Baggage meltdown AGAIN in PHL...

[Lovethesun]

PHL has always been a problem hub. The employees working there have always acted as though the world should revolve around them. The sad part is that management has always allowed this type of behavior from them. The Novemeber before the December melt down management was called in to supervise during Thanksgiving, but the funny part was management would be standing by the aircraft and the baggage handlers would not be anywhere near the aircraft they had all gone inside to watch the football game. So it seems that since management was viewing this in November that December melt down would never have been able to take place. We were constantly being delayed sometimes a couple of hours at a time because of their actions. They do not care that they are hurting their fellow employees nor our passengers. They think this is a good thing to do, but it is not! It is totally unacceptable to do this. If the crew members were to pull the actions that they do we would be fired. So new management step up to the plate and show the employees that you will not tolerate this from PHL baggage handlers.

 

[DFWFSC]

The word "intelligence" used in the same sentence with TSA is in itself a joke! Several things to consider:

1. Average TSA staffer is a wannabe cop who has failed every psych eval at every other level of law enforcement except TSA and mall security guard.

2. Of the attempted Terrorist attacks, I recall NONE were thwarted by the "Trained Shoe Analysts". All have been thwarted by solid police work at higher levels.

3. TSA by it's very design is nothing more than window dressing for "Ma & Pa Kettle vist the grankids" and have a false sense of security.

4. TSA has not demonstrated the ability to date to be creative, nimble or adaptable to changing threats real and percieved. Millions if not billions are wasted on this window dressing agency. Funds that could be much better spent in the development of anti terror technology or IMO distributed to the local animal shelter for all the good it does fighting terrorism.

So explain exactly how humiliating an 89 year grandmother in a wheelchair promotes security? The last group of 23 IIRC had no one over 50 and no females.

The price of Freedom & Liberty is risk! Ben Franklin still to this very day makes the definitive comment on this:

"Those that are willing to trade a little Liberty for security deserve neither"

I could not agree more! Im an airline employee who is banned from bringing a pint of milk or a bottle of water to work, yet i can go down to our break room a buy a pint of milk out of the vending machine which was stocked by a vendor who drove his van out onto to the ramp without ever being inspected by a security person. I go thru security every morning,which is not a problem as i understand the need for it. What i have a problem with is the 100 or so overnight aircraft cleaners, mostly folks from Kenya,Mexico,Salvador,etc..who park at the cabin service wherehouse and go thru no security or get anything taken away from them at all. Most of these folks haven't been in the USA long enough to have a 10 year background check done on them. Some were even caught without AOA ramp badges a while back..

 

[PBI2FLL]

Look...I understand what TSA is going thru, BUT why is it always about PHL?? Why are 2 cart loads of bags consistently not being loaded on these flights? ARE these bags mostly being held up in the screening area? Do we have another staffing issue on the ramp? WHY are these bags not getting loaded on the flights they're intended for? The downline cities that have to deal with this mess, deserve an ANSWER! We are tired of the excuses.

 

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

The new security guidelines are just plain silly and are there only to make the traveling public "feel" safer. I stood in line behind a couple yesterday who placed a tube of shaving creme and other toiletries in their pockets and walked straight through the detection devices without the first bell or whistle going off. TSA is doing a stellar job. I feel sooooooo much safer.

 

[jimntx]

The new security guidelines are just plain silly and are there only to make the traveling public "feel" safer. I stood in line behind a couple yesterday who placed a tube of shaving creme and other toiletries in their pockets and walked straight through the detection devices without the first bell or whistle going off. TSA is doing a stellar job. I feel sooooooo much safer.

As a f/a, let me assure you how safe I have always felt since the advent of TSA. At DFW a couple of years ago, they confiscated my cuticle scissors--blades approximately 1/2 inch long. And that same day when I got on the a/c, I had a passenger in F/C who had been allowed to bring on steel knitting needles that were approx. 18 inches long.

For those of you who are cheerleaders for the TSA (Thousands Standing Around), tell me why there is no consistency in the procedures from one airport to the next, but a particular airport is consistent over years. Terrorists just have to learn which airports are lax or who have decided that some part of the regulations is not worth enforcing. Once you have cleared security at AN airport, you can pretty much travel anywhere in the country without ever exiting security again.

 

[gabby]

Maybe if we give D.P. another bonus....sorry "Stock Options", he might have the desire to do something productive. Show me the money!!!!!!!

 

[aquagreen73s]

They will try the same thing again as soon as they figure out that it is a vulnerability. It becomes a vulnerability when we decide to discontinue security procedures designed to stop it.

The "you take you chances" stuff is pure bunk. Taking their chances is not what our passengers pay for. They might put up with the increased security hassle, and even not having an IPOD or laptop for a few hours (I wonder how people ever travelled 15 years ago), but they surely are not going to buy a ticket if they think that there is a decent chance the flight is going to get them killed. What you advocate is the surest way for both lives and jobs to be lost.

TSA is another FEMA, period.

 

[N965VJ]

<SNIP>
1. Average TSA staffer is a wannabe cop who has failed every psych eval at every other level of law enforcement except TSA and mall security guard.

Or just someone who fancies having a federal paycheck.

<SNIP> I stood in line behind a couple yesterday who placed a tube of shaving creme and other toiletries in their pockets and walked straight through the detection devices without the first bell or whistle going off.

Okay, that it!

Full body scans for everyone.

 

[aquagreen73s]

From the Research and Analysis part of the Heritage Foundation:

"Every day that the TSA is perpetuated in its cur­rent form is another day that money is wasted with­out any notable addition to America’s security."

Here's the link:

http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/bg1955.cfm

 

[N965VJ]

Let’s play fill-in-the-blanks!

Insert you own favorite bureaucracy:

<SNIPPED and Messed with>
From the Research and Analysis part of the Heritage Foundation:

"Every day that the _____________________ is perpetuated in its cur­rent form is another day that money is wasted with­out any notable addition to America’s _____________________."

 

[PITbull]

Are you under the impression that it is somehow easy to balance the needs of a robust aviation system with the absolute requirement that it be safe, first and foremost?

Did you have any idea prior to the past week that something as innocuous as a bottle of gatorade could be used as an explosive?

Monday morning quarterbacking is easy. Tell me where the next terrorist threat on the aviation system is going to come from. Then tell me how we are going to stop it without grinding the system to a halt.

That is what they are charged with.

For once, I can agree with your post.

Passengers really need to be super tolerant if they choose to fly. Ilg is 100% correct. It could have been so much worse for global aviation.

The airport security has a very tough job. I wouldn't want to have to screen passengers and bags every day. If something would get on, it would explode over the ocean and there would be no evidence. That would cripple aviation through our lifetime.

However, on the arrival side, Management needs to do much more hiring of ramp agents. This issue of no-carry-on is not going away anytime soon, maybe for decades.

Start hiring Dougie. Passengers should not have to wait long hours on the arrival end of their travel.

Look...I understand what TSA is going thru, BUT why is it always about PHL?? Why are 2 cart loads of bags consistently not being loaded on these flights? ARE these bags mostly being held up in the screening area? Do we have another staffing issue on the ramp? WHY are these bags not getting loaded on the flights they're intended for? The downline cities that have to deal with this mess, deserve an ANSWER! We are tired of the excuses.

I think the root is that the ramp pay is way too low. PHL is an expensive city to live in. Ramp agents who take on these jobs are usually part-time, and they surcome to working other jobs to make ends meet. They are not available for overtime.

PHL is short. Period. Management refuses to increase the wage base. Pax will continue to take it in the chin waiting for their bags.

 

[scot]

This particular thread is about the baggage situation and PHL. Lets please get it back on topic and keep it there. Thanks.

 

[N903AW]

The word "intelligence" used in the same sentence with TSA is in itself a joke! Several things to consider:

1. Average TSA staffer is a wannabe cop who has failed every psych eval at every other level of law enforcement except TSA and mall security guard.

2. Of the attempted Terrorist attacks, I recall NONE were thwarted by the "Trained Shoe Analysts". All have been thwarted by solid police work at higher levels.

3. TSA by it's very design is nothing more than window dressing for "Ma & Pa Kettle vist the grankids" and have a false sense of security.

4. TSA has not demonstrated the ability to date to be creative, nimble or adaptable to changing threats real and percieved. Millions if not billions are wasted on this window dressing agency. Funds that could be much better spent in the development of anti terror technology or IMO distributed to the local animal shelter for all the good it does fighting terrorism.

So explain exactly how humiliating an 89 year grandmother in a wheelchair promotes security? The last group of 23 IIRC had no one over 50 and no females.

The price of Freedom & Liberty is risk! Ben Franklin still to this very day makes the definitive comment on this:

"Those that are willing to trade a little Liberty for security deserve neither"

Your assesments are spot on Bob! The only success that TSA has had over the last few years is detecting the alleged smell of alcohol on crew as they pass through checkpoints. Keep in mind that it is also illegal for air carriers to transport any passengers that appear (or smell) to be intoxicated and they seem to get through security before flights without any difficulty....only to have gate agents or crew deal with them later.

TSA - Trained Sniffers of Alcohol? :disguise:

 

[LD3]

Look...I understand what TSA is going thru, BUT why is it always about PHL?? Why are 2 cart loads of bags consistently not being loaded on these flights? ARE these bags mostly being held up in the screening area? Do we have another staffing issue on the ramp? WHY are these bags not getting loaded on the flights they're intended for? The downline cities that have to deal with this mess, deserve an ANSWER! We are tired of the excuses.

Does UA & AA go through this in ORD, does DL go through this in ATL? Why is CLT getting bags for PHL when the aircraft just came from PHL, makes you wonder...

 

[FCYTravis]

What i have a problem with is the 100 or so overnight aircraft cleaners, mostly folks from Kenya,Mexico,Salvador,etc..who park at the cabin service wherehouse and go thru no security or get anything taken away from them at all.

Clearly, you don't understand that toothpaste and duty-free booze are greater threats to aviation security than unsupervised, unsearched foreigners crawling all over airplanes in the middle of the night. You need more TSA Kool-Aid.

See, TSA security is all about appearances. Nobody ever sees those cleaners, so searching them wouldn't make anyone feel better. But strip-search a few poor tourists at the checkpoint and everyone gets to feel safe. Doesn't matter whether it actually does anything or not.