Privatization only works if it's set up so there's competition. If it's set up as a monopoly, there no incentive to make things more efficient and less expensive. That's one reason why privatized ATC is problematic; there's no way to set up competing ATC services.
Prior to 9/11 there was no TSA. Airport security and passenger screening policy were set by feds and executed locally. It was much less expensive than TSA.
That existed prior to TSA. There were multiple security contractors in the country.
And how, exactly, does the TSA provide “more security”?
Saving the world, 1 >3 oz toothpaste at a time….
Oh…by “more security” you mean “the same level of security we’d have if the TSA hadn’t been created”.
And I disagree with you. I used to fly 25-30 trips per year in my job. I'm not doing that job anymore but the guys that are now figure 2-5 trips per year. My wife was making about the same number of trip as I was. She thinks that next year it will be about 10-15. Businesses have figured out that all that travel which was an absolute necessity isn't really all that necessary.
I tend to lean towards your assessment as well. When we cut our business travel last year, that money went directly to IT investments for a more persistent work from anywhere model. When preparing this year’s budget, those travel cuts stayed in place and they money was invested elsewhere.
1984…
I don’t disagree that business travel is changing. I was responding to the comment that airlines are worried about the future of business travel. Yea I think that’s definitely in the front of their minds but they’re not just going to stop expanding. The IATA said travel wouldn’t bounce back to 2019 levels until 2025. Leisure travel is back and I wouldn’t doubt that business travel will be back in a few years
It’s a shame they raised the annual fee. The added perks don’t really warrant the increase in annual fee IMO. If I didn’t travel so much, I definitely would cancel it.
Haha, maybe like binging after dieting. I took two trips in 2020, which were nice because of the lack of crowds, so I don't feel deprived. Right now I don't have much desire to get out there with the vacation-starved. I have a trip scheduled for the end of September. Hope the frenzy will have died down by then.
I believe it’s about 2-3 months for a passport now. I renewed mine a few years ago in the beginning of November and got it back before Thanksgiving. I didn’t even pay for it to be expedited. I was pleasantly surprised. My wife was going to send hers in for her name change but we’re going away in October and don’t want to risk it.
But every business deserves to have people falling over themselves to come and work for them without paying the going rate? Capitalism works both ways. If you can't pay enough to attract workers, you don't have a business.
People love to say "if you don't like our wages, then you can choose not to work here" and then get mad when they choose not to
So, then we lose people with excellent skills and lots of domain/company knowledge and replace them with people with potentially excellent skills but less domain knowledge and ZERO knowledge of the company. Then we pay the new people what we wouldn't pay the "known good" that we had. I work in IT, so these are not "fry guys" making minimum wage, these are folks making good money.
https://www.flysfo.com/about-sfo/safety-security
I remember that well. I believe the chant was "You can't professionalize unless you federalize."
- A requirement that all checked baggage be screened by explosive detection devices by December 31, 2002
That's the GQP way, anything done should create a profit for a business. All of Congress was R controlled at the time.
It will get even better with the body chip implant, Can’t wait.
So you’re saying those wouldn’t have happened without the TSA? How do you know this?
That’s not a security thing…that’s just *******s.
The Passport office is quoting 18 weeks for routine processing, and 12 weeks for expedited.
In ATL, Clear put you at the head of the pre-check line. So quick through and shoes, belt stayed on. 90% of the time, pre-check was all you needed, but at a few airports, Clear can help. As someone else said, if you really need it, you likely get it free anyways (Delta Diamond in my case)