Most of what I have to say is simple repetition of others. Still, this much at least is original: while the new restrictions remain in effect, I will not fly commercial air in the US.
I will not succumb to an atmosphere of paranoia in which I am required to keep my hands visible, my lap clear, and in which I am prohibited from movement during any portion of a flight. Instead, I boycott the industry until it stops mistaking liberty for threat. I encourage you to do the same. There exist other options than commercial air: general aviation is a lot of fun, but there also exist long-haul bus and train lines even in the US.
At some point, commercial air travel stops being worth the hassle. For me, that point has just been reached.
Says Bruce Schneier, the TSA critic: “…what sort of magical thinking is behind the rumored TSA rule about keeping passengers seated during the last hour of flight? Do we really think the terrorist won’t think of blowing up their improvised explosive devices during the first hour of flight?
For years I’ve been saying this: ‘Only two things have made flying safer [since 9/11]: the reinforcement of cockpit doors, and the fact that passengers know now to resist hijackers.’
This week, the second one worked over Detroit. Security succeeded.”
It’s true enough, though he comes off as a bit more reputable when you call him a “security expert” instead of a “TSA critic.”