Increased aviation security at Australian airports

[TheRealTMA]

Why the use of scare quotes, as in "anti terror"? Is there some doubt about the nature of the raids?

ABC radio reported that at Sydney airport there were motorcycle police driving slowly through the traffic jams carefully looking in the windows of each car. What for? Do they expect somone to be holding a package that says bomb with wires and fuses sticking out of it?

 

[RooFlyer]

I'll reserve judgement until we know what charges (and convictions) flow from this.
I'm not actively doubting the nature of the raids but the presence of friendly journalists who had obviously been tipped off makes me alert to other possible motives.
I'm also mindful of the grotesquely inappropriate performance art by the ADF which the PM used as a background to his recent press conference.
Of course this represent inappropriate exploitation of what are, nonetheless, legitimate anti-terror raids.
I'll form an opinion after the trials.

Fair 'nuf, but the anti terror bit refers to how the AFP etc described their raids, ergo: anti terror raids ... . The adjectives in this case do not relate to any consequences. [/pedant]

Oh, and no change apparently at little 'ol, AFP-free Hobart airport, where you can still park at T-40 and be sure of boarding.

 

[Melburnian1]

There is some brief commentary starting about increased queues at SYD domestic terminals. Whether this is delaying flights is unclear, but 1600 to 1900 hours on Sundays is usually busier than 1400:

Sydney Airport passengers urged to limit their luggage in wake of Sydney terror arrests

 

[I love to travel]

Brisbane security queue longest I have ever seen it, all the way out to check in area. Used express entry for QF elites which was fine.

 

[benjy]

Gold Coast security at 14:15 was a breeze, the least amount of time I've ever had to wait for security. There were extra explosive screening before security

 

[Melburnian1]

Increased numbers of passengers undergoing testing for explosives traces is labour intensive.

Who will pay - airlines or airports? And will it result in an increase in fares?

How do airports roster on extra staff at this sort of short notice when only so many security personnel have been trained, and authorised to work at airports?

 

[Pushka]

Just wondering how airlines will cope with people booking in luggage ok but then not get through security in time. Suggesting a 2 hour arrival prior to domestic is nonsense for business travel esp with curfews and such. Do they expect business to end at 4pm?

 

[Melburnian1]

Just wondering how airlines will cope with people booking in luggage ok but then not get through security in time. Suggesting a 2 hour arrival prior to domestic is nonsense for business travel esp with curfews and such. Do they expect business to end at 4pm?

Pushka, I agree, but one AFF member above made the point that "they" want "sufficient" travellers to turn up two hours prior, but check-in closure times have not altered. His implied point was that it's a bit like the 'three hour rule' for international travel: we do not have to turn up then, but so many do that those who leave it until 75 minutes before timetabled departure can often be seamlessly checked in as so many have been dealt with in the T - 180 minutes to T - 90 window.

However this begs the question: if travellers like perhaps yourself who are on tight timeframes turn up at say 1725 for an 1800 hours departure, are checked in at say 1729 to 1730 (assuming you have baggage that you tag yourself or have a member of staff so do) and then are held up in a busy security line because of all the manual explosives testing underway, will flights start to run late because so many during weekday and Sunday peak periods are like you and simply cannot easily turn up much earlier?

The whole premise of air travel for businessmen and women has been built upon increasing levels of automation (as in using smartphones for boarding passes, or self check-in for checked luggage) to try to ensure that your time at the airport pre-flight can be minimised. This may be about to be reversed.

 

[benjy]

Returned to Melbourne this evening and the security line at T4 was non-existent

 

[Pushka]

And previously you had to prove identity which (until now) has long gone.

 

[Melburnian1]

And previously you had to prove identity which (until now) has long gone.

Pushka in recent years I've not seen it done on any Australian domestic airline, but just to 'keep people honest' have you, as perhaps a more frequent traveller than me, observed this occurring very occasionally recently on any of our domestic airlines?

 

[Pushka]

Pushka in recent years I've not seen it done on any Australian domestic airline, but just to 'keep people honest' have you, as perhaps a more frequent traveller than me, observed this occurring very occasionally recently on any of our domestic airlines?

I haven't seen it for a while but heard today that identity checks were being implemented randomly. It surprised me that years ago that no ID to board a plane was required.

 

[gaz0303]

Always have had to show ID for Rex and Fly Corporate, but I haven't on Qf domestic (including last Friday). Never understood the differences, especially since QF is the only airline out of these with a loyalty scheme that could be rorted.

 

[GSP]

I guess the Sydney folk travelling Virgin with lounge access will be set with the special access, same with Melbourne. Qantas in both places will be hit or miss. At Adelaide you're screwed, no special treatment there for Security and it's painfully slow at the best of times.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Pushka in recent years I've not seen it done on any Australian domestic airline, but just to 'keep people honest' have you, as perhaps a more frequent traveller than me, observed this occurring very occasionally recently on any of our domestic airlines?

What's the legal requirement to show ID if you have a boarding pass?

 

[Melburnian1]

What's the legal requirement to show ID if you have a boarding pass?

Wouldn't it just be one of the conditions of travel imposed by the airline in the fine print?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Wouldn't it just be one of the conditions of travel imposed by the airline in the fine print?

No I didn't think so in Australia for domestic flights. That's why I posed the question.

 

[JohnK]

The police riot squad has been active in the local suburbs the past few days.

Strangely my brother who has never flown received an SMS from Virgin today about increased security measures and to arrive at airport 2-3 hours early.

 

[Hvr]

What's the legal requirement to show ID if you have a boarding pass?

I reckon if you don't show it you wouldn't be flying.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I guess the Sydney folk travelling Virgin with lounge access will be set with the special access, same with Melbourne. Qantas in both places will be hit or miss. At Adelaide you're screwed, no special treatment there for Security and it's painfully slow at the best of times.

Adelaide security is awful and I wonder why there is no priority lane. I will make sure I am early next time I leave Adelaide. Which will cost Qantas a fortune in alcohol.