Um...you might want to reconsider that American Airlines flight...
September 27, 2001 7:08 AM Subscribe
Um...you might want to reconsider that American Airlines flight... The Federal Aviation Administration has given American Airlines special permission to allow passengers to board its flights before the airline determines whether they are on the FBI's watch list, according to an FAA security directive obtained by USA TODAY.
If any airline needs to be bending over backwards to demonstrate their top-notch security measures, rather than trying to weasel out by saying "this is just as good" it's gotta be American. Sheesh... I'm apalled by this story.
posted by spilon at 7:30 AM on September 27, 2001
posted by spilon at 7:30 AM on September 27, 2001
Since we are on an airline subject: Gesture of good will or good PR?
posted by bjgeiger at 8:11 AM on September 27, 2001
posted by bjgeiger at 8:11 AM on September 27, 2001
I'm rather impressed by their unwillingness to tell us.
Since the government would really just as soon put exploding collars on anyone getting on an aircraft (if they could get away with it) I assume that the airline really does have better security measures.
By their not telling us, they're also not telling them. Assuming that this is a clever ploy or a bluff is fundamentally groundless.
Maybe they installed over the shoulder locking restraints, as on roller coasters. Armed escort to the bathroom and all that. That was one of my suggestions.
Another was to put a church, a mosque and a temple in every airplane, so that no one would drive a plane into anything for fear of sacrilege.
I got a lot of good ideas like that.
posted by Hexaemeron at 8:50 AM on September 27, 2001
Since the government would really just as soon put exploding collars on anyone getting on an aircraft (if they could get away with it) I assume that the airline really does have better security measures.
By their not telling us, they're also not telling them. Assuming that this is a clever ploy or a bluff is fundamentally groundless.
Maybe they installed over the shoulder locking restraints, as on roller coasters. Armed escort to the bathroom and all that. That was one of my suggestions.
Another was to put a church, a mosque and a temple in every airplane, so that no one would drive a plane into anything for fear of sacrilege.
I got a lot of good ideas like that.
posted by Hexaemeron at 8:50 AM on September 27, 2001
I think this means that American wants to let people board but it promises to check their names before take-off, so that we can have more instances of pilots shimmying out of the cockpit on ropes and federal officers bursting into first class. But maybe not.
posted by dhartung at 9:09 AM on September 27, 2001
posted by dhartung at 9:09 AM on September 27, 2001
I just called American Airlines' 800 number to find out what the hell this is all about, and spoke to one of their ticket sales agents.
When I read the first paragraph of the USA Today story to the agent, I heard her gasp.
She knew nothing about this, and put me on hold while she spoke to a supervisor. When she returned she said that the supervisor at their location (the Tucson office) didn't know anything about this either, and due to my call was already on the phone to headquarters so that HE could find out what the hell was going on.
I had told the agent that I'm booked to fly on American in about a month, that I did not find this the least bit reassuring, and that in fact I had nearly become physically ill after reading the story. She said to expect some kind of press release within a day or so, and if I don't hear anything to please call back.
The thing that startled me the most was that gasp.
posted by chuq at 1:50 PM on September 27, 2001
When I read the first paragraph of the USA Today story to the agent, I heard her gasp.
She knew nothing about this, and put me on hold while she spoke to a supervisor. When she returned she said that the supervisor at their location (the Tucson office) didn't know anything about this either, and due to my call was already on the phone to headquarters so that HE could find out what the hell was going on.
I had told the agent that I'm booked to fly on American in about a month, that I did not find this the least bit reassuring, and that in fact I had nearly become physically ill after reading the story. She said to expect some kind of press release within a day or so, and if I don't hear anything to please call back.
The thing that startled me the most was that gasp.
posted by chuq at 1:50 PM on September 27, 2001
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I so hope this is not true. Otherwise, I will be forced to become one of those people who doesn't trust government employees to cross the street safely.
posted by Irontom at 7:26 AM on September 27, 2001