Does anyone else feel like a criminal when going through TSA?

[remy324]

What is the escort supposed to do? Prevent you from being patted down?

Since I haven't gotten that far I am not sure what the escort is supposed to do.

 

[sam_gordon]

Since I haven't gotten that far I am not sure what the escort is supposed to do.

Fair enough. Just thinking logically (at least somewhat)... the idea is they want to make sure you don't have weapons or explosives under your clothes. The body scanner is one way of taking care of it. A pat down is another. I guess the 3rd way is have pre-check, so they do a background check to see if you're likely(?) to bring weapons/explosives. I'm not sure what other options they have.

 

[tvguy]

Sam, please don't let this turn you against getting a CGM. The pro definitely outweighs the cons.

I was in the same boat, but can't imagine having something attached to my body all the time. Not sure where to place it where it wouldn't bother me while I tried to sleep. For fun I did look at the cost, and that really sealed the deal for me. I'll keep sticking my fingers.

 

[remy324]

Fair enough. Just thinking logically (at least somewhat)... the idea is they want to make sure you don't have weapons or explosives under your clothes. The body scanner is one way of taking care of it. A pat down is another. I guess the 3rd way is have pre-check, so they do a background check to see if you're likely(?) to bring weapons/explosives. I'm not sure what other options they have.

I do have TSA Precheck and I even have a TSA information card that states that I have a CGM but so far nothing has helped.

 

[JLTraveling]

I can't really argue that point. But when I've been involved with presidential level screenings, I seem to remember bomb sniffing dogs in the area.

I do remember once working a VP debate (local news), another engineer and myself go through the metal detector with tool bags and don't even get stopped. They stopped our production manager immediately behind us who wasn't carrying ANYTHING extra. The only difference (and he's happy to share it) is he is African American.

ETA: I meant to mention you brining up the "sort of paramilitary" part of the TSA. The few times I've flown out of the country, I remember seeing police in the airport (of the other country) carrying rifles. I've never seen a TSA agent with so much as a handgun (that I can remember at least).

I'm 100% in favor of bomb sniffing dogs at the airport. I'm sure they were around at the debate, everything just went so quick I didn't really notice.

Funny off-topic story: Coming back from my family's first cruise, I was in my early teens. My dad had warned me that there would be dogs in the terminal sniffing for drugs, and I needed to leave them alone (I've always had a thing for wanting to pet any animal that comes near me). Well, one of the dogs made a beeline for me and I did my best to ignore it. But the dog wedged its head in between my hand and my thigh and refused to budge. I looked at my dad, he looked at the handler, I looked at the handler. The handler smiled and nodded. I petted the dog's head for a moment and he trotted off all happy.

On-topic: Only ever having cruised to other countries, I have no experience with their airports. But considering that many of the examples given here are not liberal democracies, and those that are still aren't "the land of the free and the home of the brave," I'm not sure how that's relevant. But my dad's flown in and out of Israel, tightest airport security in the world. And he says the difference is night and day. Sure they have rifles. But they're highly trained, impeccably professional, and stunningly efficient. No comparison IMO.

 

[sam_gordon]

I do have TSA Precheck and I even have a TSA information card that states that I have a CGM but so far nothing has helped.

If you have precheck, you shouldn't have to go through the body scanner. Does the metal detector affect the CGM (or trigger on it)?

 

[_19disnA]

Never had any issues with TSA, they are just doing their job. I now have TSA-precheck and tends to make things move along faster. It seems the pre-check line has more of the frequent travelers who know the routine and what is expected. Too many people in the regular lines seem to act like this is their first time at an airport and have NO idea what all is involved with the security checks. Some also seem to act like security should apply to everyone else and not them.

I feel safer traveling by air when checked luggage is sent through X-ray and TSA does their routine checks. Nothing will ever be perfect regarding security, but at least the obvious things are caught before they have a chance of causing harm while in the air.

 

[sam_gordon]

Nothing will ever be perfect regarding security, but at least the obvious things are caught before they have a chance of causing harm while in the air.

In defense of the anti-TSA folks, the bolded isn't totally true. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/us/tsa-failures-box-cutters-frontier-flight/index.html.

Now, I'm still waiting for what people would want in place of the TSA.

 

[EACarlson]

For ANY one willing to answer...

Let's say the government has put YOU in charge of airport security. How do you set up the policies? No security? Anyone can go "air side"? Metal detectors only? "Body scanners"? What happens if an anomaly is noticed? "No problem, continue on."?

I would get rid of the mm wave scanners and have everybody go through the Pre procedures just like we did pre 9/11. No reason not to allow anyone airside that wants to go if they go through the screening process. I would even be onboard with using the "random enhanced screening" that was used between 9/11 and the TSA taking over all airport screening. And I say that as someone who was "randomly" selected even with a ticket purchased by the federal government and a letter from the then Secretary of Transportation as I was flying to interview for a supervisory position in the then unformed TSA.

I can't really argue that point. But when I've been involved with presidential level screenings, I seem to remember bomb sniffing dogs in the area.

I do remember once working a VP debate (local news), another engineer and myself go through the metal detector with tool bags and don't even get stopped. They stopped our production manager immediately behind us who wasn't carrying ANYTHING extra. The only difference (and he's happy to share it) is he is African American.

ETA: I meant to mention you brining up the "sort of paramilitary" part of the TSA. The few times I've flown out of the country, I remember seeing police in the airport (of the other country) carrying rifles. I've never seen a TSA agent with so much as a handgun (that I can remember at least).

TSA are not allowed to have weapons, they are not a law enforcement agency, big difference between that and CBP that a poster upthread brought up.

I do have TSA Precheck and I even have a TSA information card that states that I have a CGM but so far nothing has helped.

Then wouldn't the walk through metal detector be acceptable for you? I know occasionally you would still get pulled and be asked to go through the scanner but 90+% of the time it wouldn't come up.

In answer to the OP, I don't feel like a criminal going through the security theater that is TSA, I just laugh at it all.

 

[kdonnel]

I've never had a problem with TSA or any other airport security around the world.

Questions are much more personal and direct from airport security personnel outside of the US.

Back when the US ticket counter personnel would ask if you packed your own bags, we were asked in London if we had a bomb or weapons in our bag. No dancing around the point.

Checking into our US bound flight out of Switzerland had us asked seemingly innocuous questions so the asker could evaluate our response and demeanor with little thought to the actual answer to the questions.

I think in the interest of safety, prior to checking your bags, everyone should have to strip down at the airport and put on a disposable tyvek traveling suit issued at the airport. Everyone should be given traveling shoes, perhaps stylish like bowling shoes. You can't change back until you retrieve your bags at your final destination.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would get rid of the mm wave scanners and have everybody go through the Pre procedures just like we did pre 9/11. No reason not to allow anyone airside that wants to go if they go through the screening process. I would even be onboard with using the "random enhanced screening" that was used between 9/11 and the TSA taking over all airport screening.

Were the body scanners in response to the underwear bomber?

 

[EACarlson]

Were the body scanners in response to the underwear bomber?

That is how they justified it to Congress and the public. It had been in the works previously as a way to catch ceramic edged weapons, which were considered as the next thing a 9/11 style attack would use.

 

[sam_gordon]

That is how they justified it to Congress and the public. It had been in the works previously as a way to catch ceramic edged weapons, which were considered as the next thing a 9/11 style attack would use.

Ok. So what should be done to catch the ceramic edged weapons/explosives?

 

[Lumpy1106]

In defense of the anti-TSA folks, the bolded isn't totally true. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/us/tsa-failures-box-cutters-frontier-flight/index.html.

Now, I'm still waiting for what people would want in place of the TSA.

It's too bad we can't follow the example of Israel. But, because we are so PC, instead of profiling and scrutinizing those who are most likely to do harm, we treat everyone the same. SMH. https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-...port-security-is-getting-in-really-that-tough

Occasionally, if security has assessed a person as a low risk, they will pass them straight through to the check-in desks, bypassing the main x-ray machines.

Hazard to guess that includes new moms with infants, grandma with a walker, etc. Makes sense. Or, we could just run everyone through the nudie scanners. Nah, let's do that. Wouldn't want to offend anyone.

 

[tzolkin]

Too many people in the regular lines seem to act like this is their first time at an airport and have NO idea what all is involved with the security checks.

To be fair, for some people it is their first time in an airport. I know many people who have never flown before and others who haven't been to an airport since before 9/11.

And, nothing seems to be standardized even at the same airport or during the same trip. Sometimes you have to remove your shoes, sometimes you don't. Same for liquids and electronics. I can definitely see where it could be overwhelming or stressful for someone with limited experience.

 

[kdonnel]

Hazard to guess that includes new moms with infants, grandma with a walker, etc. Makes sense. Or, we could just run everyone through the nudie scanners. Nah, let's do that. Wouldn't want to offend anyone.

You can't just blanket let new moms with infants, grandma with a walker, etc through.

If that was the case and I wanted to smuggle something onboard I would utilize a new mom with an infant, grandma with a walker, etc.

 

[sam_gordon]

It's too bad we can't follow the example of Israel. But, because we are so PC, instead of profiling and scrutinizing those who are most likely to do harm, we treat everyone the same. SMH. https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-...port-security-is-getting-in-really-that-tough

Did you actually read the article?
* All vehicles go through security before entering grounds
* Random requests to open email/facebook accounts of passengers
* Departing passengers questioned before even getting to check in desk
* Luggage and body searches possible
* Arrive 3 hours before your flight

This is Tel Aviv airport (and I'm assuming others).
Tel Aviv yearly traffic: 6.1 Million (Source)
That would put in #58 in the US (Source)

THAT'S what you think would make things "better"?

 

[Lumpy1106]

You know what makes me feel more safe than before 9/11 is that the passengers by-and-large don't put up with any nonsense on the planes anymore. The general consensus before was to just do what the terrorist demanded as they were almost always looking to just land somewhere other than where the flight was intended to go. The terrorist weren't going to harm the plane because THEY did not want to die. 9/11 suicide bombers changed all of that. Now you see multiple people step up to help de-escalate the situation at the first hint of trouble. It seems crazy now, but you literally would not have seen that pre-9/11.

 

[sam_gordon]

You know what makes me feel more safe than before 9/11 is that the passengers by-and-large don't put up with any nonsense on the planes anymore. The general consensus before was to just do what the terrorist demanded as they were almost always looking to just land somewhere other than where the flight was intended to go. The terrorist weren't going to harm the plane because THEY did not want to die. 9/11 suicide bombers changed all of that. Now you see multiple people step up to help de-escalate the situation at the first hint of trouble. It seems crazy now, but you literally would not have seen that pre-9/11.

Totally agree. Do you want to rely on that though?

 

[Moliphino]

Checking into our US bound flight out of Switzerland had us asked seemingly innocuous questions so the asker could evaluate our response and demeanor with little thought to the actual answer to the questions.

When my sister and I checked in to fly home from Madrid, they had me step away then asked her a bunch of questions like "how far is it to get home from the airport?". Then going to the area with US bound gates she was pulled aside again for extra screening. She had been randomly flagged by AA with a code on her boarding pass.