Based on early reports, it appears that the TSA resistance is triumphing beyond our wildest dreams. As we have noted everywhere, our primary message has always been to not fly. It’s in our name after all! And it appears that that is what people are doing! There are also reports that the TSA started dialing back its security theater last night. We hear they’re not selecting as many people for the scanners and the gropings are not touching genital areas.

A Zogby poll came out last night. 61% are with us in our opposition to the groping and scanning. 48% are looking to join our boycott – they’re seeking alternatives to flying.

CBS reports that a record number of Thanksgiving travelers have opted to drive:

A record 92 percent, 40 million of the 42.2 million total travelers, are expected to drive, although the number of air travelers is expected to increase from 1.57 million to 1.62 million. CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg warns that the much ballyhooed, new, invasive, airport security screening procedures at U.S. airports is expected to significantly slow air travel time.

Correction: ABC reports it’s 94%: “We’re expecting 94 percent of all holiday travelers to go by automobile,” [Troy] Green [AAA national spokesperson] said, up 12 percent from last year.

I caution that these are early reports and the evening rush is yet to transpire. I polled folks on Twitter and Facebook. Here is what they had to say:

“LaGuardia is definitely unusually quiet. Food Court workers remarked they thought it’d be much busier 2day” – lolitapop9

“if the scanners at LAX are off, isnt that because of #wewontfly?” – TheLAPodshow

“on news reports, many talk about walking straight through without a scan.” docsharp

“I made it through security at SJC with no hassle and just a step through the magnetometer.” – Scott B. on Facebook.

“From the people I have talked with, and from a Flyer website I frequent, it seems the TSA was prepared for all the media attention this holiday. I am hearing that even as of yesterday procedures are more relaxed than previously reported, and from my own experience. X-ray machines were not being used except for a very very very small group of the population if at all, the pat downs were very mild, and ‘grand-mother’ type TSA agents were there to greet, smile, and help the public.” – Many S.

“According to MSNBC, reports are coming in that people are getting though the checkpoints in record time.” – Carol B.

“Boston Logan about 8:30 am, 20 minute line, only one person chosen for screenings. He opted out. They are afraid to pull people out for screenings, so in essence the protest has worked. Don’t count on much news coverage, but think they’ll be back to pulling 2 out of 6 tomorrow.” – Marianne S.

“A friend from Orlando went through security today, indicated there was a special ‘protest’ line with nothing more than a metal detector that they’d send people through if they were protesters/opt-outers. He sailed right through security with no issues.” – Jeff R

“IAH was surprisingly empty early this morning.” – Heather M.

“almost everyone is being sent through the metal detectors…also, a huge bank of cameras that wasn’t there 2 weeks ago (also last week, everyone went through the scanners).” – Stephanie H.

“The wait in Atlanta right now is only 15 minutes with 26 opt outs.” – Thais S.

“My mom flew in from Dallas – Love Field and they do NOT have scanners, only metal detectors. Word is that they aren’t getting them because that is where Southwest has their headquarters and doesn’t want them there. Little Rock doesn’t have the scanners either.” – Kerry S.

“Well #TSA security at BWI was uneventful. The lines weren’t long and I just passed through a regular metal detector.” – dsadlosky

“Dulles is a ghost town. No enhanced screening either. Thank you #TSA!” – slickricks

Gizmodo: Fliers Claim TSA Have Deactivated Body Scanners

 

133 Responses to Record 92% of Travelers Choose to NOT Fly

  1. Tony says:

    i can understand both aspects of the argument. violation of privacy and personal boundries to achieve greater security. thats a hell of a trade off. Ben Franklin once said “Those that can give up an essential liberty in order to obtain a little temporary safty, deserve neither liberty nor safty”. isnt it pehaps a win for the terrorists just to see how we respond to our fear? look at how much has changed since 9/11. security measures, people looking over their shoulders every time a middle eastern is nearby, all the political crossfire pulling people to opposite sides of the country. literally dividing us. i think that was the point. i believe they wanted to induce a bit of fear and watch us crumble under our own weight. in that they have suceeded.

    for that reason i pull no sides and will continue to live a free man. i will not take sides or live in fear. i hope you can all find a peace in your lives and just enjoy life.

    • Here’s what I think of people who understand the right but can’t seem to stand up for it:

      “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

  2. Bob says:

    This opt out movement has definitely taken the nation by storm… At some point we need to examine to see if these measures are actually making us safe or are
    creating more harm then good. I myself choose not to fly until TSA established
    a more realistic program of security screening.

  3. Gurinder Brar says:

    This TSA thing is nothing but money making scheme by scaring people under the name of terrorists. First scare people then take advantage. This way people are divided and that is TSA or authorties like want. It is a multi billion business.

  4. Josh says:

    I only wish for the scanners to be removed/replaced so children and adults don’t have to go through the radiation scanners. Groping isn’t a big issue. Whether it goes against your rights or not. Whether you people think “safety is fear” is none of my concern. My concern is this protest is probably going to make things worse. If this protest does succeed in getting rid of groping/scanners. It would only take one hijacking/violent situation to make everything worse than it is now. Then the protest/people wouldn’t have a say in anything what so ever and the TSA will have the right to make things worse. Even to turn groping into strip searches. Which will mean even if you don’t fly. You made things worse off for the people who have no choice and have to fly overseas. But, go ahead and continue fighting for your rights. The more you fight the more they’re going to take away.

  5. Melissa says:

    @YourWrong and everyone else who really thinks the new policies are for “safety”: the TSA didn’t catch the shoe bomber, or the underwear bomber; those two were both taken down by other passengers on the plane. (They didn’t catch the 9/11 bombers, either, for that matter.) Thus, the TSA’s policies have always been reactionary, not preventative.

    If that’s the case, then wherein does our safety lie? In a locked cockpit and a pilot with a gun. Obviously. And, blowing the plane up mid-air? Has never happened on a passenger plane. Also see Rafi Sela’s comments for more about the “usefulness”, or lack thereof, of the backscatter scanners.

    Also keep in mind that, if the TSA is confiscating things that are “dangerous”, why do they never arrest the passenger bringing dangerous items on board? They think my toothpaste will *accidentally* get mixed with the jelly in my PB&J sandwich, causing a huge explosion? No? So I must have to mix it on purpose on the plane. But the TSA has never detained or punished me for my evil plan, and I’ll bet no one posting here has *ever* seen anyone being detained for suspected terrorism. So the TSA takes people’s stuff, but doesn’t have any consequences for the evil person bringing dangerous materials on board? Good examples of security theater, not real security.

  6. violet13 says:

    Airline Pilot Patrick Smith’s essay on his website is the best summary of what’s wrong with the TSA as well as a brilliant perspective on terrorist attacks I’ve read so far. He says it much better than I ever could: https://www.askthepilot.com/essays-and-stories/terrorism-tweezers-and-terminal-madness-an-essay-on-security/

    I highly recommend folks both pro and con TSA read it.

  7. [...] intended to cause traffic jams. I agree with the cause, but not the method. Far better to really Opt Out. Many Americans did, and I was one of them. No Napo-Chert cattle chute for me. Obviously, there is [...]

  8. beeb says:

    Of course no one in the media says it, but the SCANNERS DONT DETECT EXPLOSIVES! Isn’t that why you’re being scanned? It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and your rights are being violated. The TSA is rolling them out on streets in trucks too. How’s that for the right NOT to be searched unless there is probable cause?

  9. Common Sense says:

    I am all for the scanner being changed out for something less harmful so both adults and children don’t get affected by radiation.

    However,

    There are many people out there who keep saying “A plane hasn’t been hijacked in over a year”. As true as that may be. It’s better not to let your guard down instead of just ignoring the issue completely. Whether it goes against your rights or not. Look if you want to make a difference come up with a better way instead of complaining about what’s already there.

    Plus, out of all due respect.

    This protest is going to make things worse than it already is. For if this does succeed and something goes terribly wrong on just ONE flight whether its a hijacking or just a small act of violence. TSA, or whoever will be in charge, will make their “Safety Protocol” even more strict. They’re going to turn those “gropings”, this protest keeps complaining about, into full on cavity searches. I don’t know about you but I think it’s less embarrassing to be groped with my clothes on than off. Also, just because you say “We Won’t Fly” You still have people who have no choice but to go across the oceans by flight. Especially, if it’s job related. Trust me I think those people would rather keep the job they have now than too lose it and work at fast food restaurant.

    Once again, before this whole thing turns into a worse epidemic than it already is. Come up with a better solution for safety. Instead of just refusing to fly and complaining about what’s there now. Sitting there and doing nothing will not accomplish anything and chances are just raising picket signs and ranting will just make things worse. Use logic not outrage.

  10. [...] Out Day” became a media headline the days leading up to protest.Except, it turns out, 94% of travelers chose to just not fly instead. And those that did shared that many airports were not even using the backscatter machines [...]

  11. randy mcbride says:

    There is curently one enemy, the terrorists. A run-amok government is a second enemy. Security? We should have bomb sniffing dogs which according to some research would be more effective than the body scanners, plus behavioral profiling, plus intelligence, plus metal detectors, plus other effective means. But treating the flying public like criminals and becoming a gestapo-type organization is not the answer. TSA should be made to held accountable. Furthermore, I have my own story. My 74 year old father was pulled into a private room for questioning because he was carrying a few thousand in cash. He said it was a terrible experience. Since when is carrying a few thousand dollars a CRIME? Rep Mica had it right when he said that the agency was out of control and needed to be reined in. I’m one of the mad-as-hell frequent fliers who has had enough of their stupidity, ineptness, and newest outrages against innocent passengers. I don’t hold the TSA agents accountable other than those who need to be fired for reasons beyond poor training and vile policies, but the leadership is an example of an organization run amok. In my own companies, where my partners and I employ a few hundred contract personnel, we have occassionally hired managers that we later had to remove because they had somewhat oppressive management styles toward their employees. I can only imagine how bad they would have gotten had we NOT removed them. That’s the trouble. Government agencies not held accountable by the peoples’ representatives, and in effect the people, can become oppressive. TSA is one of the most glaring examples of an agency that needs its management replaced, or needs to be defunded, or restructured. It will happen if WE THE PEOPLE continue to take them on. Well done, wewontfly.

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