by Pa Rock
Flying Brontosaurus
Frequent flyers know that there are some airports where they will be hassled. TSA at Kansas City International, for instance, always goes out of its way to complicate the process of boarding a plane. More personal items get thrown away at the Kansas City airport than perhaps at any other airport in America. Sky Harbor at Phoenix is another where the boarding experience is often frightful. Sky Harbor has tried to rebrand itself as the "world's friendliest" airport, but that effort is all stuff and nonsense. The Phoenix airport is one place where you can expect to have to kick off your shoes and walk across carpet that is older than John McCain and stickier than the front row at a Gallagher performance.
Kansas City and Phoenix both pale, however, with the mistreatment and abuse that we had to endure to board a flying cattle car in Honolulu. That airport is in a league of its own. I expect we would have received more courteous treatment checking into a prison.
This morning things are markedly better. We are at the airport in Portland, Oregon (PDX) awaiting a flight to Kansas City. I have always liked this airport ever since the time several years ago when I encountered a TSA official wearing a turban. Portland is a bit weird - and proud of it! As we arrived today we were ushered through with ease and convenience. There was no removing of shoes - or belts. We did not have to empty our pockets or remove computers from their cases. There weren't even any dogs sniffing luggage and butts. The only concession that I had to make to the system was to take my cellphone out of my pocket and put it in my briefcase for the screening. The process could not have been more simple.
I grew up in small towns where the local cops were often "grown-up" school bullies who were unable to find success in the real world, or perhaps unwilling to give up the pleasures of petty power. Sadly, many TSA officials seem to be of the same mindset. It's not about keeping anyone safe, its about following rules and stroking a sad person's power complex. But in Portland it is more about courteous interactions and getting people onto airplanes in an orderly manner.
It's nice to be able to end this excursion on a positive note. Thanks for that, PDX. You rock!
Flying Brontosaurus
Frequent flyers know that there are some airports where they will be hassled. TSA at Kansas City International, for instance, always goes out of its way to complicate the process of boarding a plane. More personal items get thrown away at the Kansas City airport than perhaps at any other airport in America. Sky Harbor at Phoenix is another where the boarding experience is often frightful. Sky Harbor has tried to rebrand itself as the "world's friendliest" airport, but that effort is all stuff and nonsense. The Phoenix airport is one place where you can expect to have to kick off your shoes and walk across carpet that is older than John McCain and stickier than the front row at a Gallagher performance.
Kansas City and Phoenix both pale, however, with the mistreatment and abuse that we had to endure to board a flying cattle car in Honolulu. That airport is in a league of its own. I expect we would have received more courteous treatment checking into a prison.
This morning things are markedly better. We are at the airport in Portland, Oregon (PDX) awaiting a flight to Kansas City. I have always liked this airport ever since the time several years ago when I encountered a TSA official wearing a turban. Portland is a bit weird - and proud of it! As we arrived today we were ushered through with ease and convenience. There was no removing of shoes - or belts. We did not have to empty our pockets or remove computers from their cases. There weren't even any dogs sniffing luggage and butts. The only concession that I had to make to the system was to take my cellphone out of my pocket and put it in my briefcase for the screening. The process could not have been more simple.
I grew up in small towns where the local cops were often "grown-up" school bullies who were unable to find success in the real world, or perhaps unwilling to give up the pleasures of petty power. Sadly, many TSA officials seem to be of the same mindset. It's not about keeping anyone safe, its about following rules and stroking a sad person's power complex. But in Portland it is more about courteous interactions and getting people onto airplanes in an orderly manner.
It's nice to be able to end this excursion on a positive note. Thanks for that, PDX. You rock!
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