United Says TSA Wants All Comic Con Comic Books Searched; TSA Says 'Not Us'
from the no-superheroes-in-airports dept
I thought writing about San Diego Comic Con being censorial assholes would be the strangest story we’d write about Comic Con this year, but leave it to airline security to come up with an even more bizarre story. Apparently United Airlines (because of course it would be United) put up a sign at the airport in San Diego telling people that all books needed to be removed from checked bags. A Twitter user named Adi Chappo tweeted a picture of the sign at the airport:
United, being United, responded that the TSA was demanding that all comic books from San Diego Comic Con could only go in carry on luggage.
Chappo asked for more detail and United told him to reach out to the TSA directly.
This wasn’t just a one-off either. Another Twitter user posted a Twitter direct message conversation with United, in which it claimed that there was a TSA restriction on any comic books in checked luggage:
Ahaha holy shit the airport is going to be a clusterfuck. #SDCC cc @SD_Comic_Con pic.twitter.com/WIYqSpzlaA
— Amy, stuck @airport (@spooloflies) July 23, 2017
So that’s all bizarre enough. I mean, there has been talk about restricting electronics on flights, as well as some talk of sifting through reading materials, but comic books? From San Diego Comic Con? Many people were left wondering what the hell the TSA could be thinking… and that included the TSA. When asked about all of this by reporters, the TSA appeared to be just as confused as everyone else and insisted there was no such restriction:
There is ?no restriction on anything related to putting comics or any type of books? in baggage, and TSA never put out any guidance to that effect, she said.
?In fact, they are allowed in both checked and carry-on baggage,? the spokeswoman told Consumerist, adding that there were no delays in the processing of checked bags out of San Diego yesterday.
So, there was either some sort of bizarre miscommunication between the TSA and United, or it was just United being United. Either way when it comes down to a dispute between the TSA and United, it’s difficult to bet on which organization is likely to act worse.
Filed Under: airports, comic books, comic con, searches, security theater, tsa
Companies: san diego comic con, united airlines
Comments on “United Says TSA Wants All Comic Con Comic Books Searched; TSA Says 'Not Us'”
Because Reasons
I cannot wait to hear what United says what danger they were trying to protect us from.
In the end they will just apologize using a non-apology apology whilst shrugging their collective shoulders.
Re: Because Reasons
hmmm maybe they were trying to protect us from the dangers (possibly to one’s sanity) of flying united.
Re: Because Reasons
Isn’t it obvious? If you were flying a plane, would you want supervillains in the cargo hold?
Re: Re: Because Reasons
The only valid reason I’ve seen was that the books are heavy and would put planes out of balance.
A long time ago Airlines had a problem with coin collectors checking in a lot of heavy bags (Just under the weight limit). When doing paperwork for the plane the pilots found the plane out of balance. This would make take off quite exciting to say the least.
Agreed the signs makes no sense, but pilots could say something in the event that you have a lot of heavy bags.
Re: Re: Re: Because Reasons
That makes no sense. Checked luggage is weighted and can be arranged to balance the plane, even if it contains heavy books; hand luggage isn’t. No checked-in books would just push the imbalance to a place it’s much harder to measure, let alone fix, and that could shift during the flight.
Re: Because Reasons
“I cannot wait to hear what United says what danger they were trying to protect us from.”
The best theory I’ve heard is that mylar bags might cause a lot of false positives in the scanners they use for cabin baggage, and the suggestion was that since a lot of comic con people are likely to be having their comics protected like that it would be best to have them in the hold.
If that’s the case, it was extremely poorly communicated, but it seems like the most sensible explanation if it can be confirmed that mylar has that effect on scanners.
Re: Because Reasons
Paper Cuts?
United is being devious. They are just trying to prove that TSA agents can’t read at a remedial level.
That comic book you are reading there, “V for Vendetta” isn’t it? It advocates for the bombing of Government targets. You are in trouble little terrorist. – TSA in a very possible future.
I wonder when we’ll revisit this article but won’t laugh about it.
Re: Re:
More like: “Hmmm…. I’ll take this one, that one, Ooh! That’s a rare one!” – TSA Thief watching the X-Ray machine.
Re: Re: Re:
Having dealt with stuff stolen from or added to checked baggage, I figure that TSA would want that stuff in the checked bag, where they can go through it back in the back of the airport and then add one of their nice "we checked your bag and stole stuff from it, have a nice day" unsigned bag check papers in it. Wish they would learn best practices and search the bag in front of the person instead of hiding in the back.
Re: Re:
If I were standing in an airport and heard a government official give a content-based order that violated the first amendment, I’d stand up and watch. The instant that a second official moved up to provide silent backup (or physical aid) to the first criminal, I’d inform both they are under arrest.
Federal agents may be immune to local laws in some cases, but they are not immune to federal laws, such as those protecting civil and constitutional rights.
Re: Re: Re:
And because you have tried to arrest a government agent, the responding cops will fear for their lives……
Re: Re: No. Always take information and sue in such cases.
Violation of a civil right, even though protected in the Constitution,
does not reliably comprise a misdemeanor or a felony; therefore a
citizen’s arrest is not applicable under federal or California laws.
Look at it this way: Police don’t arrest people when they should more
properly be sued, and they always give that advice when civil complaints
are brought to them; because even they could be charged with false arrest
in the absence of an obvious felony or misdemeanor.
Re: Re: Re:
Yeah, sure you would.
The Only Valid Explanation
Anyone who says "It’s not a comic book; it’s a graphic novel" gets put on the no-fly list.
Playing devil's advocate
And I know this is probably a stretch, but what United wants to inspect the comic books for insurance reasons? I saw some photos on Facebook of some guys holding an Action Comics #1 (worth around $2 million), so I’m wondering if United is trying to prevent any fraudulent insurance claims.
I can just see someone filing a claim saying United lost their luggage and of course their copy of Action Comics #1 was in the bag, so please pay a claim of $2 million. Or maybe someone claims United lost their complete run of Action Comics #1-20.
Re: Playing devil's advocate
That’s why they limit the values for non-declared goods?
Re: Playing devil's advocate
Seems like that would apply to any valuables in checked luggage, wouldn’t it? I have to assume the airlines have some protocol for dealing with such claims. Whatever it is, I very much doubt they are any more legally exposed when the claim involves comic books than when it involves jewelry, antiques, etc.
Re: Playing devil's advocate
or maybe United knew there was a comic fan amongst the TSA agents dealing with checked luggage, and wanted to stop them acquiring some collectible comics.
Re: Playing devil's advocate
There are payout limits to non-declared goods. In any case, this is something that could happen at any time – and no one is buying million dollar comics at Comic-Con.
And they’re certainly not shipping it back in checked luggage.
Re: Playing devil's advocate
Then they’d still be lying if they said the TSA made them do it, wouldn’t they, my little apologist friend?
Re: Re: Playing devil's advocate
How do we know it’s not the TSA lying?
Re: Playing devil's advocate
I thought there’s a limit to what the airline will pay (pretty low) an anything more you’d have to get your own insurance.
CYA, but pass the blame
This looks like a simple (ha!) CYA by United.
How many times, in the past, has a SDCC traveler claimed that priceless comics were stolen from their checked luggage? I don’t know, but I’m a cynic that believes the number is large enough, and the dollar amounts large enough, for United to BAN comics from checked luggage themselves. The added twist, is that United is blaming TSA for it instead of saying “we’re tired of paying out for (likely) false loss claims.”
Re: CYA, but pass the blame
You have to declare valuable items precisely because of it. Their standard insurance covers up to a determined value (I guess it depends on the company but I’m not sure).
The real problem
is that travelers will see this and decide that the signs are “fake” and that they do not need to heed any of the warnings or signs.
Then when it is a real advisory from TSA and one doesn’t comply….
There is heck to pay.
Thanks, United!
Re: The real problem
Well, I’m still confused about batteries.
so, what’s the next restriction going to be when trying to enter, leave or move around the USA? when are the NAZI-esque passes going to come into force and the transport to whichever camp is deemed needed because you even WANTED to travel? talk about things getting worse by the second!
Re: Re:
‘Nazi-esque’? Why does the Soviet Union always get a pass? They, after all, had a system of mandatory internal passports and visas.
Re: Re: Re:
Umm, who gave them a pass?
Re: Re: Re:
Gorbachev, when he outlawed soviet communism. ;]
“there were no delays in the processing of checked bags out of San Diego yesterday”
I call bullshit. There are delays in the processing of bags every day.
Re: Re:
Its like when the government doesn’t change the rate of increase for an agency’s budget but keeps the already programmed increase in place – that’s ‘not increasing the budget’.
Same here.
There’s just the expected delay. And since its expected its not really a delay then.
Great now SDCC is going to sue United for using their trademarks improperly.
Maybe its a weight thing and United doesn’t want medical claims from the baggage handlers for hefting around suitcases full of comics…. ?
It is a Mickey Mouse operation after all.
Two part question
1) What is the upper weight limit on united carry on weights before they start charging you extra?
2) How much extra is united hoping to collect in comic-con swag weight fees?
Re: Re:
Probably 50 lbs. That seems to be fairly standard. At least for American and Delta that’s the limit.
Scottsdale - similar?
After the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale Arizona this year there was a similar warning in the airport that the show catalogs MUST be checked. Something about metallic covers screwing up their scanners. It was very random and depended on each airline to post something at the ticket counter. No one seemed to offer any real justification other than ‘just do it’.
It's because United Breaks Guitars
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiW85SJ2aLVAhUDJcAKHV0RDIIQyCkIKzAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5YGc4zOqozo&usg=AFQjCNGAJwl6V5_qbDQEVS865Z6aIPGmoA
Seriously, it’s because they know they treat your baggage like crap and they don’t want the responsibility of protecting priceless comics. The insurance claims – even assuming no fraud – would be a huge drain on time and money.
idiocy list
Let’s see:
1) United beats the crap out of you
2) United steals your pre-booked seats
3) United breaks guitars (let’s not forget this old but goodie)
4) United screws with your comics…
Y’know, it’s far more likely that a local TSA manager thought this would be a “good idea” and told United in SD, and nobody bothered to ask questions about it; it’s usually some flunky that makes everyone look bad.
Just what the fuck is the TSA looking for? Exploding comic books? ROTFL
Re: I Thought...
This was in the news recently. Dense material like books are difficult to Xray – which is why they wanted to have everyone pull out their books (and then determine what you were reading…)
Rick rolled?
Obviously, the sign is a very well-played third party prank.
People are still flying United???
You deserve what you get if you do!
https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/24/16021026/united-airlines-sdcc-comic-con-airport-comic-book-ban-tsa
I bet it was Templeton Peck. Because this Comicon had no one who could help, and they called the A-team.
The United States of America has become a joke.
Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jul 25th, 2017 @ 6:09am
What do you mean by becoming?
A lot of people did not laugh at the start and a lot less are laughing now.