So who is watching my stuff ? (another TSA thread)

[lovetoscrap]

Because of my disability I can not walk or stand barefoot and usually have my scooter with me when I travel. I have been getting pat downs for the last few years, along with the swipe of the scooter, and my medical boot if I am wearing it.

I had a major problem with Orlando TSA the last time I flew and their disregard for securing my bags when they separated me and my also disabled companion from them. Laptops, Kindle, medications, purses, cell phones and our carry ons were just left at the end of the belt where we couldn't even see them most of the time while they took their sweet time getting around to searching us. When I was finally able to complain someone went and grabbed our stuff and put it on a table by someone that had no idea who it belonged to. Anyone still could have grabbed it and walked off. He wasn't even watching it anyway, he was busy with other things.

So now that more and more people are going to be pulled off to the side and get warm and friendly with a TSA agent, what are they going to do with the added number of carry ons and valuables that will sit at the end of the belt waiting to be stolen. . . I mean claimed? They couldn't even handle it when 2 disabled people went through.

 

[safetymom]

Thieves are watching your stuff. Sad to say but I know TSA isn't really watching the items.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Politely but firmly agree to be moved to another area as long as your personal items and bags accompany you. They will tell you that they need to maintain control over the items until you undergo a pat-down. Respond that that's fine, but the officer performing the pat down will have to bring your possessions along as its against TSA policy to leave your items unattended.

 

[goofy4tink]

Politely but firmly agree to be moved to another area as long as your personal items and bags accompany you. They will tell you that they need to maintain control over the items until you undergo a pat-down. Respond that that's fine, but the officer performing the pat down will have to bring your possessions along as its against TSA policy to leave your items unattended.

Where have you been??? Missed you hanging around. In any case...that would be my suggestion as well. My reply would be..'More than happy to be pat down but I must insist that I have my belongings here, where I can see them. It is, after all, against your rules to have my belongings out of my sight. Thank-you so much.'

 

[lovetoscrap]

Unfortunately that is easier said than done. I did send a letter of complaint to TSA after our experience and got a very nice but useless response.

If a passenger waiting for screening, such as yourself, requests that their property be brought to them for closer observation we do have some limitations. A passenger awaiting screening will not be allowed to have their property in close proximity if we do not have the personnel to monitor contact of that property. If that is the case, we will try to isolate the items on the roller system so the passenger can see them. If the passenger is travelling with a companion, we ask that the companion watch over the property. [My companion was in a wheelchair behind the security rope with absolutely no way to see her things at all! ]

Due to some of the security process you might not have been aware of, the Officer in your case may have decided that it was best to have your property isolated instead of brought to you. In your situation, it appears that the Officer could have offered to bring containers that may have had phones, wallets, purses, etc. closer. It appears that we could have better communicated our concerns and given you some options.

In Orlando specifically I was isolated in what was basically a glass box , and then left there. It was really a bad experience. There was no where closer to bring my things because they would have been in the middle of traffic, or in the box with me which wouldn't have happened. And our things weren't "isolated" they were just moved to another location that someone could have stolen them from. When I did go and get them the guy did glance over and say "is this yours?" to which I said yes and took both of our things and walked (scootered) off. He had no idea who it belonged to, or if I had permission to be taking everything there. And in that "box" if I had someone walking off with my stuff there wasn't anything I could do, security couldn't hear me and were ignoring me anyway.

So saying that is one thing, but I have a feeling that the response is going to be along the lines of "NO! Do what I tell you and you will get your stuff when we say so." That is pretty much what I got told, and have also been told other times in the past. And while you protest and ask for a supervisor etc etc your laptop and Ipod will be walking away. I predict this may be the other fall out from this new system-- more theft of property from the xray belts. Safetymom is right, the thieves are watching and there are going to be a lot of opportunities to take things as I think more TSA agents and certainly the passengers are going to be very distracted.


Oh, I also did put in my letter that TSA says to not let my bags out of my sight and then put me in that exact situation. His response was to complement me for knowing the rules.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Politely but firmly agree to be moved to another area as long as your personal items and bags accompany you. They will tell you that they need to maintain control over the items until you undergo a pat-down. Respond that that's fine, but the officer performing the pat down will have to bring your possessions along as its against TSA policy to leave your items unattended.

Where have you been??? Missed you hanging around. In any case...that would be my suggestion as well. My reply would be..'More than happy to be pat down but I must insist that I have my belongings here, where I can see them. It is, after all, against your rules to have my belongings out of my sight. Thank-you so much.'

That was going to be my answer too.

You are right, it isn't easy to get them to follow their own rules. When this happens to me, I sometimes need to ask for a supervisor. I don't go into the "penalty box" (glass booth) until my things are where I can see them. Some TSAers retaliate during the rest of the screening, so that's something to consider when you take this approach. Of couse, sometimes those scooters are dang difficult to maneuver and you run into things. KWIM

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I fly several times a week. When I'm not flying I'm in airports. I've been selected for additional screening even with my airline credentials in full view of the screeners. I don't budge until my personal items do. When I am motioned to move to a secondary area I let the screener know my items need to be brought and that I can do it or they can do it, but I'm not going until I'm following them. I'm not rude but I'm very firm and don't take a step until a screener has my stuff in hand next to me.

Unfortunately that is easier said than done. I did send a letter of complaint to TSA after our experience and got a very nice but useless response.



In Orlando specifically I was isolated in what was basically a glass box , and then left there. It was really a bad experience. There was no where closer to bring my things because they would have been in the middle of traffic, or in the box with me which wouldn't have happened. And our things weren't "isolated" they were just moved to another location that someone could have stolen them from. When I did go and get them the guy did glance over and say "is this yours?" to which I said yes and took both of our things and walked (scootered) off. He had no idea who it belonged to, or if I had permission to be taking everything there. And in that "box" if I had someone walking off with my stuff there wasn't anything I could do, security couldn't hear me and were ignoring me anyway.

So saying that is one thing, but I have a feeling that the response is going to be along the lines of "NO! Do what I tell you and you will get your stuff when we say so." That is pretty much what I got told, and have also been told other times in the past. And while you protest and ask for a supervisor etc etc your laptop and Ipod will be walking away. I predict this may be the other fall out from this new system-- more theft of property from the xray belts. Safetymom is right, the thieves are watching and there are going to be a lot of opportunities to take things as I think more TSA agents and certainly the passengers are going to be very distracted.


Oh, I also did put in my letter that TSA says to not let my bags out of my sight and then put me in that exact situation. His response was to complement me for knowing the rules.