Why does the TSA assume you're a moron?

[peemagg]

The last time we flew the TSA agent was totally surprised how fast and ready we were.

We are 2 adults. I travel with my scooter, all the equipment needed for that, and other medical things I need. We usually have 2 personal items, 2 carry-ons and the bag or 2 needed for my medical equipment. We got to the line (of course I have to go through the pat down because of the scooter and other issues). We had our coats off and packed away, our shoes off and also packed away, and our baggies out. The TSA agent commented that with all that stuff they were surprised how fast we could get through. She even said she wished others were as prepared.

 

[duffy]

Be very careful thinking this when you are going thru MCO. A couple years back I was flying with my sis, her hubby, and their 3 kids. We were put into seperate lines and me, sis, and her youngest made it thur way ahead of the rest of the gang. TSA would not let us wait for them, and in fact forced us to get on the shuttle to the other part of the airport. We tried to explain we were waiting for the rest of our family, and they just told us we had no choice, we had to board the shuttle.

We were happy we had the youngest with us, as my brother in law can be a bit scatter-brained, and the youngest would have not liked being seperated from her mom. But I still think it wrong that they pretty much forced marched us onto the next shuttle.

Moral of the story is, stick together like glue!

Now I'm picturing a scene like those of Nazi Germany, forcing families apart with guards carrying machine guns!!

Seriously, they would have to use physical force to separate me from my children, complete with pushing and shoving. I am not getting on a shuttle without my children. Period. Try to separate us, and face a kidnapping charge.

 

[gibsontrio]

I actually LOVE the family line! I flew by myself with my 3 month old,5 yr old, and 7 yr old (i'm crazy I know) over Christmas and there was a HUGE line for experienced travelers, but no one in the family line. I felt almost guilty when I was through the line before the next person through the experienced line.
I am not by any means an frequent flyer, but I had 2 roll bags, a diaper bag, back pack, purse, 3 jackets, and a stroller (with a baby I had to fold up the stoller and hold the baby all at the same time) Through the X ray machine in 5 minutes. I like that fact that I can take my time through the family lane, but I'm usually faster than those solo travelers, even with 3 kiddos. And I'd like to add I follow the golden rule of being at the airport 2 hrs prior to flight so I'm not one of those people in line huffing and puffing to get to my gate.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Now I'm picturing a scene like those of Nazi Germany, forcing families apart with guards carrying machine guns!!

Seriously, they would have to use physical force to separate me from my children, complete with pushing and shoving. I am not getting on a shuttle without my children. Period. Try to separate us, and face a kidnapping charge.

Yes, exactly. I'm not completely understanding some of these things. This is still a free country the last time I checked. Unfortunately, people are so hung up on authority and fail to speak up for themselves.
I would *NOT* allow TSA to keep my children on the other side of security without me. I would kindly say to the poor elderly woman who they were trying to shove through, "excuse me miss, but my children are on the other side and I need to go through first." Any one word trying to dissuade me and there would be a very large scene. *NO ONE* has the right to separate my children from me. I could care less if they are visible from the other side, they are my children and I say what goes, not you. People need to quit being mousy and caving to "authority" when it's misused. Stand up for yourself for pity sakes! There's no way I would have gotten on a shuttle without the rest of my family either. Practice saying, "No. I understand you want me to board the shuttle but I will not do so without my other children and family." "Miss, you need to board the shuttle now!" "NO! I understand you want me to board the shuttle but I will not do so without my other children and family." How hard is that?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

THIS!

I was so annoyed at this adult child and her mother who came pushing and begging their way through the line at MCO on Saturday morning at 9:40 saying "Our plane is at 10! Can we please go ahead?"

Realizing we had no option short of listening to them whine, the person behind me and I let them through with a very polite reminder that this is why you're supposed to be at the airport at least 2 hours early. It was VERY polite, and not rude at all. The adult child turned around and said "What? What do you mean be here THAT early? What are we supposed to do?"

The person behind me and I just sighed and shrugged. I wanted to say "Um, GO THROUGH SECURITY?" but didn't.

Some people just think the world revolves around them.

You need to develop a tougher skin. I won't let them in front of me. Failure to plan on your part is not a crisis on mine and I won't be late for my plane due to your failure (and that's what I say)

And you see why? This "mom" has been playing this trick for a while. That's why the "adult child" said "What?" They see no reason to arrive early, they have always found suckers like you to help them out. Get them behind some business travelers and watch them whine and squirm and then they will learn!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was so annoyed at this adult child and her mother who came pushing and begging their way through the line at MCO on Saturday morning at 9:40 saying "Our plane is at 10! Can we please go ahead?"

You can console yourself with the thought that if they were just going through security at 9:40 for a flight leaving at 10, that there is no way they made this flight (unless this was a very tiny airport). By that point, their flight should already have boarded and been preparing to leave the gate.

 

[Ella's Mom]

I agree with the OP. I have been stuck in the family line and it is awful. Last February, we waited in that line forever, while the other security lines moved right along. The family line is a great idea but that doesn't mean every family needs to get put in it.

 

[eliza61]

We were flying home from Orlando on Friday 12/31. We had both kids, one with a stroller. The TSA put us in the family line (God help me!) where all of the foolish people who have no clue about flying go! Woman and her mother with 2 babies in double stroller loaded to the gills, carseats, and tons of crap. Never made an effort to get anything ready before reaching the security scanning belt--UGH!

We had our shoes and coats off, stroller folded, and laptops out of the cases and proceeded to stand there for 10 minutes while they got their %*#@ together and emptied everything. Then after security they were going to unload everything from the bins one at a time and slowly secure everything back in the stroller while standing at the end of the security scanner belt! I finally had enough and told them to get out of everybody's way (to which DH poked me in the back to shut up!).

Did we get put in that line because we had our kids with us? Seriously, we are seasoned travelers and my kids have flown 10's of thousands of miles.

And they would know this how?

Seriously, first of all their job is hard enough without now having to worry about offending some one because they dare insist that they are not knowledgable.

next, sorry as a person who flies at least 3X a month, I'm going to put on my flame retardant suit and say a large majority of John q. public are some what knuckle heads when it comes to flying.

I wish I had a dollar for every man who arrives at Philadelphia airport with a sword he wants to take on the plane with him and swears it's not a weapon, it's a ceremonial sword. Oh yeah, that makes a big difference.

and by know people don't know they can't bring big 64oz of soda through security? Yet every freakin time I fly some one gets into an argument because they don't want to throw away their supersize cup of wawa coffee.

Sorry op, I have worked with the public. we are morons. My next door neighbor is a agent for US air, do you know how many times she gets cursed out because a plane is grounded due to a major blizzard. Oh year calling her a black b%$$ch is really going to make her want to help you.

I went to Vegas over the NY's holiday, a women got off the flight, proceeded to rant and rave that the airlines lost her luggage, only to have the customer service agent go out on the carosual and immediately fine the bag. Ranting and raving lunatic says "oh, I forgot I took the blue bag, I thought my bag was black".

want more proof, check out my thread about people stuffing their carryon bags until they are ready to pop and then getting mad when they are forced to actually follow the rules and check them.

Sorry Alexander,
just like at Disneyworld I see more people acting like morons than I do the cms having melt downs. Since I spend quite a bit of time at airports, I routinely see more flyers acting moronic than I do any TSA agent.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Now I'm picturing a scene like those of Nazi Germany, forcing families apart with guards carrying machine guns!!

Seriously, they would have to use physical force to separate me from my children, complete with pushing and shoving. I am not getting on a shuttle without my children. Period. Try to separate us, and face a kidnapping charge.

Yes, exactly. I'm not completely understanding some of these things. This is still a free country the last time I checked. Unfortunately, people are so hung up on authority and fail to speak up for themselves.
I would *NOT* allow TSA to keep my children on the other side of security without me. I would kindly say to the poor elderly woman who they were trying to shove through, "excuse me miss, but my children are on the other side and I need to go through first." Any one word trying to dissuade me and there would be a very large scene. *NO ONE* has the right to separate my children from me. I could care less if they are visible from the other side, they are my children and I say what goes, not you. People need to quit being mousy and caving to "authority" when it's misused. Stand up for yourself for pity sakes! There's no way I would have gotten on a shuttle without the rest of my family either. Practice saying, "No. I understand you want me to board the shuttle but I will not do so without my other children and family." "Miss, you need to board the shuttle now!" "NO! I understand you want me to board the shuttle but I will not do so without my other children and family." How hard is that?

TSA claims that they do not separate parents and kids. Are they not telling the truth?

 

[MistressMerryweather]

TSA claims that they do not separate parents and kids. Are they not telling the truth?

Apparently, according to pp's in this thread.

 

[duffy]

TSA claims that they do not separate parents and kids. Are they not telling the truth?

I can only go by what a previous poster said. And again, nobody forcibly separates me from my kid. NOBODY. Try it, and face my righteous wrath. I WILL get physical.

 

[bumbershoot]

TSA claims that they do not separate parents and kids. Are they not telling the truth?

At LAX they were just about to send me off to get an extra check, though my husband was already over in a cubicle being wanded, and they weren't listening to me say "OK but my little son is with me". They didn't, because the lady behind me told me what the problem was (I had the gall to wear a barrette, and hubby had the gall to wear shorts with a zipper in them, how dare we, LOL), but until I took out the barrette and walked through again, they were trying!

But to me that's different; I would have been walking away, with hubby not right there. As it was, he had gone through after DH and before me, and I was fine with him standing right there. I could see him, after all.

 

[prncess674]

I had the gall to wear a barrette, and hubby had the gall to wear shorts with a zipper in them, how dare we, LOL

Just to be clear, you obviously had something else on you or your husband that had metal in it. I wear a large silver cuff bracelet and big silver necklace every week and travel over 100k per year and have never set off alarms. A zipper fly or small hair clip will not set off a metal detector. You were wearing something else that set it off OR you were randomly selected, which is part of TSA protocol. Your post stinks of the same drama as the woman who claimed that her son's small pacifer clip set off the guns/alarms/dogs at ATL. If you look at the official TSA video she had on a big ole belt buckle and was full of drama and misinformation.

For all those on the DIS please realize that a zip fly is NOT going to set off the metal detector to the point of sending you to the pokey.

http://www.mybottlesup.com/2009/10/tsa-agents-took-my-son/

http://blog.tsa.gov/2009/10/response-to-tsa-agents-took-my-son.html

For those that are paranoid and freaked out and will be traveling with multiple adults send one adult thru security with 10 people between Adult 1 and Adult 2 who is with the kids. This ensures that Adult 1 is full and clear of all security issues and is free and clear to "catch" any kids who may be left alone for a micro-second while adult 2 may be caught up in any security measures.

 

[stazmatic]

I think the biggest thing is that the TSA people are busy. They are going to make assumptions and may make mistakes. It is up to you as their customer to speak up. If you think your kids can handle the expert traveler line, tell them. If your kids are being pushed through security without you - tell them. They are human and will help you, but can't be expected to read your mind.
When we go through security with our kids one adult in the front and one in the back. We have 6 kids so it can be unsettling with all of the commotion. My kids know not to go through the detector until their PARENTS tell them too, they don't listen to strangers even the TSA. Last time we flew they took apart my stroller like it was a drug raid - talk about annoying. But they are just doing their jobs. We have to do ours and protect our families.

 

[stazmatic]

Apparently, according to pp's in this thread.

I am sure TSA tries not to separate families. But they are more worried about looking for weapons, drugs, etc. then to keep track of who is related. People need to speak up right away, not wait and complain later.

 

[eliza61]

I can only go by what a previous poster said. And again, nobody forcibly separates me from my kid. NOBODY. Try it, and face my righteous wrath. I WILL get physical.

And here is exactly the reason why the TSA have such horrible jobs.

You are all ready to as you say "get physical" which I'm assuming means start a fight, (or please, tell me what else it means because I'm sure some one will post "she never said she was going to start a fight") over some thing that is probably never ever going to happen. So before you even come face to face with the agent, you're ready for a confrontation that statisically will probably never happen. What do you think the agent is going to do? snatch your kid and take off down the tarmack?

what I find hysterically funny, millions of other posters have said time and time again that they have flown without a bit of trouble, yet people are so ready to get their boxing gloves on.

Here's a suggestion, instead of going rambo, how about you politely ask to speak to a supervisor or the initial TSA agent, in Philly there are usually 2 standing at the entrance of the line who stand there and politely answer quite a number of questions and explain the situation and/or your concerns and see what happens.

**** Gasp**** OMG imagine what will happen, if the TSA agent is polite and professional!!! oh no, imagine there are 10 of 1000's of people who are flying right this seconds with kids and not a single out of the ordinary thing is happening.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Apparently, according to pp's in this thread.

Ya know what...I never would have thought it would happen to me either...but it did. Whether you choose to believe it our not is up to you.

 

[duffy]

And here is exactly the reason why the TSA have such horrible jobs.

You are all ready to as you say "get physical" which I'm assuming means start a fight, (or please, tell me what else it means because I'm sure some one will post "she never said she was going to start a fight") over some thing that is probably never ever going to happen. So before you even come face to face with the agent, you got an attitude. What do you think the agent is going to do? snatch your kid and take off down the tarmack?

what I find hysterically funny, millions of other posters have said time and time again that they have flown without a bit of trouble, yet people are so ready to get their boxing gloves on.

Here's a suggestion, instead of going rambo, how about you politely ask to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation.

I'm responding to the poster who said that her family was "pretty much forced" onto the shuttle without her kids. I'm not getting on a shuttle without my kids.

I would presume that the agent had no idea which kids belong with which adults. I would politely ask that I be allowed to take my own children with me, but if I am "pretty much forced" onto a moving vehicle without my kid, and the only way I can stop myself from being "pretty much forced" is to get physical, then I will.

Asking to speak to a supervisor will be a bit late, when I'm being whisked away on a shuttle AGAINST MY WILL, and my kid is left behind without me, or if my child is sent on the transport, and I am not allowed to go with him.

 

[distherapy]

Seeing where this thread is going, I doubt my experience will change any direction but I have to share -

My frequent flying family was asked to go to the family line at MCO. I told the woman, "we know what we're doing" envisioning a nightmare-ish longer line (when all of the lines there are already so long). She smiled and suggested it again, pointing. There was no one in it. We sailed through, faster than ever. Loved it.

Sometimes the TSA people are trying to help. Imagine that!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

My expereince... those of you who go looking for a fight will find it.... but generally if someone is standing to the side watching... there was a reason.

(ANd usually it's because in spite of the fact that EVERYONE on this board is an expert flyer.... they aren't. Honestly thier two year old "who knows what to do" probably can't lift her carry on up... and they want to put EVERYTHING in it's own personal bin etc.....Sorry, but I fly MCO a lot and there are VERY few "experts' there, but lots of "self appointed" experts. I had one woman who claimed she was an expert start screaming at me because I didn't do things her way... of course I was through, dressed and at the train before she got through doing the "expert" method LOL!)