went thru IAD (Dulles) a couple weeks ago and didn't see any child pornography machines there. Although, the TSA is probably filled with known sex offenders. That would be the best place to work for those guys. I've read of a couple places where this happened already.
ReplyDelete@Joe - Dulles *just* got them (last week). They were on the list to get them, so I expected IAD to not be an option by the time Christmas rolled around.
ReplyDeleteI used to have my daughter fly from St. Louis to KC for her summer and holiday visits. But now I will be driving since the advent of the porno-scanners. I will be writing Southwest Airlines a letter and will forward a copy to you. I am also going to use the signage idea. Thanks to the person who came up with that.
ReplyDeletePlease note that my physics professor at my university, so many years ago, lectured to the point of excoriation about the dangers of x-rays to DNA. He was really quite serious about the subject and I've remembered that lecture ever since with regard to needless medical procedures. Now our federal government wants us to endure more of them. So much for safety.
@ Tim G
ReplyDelete"I am not bi-sexual, but he didn’t know that."
Now what if he had winked back and agreed? That would be the ultimate backfire.
I came across your names while surfing this site http://www.activistpost.com/p/activists-in-focus-2.html.
ReplyDeleteI found this article on another site and it got me thinking… http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/22/2010-10-22_body_scanners_unveiled_at_jfk_airport_homeland_security_sect_janet_napolitano_do.html
The real JFK opposed a secret society as having no place among a free people. Why should the gov't get to see our "privy parts" in their secret viewing while we see nothing of them?
Accordingly I propose a new law "Any State that has an airport utilizing the porno-scanners must have every elected official and state goons (including contractors) pass through one and the images posted on the internet and in the airport aisles for public viewing." It is the old "I will show you mine if you show me yours." Let's see if we can get every State to have a movement to pass such laws. We may have the wind at our backs on this one. And with all the focus LRC has had in making this issue prominent I think it would be perfect for the impetus for such State laws to originate on your page.
What think ye? If you like the idea spread it.
TSA to turn normal citizens into new millionaires
ReplyDeleteMake sure you file a complaint with the police department if you feel molested during your pat down. This will protect your rights should the TSA employee be arrested in the future as a child molester or a sexual predator. Should a report be filed and the individual that did the molestation actually be found guilty, you may be able to sue the police department and TSA for exposing you and endangering your children for failure to catch this predator.
The legal risks to local and state police departments for closing a case on someone who is later found guilty due to a future arrest is not something to be taken lightly.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-02-01/news/os-tsa-security-myspace-orlando-20100201_1_tsa-spokeswoman-sari-koshetz-lewd-myspace-page
If you or your child was groped by said agent, and you filed a complaint with the Police Department after the incident at the airport, you may be entitled to a large settlement.
When you opt out, and experience what you may believe is a molestation pat down make sure you ask for a police officer to be called and file a complaint immediately. Follow up to make sure you have the Police report number. Protect your legal rights now. Create a record and a paper trail showing negligence in background screening and investigation follow up. The odds that you are being violated are greater than winning the lotto.
The problem with traveling Greyhound, especially going through Memphis for example, is that you may be exposed to a security check by the Tn state goons. I was on a return trip to Colorado Springs a couple years ago and to my surprise security people went through our carry on luggage and I had to transfer my Swiss Army knife to a bag that went under the bus which,by the way, I was able to retrieve later since there was no other security check anywhere else along the way. I had already decided against air travel but now I will only travel by POV or rental car or I won't be traveling. Fortunately I don't have to travel.
ReplyDeleteI called US Airways last Saturday and ended up speaking to a supervisor, Mary. She said there was no way to waive the $150 change fee. The only option for waiving the fee is if there is a certified death in the family. Perhaps it is my turn to write a letter...
ReplyDeleteWhy are you blaming the airline for something they have no control over? They can't excuse you from the security procedure that the government has decided is appropriate, so why aren't you writing and publishing letters to TSA, your senator and congressman, the president, all of whom have more power to change what you consider egregious conduct by the GOVERNMENT? Sorry, but while it is absolutely your right not to agree with the policies of TSA, there is not a single airline that can opt out, as you can. This isn't news, it's been in the media for quite some time, so perhaps you didn't know, but I still don't understand how you can logically blame the airlines for something they have no control over.
ReplyDelete