I'm sure this is going to go over real well with the transgender community.

Posted By Kelly on March 19, 2009, 3:06 PM

Providing your birthdate? Just to get a ticket?! Ridiculous! Watch identity theft skyrocket as this critical piece of information is dumped into non-secure computers around the world. Thanks...for nothing, TSA!

Posted By Brian on March 19, 2009, 3:41 PM

What a waste of time and resources. I'm all for security at airports, but only if it's effective!

Posted By Lindsi on March 19, 2009, 3:46 PM

The TSA adding a new twist, is just another way the Terrorist have beaten us with their tactics.
The Government has done nothing to insure it will not happen again. The only accomplishment is to restrict our movement within our own country.

Posted By Gene on March 19, 2009, 5:02 PM

First the United States Post Office is know asking for two (2) types of ID to get a mailbox in their post office and now the airlines. Here we go again, the government playing games with the people and not informing them what is really going to happen. What is next??

Posted By Beth on March 19, 2009, 5:25 PM

More rules and changes?!!!Have they even explained why? I understand its for added security but having to include my gender? Why? Because someone at TSA cant tell the difference between a guy or girl? And my birth date? What good would that do?

Posted By Tim C. on March 19, 2009, 5:47 PM

Another stupid rule. I've seen elderly people in wheelchairs virtually strip searched. When are we going to bring common sense to the table.

Posted By Jim Cahill on March 19, 2009, 6:09 PM

Further security checks at the boarding gates? Doesn't the first check do the job? It seems like the authorities are determined to kill the air travel industry.

Posted By Gerry on March 19, 2009, 6:24 PM

This is just great! Nothing to really improve security and lots to discourage us from flying. And a gate search after clearing security? Doesn't make sense to me! Now I'm concerned about my 16 y.o. granddaughter flying by herself to meet us in Hawaii this summer. She will be accompanied to security but what happens if they decide to do a gate search and she misses her flight? She can't be accompanied to the gate because of security so I guess we just hope for the best.

Posted By Norma on March 19, 2009, 6:42 PM

What proof document(s?!)are required? DL, passport, state-issued ID card? Proof of gender could lead to some interesting street theater!

Posted By mt on March 19, 2009, 6:43 PM

Airport security isn't meant to promote people's safety. It's meant to cow law-abiding citizens into subservience. Yes, we can always file a complaint after the fact but will only find that anything is justified in the name of "security'. And without absolute compliance at the time, you won't be allowed on the plane. As it was once written, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Posted By Daniel J. Vandeberg on March 19, 2009, 7:49 PM

Enough is enough. I am liking flying less and less. I will drive rather than fly even it takes me days to get where I am going. I am tired of the narrow cramped plane seats, the security headaches, the TSA and its tiresome requirements. I plan to drive to Nova Scotia this fall and avoid the extra time-consuming customs at the Canadian airport at Halifax that was never so tedious as it was in 2008 and time-consuming in my earlier memories of it.

I am feeling tired of the hassles of air travel, and of the baggage restrictions. Even if I have to drive for days, I would maybe see things that might interest me on the way that I would normally fly over, could take what I want by way of luggage and be free of airports and their hassles. And be down to just the border customs.

Posted By Morgan on March 19, 2009, 10:10 PM

No one has commented on the "gate check". I found this supposedly random selection a waste of time. To me, if the TSA personnel at the security check area did their job correctly the first time you passed through, then there is no need to have the random gate frisk.

Posted By Tish on March 19, 2009, 11:00 PM

i can't see a problem in giving your gender, with people giving their children names that could be for either sex it is a good idea. Can you tell if Mason or Robin is male or female by the name?

If pulling people out of line stops the loud obnoxious person who is plastered by the time they get to gate getting on my plane then I will be quite happy with that.

Posted By Kris on March 20, 2009, 5:49 AM

How easy is it to get fake ID's? What a country; what once was a democracy is turning into a dictatorship! We now drive to FL and without getting searched, questioned, fondled, x-rayed or waiting for hours to board a plane. More restrictions means less airline income for the USA, excelerating taxes to the average American. So sad!

Posted By Gloria on March 20, 2009, 8:26 AM

Why don't we get to "VOTE" on these type of things that limit rights? Yet it's ok to "vote" on things like Prop 8 to limit the rights of gay people!!!!

Posted By Ricardo on March 20, 2009, 9:13 AM

The TSA is the reason I will no longer fly. They are all part of the stripping of Americans of their freedoms. I drive, its cheaper, safer, and I can have food with me and not have to pay for poor airline service. Welcome to the Communist States of America

Posted By Steve Sanderson on March 20, 2009, 9:49 AM

Ok to all you people out there who don't want to think that this is good. IT IS!!! The gate screenings are quick and painless and will NOT cause you to miss a flight. You have already been through screening and you will just get a little additional screening and will be on your plane in no time. TSA will not pull you off the plane to screen you and make you miss your plane. Second to all those haters who don't want to give your gender... WHY NOT... do you have a problem. All it is doing is helping to identity whether or not you are a threat. Your name can easily be confused with another person. Adding your birthday and your gender will only help you get through easier (you won't mistakenly be targeted as a threat). TSA won't see on your ticket the information that you give at the ticket counter.

Suck it up and deal with the changes. Keep in mind that since TSA has taken over the checkpoints that a plane has not gone down in the US due to terrorist acts. TSA must be doing something right. Be thankful for what they do and just follow the rules. If you think the screening takes too long; take 5 minutes at home and check your bags for the things that you "forget" about (Oh, I forgot that 32 Ounce bottle of water was in my bag. I didn't even know I had that Kitchen Knife in my bag. How did that 1 gallon bag of oversized bottles get in my carry on bag? My wife must have packed me that half-gallon of yogurt to eat on the plane). Get real people.

Posted By Jackie P on March 20, 2009, 10:29 AM

While those TSA agents are doing random gate checks, how about they check the number/size of carry-ons people are bringing - like the 4 (YES 4!) bags one woman recently brought (3 of which were as large as my 1 carry-on) Seems like this overweight carry-on situation endangers flights regularly much more than the random terrorist might!

Posted By Granny on March 20, 2009, 11:05 AM

Your papers, comrade.

Posted By stewart on March 20, 2009, 12:23 PM

It is bad enough that the transportation snooping agency(TSA) harasses me every time I fly, "handicapped secondary screening", now they want more information, because they can't do their job with evidence. I am sure the cost TSA charges will increase soon your .

Posted By Paul Brauer on March 20, 2009, 1:22 PM

Between the moronic behavior of TSA agents and the nickel dime after dime treatment with added delays of the airlines and airports we have have cancelled all flight plans. IF they ever get their acts together we will start flying again.

Posted By NickP on March 20, 2009, 1:53 PM

They might want to do better checks on the TSA agents. This seems to me to be a bigger problem,with lost luggage,valuables missing from luggage,and obnoxious behavior by many of the TSA agents. Yes, I too have to think really hard if it is worth flying with all of the risks from our "government entitled "agents. No wonder the airlines are going under. Thanks for making it uncomfortable and anxiety ridden to fly.

Posted By Kath on March 20, 2009, 3:04 PM

I fly with equipment which I must carry to do my job when I get to where I'm going. I have twice "lost" some of this rather expensive equipment after being pulled out of line for extra security checks. When they pull you out of line for an extra security check, they also pull out and search your checked luggage. Both times I have been pulled out of line my checked baggage had been opened and items were missing. I made a formal complaint both times and attempted to file a police report once but have not yet received satisfaction. I live in NY and have now extended my driving range to CA. I just tell my clients I will be there in a few days and now I arrive with all my equipment. I wish we had a national passenger rail service or cross-country non-stop buss service or something to compete with the airlines. If there is any way to avoid putting myself in the hands of these minimum wage goons running the TSA I do it.

Posted By PhoebeJ on March 20, 2009, 8:44 PM

File a complaint if you're on the "No Fly" list? Been there done that, as you have. As a (former) Marine, with security clearance, honorably discharged with a total criminal record of three traffic tickets in 40 years, I'm now classified as a risk to the country I served and love. As if that's not enough, I'm a Four Million Miler on US and international carriers. Wrote to my Congress woman, both California Senators, TSA ... nothing. Not even the courtesy of a response.

Posted By Walt Wilson on March 22, 2009, 11:51 PM

As a woman who is frequently mistaken for male (as are many others), I am understandably concerned about the new gender info. I'm ok with supplying it, but worried about having to "confirm" it at security. I guess I'll be getting an extra 15 minutes worth of UV pretty often when I fly--yeah, a lot less often than in the past.

Posted By maggie on March 23, 2009, 12:28 PM

Avoid gate checks - hang out at the airport bar. But you can believe that TSA will soon be pulling people from the bars, restaurants, and shops as well. Probably even the restrooms to boot! After all, they have to justify increased funding for all that "new work". Security is an illusion.

Posted By Mile High on March 23, 2009, 3:04 PM

Just something else to make an already unpleasant experience even more so.

Posted By Carole Dunn on March 25, 2009, 7:00 AM

I just got back from Roma, Italia. Checking in at the Gate for the return flight, a very handsome Italian man was pulled aside by a male inspector and frisked completely including over both legs. When we got to EWR, I saw the man and commented that the inspector had to have been Gay; the man agreed with me, he felt violated.
I do not think the continuation of TSA rules are going to work. Security is an illusion.

Posted By Bruce Edward Logan on March 27, 2009, 6:13 PM

On a recent flight to Paris (not Switzerland or some other hidden account haven), I was randomly pulled aside on the jet way to the plane. It may have been TSA or it may have been Customs/Border Patrol. Showed the agent my passport. The agent asked if I was carrying more than $10,000 out of the country.

In light of these economic times, had to keep a straight face. I wanted to say you saw my passport - my last name is NOT Madoff. Instead I told the agent, I barely had a few hundred dollars on me as I wait till I arrive to use the foreign ATMs.

Take heart people. On a French train, these two police officers questioned this young male in depth, made him empty all his pockets, then frisked him before thanking him. He appeared ethnically French, not Arab nor African.

Posted By Chelle on March 29, 2009, 5:39 PM

"Oh, Mr. Bin Laden, I see your birthday is different from the Mr. Bin Laden we want. Have a nice day."

Posted By AJPeabody on March 30, 2009, 4:19 PM

Ok, now that everyone is quite upset about the new guidelines for TSA and flying, lets think about it when we are highjacked. I would rather have the extra security measures taken to protect us than be dead. If people would just go to the airport when they are suppose to, then they wouldn't miss their plane. Stop gripping about the security and deal with it. It is for our protection and I am glad we have it.
What is the big deal about giving your gender and birthdate? What if you have the same name as someone on the no-fly list. Wouldn't that tick you off?

Posted By Barb on April 3, 2009, 2:43 AM

God, you Americans are good at whining about security! And yes I *have* experienced it- I have also experienced the security to get on a flight to the US from Australia where *everyone* had their carry on bags hand searched, and *everyone* was frisked and questioned. Including children and Grannies. That lasted for a few years- and was not repeated in the US on flights once there. You get it soooo easy, so stop complaining.

Posted By Tish on April 21, 2009, 6:33 PM

I am transgendered and have never once been referred to as sir at the airport although I'm sure the screeners could tell, especially before I changed my name. I'm really not sure what tranny would try to hijack a plane, I don't even know any who can pilot one, but I supposed its possible though unlikely.

I won't be paranoid and think this is directed at me; I will just fly less and hope the airlines don't safely go out of business :) peace people we are talking about our safety.

Posted By meisha on August 14, 2009, 1:01 AM