TSA Packing Tips Video Cost $10,000

Packing Suitcase TSA Video Granting that it’s not much money in the grand scheme of things, I was nonetheless rather bemused by a report that the Transportation Security Administration spent $10,000 producing a 60-second video demonstrating tips for packing a suitcase.

Among the insightful hints:

-Have boarding pass and identification out when in line.

-Take off shoes and outerwear.

-Put any loose metal items, like coins, in your carry-on bag.

-Pack your carry-on bag as neatly as possible and layer items. For instance, a layer of clothes, then a layer of electronics, then a layer of toiletries.

-Put large electronics, like laptops, in a separate bin.

-Make sure liquids are in bottles containing no more than three ounces each, and put the bottles in one quart-sized clear baggie. One bag per passenger.

With the exception of the layering technique, all of these other things are not only common knowledge but are constantly being announced in a manner befitting a nightmare-future science fiction movie whilst standing in the infernal security lines. We need a video, too?

Less amusing: “You already know you’re not a threat — show us!” Doesn’t that turn a free society on its head?

The video is available at the TSA’s SimpliFLY site.

via OTB News

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. just me says:

    I think you meant for the title to use the word “packing” not “picking.”

    Indeed! Fixed. -ed.

  2. Ugh says:

    Less amusing: “You already know you’re not a threat — show us!” Doesn’t that turn a free society on its head?

    What? You mean “guilty until proven innocent” isn’t as american as mom and apple pie? Do you want the terrorists to win?

  3. John Burgess says:

    If they only paid $10K, that was pretty good shopping. Training materials of all types are the most overpriced commodity facing businesses (including the government) today. That’s because the sellers/buyers have this ‘it’s free’ mentality.

    It’s not coming out of anyone’s pocket, so who’s going to bitch about the price?

    Almost as bad are other office supplies and services.