Another good reason not to fly United Airlines- long-range RFID chips

[Ian David]

Airline Tests RFID on the Fly

02:00 AM Aug. 09, 2005 PT

United Airlines pilots and crew are the flying guinea pigs in a test of controversial new passports equipped with remotely readable chips.

Approximately 300 United employees stationed on international flights received the new passports in mid-June as part of a three-month, three-country test of IDs equipped with RFID chips. The chips can be read at a distance at border crossings by special readers installed for the trial.

The test is intended to see how easily Australia, New Zealand and the United States can read other's e-passports and how durable the chips are under constant use.

The new chips are part of post-9/11 security efforts intended to curb passport fraud and speed up border crossings, according to Frank Moss, the State Department's deputy assistant secretary for passport services.

<snip>


The 64-KB chips store a copy of the information from a passport's data page, including name, date of birth and a digitized version of the passport photo. To prevent counterfeiting or alterations, the chips are digitally signed.

More:
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,68451,00.html

[Qanisqineq]

1. Great. I just booked an international flight on United this morning

but it was to Korea.

[Ian David]

5. United also canceled their employees' pensions, too. n/t

United gets approval
to shift pension plans
Decision smoothes airline’s path to
bankruptcy, but bumpy ride still seen

The Associated Press
Updated: 5:57 p.m. ET May 11, 2005

CHICAGO - United Airlines gained a significant financial victory with court approval Tuesday to dump its four pension plans, but the airline faces a tough challenge to win back the support of thousands of angry employees.

While smoothing the path toward a targeted exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy later this year, Tuesday’s ruling in U.S. Bankruptcy Court inflamed United’s unions, with some hinting at the possibility of strikes or other disruptive actions.

It also prompted a renewed warning from some members of Congress that taxpayers may someday have to bail out the deficit-riddled government pension agency, which now will assume an additional $5 billion in pension obligations from United.

More:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7804770/

[DanCa]

2. Last time I flew united

I had a terrible parkinson's flare. The stewdress was just so mean and ignorant. First she goes up to me and says what's the matter why can't fasten your seat belt. I said that I can and that I only need a few extra minutes.
Next during drink service I asked for a bottle of water because I didn't want to spill my drink on my neighbor. She said i shouldn't book a flight by myself if i am having this many problems.
I wont fly united again.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. I hope you complained.

I think they should be more sensitive to the vagaries of diseases like Parkinson's. The flight attendant was just out of line.

[DanCa]

8. Thanks

It was the flying alone comment that hurt.

[warrens]

3. I dunno what this has to do with United

It's just a test of a technology that is going to be universal soon. Who cares what passports 300 pilots are carrying? I imagine when I renew my passport next year, it will come with a chip in it, whether it's active or not.

And long-range only means it can be read from several feet, instead of having to be scanned like a bar code.

[getmeouttahere]

4. American is a bigger contributor to the repukes.....

so I will continue to fly United, if I have to choose between the two...this is simply a case of United being the guinea pigs for this thing.

[Nashyra]

6. How do you know American is a

bigger contributor to Repukes? One thing that surpeised the hell out of me was when I looked up Robert Crandall and found out that he donated to the Dems during the primaries, I believe it was Dean and then donated to the Dems during the general election. Would just like clarification to pass on. It would make sense since United's major base is ORD and American is DFW.