TSA is a national agency - why do they have different standards at
different airports?

I flew out of San Jose - liquids can stay in the bag, take your laptop
out, a tablet is fine to leave in your bag.

I flew back home from Las Vegas and was flagged for secondary inspection
for my tablet (a 6" kindle), while I had a condescending agent tell me
that a tablet is just like a laptop. In the meantime, I had a battery
pack that was fine to stay in my luggage.

You'd think they could get it consistent, given the attention they
receive.

Don't get me started about the TSA agent at Logan yelling commands to passengers in the third person like he was still a drill sargeant,
holding up a hand and snapping his blue glove while telling us we really
didn't want "secondary inspections".

Southwest now has reserved seating instead of cattle call - which means
they allocate center seats in the back first, then offer aisle and
window seats for an extra cost. Southwest was the last bastion of
unshittiness before this.



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Hey poindexter!

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:37:30 -0800, you wrote:

Southwest now has reserved seating instead of cattle call - which means
they allocate center seats in the back first, then offer aisle and
window seats for an extra cost. Southwest was the last bastion of unshittiness before this.

The last time my family (4 of us) flew to Florida and back, we were seated all over the fucking plane, and not anywhere near each other. That was the first time I ever encountered this, and it completely ruined my opinion of Southwest at the time.

Just booked a flight for 3 of us this June to Florida again, and paid an extra $20 per person to actually select our seats. I'm glad they (Southwest) brought that option back, but that never used to be an extra charge, and will be an add-on I will /always/ select from here on out after that experience.

Unfortunately, where I'm at, Southwest is the main service out of Milwaukee (MKE), and the only service that does direct flights to most places I need to go (because piss on layovers, too). Plus, Delta and United are usually ridiculously expensive, in comparison.

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
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Re: TSA pet peeves
By: Accession to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu Feb 12 2026 07:00 pm

The last time my family (4 of us) flew to Florida and back, we were seated all over the fucking plane, and not anywhere near each other. That was the first time I ever encountered this, and it completely ruined my opinion of Southwest at the time.

Just booked a flight for 3 of us this June to Florida again, and paid an extra $20 per person to actually select our seats. I'm glad they (Southwest) brought that option back, but that never used to be an extra charge, and will be an add-on I will /always/ select from here on out after that experience.

I think Southwest's policy of choosing your own seat (and not charging money to choose a seat) was popular with some people, but I can see there might be situations where that could lead to not being able to sit together. I feel like airlines try to nickel & dime people these days, and the latest thing seems to be charging money to choose your seat (even if it's not much, such as $20). Years ago, I remember buying airline tickets and being able to choose my seat without being charged extra for that. Airlines also have baggage check fees & luggage weight fees (if your luggage weighs too much) too..

Nightfox

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Nightfox wrote to Accession <=-

charged extra for that. Airlines also have baggage check fees &
luggage weight fees (if your luggage weighs too much) too..

Southwest now markets their preferred seating fee by saying that you'll
be in group 1 boarding and have a better change of storing your carry-on
bag - and save the checked baggage charge.

Conveniently glossing over the fact that they used to allow one free
bag.

At least with preferred seating I got artisanal bar kibbles.



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Hey Nightfox!

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:05:48 -0800, you wrote:

I feel like airlines try to nickel & dime people these days,

Not only nickel and dime, but even traveling with a family of 4 will cost you $1200-$1800 just normally, depending on what day and time you choose to fly.

Regards,
Nick

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Nick,

Not only nickel and dime, but even traveling with a family of 4
will cost you $1200-$1800 just normally, depending on what day
and time you choose to fly.

Over 40 years ago, Home Box Office had a special program called
"Money Matters". The segment (in 1980) highlighted Amtrak's shiny
new fleet of double decker Superliner trains.

In the segment, they noted "For a family of four, traveling from
Chicago to Seattle...the train and sleeping compartments cost less
than four one way plane tickets. Round trip, it's not quite as cheap
as airline super savers. But, you get to spend 2 days, and 2 nights
on the train, with no hotel bills.

In looking for a much needed, but economical vacation from Little
Rock, Arkansas to Huntsville, Alabama, for a big ham radio event,
there's a wide range of costs and modes. Also, the further out you
book the trip...and the fewer nights you need for lodging, the cheaper
it can be. Plus, if you're a senior citizen, you can get a bit of a
discount (usually 10 percent).

Most places offer breakfast (usually continental), and I'm sure
I could get other stuff ordered via DoorDash, if I wanted...or get
delivery (pizza, etc.).

As of Feb. 18, 2026, this is what I found:

Train: I would take Amtrak's Texas Eagle from Little Rock to Chicago...
then The Floridian (formerly The Capitol Limited) from Chicago to
Washington, DC...then The Crescent from Washington, DC to Birmingham,
Alabama. At Birmingham, I'd have to take Greyhound from there up to
Huntsville. While Amtrak doesn't serve Huntsville, they do have rail
lines in the area.

One way was around $275 for coach, and $1500 for a roomette (sleeping
car). With sleeping car accommodations, your dining car meals (except
for alcoholic beverages) are included in the price of the ticket.

This takes the longest to get there and back...but it has more legroom
than a bus or plane, even if you go coach. Being a railfan, I know that
delays, or other things "go with the territory".

Microwave sandwiches, etc. from the cafe car are moderately priced, as
are items in the Dining Car, for trains that have them. On some trains,
the "Dining Car" is for "sleeping car passengers", while coach passengers
are relegated to getting purchases from the cafe car.

Flying: I can't get an itinerary from AARP on the flight and stay
package, until I book it, but there are several options. However,
with the current TSA mess and flight delays from the government
shutdown (that term is redundant <G>), even with having the TSA
Pre-Check deal, I'm not keen on flying. At 30,000 feet, you may
be closer to Heaven...but, if something happens, you don't have
a prayer.

Bus: The last time I took the bus, it about did me in, but that was
before left hip replacement surgery a few years ago. However, price
wise, a round trip might run me $300. I would have a layover in
Memphis and Birmingham, before going to Huntsville. I could still
get a good deal on a hotel via AARP, even if I stayed more than 2
nights.

While in Huntsville, there is an excellent restaurant, called
"88 Buffet". It has Asian and American Cuisine (with some others),
along with seafood selections. Many of the ham radio operators
gather there to "graze" on Friday evening...the main event is all
day Saturday and much of the day on Sunday. I have never been there,
but a lot of folks I know via ham radio, have spoken highly of it.

Daryl

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Re: Re: TSA pet peeves
By: Daryl Stout to Accession on Wed Feb 18 2026 05:36 pm

In the segment, they noted "For a family of four, traveling from
Chicago to Seattle...the train and sleeping compartments cost less
than four one way plane tickets. Round trip, it's not quite as cheap
as airline super savers. But, you get to spend 2 days, and 2 nights
on the train, with no hotel bills.

In looking for a much needed, but economical vacation from Little
Rock, Arkansas to Huntsville, Alabama, for a big ham radio event,
there's a wide range of costs and modes. Also, the further out you
book the trip...and the fewer nights you need for lodging, the
cheaper it can be. Plus, if you're a senior citizen, you can get a

just take a bus. there's no such thing as grayhound now except for the name. other companies do it. it's not worth it to waste money on a train.


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