BA to fingerprint domestic passengers

[Ian Batten]

On 04 Mar 08, at 1323, Roland Perry wrote:

> In article  
> <7A381BD93DFF5C4DA7BBFFA8D469813A0762F30E@HEMV2DUKER.he.local>,  
> Andrew Sutcliffe <andrew.sutcliffe@btconnect.com> writes
>>
>> At Birmingham they photograph you as you go through to the  
>> departures, this is then used as you go to the plane.
>
> Not at Terminal 2 (unless they whip out a camera if you are flying  
> on one of the several domestic flights).

I think T2 has proper segregation of inbound and outbound passengers,  
though.  It's the ability to get from the gate you arrive at to an  
outbound gate which is the threat, and it's an immigration threat,  
not a direct transport security threat.

>
>> As for putting liquids in plastic bags, well that totally eludes me.
>
> Rationing. The size of the bag (a US Quart - and very widely used  
> inside the US as a "freezer bag") limits the number of things the  
> security people have to scrutinise, and the total amount of liquid  
> you can take on board. The transparency (of the plastic) is so they  
> can see what's inside more quickly if there's a query.

The TSA has an interesting blog up on this topic.  http://www.tsa.gov/ 
blog/labels/liquids.html

I think to dismiss what it says purely on ``well, they would say  
that, wouldn't they?'' basis is juvenile cynicism.  One point I'd not  
thought of:

> The baggie gives us two benefits: A) It serves as a visually  
> identifiable, easy way to limit quantity. Even if they wanted to  
> bring multiple bottles to mix, we limit the quantity of their total  
> liquids as well (bottles "hidden" in the carry-on bag stick out).  
> B) The baggie serves to concentrate the vapor - substances used to  
> create liquid explosives are very volatile and emit fumes even  
> through sealed bottles. (We have tested.) We have liquid explosives  
> detectors that take advantage of the vapor concentration factor in  
> the baggie. This way, we do not have to examine what's inside every  
> bottle, regardless of what the label says.
>

ian