A funny thing happened on the way to airport security (2x)

[MickeyCrazed]

i hope its not the au and ee. We are flying Delta in may and my barely 2 year olds name is Aubree. If they flagged her, it will be a very interesting day at the airport.

 

[DebbieB]

One thing to alert small kids about is stuffed animals have to go through the x-ray. I saw a child at an airport one time screaming because Barney had to go through the x-ray.

 

[mbb]

One thing to alert small kids about is stuffed animals have to go through the x-ray. I saw a child at an airport one time screaming because Barney had to go through the x-ray.

...and Blankies too...

 

[Idahomom]

On our outbound flight to Orlando my dh, ds 13, and I were all flagged and had to go through extra security. My 3 dd's were not. Then on the return flight all 6 of us were flagged including my 8,10 & 12 yr old dd's. The security people were very nice and explained everything to our children. We did not think this was ridiculous or an inconvenience and our kids were totally fine with it. They actually thought it was interesting and a good chance to talk about the extra precautions that now have to be taken post 9/11.

 

[minkydog]

Another sure way to get tagged is a one-way ticket. DS is military and usually flies one way because he will leave one post, fly home and return to a different post. He is always tagged for security.

Well, that would explain why my DS18 was tagged...His one-way ticket AND his leather-and-Goth look, no doubt

 

[Nebsky]

Another sure way to get tagged is a one-way ticket. DS is military and usually flies one way because he will leave one post, fly home and return to a different post. He is always tagged for security.

If he is traveling on Orders, he is not supposed to be extra screened. Just simply going through Magnometer is enough. Let the agents know at the Ticket Counter.

Also, here is some more info on how to clear things. Its not sure fire fix, but it does help. Tried to post the link but it doesnt work right. For those that want it, here it is http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=157&content=0900051****fb8af


TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
EXPEDITED NO FLY LIST AND SELECTEE LIST
CLEARANCE PROCEDURES

We recognize that some passengers experience frustrating delays obtaining boarding passes at airports because they may have a name that is the same as, or similar to, that of a person who is on a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) watch list. We developed a procedure to expedite the watch list clearance procedures and ask that passengers who experience these delays submit information to TSA, including select personal documents, so that we may formally verify that their identity is distinct from persons on a TSA watch list. Please note that this process focuses on individuals who experience delays in receiving a boarding pass or are subjected to additional screening every time they pass through a TSA checkpoint. This procedure will not affect other standard screening procedures currently in effect at security screening checkpoints, and airlines may still require a brief period of time to comply with identity verification requirements at the ticket counter prior to issuing a boarding pass.

 Who may apply for help from this process?

This process only applies to a passenger who has been delayed as a result of the No Fly List or Selectee List clearance procedures when checking in for a boarding pass.


 Who to contact:

Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Office of the Ombudsman, at any one of the following:

Office of the Ombudsman
TSA Headquarters
601 South 12th Street – West Tower, TSA-22
Arlington, VA 22202

Toll-free: (866) 289-9673

Email: TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov


 How the process works:


 A passenger may contact the Office of the Ombudsman as specified above if delayed when checking in for a boarding pass due to the No Fly List or Selectee List clearance procedures.
 The Office of the Ombudsman will ask the passenger to explain what happened to ensure that the type of delay encountered may be addressed by these procedures. Once the Office of the Ombudsman confirms that the person’s experience may be addressed by these procedures, TSA will send a Passenger Identity Verification Form to the passenger for completion and return.
 TSA requests that the person submit a completed Passenger Identity Verification Form to TSA at the address shown on the TSA letter provided. This information may aid TSA’s ability to expedite the person’s check-in process for a boarding pass. Please note that except in the case of minor children, only the person seeking expedited No Fly List and Selectee List clearance procedures may submit the Passenger Identity Verification Form. The personal information requested on the Passenger Identity Verification Form consists of two parts:
 The first part includes: name; current address; gender; place of birth; date of birth; social security number; height; weight; hair color; eye color; and home and work telephone numbers.
 The second part requires the person to submit notarized copies of at least three of the following documents: passport (including number and country); visa (including number and place of issuance); birth certificate (including number and place of issuance) – if you select to use this document, it must be a certified copy of the original; naturalization certificate; certificate of citizenship; voter registration card; military discharge paper; driver’s license (including number and State of issuance); government identity card (city, State, or Federal); or military identification card.
 The Passenger Identity Verification Form also requires that the passenger sign and date the submission under: (i) a Privacy Act notice that explains the purpose and routine use of the information provided by the person; and (ii) a statement attesting to the truthfulness of the information and that knowingly and willfully making any materially false statement, or omission of a material fact, can be punished by fine, imprisonment, or both pursuant to
title 18 of the United States Code, section 1001.
 TSA will review the submission and reach a determination of whether these procedures may aid in expediting a passenger’s check-in process for a boarding pass.
 If the clearance procedures will aid in expediting the person’s check-in process, TSA will contact the appropriate parties, such as the airlines, to help streamline this process for the passenger. TSA will also notify the passenger in writing of its finding. While TSA cannot ensure that these clearance procedures will relieve all delays, the procedures should facilitate a more efficient check-in process.
 Passengers who have received TSA’s written notification that the check-in process for a boarding pass has been streamlined should be aware that clearance at the check-in counter is ultimately based on the information that TSA provides to the airlines; not the notification letter.
 If a passenger continues to encounter delays in the issuance of a boarding pass during flight check-in, please contact TSA at: (866) 289-9673, or e-mail: TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

 

[Aisling]

Another sure way to get tagged is a one-way ticket.

We've flown four times with one-way tickets, and all four times were all pulled aside for extra screening. My youngest was 10 the first time it happened. It was a bit intimidating, sort of like we were being accused of hiding weapons, but on the other hand, I feel safer flying with the extra security measures.

 

[debster812]

Hmmm--the one way ticket figures into the mix as well. Both legs of the trip were booked as 2 one-ways (because we were flying at a peak time for us here in the NE). However, all of us (DH, me, and DS) were all on one ways, and only the little guy got tagged.

Curiouser and curiouser..........

Off to see if Delta has responded to my email yet.

 

[chipscinderelly]

The frequent flyer mention is not a guarantee that you won't be selected. My boyfriend has been selected a few times and always had his FF# in the system.

 

[jayally]

My 10 yr old son and I were tagged for searching after United had to cancel a flight due to weather at a connecting airport. They put us on a frontier airline plane that was in a different terminal- take the train etc. The agent at united said we would have to run as much as possible to make the flight since it was departing in less than an hour and it would take us most of the time to get to the 2nd terminal. We went to the 2nd terminal and were told we had to go to the frontier ticket agent desk to exchange our ticket. The agent said we had to board right away and she would walk us through security- well it turns out our tickets were marked for special handling and we had to go to a different line and have everything taken apart- including my son's carefully packed Monorail set and you know once you take something out like that is never goes back the right way. I kept telling the security we had just come all the way from united's terminal after going through security there and our flight was leaving but they would not listen. The frontier agent was standing there and she knew I was telling the truth. I was getting upset. The more time it took, the more upset I became which resulted in them taking more time and sometimes just standing there until I calmed down! Thankfully the airline held the plane since they knew we were on our way (it was the last flight for the day) but I didn't know this until we ran to the gate after this fiasco. It's not fun for everyone to know you were the cause of a delaY!

We are flying out of LAX next tuesday at 8am. We are staying in a hotel across the street and will arrive at 6am to the terminal. I am terrified of missing out flight due to security which I heard can take hours with the lines winding down the street. If I didn't save $100 per ticket on a nonstop flight I would of flown out of our local airport.

 

[disneyldwjr]

While I know you all think it is ridiculous to pat down kids, it's not.

Terrorists know that Americans are very sentimental about kids and would not be above using that. Remember one of the Iraq suicide bombings was a very pregnant woman who the solders approached to help assuming that she wouldn't be dangerous! Fanatics are just that and are willing to kill thier kids.

Thank you for the voice of reason, Carol A. What might seem ridiculous to some suddenly becomes very serious when a plane is blown out of the sky by some zealot that plans to use his kid for a bomb housing.
That is why the searches are random.

 

[kkc1021]

Last September my 2 year old son and I were both selected for extra screening when we flew Song. We were tagged on both directions too - from Logan to MCO. The most amusing part to me - they did a pat down search in Orlando and actually had to bring over a male agent for my son's search.

Kristen

 

[dvc guy]

We just returned from a trip to Fla on 2 different airlines using LGA & JFK and FLL & MIA. All 4 people had one way tickets purchased on a CC about 7 months ago and I figured we would get the extra screening, nothing, not even a second look, and one of the flights was on SONG.

When flying with children mine are 8 & 12, it is vital that they understand the process and what is going to happen. DD and DS have been flying since they were babies and we flew in December of 2001. Instead of the kids being scared by the national guard with rifles they understood they are here to help.
DD was pulled over in MCO when she was 9 and given an additionall screen because they did not like the mini-stapler in her bag.
All children are different, mine understand that this is part of travel, just like delays. Children take clues from adults and if you looked stressed and annoyed the kids we follow along. It sure beats drivng 24 hours to see Mickey