Thanks to a moronic terrorist wannabe, The TSA has enacted more fun rules and regs for your comfort and protection on international flights:

“Passengers flying into the United States from abroad can expect to see additional security measures at international airports such as increased gate screening including pat-downs and bag searches. During flight, passengers will be asked to follow flight crew instructions, such as stowing personal items, turning off electronic equipment and remaining seated during certain portions of the flight.”

The NY Times translates that for us:

“The airlines said the new T.S.A. measures required an additional round of searches, including body pat-downs at airport gates overseas. International travelers were also told that they could not leave their seats for the last hour of a flight, during which time they also could not use a pillow or blanket. They were also limited to one piece of carry-on baggage, including a purse or briefcase, and that piece had to be stowed in an overhead compartment for the last hour of a flight. Airlines were ordered to turn off in-flight entertainment systems with maps showing a plane’s location, and pilots and flight crews were told not to make comments about cities or landmarks below the flight path.”

Gizmodo also reports on how some passengers were required to turn off and stow electronic devices, including iPods.

I figure after 20+ years of riding the El — being crammed into an aluminum tube with no space and no rest rooms, receiving a pat-down from my fellow passengers (Hey … where’s my wallet?!) and getting no information about why the car has unexpectedly stopped in the middle of the tunnel — these new airline security regs are like second nature to me.

UPDATE, 1:55 pm - Xeni Jardin of BoingBoing wonders if the new regs are the end of in-flight wifi.

Submitted by: Dan Giancaterino, Education Services Manager
on December 28, 2009 - 12:45 pm

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