"Airlines lax in asking about bags FAA security rule isn't always followed to the letter"

Tuesday, August 1, 2000

Airlines lax in asking about bags FAA security rule isn't always followed to
the letter
By Gary Stoller
USA TODAY


Airlines failed to properly perform a basic security procedure during a USA
TODAY test at four airports.

In Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, USA TODAY reporters listened
as ticket agents, gate agents and skycaps of 18 U.S. airlines asked
travelers baggage-security questions. The Federal Aviation Administration
requires that two questions be asked of domestic passengers.

Fifteen times, however, no questions were asked, and nine times only one
question was asked during 125 passenger interviews monitored by USA TODAY.

Former FAA security director Billie Vincent, who reviewed notes of all the
interviews, says only two of 125 complied with federal requirements.

The FAA's requirement states:

''To make sure dangerous items aren't brought onboard U.S. aircraft by
unwitting passengers, the FAA requires the airlines to ask everyone the same
questions: Has anyone unknown to you asked you to carry an item on this
flight? Have any of the items you are traveling with been out of your
immediate control since the time you packed them?''

FAA officials say some variations are permissible, but they declined to
review any of the interviews. Vincent says in his judgment, both questions
were asked improperly by nearly 30% of the airline employees, and nearly all
improperly asked the second question.

Dick Doubrava, managing director of security for the Air Transport
Association, which represents U.S. airlines, says he can't comment on the
interviews. But ''the FAA is constantly monitoring and testing air
carriers,'' he says, ''and no indication has been given to us that there has
been a widespread failure to ask the proper security questions.'' The
baggage questions, Doubrava says, are just a part of security. Other
safeguards include computer profiling of passengers and weapons detectors.

In interviews that USA TODAY monitored, airline employees were often
inconsistent:

* At Boston's Logan International Airport, a ticket agent asked one traveler
one question and another, none.

* A passenger checking in at Chicago's Midway Airport was talking on a
cellphone and was asked no baggage questions by a gate agent. When a USA
TODAY reporter asked why, the agent said: ''I know that guy.''

* An airline agent handling a group of at least 10 teenagers at La Guardia
Airport called out: ''Did anyone unknowingly give you anything to carry
onboard?'' Several teens shook their heads ''no,'' but others didn't
respond, and no other questions were asked.

Employees need more security training, Vincent says.

Bruce Butterworth, the FAA's director of civil aviation security operations,
says airlines are generally doing a good job. ''These questions are being
asked, by and large, in the right way,'' he says.

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