Nervous Flyer News

[peteryoung]

Here we go again, and BA have just cancelled several more US-bound flights in the last few minutes.

Comments

[numbat.livejournal.com]

Of course it may well suit al-Qaeda to have the US authorities focus on passenger flights if it improves their chances of furthering some other plot unnoticed.

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[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

If the US authorities focused as much attention on cargo as they do on passengers I'd feel more secure. Compared to Europe their cargo security is still way behind.

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[feorag.livejournal.com]

Is this behind compared to the still-not-fixed problem at Heathrow that came up during the Lockerbie 'trial'? The same Heathrow that suffered a series of robberies in the cargo area last year? US cargo security is worse than that?

I feel really reassured...

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[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

The US did at last introduce new security measures for cargo originating overseas just last month. But this was only because many security concerns from other countries (including the UK's ADI, which is responsible for security at British airports) were able to point out that their screening procedures were still way behind what Europe had already put in place in the years after Lockerbie.

Since the two Heathrow robberies all airport employees (including myself) have had to submit themselves for additional security clearance from Disclosure Scotland (http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/), which involves further checks for criminal records, including driving offences. Getting an 'airside' driving licence was always tough, and now it's even tougher. I had no problem with this particular security measure because it's reasonable and covert rather than overt (and anyway I'm clean).

[missfairchild.livejournal.com]

Am I being even more cynical and paranoid than usual, or is the US actively trying to drive all passengers away from BA and Air France so that it can corner what is an increasingly nervous and shrinking market?

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[yonmei.livejournal.com]

I think that would require too much actual forward thinking and strategy on their part.

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[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Yes, the US seems to have issued no scares involving American planes in Paris/London, or none that I'm aware of. Ulterior motive? "Trust No One..." ;-)

I also wonder if/when British transport police are ever required to boarded US aircraft (again, hasn't happened yet as far as I'm aware) based on dodgy British intelligence, would it result in the same kind of panic-driven balls-up that BA's passengers experienced at the behest of US intelligence?

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[nolley.livejournal.com]

There's a problem in that Pete. The BTP don't have authorisation for firearms possession/use only the main UK police forces do.

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[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

I never mentioned firearms... it's the heightened feeling of insecurity that a heavy-handed, last-ditch security measure causes (such as on-board interrogations of 'suspicious-looking' passengers, as happened with BA223) that I have a problem with.

BTW - previous Nervous Flyer

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

Still ready to write letter/s about Kahn (http://www.livejournal.com/users/flyingsauce/57805.html#cutid1) if you can point to appropriate person. HR?

Re: BTW - previous Nervous Flyer

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Next time I'm in the office I want to speak to BA's human resources to dig a little deeper (if I can). At the moment BA are doing the right thing by accomodating the problem faced by these particular crew, as any human being can see it is not a pleasant experience particularly as it is based on race. I do wonder how long BA will continue to show flexibility, though for now they are fulfilling their obligations. I'll also be leaving a note for my colleague asking if he has written to his MP.

When I kept my office informed about my own particular problem with US Immigration, I was told that since November the US Embassy in London have pulled the rug from under BA, and will no longer address problems relating to groups of overseas employees entering the US for work. If I want US Immigration to address my problem I will have to approach the US Embassy personally (aka. wasting a day of my time), or try to address it each time I enter the US. Needless to say I'm doing the latter as it's still not sorted out to anyone's satisfaction, though so far they have accepted my explanation for the reason why it happens.

And one day soon I'll get round to posting my Grand Canyon trip!

Re: BTW - previous Nervous Flyer

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

I do wonder how long BA will continue to show flexibility, though for now they are fulfilling their obligations.

Hope they continue to do so.

I'll also be leaving a note for my colleague asking if he has written to his MP.

It's worth a try. If the MP cares to involve themself, it's the kind of thing an MP can do.

When I kept my office informed about my own particular problem with US Immigration, I was told that since November the US Embassy in London have pulled the rug from under BA, and will no longer address problems relating to groups of overseas employees entering the US for work.

Get the impression it's happening a lot? Or just that they're being pre-emptive?

And one day soon I'll get round to posting my Grand Canyon trip!

I'll look forward to it! Did you hike down into the Canyon at all?

Re: BTW - previous Nervous Flyer

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Yep. Half-way down. Virtually crawled back up! (wheeze...)

Re: BTW - previous Nervous Flyer

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to hearing all about it!

[green-amber.livejournal.com]

Sugar. I'm flying KLM via Amsterdam next Sat - any chance things might be quiter there?

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[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Probably. They seem to be unaffected so far. Have a good 'un!