Airport Screener Answering Questions

[goofy!]

BMartin,

I also want to thank you for taking the time to answer questions and for keeping our airways safe, especially in the light of the new threats that are being published.

I am assuming that with the latest news reports today of hijacking threats by the end of August, that everybody will be a bit more on edge and cautious in the security department. Are you anticipating an increase in the amount of random searches in the next couple of weeks?

Also, You mentioned earlier that buying a ticket at the last minute is a trigger for being pulled aside. I am travelling next week to MCO with young children. This is an impromptu trip, having purchased my tickets just this past weekend during the short, (but extremely good ) fare sale that happened. Since I purchased my tickets less than two weeks before we leave, will we be more likely to be pulled for a security check?

And if we are (which is fine with me if it adds to our safety) what are some tips to make it as smooth as possible and to make sure my children are taken care of?

Are there any things that are usual in a kid's backpack that might get them pulled aside? Gameboys, snacks,etc>

Again, Thank you very much for taking the time to answer all our questions!

-Goofy

 

[starwood]

The trick came when we got to the hotel and had to get the bags opened! Had an awful time getting sissors! (Not a Disney hotel.) Any advice on this one, as I'm sure you can't carryon sissors!

How about putting a pair of scissors in an outside pocket of the checked luggage?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Amaris
hand inspections on film:

At Dulles they will NOT hand inspect. Last two flights they refused, they said all film goes through the scanner. and UNLOAD your camera before you go through, this will speed up line time. No loaded cameras go through either.

Brian will correct me if I am wrong, but, I believe if you request it, they have to comply.

 

[DisneyDiver]

I got taken aside at the gate last year, and got a full search... It was quite funny, except I had some liquid candy in my bag, which comes in little mock plastic test tubes. That took a bit of explaining!

I felt a bit intimidated though - there were about 3 security guards - one patted me down completely, while the other two emptied my bag and took my shoes and had a look at them.

They were very apologetic afterwards, but it was a hassle nonetheless.

 

[bearloch]

I have a question Im taking my DD stroller with us in Sept , I Use those pencil bags and laced them to the side of the stroller to mae saddle bags to put klennex, wipes, band -aids etc just stuff we want in the park but don't want to carry a lot of in our fanny pack. Will these be ok or should i take them apart and put in checked luggage?

also Im concerned about being seperated from my daughter! Its just her, Grandma and me going should we go through seperatly to be sure everything is ok? and at what age would they " search" her alone? She's 4 and im assuming she is too young but after reading this Ive been having nightmares She is a very timid kid ( heck Winnie the pooh in his halloween mask scares her)

any answeres are greatly appricated.


bearloch

WDW 84
WDW 86
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WDW 03!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bmartin1206]

I wouldn't worry about the stroller as long as it's not too bulky. Even if it is they can physically search it. Children are not searched alone unless traveling alone. Screeners are not suppose to seperate parents and children for any reason but be advised they'd prefer you not touch until you are both cleared. This is ofcourse hard to do especially with some younger children.
To help move you through, take off or don't wear any metal outside of a ring or 2 and maybe a watch. Empty pockets and take off all shoes (trust me on this one) and don't touch the sides of the walk through metal detector as you go through. Kids are particularly bad at this. Hopefully they'll use some common sense if 1 or both of you alarm. It should be uneventful. Don't sweat it.

 

[bmartin1206]

We don't control random searches. That is the individual airlines responsibility. I'm not certain of what is the latest you can buy tickets before qualifying for a random search. My guess is less than 2 weeks but i really don't know. They have certain criteria they go by.
We try not to be edgey or xtra cautious at any particular time. Just consistantly vigilant. Every day brings the same threat in our eyes.
As far as traveling through security, take off all shoes at all airports whether those shoes went off or not at any time (trust me on this). Don't wear or remove all metal short of a ring or 2 and maybe a watch. Don't touch the walk through metal detector. Kids are bad for this.
As far as kids back packs, electronics are often looked at, Occasionally a kid will have a pocket knife or tool in their back pack. Both are prohibited. Other than that not much.
For an updated list of prohibited items go to www.tsa.gov .
Hope this answers everything.

Brian

Originally posted by goofy!
BMartin,

I also want to thank you for taking the time to answer questions and for keeping our airways safe, especially in the light of the new threats that are being published.

I am assuming that with the latest news reports today of hijacking threats by the end of August, that everybody will be a bit more on edge and cautious in the security department. Are you anticipating an increase in the amount of random searches in the next couple of weeks?

Also, You mentioned earlier that buying a ticket at the last minute is a trigger for being pulled aside. I am travelling next week to MCO with young children. This is an impromptu trip, having purchased my tickets just this past weekend during the short, (but extremely good ) fare sale that happened. Since I purchased my tickets less than two weeks before we leave, will we be more likely to be pulled for a security check?

And if we are (which is fine with me if it adds to our safety) what are some tips to make it as smooth as possible and to make sure my children are taken care of?

Are there any things that are usual in a kid's backpack that might get them pulled aside? Gameboys, snacks,etc>

Again, Thank you very much for taking the time to answer all our questions!

-Goofy

 

[bmartin1206]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Brian will correct me if I am wrong, but, I believe if you request it, they have to comply.

They are suppose to honor a request for a hand inspection on film.

Brian

 

[bmartin1206]

Originally posted by DisneyDiver
I got taken aside at the gate last year, and got a full search... It was quite funny, except I had some liquid candy in my bag, which comes in little mock plastic test tubes. That took a bit of explaining!

I felt a bit intimidated though - there were about 3 security guards - one patted me down completely, while the other two emptied my bag and took my shoes and had a look at them.

They were very apologetic afterwards, but it was a hassle nonetheless.

If it makes you feel any better, w are checked every day and every time we return from breaks. It is a hassle but a necessary evil.

Brian

 

[bmartin1206]

Originally posted by starwood
How about putting a pair of scissors in an outside pocket of the checked luggage?

Scissors are OK as long as they're safety scissors (rounded tips). I find that finger nail clippers work really well.

Brian

 

[vhoffman]

Ok, I'm the one who posted about being seperated from her children during a search. I'm in the process of filing a complaint about it. But I've done some thinking about how to prevent this from happening again (I know they're not supposed to but the fact remains they did).


To sum it up, here's what happened while returning from Orlando. My children went through the metal detector first, then my husband and me. Both dh and I set off the alarm so we were taken to a glass-enclosed screening area to be searched further. They didn't do anything weird, like a strip search. Just a wand and pat down. The problem was that they wouldn't let our children in with us (a 4 and 5 year old). They told them to move along, they were holding up the line. Well, there was no line, and even if there was there was plenty of room for anyone to go around them. Their reasoning was that the children had passed the metal detector, so they were "clean". We, on the other hand, were not. So we couldn't have contact with someone who was clean because we could pass whatever contraband we were carrying to them and they could continue. Well, the solution to that was obvious--let the children stay with us in the search area and search them before allowing all of us to continue. But here's my solution--if you are traveling with children, you go through the screener first. Instruct your children NOT to follow until YOU, not the guard, tells them to do so. That way, if you set off the alarm you can go to a different area to be searched further and supposedly the kids can stay with you since they have not yet been determined clean. Just send parent and kids together to the search area and search everyone, including the kids, before letting us proceed. I think the mistake we made was by letting the kids go first so we were seperated from the "clean" ones (gosh, I'm making it sound like we were being sent to a leper colony!)

So, BMartin, what do you think of this stratergy? also, please remember the screeners are only doing their job, and a very important one. However, they are government employees. I'm not putting down government employees. But I've had some friends who work for the government, and they tell me you're not supposed to think outside the box. Everything has a procedure and you can't vary from it one little bit. The airport screeners have very rigid rules for how to proceed. Such as, don't let "clean" passengers have contact with "contaminated" passengers. If their procedures result in children being left alone without supervision they can't address that issue unless there's a specific regulation dealing with such an issue. Hopefully my complaint will make a regulation concerning minor children, but until then maybe doing what I suggested will prevent such situations from happening until then.

 

[goofy!]

Dumb question here....

By saying that we should take off our shoes, we take them off right before we go through the metal detector, correct? And do we carry the shoes through the detector or should we place them on the conveyor belt? See, told you it was a dumb question .

And thanks Brian for answering my other post. I didn't mean to imply that everybody would be nervous and edgy, just that it would probably be human nature to be a bit more alert after all the news reports of intercepted intelligence. Again, thanks for taking the time to answer and for the job you and your colleagues do to keep us as safe as possible.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by goofy!
Dumb question here....

By saying that we should take off our shoes, we take them off right before we go through the metal detector, correct? And do we carry the shoes through the detector or should we place them on the conveyor belt? See, told you it was a dumb question .

And thanks Brian for answering my other post. I didn't mean to imply that everybody would be nervous and edgy, just that it would probably be human nature to be a bit more alert after all the news reports of intercepted intelligence. Again, thanks for taking the time to answer and for the job you and your colleagues do to keep us as safe as possible.

That is not a dumb question. You take them off and put them in one of the bins and send it through the scanner.
I am one of those that will not take off their shoes, I have an incredible phobia about germs. I will certainly comply if it sets off an alarm, but, Aigner does not put metal in any of their shoes nor does Reebok (sp). I am honestly not trying to be contrary to the rules, but, my edginess overrides this one suggestion.

 

[bmartin1206]

Thanks Gail. While many shoes such as most tennis shoes do not have metal we are looking for other signs of tampering that could be in any shoe. If you do not remove your shoes it may flag you for additional screening. We have a new policy listed on our website. www.tsa.gov. You're not the only one though. It's really no big deal either way. Screening us usually quick and painless...hopefully.

Brian

 

[bmartin1206]

No matter what order you go through you would have gone off and still been in the same situation. Do a complaint.

Brian

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by bmartin1206
Thanks Gail. While many shoes such as most tennis shoes do not have metal we are looking for other signs of tampering that could be in any shoe. If you do not remove your shoes it may flag you for additional screening. We have a new policy listed on our website. www.tsa.gov. You're not the only one though. It's really no big deal either way. Screening us usually quick and painless...hopefully.

Brian

Thanks Brian,
I hope you know that I think the screening is excellent and I feel the air to be a lot safer because of it. I realize the shoe thing is silly to some, but, I just know I would be going nuts looking for athlete's foot the entire trip. I also understand the tampering thing, it does occur as we all know. However, if I am asked to remove my shoes, I will happily comply.....and then buy some lysol.

 

[Figaro]

I use a wheelchair and so always get a full search and have to remove my shoes. The screeners have always been extraordinarily polite and have used the backs of their hands when they are touching the more private areas. I usually ask them if they want me to transfer to a chair so they can search my wheelchair more thoroughly and about half the time they do and half the time they don't.

I have to admit that I was fairly amused when we came through customs last March and my spouse had to take the carry-ons over to be handsearched and they decided to take me through the security checks while he was doing that. They kept asking me for my passport and identification and all of that was over with my spouse who was going through customs.

I really didn't quite know what they were doing when someone told my spouse to go there for hand searching and then pushed me through the security checkpoint, but it was just about impossible for me to explain that I didn't have my passport or any identification because they had told my spouse to take all of that over to be searched. And since I hadn't wheeled myself through the checkpoint and couldn't wheel myself back, I didn't have a clue as to what they wanted me to do. The did ask me if I could stand up and I told them that while I could transfer to any stable chair with no arms that they wanted me to transfer to, standing wasn't an option(smile).

But it all got straightened out and there were no real problems. However, when my spouse was unpacking one of our carry-ons, he found a paring knife in the outside zippered compartment. On our way down to WDW last fall, we stopped at a Walmart and I picked up a dollar paring knife to keep in the room (we like to have wine and cheese before we head out for the evening). My spouse had wrapped the blade in duct tape (he never travels without a roll)(smile) so it wouldn't cut through the fabric of the carry-on. This went through four security screenings, full hand searches of the carry-ons and we didn't find it (and were absolutely HORRIFIED to find it) until we got home and were unpacking.

I felt absolutely sick about not knowing it was in there and it has been a good reminder to both of us to check every single compartment in our bags when we unpack from our trips.

 

[bmartin1206]

Thanks for posting Figaro and a good example, no matter how diligently we search we are bound to look over something stressing the importance of everyone taking responsibility of suspicious behavior (not you Figaro) and being vigilant in safe air travel.

Brian

 

[bmartin1206]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Thanks Brian,
I hope you know that I think the screening is excellent and I feel the air to be a lot safer because of it. I realize the shoe thing is silly to some, but, I just know I would be going nuts looking for athlete's foot the entire trip. I also understand the tampering thing, it does occur as we all know. However, if I am asked to remove my shoes, I will happily comply.....and then buy some lysol.

I've seen a number of people with lysol in their carry on who apply it immediately afterwards. Our airport was supplying it at one time but not sure if they continue to do so. It was as much for the screeners who handle the shoes as for the passenger. We often have a number of passengers who practice less than desirable grooming habits.

Brian

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by bmartin1206
I've seen a number of people with lysol in their carry on who apply it immediately afterwards. Our airport was supplying it at one time but not sure if they continue to do so. It was as much for the screeners who handle the shoes as for the passenger. We often have a number of passengers who practice less than desirable grooming habits.

Brian

I hear that. It would have to be a must if I worked there.