For Some Reason, I Don't Feel That Secure



Warsaw airport, waiting near my gate for my plane that leaves in 1.5 hours.


When I flew out September 16th, I knew the day was going to suck.  From arriving at the airport in Sacramento until arriving at my hotel in Poznan, I spent about 23 hours either on my way to or from an airport, in an airport for a layover, or in plane.  The fact that only about 15 hours was actually spent flying just makes things worse.

But the worst part, of course, was security.  During my trip to Poland I had to go through the exact same security process 3 different times.  Once in Sacramento when I got to the airport.  Once in Chicago when I went to access the International Terminal.  And again in Warsaw (or "Varsava" as I'm told it should be pronounced phonetically in Polish, with the r soft). 

Yet despite these multiple trips through security, I didn't feel all that secure.  Perhaps it was the fact that no airport trusted the security staff at any other airport enough to pass people through without screening them again.  Maybe it was the fact that I saw so many aiport staff who looked way shadier than anyone flying buzzing in and out of "secured" doors (especially in Chicago).  Or maybe it's just the fact that I know that with airline budgets being what they are that I'm far more likely to die in a crash due to crappy maintenance than I am due to terrorism.

I can sort of understand going through security again in Warsaw (who would trust American security?), but the fact that the TSA in Chicago don't trust the TSA in Sacramento enough to route people straight through really makes me wonder just how "secure" we are when we fly.