Any other families searched?

[NookOfTheNorth]

Quick question/comment...This was our 2nd trip to FL in the past year. Both times on the outgoing leg, my dh has been chosen for the "extra" search. Inconvenient but not a big deal.

However, on the return leg both of us were chosen for the "extra" search. This meant that our children (dds 6 & 9) had to be searched as well. There is something about seeing your 6 year old frisked that is a wee bit disconcerting...not to mention the thorough search of the Princess and Tinkerbell backpacks. Are we just unlucky or is there some reason that we keep getting "chosen"?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Who knows why you were chosen? It was probably just a random thing.

I have seen many small children being searched.

 

[Donnask8pro]

My son is in a wheelchair and was 10 at the time. They searched his whole wheelchair and him.

 

[mamamia]

When we flew from New York to Birmingham my whole family was searched too. We had booked it last minute (1 day before we were to fly) due to my Grandmothers illness. It was her wish to finally meet all of her great grandchildren. We knew she didn't have much longer, so my sisters and I and our spouses and our children (5 adults and 9 children) booked this flight. They did search all of us, including the 2 year old we had with us.

We didn't get upset at all, they were just doing their job and the kids thought it was fun. They had a story to tell now!!! Because we didn't get upset the kids were fine with it.

On our return trip the same thing happened only this time after we went through security (after all of us being checked and patted down, etc.), someone from Homeland Security came up to us and they were the ones who were upset that the airline people had searched the kids. The guy from Homeland Security told us that they shouldn't have searched anyone under the age of 12. At this point it was only me and one of my sisters and our families. Our party now consisted of 4 adults and 6 kids (age range of 9 to 15). They talked with us and we told them we didn't mind.

The only upsetting part at all was that we were running late for our first flight from NY to Alabama and we were afraid we were going to miss our flight. It took them a while to get through all of us. We made the flight.

 

[safetymom]

It's all part of the security at the airport. Don't take it personally because usually it is random.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Every trip since 9/11 I've been searched at "random" on the trip down but DW has never been...we stopped believing it was random long ago but it's just a minor inconvenence. We're always at the airport well in advance and just budget the time for extra screening when we leave home.

 

[DebbieB]

Someone on the "do not fly" list may have the same name.

 

[debster812]

There is something about seeing your 6 year old frisked that is a wee bit disconcerting...not to mention the thorough search of the Princess and Tinkerbell backpacks. Are we just unlucky or is there some reason that we keep getting "chosen"?

I agree with other posters who say don't take it personally.

My DS has been flying to and from FL every year since he was 5. He's 9 now. The year he was 7, he started getting dinged for extra security screening. Did not matter the airline, or the airport. At this point in his life, he probably knows the drill better than many adult travellers, and can pretty much get himself through a security checkpoint without any prompting from us. The first time he was pulled aside, it was a little disconcerting, but really not a big deal.

Since both you and your husband were selected for extra security, there were 2 choices, let your young children stand outside the 'sterile' area, unattended, or bring them in so that the were not separated from you. Because that was the prudent (and CORRECT choice) and because they were in the secure area, they had to be searched as well.

Sorry it was a drag for you, but like other posters said, nothing personal, I'm sure.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

A few years ago when DW Lauri and I flew down to WDW, she was pulled for extra searching on all legs -- leaving Richmond, changing planes to MCO, leaving MCO, and changing planes to RIC. At the time a TSA agent told her it might have been because her name (Laureen) has a large number of vowels, and some sort of letter combination in her name may have flagged her.

I have no idea if that's true. I know there are a number of factors that cause someone to be flagged for extra searching -- buying a ticket with cash, buying a one-way ticket, buying a ticket at the last minute -- so it wouldn't surprise me if that was a method of selection.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Someone on the "do not fly" list may have the same name.

That's what I figured...must be something along those lines. Frankly I'd rather they be cautious and take a few minutes of my time.

 

[safetymom]

I can remember when "random" gate searches was every 3rd person.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Since both you and your husband were selected for extra security, there were 2 choices, let your young children stand outside the 'sterile' area, unattended, or bring them in so that the were not separated from you. Because that was the prudent (and CORRECT choice) and because they were in the secure area, they had to be searched as well.

When we flew down in 2005 with my mother, she and I were searched on departure from both airports (we had nonstop flights both times, thank goodness). However, the agents made DD 10 and DS 6 stay outside while my mother and I were brought into the sterile area at the same time - they would not even let one of us stand with the kids. My son was traumatized and crying, he didn't understand what those people were doing to his mommy and grandma, he was afraid they weren't going to let us back out to him - it was not good at all. Fortunately, by the second time DS was not as scared because I'd been "returned" to him the first time. While I'm generally in favor of stricter security because it means greater safety, I was not impressed with the way those searches were handled. I have not seen anything like it since, so it appears that this policy has been modified.

 

[newholidayx2]

Someone on the "do not fly" list may have the same name.

that happened to DH - every time he flies we need to budget 3hrs, not 2!

 

[NookOfTheNorth]

I'm not upset about the searching....like I said it is an inconvenience. And, to be honest with you the TSA people at Sanford seemed mostly annoyed at the ticket agent. In fact, as I said in a different post on a different thread a TSA agent even gave up her sandwich baggie for DD's forgotten mouthwash. I guess I'm just wondering if we are unlucky...3 searches out of 4 times, or if we are being "flagged" for some reason--which is what I'm leaning toward.

 

[DaisyLynn]

I'm always one of the "chosen ones". I've just learned that when they make me take off whatever little jackety sweatshirt layer or cardigan (I'm not talking big thick heavy, more like a long sleeve tshirt that buttons or zips), I don't want to be wearing a little camisole or anything underneath. That is what ALWAYS happens and then before I know it, I'm showing off more ****age to the entire flight than I would ever allow show even in a bathing suit. It's hard, because that's how I dress practically every day, so I end up being uncomfortable now because there is too much going on with my layers and stuff. I hate wearing sleeves under sleeves...but I come from Maine. It's too darn cold here to not have some kind of layer!

But I know it's just the way it is, so I can't fault them for doing their job. But why me? Flying is scary enough for me as it is!!

 

[bavaria]

I'm always one of the "chosen ones". I've just learned that when they make me take off whatever little jackety sweatshirt layer or cardigan (I'm not talking big thick heavy, more like a long sleeve tshirt that buttons or zips)

But you ARE to take off your jacket, including cardigans. I wear one most of the time that I fly (weekly) and have only passed through TSA once wearing it.

If you don't comply with the instructions, the chances of being pulled for a secondary screening are much greater.

 

[bavaria]

We didn't get upset at all, they were just doing their job and the kids thought it was fun. They had a story to tell now!!! Because we didn't get upset the kids were fine with it.

This is excellent information for those who travel with kids.

The TSA has a section on travelling with children and families. I very regularly see parents who DO not comply with the rules - they try and take a stroller through the detector, they pass kids back and forth, or argue with the TSA agent that the child cannot be parted with his XYZ for even a second.

All of this may result in a secondary screening. It is great advice to prepare and talk to your kids about what to expect, and not to get upset or flustered.

For all that we hear about the 'bad' TSA agents, I very regularly see pleasant, friendly ones who are ready to assist. But I also understand when they get frustrated with some travellers - I do too! A few weeks ago I had a couple with small baby in front of me - mum refused to unpack and fold the stroller. Dad had some hawaiian leis around his neck; first he refused to remove his jacket, then he couldn't figure out why his jacket would not come off (the leis and his backpack were keeping it in place....) The agent was telling them exactly what they needed to do, but the family kept insisting on doing something else, or point blank refusing to do what they were told. I certainly was frustrated - imagine how the agent felt.

http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

 

[englishteacha]

Do you think they screen people based on appearance at all? I only ask because a friend of ours is always searched. He's 6'8" and is kind of intimidating. He's the nicest guy, but he looks like he could crush you.

 

[deedeetoo]

We got picked once and it was because of a code on our boarding pass acoording to the gate agent. Somehow the computer had picked us for extra screening. We were a family of 5 traveling: me, dh, my 70 yo mom and my 2 kids who were 6 and 4 at the time. We were thinking that maybe we were picked because we had one way tickets - we were flying home out of a different airport on a different airline.

It really wasn't that bad except for the fact that there was no bathroom after we went through the screening, and wouldn't you know that one of the kids had to go as soon as we got seated at the gate. So we had to go back out and go through the whole thing twice. Of course the second time we left all our carryons with the family members not visiting the facilities.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I'm always one of the "chosen ones". I've just learned that when they make me take off whatever little jackety sweatshirt layer or cardigan (I'm not talking big thick heavy, more like a long sleeve tshirt that buttons or zips), I don't want to be wearing a little camisole or anything underneath. That is what ALWAYS happens and then before I know it, I'm showing off more ****age to the entire flight than I would ever allow show even in a bathing suit. It's hard, because that's how I dress practically every day, so I end up being uncomfortable now because there is too much going on with my layers and stuff. I hate wearing sleeves under sleeves...but I come from Maine. It's too darn cold here to not have some kind of layer!

But I know it's just the way it is, so I can't fault them for doing their job. But why me? Flying is scary enough for me as it is!!

The TSA site says "outerwear, suitcoats and blazers" must be xrayed. Fight back, tell them it's a knit shirt and that all you have underneath is an undergarment. If you are daring, . . . well you get the idea . Or just cover up with a t-shirt.
Until TSA regularly screens commercial shipments carried on passenger planes, most of what people describe here will do little to make flying safer.