Are you a first class taxpayer or an economy class taxpayer?
July 28, 2010 4:28 PM Subscribe
Why does the TSA offer first class treatment when it's the taxpayers, and not the airlines, paying for the gruesome security theater the coach class rabble must endure in an American airport?
I'm just back from a long trip, and bothered once again by something I've been observing for a few years. I travel a lot for work and personal reasons, so I've seen the security setup in most major American airports. In every one, the TSA operation at the primary security checkpoint is set up to provide priority access to holders of first class tickets, or elite status with an airline mileage plan. They get a separate line at the ID/boarding pass screening that is rarely more than a few bodies long, and sometimes they get a separate lane through the x-ray/scanner station.
Once you're to the gate, the whole thing is repeated, although the categories of privileged travelers become more diverse (I've been through the priority boarding lane on first class upgrades and as a mid-level mileage MVP with one airline, which would not have qualified me for the priority lane at the ID screening, I don't think). That strikes me as fair, if gross (I generally decline to board that way), since the passenger has in some way paid the airline more money for their total flight experience.
But do the airlines pay directly for the TSA security operation, such that they would expect the agency to respect the class structure of commercial air travel? I didn't think so. And surely TSA is mostly subsidized by taxpayers -- both through the security tax on tickets and through direct income taxes.
How is it legal that the government can so publicly do the bidding of a corporate entity? I understand how much it happens, constantly, behind closed doors and in deniable ways. But here we have one of the most miserable, stupid, pointless inconveniences of modern life, imposed of necessity on almost every taxpaying citizen who is just trying to make a living these days, and millions of people stand on line for an hour or more under stress to go through a needlessly degrading process that is known by everyone to be largely theatrical, and over there is a line with 4 people on it and their own personal TSA agent examining their passes and IDs in a much more relaxed manner than the uptight dick who's about to comment on your bad resemblance to your license photo.
tl/dr: How the fuck does the TSA justify the unequal treatment of different classes of air travelers at the security checkpoint?
I'm just back from a long trip, and bothered once again by something I've been observing for a few years. I travel a lot for work and personal reasons, so I've seen the security setup in most major American airports. In every one, the TSA operation at the primary security checkpoint is set up to provide priority access to holders of first class tickets, or elite status with an airline mileage plan. They get a separate line at the ID/boarding pass screening that is rarely more than a few bodies long, and sometimes they get a separate lane through the x-ray/scanner station.
Once you're to the gate, the whole thing is repeated, although the categories of privileged travelers become more diverse (I've been through the priority boarding lane on first class upgrades and as a mid-level mileage MVP with one airline, which would not have qualified me for the priority lane at the ID screening, I don't think). That strikes me as fair, if gross (I generally decline to board that way), since the passenger has in some way paid the airline more money for their total flight experience.
But do the airlines pay directly for the TSA security operation, such that they would expect the agency to respect the class structure of commercial air travel? I didn't think so. And surely TSA is mostly subsidized by taxpayers -- both through the security tax on tickets and through direct income taxes.
How is it legal that the government can so publicly do the bidding of a corporate entity? I understand how much it happens, constantly, behind closed doors and in deniable ways. But here we have one of the most miserable, stupid, pointless inconveniences of modern life, imposed of necessity on almost every taxpaying citizen who is just trying to make a living these days, and millions of people stand on line for an hour or more under stress to go through a needlessly degrading process that is known by everyone to be largely theatrical, and over there is a line with 4 people on it and their own personal TSA agent examining their passes and IDs in a much more relaxed manner than the uptight dick who's about to comment on your bad resemblance to your license photo.
tl/dr: How the fuck does the TSA justify the unequal treatment of different classes of air travelers at the security checkpoint?
This post was deleted for the following reason: this is a rant disguised as a question. I hope you got some good answers, but if what you want are specifics, ask again with less grar. it's just turning into a "fuck tsa amirite" thread. -- jessamyn
Best answer: You said it yourself: "gruesome security theater"
The theater wouldn't work if the powerful, wealthy, important people had to endure what everyone else does. Those people get to wander through and say "see, it wasn't so bad, I don't know what all you people are complaining about!", and government policy survives another day.
posted by Jimbob at 4:36 PM on July 28, 2010 [4 favorites]
The theater wouldn't work if the powerful, wealthy, important people had to endure what everyone else does. Those people get to wander through and say "see, it wasn't so bad, I don't know what all you people are complaining about!", and government policy survives another day.
posted by Jimbob at 4:36 PM on July 28, 2010 [4 favorites]
Best answer: This from a somewhat dated article from the Washington Post:
posted by logicpunk at 4:38 PM on July 28, 2010
The TSA, which receives about $4 billion annually to staff and provide equipment for airport checkpoints, said that it allows airports to configure lines leading to security checkpoints because federal dollars go toward only the checkpoint equipment and screeners -- not the lines themselves. The agency said that if screening equipment is available, it will allow it to be used just for first-class passengers -- so long as it doesn't slow down the other line.Short answer: Because They Can.
posted by logicpunk at 4:38 PM on July 28, 2010
Response by poster: ishotjr, I considered that, but even so, those fees cannot completely cover the cost of the TSA operation, can they? And anyway, in principle, do people who pay higher income taxes legally get better government services at, say, the post office or the social security administration?
posted by fourcheesemac at 4:39 PM on July 28, 2010
posted by fourcheesemac at 4:39 PM on July 28, 2010
Theoretically (not that I believe this, mind you), the people who pay the ridiculously higher first-class prices or who have flown enough to accumulate enough miles to upgrade aren't going to be security risks. It's profiling, in essence.
But mostly, it's what Jimbob said.
posted by Etrigan at 4:39 PM on July 28, 2010
But mostly, it's what Jimbob said.
posted by Etrigan at 4:39 PM on July 28, 2010
wow, that's crap. But not surprising.
Doesn't happen in Australia. Private flights get special treatment, and pilots and crew, but every single other person goes through the same line for passport control and security screening.
posted by wilful at 4:40 PM on July 28, 2010
Doesn't happen in Australia. Private flights get special treatment, and pilots and crew, but every single other person goes through the same line for passport control and security screening.
posted by wilful at 4:40 PM on July 28, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks, logicpunk. I was looking for just that official explanation, which is utterly appalling doublespeak.
posted by fourcheesemac at 4:41 PM on July 28, 2010
posted by fourcheesemac at 4:41 PM on July 28, 2010
Response by poster: Just to add, Etrigan, the idea that this serves a screening function strikes me as either unlikely or, if true, even stupider of the TSA than what I expect, which is pretty damn stupid. Like a terrorist is not going to be able to pony up for a first class ticket?
Sorry, not meaning to chatfilter this too much. The question is resolved for me by logicpunk's answer that the TSA controls the guardbooth and the scanner, but not the line leading to the booth or the scanner, which belongs to the airport. How Orwellian because WHY THE HELL ARE WE STANDING IN LINE HERE? I wonder how many American travelers realize this logic as they scan the horizon trying to see the end of the line.
posted by fourcheesemac at 4:49 PM on July 28, 2010
Sorry, not meaning to chatfilter this too much. The question is resolved for me by logicpunk's answer that the TSA controls the guardbooth and the scanner, but not the line leading to the booth or the scanner, which belongs to the airport. How Orwellian because WHY THE HELL ARE WE STANDING IN LINE HERE? I wonder how many American travelers realize this logic as they scan the horizon trying to see the end of the line.
posted by fourcheesemac at 4:49 PM on July 28, 2010
do people who pay higher income taxes legally get better government services at, say, the post office or the social security administration?
There are lots of government services that have tiers of service based on what you are willing to pay. For example, expedited passport service versus regular; if you have the extra $xxx, you can get your passport considerably faster. Even at the post office, if I feel like spending the money, I can get priority mail instead of first class...oh noes, the rich are screwing me over by spending more money than I do!
Frankly, I'm not seeing the problem. It's not like the plane gets where it's going any faster for them just because they got through the security line faster.
I suspect, more than anything else, letting the airlines control the lineup zone is probably a concession to the control they had over the entire screening process when it was all on their dime (IIRC, pre-TSA, flight screening was paid from entirely by the airlines).
posted by nomisxid at 4:51 PM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
There are lots of government services that have tiers of service based on what you are willing to pay. For example, expedited passport service versus regular; if you have the extra $xxx, you can get your passport considerably faster. Even at the post office, if I feel like spending the money, I can get priority mail instead of first class...oh noes, the rich are screwing me over by spending more money than I do!
Frankly, I'm not seeing the problem. It's not like the plane gets where it's going any faster for them just because they got through the security line faster.
I suspect, more than anything else, letting the airlines control the lineup zone is probably a concession to the control they had over the entire screening process when it was all on their dime (IIRC, pre-TSA, flight screening was paid from entirely by the airlines).
posted by nomisxid at 4:51 PM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
Like a terrorist is not going to be able to pony up for a first class ticket?
Actually, even if that's how it worked, it wouldn't be pointless. Imposing costs on terrorists is itself a valid counterterrorism technique, aside from whether an attack is stopped.
posted by Jaltcoh at 5:02 PM on July 28, 2010
Actually, even if that's how it worked, it wouldn't be pointless. Imposing costs on terrorists is itself a valid counterterrorism technique, aside from whether an attack is stopped.
posted by Jaltcoh at 5:02 PM on July 28, 2010
There are lots of government services that have tiers of service based on what you are willing to pay.
Yes, but first class service on a plane is not a government service.
Frankly, I'm not seeing the problem. It's not like the plane gets where it's going any faster for them just because they got through the security line faster.
Either you don't fly a lot or you're one of the lucky few who flies first class and gets to skip the long lines! Standing in a long line, toting your carry-on, inching forward tediously... it can be pretty miserable.
posted by Evangeline at 5:06 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yes, but first class service on a plane is not a government service.
Frankly, I'm not seeing the problem. It's not like the plane gets where it's going any faster for them just because they got through the security line faster.
Either you don't fly a lot or you're one of the lucky few who flies first class and gets to skip the long lines! Standing in a long line, toting your carry-on, inching forward tediously... it can be pretty miserable.
posted by Evangeline at 5:06 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
You address my response as far as the fees in the tickets, but then act like I implied that people who pay higher taxes should get better government services. That wasn't even remotely what I was referring to.
Also, I don't fly THAT much, but I've never noticed a separate line for first class, so this is the first I'm hearing about this concept. Interesting.
posted by ishotjr at 5:12 PM on July 28, 2010
Also, I don't fly THAT much, but I've never noticed a separate line for first class, so this is the first I'm hearing about this concept. Interesting.
posted by ishotjr at 5:12 PM on July 28, 2010
In my experience, smaller airports (where I generally board/depart from) do NOT have first-class lines through security screening, so clearly this is not a TSA-wide policy but is rather set by the airports or perhaps airlines. I don't see why they would object to allowing a faster line for higher-paying customers, considering it does not affect their operations in the slightest. Body in, body screened, body out.
posted by muddgirl at 5:14 PM on July 28, 2010
posted by muddgirl at 5:14 PM on July 28, 2010
The question is resolved for me by logicpunk's answer that the TSA controls the guardbooth and the scanner, but not the line leading to the booth or the scanner, which belongs to the airport.
But assuming this happens at airports that are owned by public bodies, it's still a case of a public agency or authority (ie., the airport's owners) doing the bidding of a corporate entity. Not that I agree with your implication that this is unusual. (Even just to stick to airports, presumably the fancy first-class lounges that some airlines have at some airports are the result of the airlines paying extra cash to get special treatment from a public body.)
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 5:25 PM on July 28, 2010
But assuming this happens at airports that are owned by public bodies, it's still a case of a public agency or authority (ie., the airport's owners) doing the bidding of a corporate entity. Not that I agree with your implication that this is unusual. (Even just to stick to airports, presumably the fancy first-class lounges that some airlines have at some airports are the result of the airlines paying extra cash to get special treatment from a public body.)
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 5:25 PM on July 28, 2010
... but then act like I implied that people who pay higher taxes should get better government services.
I don't think I did imply that, actually. In fact, yeah, I'm sure I didn't, especially since the idea that you might be saying that didn't occur to me until just now reading your response.
posted by Evangeline at 5:27 PM on July 28, 2010
I don't think I did imply that, actually. In fact, yeah, I'm sure I didn't, especially since the idea that you might be saying that didn't occur to me until just now reading your response.
posted by Evangeline at 5:27 PM on July 28, 2010
As logicpunk stated, it is up to the airports, not the TSA. They just staff the checkpoints, the airport decides who stands in which line.
posted by gjc at 5:27 PM on July 28, 2010
posted by gjc at 5:27 PM on July 28, 2010
I would say it's because they are still scanning everyone in the same way. It's not as if they're simply *not scanning* people, they're just letting the First Class people get it over with faster.
The term "Security theater" needs to go. It's unhelpful. You can certainly make a very very good argument that security at airports is invasive, biased and ineffective, and that it needs to be reformed. And I would certainly agree with you. But to claim that it is not effective at all- that if all security was removed, terrorist attacks and other incidents wouldn't increase, that's just being silly.
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:32 PM on July 28, 2010
The term "Security theater" needs to go. It's unhelpful. You can certainly make a very very good argument that security at airports is invasive, biased and ineffective, and that it needs to be reformed. And I would certainly agree with you. But to claim that it is not effective at all- that if all security was removed, terrorist attacks and other incidents wouldn't increase, that's just being silly.
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:32 PM on July 28, 2010
But assuming this happens at airports that are owned by public bodies, it's still a case of a public agency or authority (ie., the airport's owners) doing the bidding of a corporate entity.
My tax dollars payed for the AT&T Center, and yet I still have to pay exorbitant rates to get a booth with a private bar when I go to Spurs games.
posted by muddgirl at 5:35 PM on July 28, 2010
My tax dollars payed for the AT&T Center, and yet I still have to pay exorbitant rates to get a booth with a private bar when I go to Spurs games.
posted by muddgirl at 5:35 PM on July 28, 2010
Theoretically (not that I believe this, mind you), the people who pay the ridiculously higher first-class prices or who have flown enough to accumulate enough miles to upgrade aren't going to be security risks. It's profiling, in essence.
Actually, I'm fairly certain that at least some of the 9/11 hijackers were flying on first class tickets. Can't look for a cite at the moment, though.
posted by deadmessenger at 5:36 PM on July 28, 2010
Actually, I'm fairly certain that at least some of the 9/11 hijackers were flying on first class tickets. Can't look for a cite at the moment, though.
posted by deadmessenger at 5:36 PM on July 28, 2010
Sometimes the TSA people will let you in the first class line. You just gotta fake the funk. I've flown with someone who flashed a airline-branded "platinum" credit card and claimed it gave him access to that line--TSA just shrugged and let him go through.
posted by mullacc at 6:04 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mullacc at 6:04 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
(er, not the TSA person--whatever security person it is that manages first class line access)
posted by mullacc at 6:11 PM on July 28, 2010
posted by mullacc at 6:11 PM on July 28, 2010
The term "Security theater" needs to go.
The term is a euphemism for the fact that the security is not at all efficient or capable of stopping determined threats with any degree of effectiveness. It also further implies that its purpose is primarily to act as a deterrent; in fact, typically no one who calls it security theater makes the somewhat ludicrous "if all security was removed, terrorist attacks wouldn't increase" claim nor do we equate the phrase with a claim that it's not effective at all.
Meanwhile, it's clearly at the discretion of the airports and airlines to configure the lines how they see fit and in a manner that is consistent with the TSA guidelines. The first class-ticket-to-terrorism-success argument is completely invalid in the guise of the "fast line" because, as drjimmy11 points out, everyone still gets scanned the same way. Some of us just get scanned faster.
Anyway, when a system that checks ID doesn't verify the authenticity of the ticket in my hand at ID-check-time, it's security theater. The mere fact that I, Mr. Fictional No-Fly List Member can print a boarding pass with my legal, driver-license-name on it (since it's just a PDF and anyone can edit a PDF) and make it through the security line and thus the only place an ID is checked, only to pull out my REAL boarding pass up at the gate, purchased in someone else's name who isn't on the No Fly and use that to get on a plane is completely absurd. There isn't even a barrier to entry besides finding a willing party to purchase my ticket for me.
Theater.
posted by disillusioned at 6:12 PM on July 28, 2010 [4 favorites]
The term is a euphemism for the fact that the security is not at all efficient or capable of stopping determined threats with any degree of effectiveness. It also further implies that its purpose is primarily to act as a deterrent; in fact, typically no one who calls it security theater makes the somewhat ludicrous "if all security was removed, terrorist attacks wouldn't increase" claim nor do we equate the phrase with a claim that it's not effective at all.
Meanwhile, it's clearly at the discretion of the airports and airlines to configure the lines how they see fit and in a manner that is consistent with the TSA guidelines. The first class-ticket-to-terrorism-success argument is completely invalid in the guise of the "fast line" because, as drjimmy11 points out, everyone still gets scanned the same way. Some of us just get scanned faster.
Anyway, when a system that checks ID doesn't verify the authenticity of the ticket in my hand at ID-check-time, it's security theater. The mere fact that I, Mr. Fictional No-Fly List Member can print a boarding pass with my legal, driver-license-name on it (since it's just a PDF and anyone can edit a PDF) and make it through the security line and thus the only place an ID is checked, only to pull out my REAL boarding pass up at the gate, purchased in someone else's name who isn't on the No Fly and use that to get on a plane is completely absurd. There isn't even a barrier to entry besides finding a willing party to purchase my ticket for me.
Theater.
posted by disillusioned at 6:12 PM on July 28, 2010 [4 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ishotjr at 4:33 PM on July 28, 2010