Airports

Category Archives for Airports.

San Antonio Airport Gives In, Will Welcome Chick-Fil-A Despite Past Support For Anti-LGBTQ Causes

by Gary Leff on September 13, 2020

Sep 13 2020

San Antonio airport was at the forefront of a nationwide trend to ban Chick-Fil-A over its political beliefs.

While it would be permissible for an airport to have a policy that all of its food outlets must be open 7 days a week – there is limited space in the airport and they need to use it to feed passengers, especially on busy Sunday – statements made advancing Chick-Fil-A bans have clearly indicated the decision is made on the basis of animus towards the chain’s past support of charities which are inconsistent with LGBTQ equality.

Global Entry Raising Application Fee, Expanding And Making Children Free

by Gary Leff on September 12, 2020

Sep 12 2020

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bureau is planning to raise the price of Global Entry, making it $120, and raising the price of other similar program so that they match as well. However children under 18 whose parents are part of the program (or who apply together) will be free, and CBP plans to expand Global Entry to immigration preclearance facilities (or at least make the rules consistent with practice) and to U.S. territories.

US Immigration Wants To Collect DNA Samples, Iris Scans, And Voice Prints From 50% More People

by Gary Leff on September 12, 2020

Sep 12 2020

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been published by the Department of Homeland Security authorizing a significant increase in biometric information that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be able to collect.

The government redefines biometric to include behavioral characteristics along with biological characteristic that can be used to identify someone. And it outlines new types of biometrics that they plan to authorize themselves to collect.

The Most Germ-Laden Spot In Any Airport Is The TSA Checkpoint, And Delta Has A Solution

by Gary Leff on September 11, 2020

Sep 11 2020

This month Delta Air Lines is rolling out anti-microbial bins at security checkpoints in their terminals at Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia and New York-JFK.

TSA screening bins have more germs than the monkey in outbreak. Your fellow sick passengers touch the bins, they even put their dirty tissues and handkerchiefs in them before going through the nude-o-scope pockets empty.

Federal Government Admits It’s Too Incompetent To Know Who Should Get Global Entry, Who Shouldn’t

by Gary Leff on September 10, 2020

Sep 10 2020

The federal government submitted false statements in court to defend terminating global entry applications for New Yorkers. Now the government said they just didn’t know what they were talking about when making the claims, rather than intentionally lying.

The real question here is whether’s it’s a bigger problem if the federal government lies to the courts, or if the people responsible for trusted traveler programs do not know what information they’re receiving, or what information they need, in order to determine eligibility?

Starting Monday, Europe Flights Will Again Be Allowed At Any U.S. Airport

by Gary Leff on September 9, 2020

Sep 09 2020

The U.S. currently only permits 15 airports to receive flights from Europe (including the U.K.), China, or Brazil. That’s because passengers arriving on flights from these places are supposed to be specially screened for Covid-19, since they along with Iran are deemed high risk areas. This policy will be lifted on Monday, September 14.

What It’s Like For Osama Bin Laden’s Niece To Go Through Airport Security

by Gary Leff on September 6, 2020

Sep 06 2020

Noor Bin Ladin, who spells her last name with an ‘i’ rather than an ‘e’, was born in Switzerland. Her mother, a Swiss citizen, left her father in Saudi Arabia and raised her family in Europe. Bin Ladin spends much of her time in the United States and shared what airport security is like.

In 10 States You Can Now Sue If TSA Screeners Intentionally Hurt You

by Gary Leff on September 1, 2020

Sep 01 2020

As a result of the ruling, you can now sue TSA for any intentional battery they may inflict on you as a passenger in the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. They join Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands) in recognizing this right of redress.

In the 11th Circuit states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia you cannot sue under the 2014 decision in Jonathan Corbett v. TSA. Increasingly then we’re seeing a circuit split, making it possible that the Supreme Court may someday rule on TSA-imposed beatings and sovereign immunity.

Europe Will Protect Incumbent Airlines From Competiton At Its Airports Through Winter

by Gary Leff on August 28, 2020

Aug 28 2020

Europe has reversed course and announced an intention to protect incumbent airlines from competition at its airports at least through winter. Immediately after the company that coordinates takeoff and landing slots for 46 airports warned airlines that they were going to have to use their slots in the U.K. and Europe or lose them this winter, the European Commission introduced a proposed regulation to extend the waivers. I take it then that Airport Coordination Limited’s warning was more political pressure than prediction.

One Man Lives – And Farms – In The Middle Of Tokyo Narita Airport

by Gary Leff on August 23, 2020

Aug 23 2020

Toyko Narita airport was built on top of former farming villages, despite local opposition, backed by the Communist and Social Democratic parties, known as the Sanrizuka Struggle. While land for the airport was initially acquired voluntarily from its owners, by 1971 the Japanese government began expropriating property.

Opposition clashed with construction workers and police, leading to deaths and mass arrests. Over 500 guerrilla actions have taken place against Narita airport since its opening in 1978.