From the TSA to Forbidden Words: Is It About Safety Or Control?
The Travel Dilemma
We’ve all heard stories of the golden era of flying when only a select few were considered to be able to afford flying. You could say goodbye to your loved one by the gate and the process was quick and easy. You can read our article on this topic here – https://flyonyxair.com/commercial-aviation-history-what-went-wrong/
But all of that has changed now, because most people view and associate flying with fear and hypervigilance rather than joy.
Taking off your shoes, not being allowed to carry more than a little bag of liquids and undergoing thorough, lengthy body scans has changed the way we fly forever.
In From TSA to Forbidden Words, we delve into why these changes occurred and question whether such security measures are genuinely necessary or simply an exercise in control.
TSA Bullies: When Security Feels Like Harassment
The TSA is responsible to ensure aviation safety, yet far too many travelers experience bullying and intimidation.
From TSA to border checks, the stress of flying has increased. Passengers frequently have the impression that they are considered guilty until proven innocent, as if the TSA has overstepped the line between enforcing regulations and disrespecting passengers – which may be one of the many reasons that it’s ranked as the government agency with the lowest satisfaction.
But what is also very important to look at are the statistics – because between 2015 and 2023, the TSA received 3. 92 complaints per 100,000 passengers. In 2023, certain airports such as Newark Liberty experienced elevated complaint rates, with 12. 84 complaints per 100,000 passengers. Common complaints included rude behavior, extended wait times, and mishandled luggage, indicating a broad dissatisfaction among travelers with the security procedure.
The data indicates that what we refer to as “bullying” by TSA staff is, in fact, occurring.
Border Security: More Than Just a Stamp
These days, crossing a border can feel like being investigated, even in cases when no crime has been done. You will be asked questions on a range of subjects throughout – including money on your bank account, detailed overview of your stay, and family. This process is very stressful since the staff at the border security can be very intimidating and will yell at your face without any reason.
While it is essential for each country to enforce their border security, that doesn’t mean that innocent passengers should be treated as criminals. To add insult to the injury, there have been allegations against many Western countries for profiling passengers for further interrogation based on nothing more than their looks or ethnicity.
The stress of crossing borders is increased by the fact that many travelers endure long interrogations without clear justification which takes away all the joy from flying.
The Forbidden Word: Bombs, Jokes, and Security Paranoia
Many airports even prohibit the use of terms like “bomb” in a joking context, and it can result in immediate consequences, including arrest or removal from a flight. Security procedures nowadays seem to resemble a theater, with travelers acting as actors in a play directed by strict agents.
There are many cases where people have been arrested like a woman trying to stop her boyfriend from flying out and threatening with a bomb. In 2022, a traveler at LAX was arrested after making a bomb joke regarding his bag, resulting in delays and increased security measures.
From TSA to border checks, security agencies have adopted a zero-tolerance policy for such terms, no matter the context because of the potential threat of terrorism. The word “bomb” immediately raises suspicions despite the rarity of such events, which leads into the security-paranoia that is spread throughout international airports.
Is it genuinely about safety, or is it about control? How far will we go to increase airport security measures before we start to doubt who is actually being protected?
The True Cost of Airport Security: Inconvenience Over Safety
Despite the security measures implemented by the TSA, their actual effectiveness remains a topic of ongoing debate. A recent Homeland Security report found that TSA agents failed to detect 95% of weapons and explosives during undercover tests. This has led many people to wonder if these intense checks are here to improve safety or to give a fake illusion.
Even now, travelers still face long lines, invasive pat-downs, and confusing regulations, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.
As air travel is anticipated to grow in the coming years, the question remains if there is an absence of reforms and that we have security which prioritizes inconvenience over genuine safety.
