News

A woman traveling through Oakland International Airport wearing an underwire bra set off an airport security screening metal detector. She was subjected to a search and is irate over the incident. We certainly regret that the search she had to undergo was intrusive, and palpating her chest was certainly not the best method for screening her. Probably the appropriate thing to do was just to have her take the bra off in private, put her top back on, use the hand-held metal detector on her in private, and then let her get dressed again and be on her way. It is well reported that underwire bras have been known to trigger airport metal detector alarms, and in fact CNN did a story about companies that make metal detector friendly products back in 2005 ('Bra-llelujah!' Can flying be fun again? -- Industry watchers say tighter airport security has spawned a niche for search-prevention wear. -- http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/06/news/midcaps/airport_wear/index.htm). At that point companies were already making suspenders without metal, boots without metal and bras without metal to ensure easy passage through security. So, this is nothing to be surprised at, although inappropriate searches are, and this incident again stresses the importance of doing your homework before you travel so that you don't have problems passing through airport security. Remember to remove that metal!

Summarized story is below. For the full story, see -- "Delayed by her bra, air passenger is indignant" at the SFGate -- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/26/BA2812HVK3.DTL

OAKLAND, CA (August 26,2007) -- When Berkeley resident Nancy Kates arrived at Oakland International Airport to board JetBlue flight 472, she thought she was heading off on a routine journey to visit her mother in Boston. A big-busted woman wearing a large underwire bra, she set off the metal detector. She was then subjected to a search, but after finding it inappropriate and intrusive, she opted to remove the bra instead. So she went to the rest room, then through the airport security line a second time. The metal detector didn't beep on the second time through, but then officials decided to go through Kates' carry-on luggage, she said.

Kates said she plans to talk to her family lawyer as well as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women and decide how to pursue the incident. Barry Steinhardt, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's technology and liberty program, said Monday of federal security officials: "They can't find bombs in checked luggage, and they're essentially doing a pat-down of private parts.

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Remember, if you eXpect delaYs, you can prevent them -- and airport security checkpoints are one of the major potential delays that a traveler may face,so be sure to be prepared! Happy Travels! --Gus

Well, it has finally happened. In the latest cost cutting move, free coffee, tea and soft drinks in coach are a thing of the past in coach on U.S. Airways, and alcoholic beverage prices have risen to a completely unreasonable level. Interestingly, the U.S. Airways web site makes this sound like a brand new service, rather than a new charge for something that has been free for years. Since the consumer is again sharing in the airlines profit loss, what do you think will happen the next time they make a billion dollar profit - will they think of the consumer then and bring back free meals in coach? That would only be fair ....

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From the U.S. Airways web site:

Just what you ordered... the new In-flight Café

We understand that the airlines have higher expenses. But they have also had years of prosperity and haven't shared the spoils with passengers, so why should passengers have to pay for the their losses now? $7 for a beer is outrageous and I'm sure the poor flight attendants are not going to enjoy the feedback they get, which is why they were against these charges.

Here is a copy of the email that Gus just sent to U.S. Airways - I encourage you to do the same.

"Dear U.S. Airways,
As a Silver Preferred Dividend Miles member I am writing to you regarding your new beverage charges in coach. While we all understand the rising costs you face, the rest of the public is also facing these rising costs in their day to day lives. You have added many charges over the past few months, and this charge for soft drinks in coach, is going too far. A soft drink probably isn't an unreasonable thing to expect when one purchases a ticket that is still at least a few hundred dollars. The $7 price for a can of beer is outrageous as well. $5 was a lot, but in-line with what some bars might charge, but $7 is simply too high. Remember as you add these charges, that it is still fresh in many passengers' minds the recent years where you had significant profits -- and I don't recall you sharing those profits with passengers via free meals or other perks -- so it is not right to share your losses with passengers either.
Sincerely,
Gus"

Remember, if you eXpect delaYs you can beat them!
Happy Travels
-Gus