Family traveling home from Disney pulled aside by TSA

[Delgado]

No, they really don't. They don't even do a mediocre job. They are horrible. And contribute absolutely nothing to actually making those planes any safer.

I won't go any farther because I fear I would run afoul of the "no politics" rule. But I have no respect for the TSA what-so-ever.

Or the no fly list. Sorry you had bad experiences.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

TSA overall does a pretty god job i difficult conditions. Considering they stopped 500 + guns in 205 airports from getting on planes and that is only one issue.

When you get down to it, TSA does not have to tell you why they are patting you done, etc.

I am sure everyone doesn't want to see a child or a elderly person or a disabled person being checked/searched, but their is no reason to expect a radical terrorist from not using them.


AKK

 

[loves to dive]

When we dive my honey carries on his underwater video camera and gear. Every single time he gets flagged and they have to open the case and swab it then swab him. We have learned and he even packs with that in mind so it's easier for them to do their job. I think it's the batteries in the camera. I've been pulled aside in different countries and taken in the little room with my bag and had the pat down. The only time it was a problem was when we had a combination lock on the bag and I couldn't remember the combination (I'm horrible with numbers) so I just told them to cut it off. They were very nice about it, laughed with me and an agent stepped outside to ask what the combination was. He was expecting that too since he knows my issue with numbers. Way before metal detectors, most smaller out of country air ports did the pat down and trust me, some of them were not very nice about it. I upgraded to first class one trip at the check in kiosk. It asked if I wanted to and I was travelling alone and it was only $90 so I thought why not. Seems a last minute upgrade like that is a flag, who knew? I do now. I didn't even get a chance to go through the scanner, as soon as I got there I was flagged and me and the agent went in the little room. My carry on got emptied and I got the pat down. Afterwards they told me why, I didn't ask until it was over. I've learned to have a good sense of humour and be polite about it all. It helps if you don't argue and just go with it.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Wow I had no idea the TSA pat downs were that much of a violation. Did I understand that correctly that they reach inside your pants to feel your underwear? Front and back? Holy cow if that happened to me I think I would feel completely violated and without explanation for why - how are you to know that it is protocol and not sexual harassment?

 

[yitbos96bb]

If I understand the article correctly, the woman did not want to go through the body scan because she had a child she was holding. She requested that her hands be swabbed for explosives instead of going through the body scan - which apparently she's savvy enough to know she can opt for instead of the body scan machine (I didn't know that) and I wonder why she didn't opt for the metal detector w/ a toddler. TSA swabbed her hands as she requested and she tested positive for explosives.
Once she's positive for explosives she represents a threat, IMO. She presumptively has explosives on herself - so were did she hide them? They ask her to set the child down, which she does, but then, contrary to what she's been told to do, she picks the child back up. Her excuse is she was apparently unable to hand of her child to her husband because he for an unknown reason went to a different line (suspicious in and of itself as most family groups go through the line together.)
Now it is likely that the false positive was caused by a false positive (glycerin in baby wipes?) but she chose the swab rather than the body scan.
I'm no fan of TSA, but when it comes to someone testing positive for explosives I don't want them on my plane unless TSA knows for sure they do not have any.
The simple answer is choose the body scan next time.

TSA Shoulder Syndrome.... Tell them you can't put your hand above your head.

Or buy pre-check.

 

[SugarRush]

Wow I had no idea the TSA pat downs were that much of a violation. Did I understand that correctly that they reach inside your pants to feel your underwear? Front and back? Holy cow if that happened to me I think I would feel completely violated and without explanation for why - how are you to know that it is protocol and not sexual harassment?

They will only go to those lengths if they have reason to believe so, the initial pat down is over clothes. A medical professional would be required to do any internal examination but they would have to have a good reason to request it