random pat down search at boarding gate, a first for me

[FINFAN]

I fly to Fl fairly often, usually in and out if Sarasota and Ft. Myers, utilizing both SW and Airtran. This trip I flew into Sarasota and out of Ft. Myers, flying out on SW. My DD was with me as I was picking her up from college. We checked our bags, went thru security and hung out waiting for our flight. We were section "B" boarding and lined up when it was our turn. It was then that I felt a tap on my shoulder by a female TSA agent asking me to set my bags down for a random "pat down" search. I had no issue with it, and a male TSA was doing the same with some male passengers. A few other women were checked, and we all boarded. I thought it was odd that no bags were "patted down", but whatever. I had heard on the news that day ( last Thursday 5/6) that a suitcase was found smoking at another airport so I just figured it was extra security due to that... what was kinda creepy was that my DD and I had been at the gate for almost an hour and did not see any TSA around, SW employess, yes, TSA no..and then BAM...never saw her coming! I was wearing an oversized hoodie swetshirt ( that I usually travel in) so I understand that I was a good candidate to randomly search, but htis is the first time I have beeen subject to any post security check point screening. At least I got to leave my shoes on!
Has anyone else seen or had this happen at the gate just minutes before boarding? And also, why not group A? When I got home my bag had been gone thru as well, but it had some of DD's art tools in it, so that is not a surprise. At least nothing was stolen.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I saw this on my recent trip, Pam. I saw TSA with rolling carts that they would push around, gate to gate, doing spot pre-boarding checks on several people on the flights they were checking. I think the spot checks came about after the Christmas underwear bomber incident.

 

[dudspizza]

Happened to us on our connecting flight at ORD last January. TSA showed up and randomly asked people to step to the side so they could pat them down and swab their carry on.

Everyone is already through security, so I don't quite get it....

 

[FINFAN]

Good to know it was not just our flight...the TSA were so stealthy, after I was on the plane I was a little thinking, why just our flight, why just the B group.....guess I willl be more observant in the future. In all honesty, my back was KILLING me from moving DD's stuff out of her apartment ( stairs) and I could have used more patting on my aching back!Altho, I have had 6 flights since late January...odd I didn't see any then either...flying out again in 3 weeks, we'll see what happens.

 

[dudspizza]

Good to know it was not just our flight...the TSA were so stealthy, after I was on the plane I was a little thinking, why just our flight, why just the B group.....guess I willl be more observant in the future. In all honesty, my back was KILLING me from moving DD's stuff out of her apartment ( stairs) and I could have used more patting on my aching back!Altho, I have had 6 flights since late January...odd I didn't see any then either...flying out again in 3 weeks, we'll see what happens.

They showed up at our gate at the beginning of boarding.... we were watching as they called the boarding zones.... a guy was asked to step aside maybe 10 people before us...... we handed our boarding passes to the gate agent and I whispered to my wife..."go, go, go" and we quickly walked to the jetway...... YES, we made it! We had nothing to hide, yet didn't want to deal with that hassle or all of the eyes watching us like we were terrorists....

 

[mgilmer]

The TSA security carnival for the sheeple is why I no longer fly. Thank heavens they have not started pulling cars over (yet) to pat down the driver. Whoops! I may have just given them the idea.

 

[ancestry]

Wow! Thanks for posting this. My husband has serious issues with the TSA to begin with as he feels that random people should not be treated like they are criminals (the way he defines the TSA screening process). Traveling with him is not enjoyable as he always greats/treats the TSA agents like they were Russian KGB agents.

I have given him fair warning and prepared him for the possibility of this happening so hopefully that will minimize the possibility of a scene happening if they approach him at the gate.

 

[coalmnrswife]

This happened to my husband a few years ago on a flight to Washington DC. We were preparing to board the plan when they asked my husband to step aside and remove his boots. I kinda stood to the side and was going to wait. I was told by the TSA agent that if I didn't want to be next I had better get on the plane. Imagine my suprise.
Once my husband boarded the plan he said the agent was nice and told him to never fly with cowboy boots. They are easy to hide things in and will trigger a search

 

[PebblesMK]

I too wore a sweatshirt when we flew to Florida on Airtran and I was pulled aside, patted down and asked to remove my sweatshirt, belt, shoes and my purse was went through and I also had to empty my pockets and my daughter (8) was pat down as well but wasn't made to remove her sweatshirt or shoes or anything. It only took a few minutes and then I could board as usual. She was kind about it and said it was because I was wearing a hoodie.

 

[3happydancers]

I have to say, my family has not experienced this (yet), but I am not sure how I feel about what I've just read. I understand this is all to keep us safe, but I think I would feel funny, perhaps a little violated, about suddenly being approached, AFTER going through security, and being targeted and touched in public. And, if they have a right to do this, will they one day pull a child over? I don't think I would allow them to pat or touch my daughter who is 12.

I am wondering, anyone else feel this way or am I just over reacting?

 

[ancestry]

I too wore a sweatshirt when we flew to Florida on Airtran and I was pulled aside, patted down and asked to remove my sweatshirt, belt, shoes and my purse was went through and I also had to empty my pockets and my daughter (8) was pat down as well but wasn't made to remove her sweatshirt or shoes or anything. It only took a few minutes and then I could board as usual. She was kind about it and said it was because I was wearing a hoodie.

We all always wear hoodies when we travel so we can add or remove clothing as necessary to adjust to the changing temperatures - outside, in the terminal, and on the plane. I suspect that many others do this as well. Thanks for letting me know that this increases suspicion.

 

[ancestry]

I am wondering, anyone else feel this way or am I just over reacting?

I am 1000% with you. I think this entire process has gotten ridiculous, although I suspect that I am probably in the minority with that opinion. I personally believe that the TSA does nothing but give a false sense of security to much of the public. It is a show, a performance to appease the public in my opinion, but that is just me.

However, I am not against it enough to change my method of travel so I will (and do) shut my mouth and do what I have to do to play the game to get through security and continue on with my travels.

 

[Paticake]

I received a random pat down in Nov leaving Manchester NH to Orlando on SW. I was traveling with DH, DB, DSIL and niece and nephew. I also had my carry on bag searched at security leaving Ft. Myers last year. I had fudge in it from my favorite Ft Myers beach candy store. I quess it showed up on security as a dense square. DH has never been searched and he is a big guy.

 

[3happydancers]

I am 1000% with you. I think this entire process has gotten ridiculous, although I suspect that I am probably in the minority with that opinion. I personally believe that the TSA does nothing but give a false sense of security to much of the public. It is a show, a performance to appease the public in my opinion, but that is just me.

However, I am not against it enough to change my method of travel so I will (and do) shut my mouth and do what I have to do to play the game to get through security and continue on with my travels.

, I would not change my method of travel and would probably grin and bear it, BUT, I am not so sure how I would initially react if my dd12 was also approached?

 

[Gelfling_Jen]

I think random pre-boarding searches have been going on for years because it happened to me in 2004. The weird thing is that it didn't happen while waiting in line to pre-board, it happened after putting our boarding passes through the computer, being OK'd by airline employees, and entering the tunnel that goes to the plane! There was an agent sitting half-way through the tunnel, and around a corner so you couldn't see her until she could see you. I was only about 26 at the time and was dressed very normal and was with a female friend who was an employee of the airline. She only asked to search me and when my friend continued to stand there the agent quickly asked her to get on the plaine. I was a little scared because I had never heard of this happening. She searched my body as well as my carry-on luggage. She said it was a random search, but because it happened after putting our boarding pass through the computer I thought maybe they pre-choose me to be pre-screened and then knew when I was coming down the tunnel. The fact that my friend was an airline employee (American citizen) and I was travelling on a buddy pass of hers (and I'm Canadian), and we had a really strange route in and out of Canada and also coast to coast, and a trip of less than a week, I can see how we may have set off some warnings. I guess they didn't understand how two young women could travel so far to see their favorite artist in concert!

 

[Alexander]

We were traveling a few years ago, my two kids, my mom and I. We were running for our connection in Atlanta, and when we got to the gate (everyone else was boarded) the TSA person said he had to check one more passenger--I looked at him and said "Take her (my mom), I've got to buckle the kids." He laughed and told my mother to give me her carry-on bag then it would be mine and he wouldn't have to check it when he scanned her. He was very good natured, and the whole experience was very positive. I guess it all boils down to the different personalities of people.

 

[Manda]

Waaaaay back in the day (pre 9/11), I flew back and forth between Indy and Chicago Midway frequently on SWA. And they'd quite often pop up to do these random gate screenings as you boarded. They'd pull you off to the side and wand you and check your bag for explosives and then let you on the plane. It was somewhat infuriating at the time because this was back when you'd show up at the SWA gate forever early to secure your boarding spot - and then you'd lose it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I would think that refusing to TSA request for a check would prohibit you from flying.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am wondering, anyone else feel this way or am I just over reacting?

I think you're overreacting, and would urge you to NOT fly out of the US, if you are that worried about you and your daughter being searched.


It's not that I think the TSA is terrific, but I comply with their stuff and things go well. It's not a big deal to me. The game makes no sense in some cases, and it hasn't since planes were allowed to fly after 9/11...flew on the 18th going to DC (well, Baltimore), my shoes were checked and my underwire patted thoroughly, but I had my long thick hair pinned into a bun with 2 inch long, U-shaped, pins that didn't have the rubber tips on half the pins...they could have been a serious weapon, and I showed one to the agent after she patted my underwire, and she didn't care about it.


So it doesn't always make sense, but it also doesn't bug me, and hubby has definitely encountered much more strict, rigid, and STERN security during this year of international business travel (while carrying many electronic devices for product testing in his carryon).

 

[dburg30]

Have seen them do this at BWI, RDU and CMH. Maybe I didnt see it at BWI, but the others I know for sure. Flying SW, it would suck buying EBCI, getting low A's and then be yanked for random pat down while all the A is boarding... That would make ya happy!