Web: www.fishfoto.com -- E-Mail: fish@flyingwithfish.com
10/06/2008 - Flying With Fish In The New York Times
Yesterday the International Herald Tribune wrote a story, in which I was quoted a number of times, on the new TSA Self Select Lanes being set up in certain airports. This morning more than one reader informed me that The New York Times had run a very similar article.
In todays article in The New York Times, which is by the same journalist as the International Herald Tribune's story, I am again prominently quoted for my opinions and experiences related to the new TSA Self Select Lanes (Black Diamond Lanes) being set up in certain airports.
As Flying With Fish continues to grow it is nice to know my opinions are respected and being sought out by others. My goal with Flying With Fish, as it has been from the start, is to simple help inform photographers who must travel for work......and now most anyone who flies for business of pleasure....on how to fly safely, easily, with less stress, and how to be prepared for whatever may await them during their journey from Point A-to-Point B.
If you're interested in reading today's story in The New York Times, you may do so here: Airport Security Lines Separate The Experts From The Families
Happy Flying!
Showing posts with label TSA Self Select. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TSA Self Select. Show all posts
10 June 2008
09 June 2008
Flying With Fish & The TSA Self Select Lanes Quoted In The International Herald Tribune
Web: www.fishfoto.com -- E-Mail: fish@flyingwithfish.com
9/06/2008 - Flying With Fish & The TSA Self Select Lanes Quoted In The International Herald Tribune
For those of you keeping tabs on the TSA's new "Self Select Security Lanes," you can read an interesting article in today's International Herald Tribune. In today's article, in the second paragraph, you might notice a familiar name being quoted.....that would be me, in article's words "Steven Frischling, a photographer from Connecticut who has encountered the new system in Salt Lake City and Boston."
........if you're interested, you can read the International Herald Tribune's article here: U.S. transportation agency expertments with new airport checkpoint system
.....and yes, I did refer to watching some inexperienced passengers as "like watching a 'Saturday Night Live' skit."
Happy Flying!
9/06/2008 - Flying With Fish & The TSA Self Select Lanes Quoted In The International Herald Tribune
For those of you keeping tabs on the TSA's new "Self Select Security Lanes," you can read an interesting article in today's International Herald Tribune. In today's article, in the second paragraph, you might notice a familiar name being quoted.....that would be me, in article's words "Steven Frischling, a photographer from Connecticut who has encountered the new system in Salt Lake City and Boston."
........if you're interested, you can read the International Herald Tribune's article here: U.S. transportation agency expertments with new airport checkpoint system
.....and yes, I did refer to watching some inexperienced passengers as "like watching a 'Saturday Night Live' skit."
Happy Flying!
30 May 2008
30/05/2008-Weekly Roundup: 100th Post For 2008; Baggage Security; Visa?; Southwest's Humour; Legroom; Airport Etiquette
Web: www.fishfotoworldwide.com -- E-Mail: fish@flyingwithfish.com
30/05/2008-Weekly Roundup: 100th Post For 2008; Baggage Security; Visa?; Southwest's Humour; Legroom; Airport Etiquette
This is it, the 100th post on Flying With Fish for 2008. I'm not sure if this is just another post, a milestone, or anything else, but a few readers have been asking what I had planned for the 100th post. Honestly, I have no idea. I didn't know I needed to do something. I didn't plan anything. Do I need to give a speech?
I guess this being the 100th post for 2008 is a semi-milestone for Flying With Fish. Last year, 2007, the first 'real year' Flying With Fish existed I only made 53 entries. This year I am trying to keep Flying With Fish going, not really sure where it's going, but like most US based travel, I'm sure Flying With Fish will make connections in Atlanta (ATL) and Chicago (ORD)......no wait, it's already made connection flights in ATL and ORD :0)
Prior to Flying With Fish hitting 100 posts for 2008 the message of the site has been spreading more than I had ever imagined. From being written up on sites such as David Hobby's "Strobist" (www.strobist.com), Scott Kelby's Blog (www.scottkelby.com), being written up on Popular Photography Online (www.popphoto.com) and being asked to answer reader mail for Pop Photo. Flying With Fish has also had the good fortune to have been written up in News Photographer Magazine and Popular Photography and allowed me to be a guest on two well respected photo radio shows, Photo Talk Radio and Inside Digital Photo and had me appear as an 'expert' on Good Morning America.
Where do I take all this from here? Who knows? I was however interviewed yesterday by The New York Times (www.nyt.com) for an upcoming story on the TSA's new "Self Select" Security Lanes.
When it comes to the new Self Select Security Lane I have a mixed opinion. I think it is a great idea, I think it can speed up security lines significantly, however I think flyers need more education before they get to the TSA checkpoint to determine which lane they are going to get in........but I've discussed this at the start of this month here: 8/05/2008 - New TSA "Self Select" Security Lanes - The Good & The Bad
..........I've rambled enough, so onto The Weekly Round Up
My first post of the week was written early Saturday morning, while sitting at a client's kitchen table in Hong Kong, as I pondered the idea of how checked baggage can be made more secure. You can read my jet lagged ideas here: 24/05/2008 - Security Of Checked Baggage: Is There A Better Way?
It is not often I get humour from passing an immigrations checkpoint. On Sunday I faced a very frustrating situation that in hindsight is really quite funny. What was this situation? I was asked for my "work visa" upon entering the country of my birth, country of residence and country that issued my passport. Interesting in scratching your head, while also laughing, then you should certainly read this entry: 26/05/2008 - Do You Have A Visa To Work Here? Ummm....I Live Here (Humour From Real Life)
Adding to my humour of the week, if you feel like laughing at mockery of the airline industry, you should watch Southwest Airline's ad mocking the 'nickel-and-dime' airlines. I'm not sure if the ad is as funny for people who don't follow the airline industry, but it had me laughing for quite a while. Click here to view the Southwest Airlines' commercial: 27/05/2008 - Southwest Airlines Addresses The Airline "Nickel & Dime" Game
Raise your hand if you want more legroom? OK, put your hands down, no one can see you raising your hand via my blog and if you're at work your co-workers might wonder why your hand is extended into the air over the cubicle wall. Finding legroom on flights can be challenging. While I don't have the definitive answer to this question, I have some basic tips that might help you stretch out and extend your personal space. Click think entry for legroom tips: 28/05/2008 - Airline Passenger Legroom: We All Want It...Is There A Way To Get It?
I ended Flying With Fish's week visiting an old topic.....etiquette. This entry on etiquette deals with wandering 'LPTs" (loud phone talkers). If these people bother you.......or if you are one of these people, you should read: 29/05/2008 - Airport Etiquette : Doing Laps With Your Mobile Phone
That's it for this week.
Happy Flying!
30/05/2008-Weekly Roundup: 100th Post For 2008; Baggage Security; Visa?; Southwest's Humour; Legroom; Airport Etiquette
This is it, the 100th post on Flying With Fish for 2008. I'm not sure if this is just another post, a milestone, or anything else, but a few readers have been asking what I had planned for the 100th post. Honestly, I have no idea. I didn't know I needed to do something. I didn't plan anything. Do I need to give a speech?
I guess this being the 100th post for 2008 is a semi-milestone for Flying With Fish. Last year, 2007, the first 'real year' Flying With Fish existed I only made 53 entries. This year I am trying to keep Flying With Fish going, not really sure where it's going, but like most US based travel, I'm sure Flying With Fish will make connections in Atlanta (ATL) and Chicago (ORD)......no wait, it's already made connection flights in ATL and ORD :0)
Prior to Flying With Fish hitting 100 posts for 2008 the message of the site has been spreading more than I had ever imagined. From being written up on sites such as David Hobby's "Strobist" (www.strobist.com), Scott Kelby's Blog (www.scottkelby.com), being written up on Popular Photography Online (www.popphoto.com) and being asked to answer reader mail for Pop Photo. Flying With Fish has also had the good fortune to have been written up in News Photographer Magazine and Popular Photography and allowed me to be a guest on two well respected photo radio shows, Photo Talk Radio and Inside Digital Photo and had me appear as an 'expert' on Good Morning America.
Where do I take all this from here? Who knows? I was however interviewed yesterday by The New York Times (www.nyt.com) for an upcoming story on the TSA's new "Self Select" Security Lanes.
When it comes to the new Self Select Security Lane I have a mixed opinion. I think it is a great idea, I think it can speed up security lines significantly, however I think flyers need more education before they get to the TSA checkpoint to determine which lane they are going to get in........but I've discussed this at the start of this month here: 8/05/2008 - New TSA "Self Select" Security Lanes - The Good & The Bad
..........I've rambled enough, so onto The Weekly Round Up
My first post of the week was written early Saturday morning, while sitting at a client's kitchen table in Hong Kong, as I pondered the idea of how checked baggage can be made more secure. You can read my jet lagged ideas here: 24/05/2008 - Security Of Checked Baggage: Is There A Better Way?
It is not often I get humour from passing an immigrations checkpoint. On Sunday I faced a very frustrating situation that in hindsight is really quite funny. What was this situation? I was asked for my "work visa" upon entering the country of my birth, country of residence and country that issued my passport. Interesting in scratching your head, while also laughing, then you should certainly read this entry: 26/05/2008 - Do You Have A Visa To Work Here? Ummm....I Live Here (Humour From Real Life)
Adding to my humour of the week, if you feel like laughing at mockery of the airline industry, you should watch Southwest Airline's ad mocking the 'nickel-and-dime' airlines. I'm not sure if the ad is as funny for people who don't follow the airline industry, but it had me laughing for quite a while. Click here to view the Southwest Airlines' commercial: 27/05/2008 - Southwest Airlines Addresses The Airline "Nickel & Dime" Game
Raise your hand if you want more legroom? OK, put your hands down, no one can see you raising your hand via my blog and if you're at work your co-workers might wonder why your hand is extended into the air over the cubicle wall. Finding legroom on flights can be challenging. While I don't have the definitive answer to this question, I have some basic tips that might help you stretch out and extend your personal space. Click think entry for legroom tips: 28/05/2008 - Airline Passenger Legroom: We All Want It...Is There A Way To Get It?
I ended Flying With Fish's week visiting an old topic.....etiquette. This entry on etiquette deals with wandering 'LPTs" (loud phone talkers). If these people bother you.......or if you are one of these people, you should read: 29/05/2008 - Airport Etiquette : Doing Laps With Your Mobile Phone
That's it for this week.
Happy Flying!
08 May 2008
New TSA "Self Select" Security Lanes - The Good & The Bad
Web: www.fishfotoworldwide.com -- E-Mail: fish@flyingwithfish.com
8/05/2008 - New TSA "Self Select" Security Lanes - The Good & The Bad
The U.S Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) started a new experiment to speed up security line at some airports; this new idea comes from the trail designation on ski trails. The Circle/Novices. The Square/Intermediate; The Diamond/Expert
Officially the new the TSA is known as Self Select Lines. It allows flyers to choose their own security lane based on their own knowledge of how they travel. The breaks down of the lanes are as follows
-- Green-Circle is for families and those who need special assistance. This is for those flying with kids, strollers, in large groups, those who need assistance and those totally unfamiliar with the TSA screening process (which is more people than you'd think).
-- Blue-Square is for flyers that are somewhat familiar with the TSA check point procedures. It is also intended for those flying with multiple bags, however with a limit of one carry on and one personal item, how many bags can someone be carrying (even the experienced flyers generally fly with 1+1 bags).
-- Black-Diamond is the lane intended for the Expert Flyer. This lane should be used only by the who know the TSA procedures inside and out; those who don't fumble at what they need to leave what they can take; those traveling light (I don't travel light, but I can get my stuff ready for the screening in about 30 seconds or less).
I recently encountered this new system that is in a limited number of airports, at Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) and see the good and the bad in this system.
Rather than tear the new system apart, as I have seen in a few online forums, I'm going to start off by saying that I think this new system can have some significant advantages. If flyers are honest about their skill of navigating an airport, and enter the lane that accurately represents their knowledge of passing through a TSA checkpoint, this system can speed up security lines. Self governing can be a great way to weed people out of the line, and gives the TSA a better chance of sizing up that they are dealing with and who they need to help.
The downsides to these Self Select Lines are when people enter the wrong line. At Boston Logan Airport's Terminal A I entered the "expert" and stood not moving for around 9 minutes. I saw people in line with their shoes on, no laptops out, and one person arguing that they were flying in first-class so they should be entitled to use the "expert" line. Flying in first class does not make you an expert, it just means you paid more or got upgraded. I quickly moved to the "novice" line, behind a family with two small children and one very inexperienced flyer. I was through the checkpoint in less than 3 minutes. If people enter the wrong line thinking the "expert" line will move faster, when they are not a experienced in passing through the check points, they just slow down the line for everyone.
If inexperienced flyers think they were getting dirty looks at a standard TSA check point by going slowly (and I have no problem with people going their own speed, especially those who don't fly often) they should check out the dirty looks they get when they slow up the "expert" line to a crawl.
Overall if flyers are honest and choose the right lanes I think this new "Self Select Lines" can be a great way to speed up the time it takes to get through security. It is nice to see the TSA using some ingenuity in finding new ways to make the travel experience smoother and easier under an increasingly more difficult environment.
Happy Flying!
8/05/2008 - New TSA "Self Select" Security Lanes - The Good & The Bad
The U.S Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) started a new experiment to speed up security line at some airports; this new idea comes from the trail designation on ski trails. The Circle/Novices. The Square/Intermediate; The Diamond/Expert
Officially the new the TSA is known as Self Select Lines. It allows flyers to choose their own security lane based on their own knowledge of how they travel. The breaks down of the lanes are as follows
-- Green-Circle is for families and those who need special assistance. This is for those flying with kids, strollers, in large groups, those who need assistance and those totally unfamiliar with the TSA screening process (which is more people than you'd think).
-- Blue-Square is for flyers that are somewhat familiar with the TSA check point procedures. It is also intended for those flying with multiple bags, however with a limit of one carry on and one personal item, how many bags can someone be carrying (even the experienced flyers generally fly with 1+1 bags).
-- Black-Diamond is the lane intended for the Expert Flyer. This lane should be used only by the who know the TSA procedures inside and out; those who don't fumble at what they need to leave what they can take; those traveling light (I don't travel light, but I can get my stuff ready for the screening in about 30 seconds or less).
I recently encountered this new system that is in a limited number of airports, at Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) and see the good and the bad in this system.
Rather than tear the new system apart, as I have seen in a few online forums, I'm going to start off by saying that I think this new system can have some significant advantages. If flyers are honest about their skill of navigating an airport, and enter the lane that accurately represents their knowledge of passing through a TSA checkpoint, this system can speed up security lines. Self governing can be a great way to weed people out of the line, and gives the TSA a better chance of sizing up that they are dealing with and who they need to help.
The downsides to these Self Select Lines are when people enter the wrong line. At Boston Logan Airport's Terminal A I entered the "expert" and stood not moving for around 9 minutes. I saw people in line with their shoes on, no laptops out, and one person arguing that they were flying in first-class so they should be entitled to use the "expert" line. Flying in first class does not make you an expert, it just means you paid more or got upgraded. I quickly moved to the "novice" line, behind a family with two small children and one very inexperienced flyer. I was through the checkpoint in less than 3 minutes. If people enter the wrong line thinking the "expert" line will move faster, when they are not a experienced in passing through the check points, they just slow down the line for everyone.
If inexperienced flyers think they were getting dirty looks at a standard TSA check point by going slowly (and I have no problem with people going their own speed, especially those who don't fly often) they should check out the dirty looks they get when they slow up the "expert" line to a crawl.
Overall if flyers are honest and choose the right lanes I think this new "Self Select Lines" can be a great way to speed up the time it takes to get through security. It is nice to see the TSA using some ingenuity in finding new ways to make the travel experience smoother and easier under an increasingly more difficult environment.
Happy Flying!
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