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Labels: Gripes and Grins
posted by Glen at
8:05 AM
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28 Comments:
I appreciate the difficult job that the TSA does in keeping us safe on the airlines. My family and I flew out of DFW to Columbia, SC and we went right through security checkpoints without any problems. But when we went through security at Columbia airport to go back to DFW, we had to dispose of several items (body lotion, hair spray, and a few other cosmetic items) that were properly stored in required zip-lock baggies per FDA regulations. Here is a concern that I would like to address. If these items were allowed at DFW’s security point, why were they not allowed at the Columbia (CAE) checkpoint? I would have thought that the TSA would have some consistency in their security checkpoints. Would this not be something that all employees are trained in regardless of the size of the airport? It’s frustrating to passengers when one airport allows certain items through check points and another airport does not. I would appreciate if you could clarify this situation for me so that I could be informed for future flights.
Again, let me say that I appreciate the hard work that the TSA does in keeping us safe.
Respectfully,
Laurencio Arroyo
mrla@dishmail.net
March 22, 2008 7:42 AM
I flew through Love Field recently, and I had a quite good experience over all. The only thing I noticed was that the TSA people in the security lines didn't have quart sized plastic bags for people who had forgotten about liquids they had in their carry ons. If they did have them, they weren't apparent at all. I've seen TSA people at other air ports offer people waiting in the security lines plastic bags and I feel like it was helpful.
March 22, 2008 5:06 PM
Plastic bags are not provided for by the government. At many airports screeners and supervisors are paying for these items themselves, and at some airports perhaps they've been told not to. At any case, the quart size zip top bag is the passangers responsibility. As for the liquids getting thru one airport and not another.. you got lucky at one.
March 24, 2008 10:38 AM
RE: I flew through Love Field recently, and I had a quite good experience over all. The only thing I noticed was that the TSA people in the security lines didn't have quart sized plastic bags for people who had forgotten about liquids they had in their carry ons. If they did have them, they weren't apparent at all. I've seen TSA people at other air ports offer people waiting in the security lines plastic bags and I feel like it was helpful.
I flew out of Love recently and although I brought my bag from home with my stuff in it, I noticed both bags and foot thingies in little baskets at the checkpoint.
March 24, 2008 11:45 AM
I'm glad this blog exists and I feel the TSA is genuinely making an effort to improve themselves and the experience of passengers. Unfortunately it seems to be stuck at the top for the moment. The day-to-day TSA screeners, the ones passengers have experiences with, just don't seem as well-trained or motivated as the higher-ups who put together this blog.
On that note, what is the policy regarding laptops in bags? I recall earlier that the TSA did away with that policy and I've still had to go through with it every time I've flown, at Love Field and elsewhere. No complaints really, just wondering about the consistency and how long it takes for new rules to filter down.
Also, passengers are already pretty tense when flying anyway which is a function of new security measures, but also of more people flying and of course the airlines don't do much to help. Because of this, people usually want to have as little dealing with the TSA as possible and while I imagine most would have no problem, time allowing of course, to talk to a TSA supervisor, the possibility of being tagged as "suspicious" or put on the "behavioral observation police" watch list or something and risking some kind of extra background check that reveals that their great-great-uncle's third cousin twice removed once had tea with the Ayatollah's great-great-mother-in-law is just too much extra stuff to deal with when they're just hoping to catch their plane on time.
March 24, 2008 7:48 PM
It disgusts me to see these comments regarding security and the supposedly uneducated screeners. There is quite a bit of educated personnel within our ranks from the lowest end (which is a screener) to upper management, but to assume we are all uneducated is quite ignorant. The majority of us have degrees in various subjects or we come highly decorated from various branches of the Armed Forces (you know those people who fight for our freedom), we chose this agency to assist any way we can in ensuring the American public a safe passage. We are targeted on a daily basis from passengers and the media; put yourself in our shoes just for a moment and imagine screening up to 15,000 people and that is just on your shift (which is 8 hours)daily. Can you fathom that? There is 15,000 people coming through your area and you have to explain everything to divest, declare,conduct bag checks, hand wands, full body pat-downs and etc, for eight hours. Are you gong to make everyone happy? The answer is no, because most people come in the airports already upset about the process either something happened to them (once) or they heard various things from co-workers or friends and they are determined not to be happy about any part of the process. We have taken over document checking and identification which we provide 100% better than private companies; we also are conducting Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques, which if you read the TSA website have resulted in the capturing of known felons, persons that are trying to deceive the U.S govt with fraudulent documents and etc. In conclusion, we(screeners) are all human to, we put on our shoes one at a time just the same as you(passengers)if we could all treat each other with openness and respect we would not have these problems we have to day. Have a great day or evening.
CD (IAH)
March 27, 2008 9:22 PM
I have been fortunate enough to fly in and out of Love Field several times over the past year. I must say that the TSA agents assigned to Love are genuinely good at their job.
I have not had any problems with them at all. Every agent I have dealt with has been courteous and considerate. I think that the TSA staff at Love should be modelled in other airports.
Everyone understands the need for security in this day and age, however, there is not a single reason in the world to be rude about it.
March 30, 2008 8:02 AM
I worked at love field for three years. In that time, I have seen nothing but disrespectful, rude behavior from TSA. I know that most of them are in it for the money and benifits; to cite an example I am able to tell you what they make per hour as well as the fact that they make time and a fourth on sundays and I wasn't even close with them. I also had the occasion to run into them inside my place of business. Despite the fact that I was a bartender, they would ignore the to-go station and insist on being served by me. When I would proceed to redirect them back to the to go station they would make imflamitory remarks and comment on the fact that they shouldn't have to wait in line. This was not an isolated incident. ALso in the three years I worked at this job, I never met one person who didn't sigh when they got seated a TSA agent. They were demanding and rude; they also didn't tip despite the discount they recieved. Luckily working at the bar, I had little occasion to serve them being as it wasn't allowed for them to sit there. On occasion they would try and get extremely agitated when they learned of the policy. They also seemed to move increasingly slow,(in the course of their screening duties) if they didn't like a person. One young man who worked inside the airport was subjected to additional screening every time he passed through security because he had gotton in a fight with a particular TSA agent outside of the security checkpoint. I believe the arguement was about who was in the restroom first and who would have to wait for the next available stall. In my vast experience, TSA are just glorified hall monitors. You know what they say about giving someone just a little power...
March 30, 2008 10:38 AM
generally, I think the screeners at DAL do a great job. I am glad they are there, and I am glad they are looking out for our safety.
My only comment is that there are 6 lines downstairs and 2 upstairs, but never seem to be more than 4 total open at a time. Why? Flying thru DAL during spring break, the lines were long...
As for flight crews cutting to the front of the line, why don't they have to get there an hour before flight times just like the rest of us. I know they spend a lot of time on the planes, in the airports, etc., but so do the rest of us and we aren't getting paid to be there (just the opposite).
Of course, if TSA had all the lines open (think Friday afternoon during Christmas, Thanksgiving or spring break) instead of just half of them, then it wouldn't make a difference if crews got to go to the front of the line.
March 30, 2008 11:05 AM
TO CD from IAH,
I fly every week. I've been in most US airports and several foreign ports as well. While I am glad to see you hold your post in high regards, your attitude and inflection give away your true agenda. Though there are "quite a bit" of educated employees in the TSA ranks these positions are out flanked almost 4 to 1 with the masses of GED holding foot soldiers. Look it up. Yes, I agree you have a almost thankless job and it is one that helps secure our great nation. Yes, I do not envy your choice to be a public servant and working for our government that is what you are, a public servant. But as I pointed out it was YOUR CHOICE. If you can't take the pressure please do yourself and the traveling public to whom you serve a favor and CHOOSE another career. Quit playing the disgruntled employee who terrorizes the people you were hired to protect and find a job that will make you happy.
March 30, 2008 11:54 AM
For starters, I always get searched no matter what. I carry a camcorder, lavlier microphones, a tripod and tapes. It never ceases to amaze me that my bag is checked each and every time. During the search I usually have to insist on carefully opening my own bags. I've had items handled improperly in the past.
I also usually get scolded for not taking everything out of my bags before putting them through the metal detector. There isn't enough time to take everything out and then reassmeble eveything. Give me a break.
My only other choice is to check the bag and risk losing the contents or even worse having TSA handlers go through my delicate electronics without me present. When you guys are given the authority to check my belongings, please be careful and respectful you don't have the authority to manhandle and break my belongings.
March 30, 2008 5:50 PM
CD (IAH) said:
"We are targeted on a daily basis from passengers and the media; put yourself in our shoes just for a moment and imagine screening up to 15,000 people and that is just on your shift (which is 8 hours)daily. Can you fathom that? There is 15,000 people coming through your area and you have to explain everything to divest, declare,conduct bag checks, hand wands, full body pat-downs and etc, for eight hours."
We are going afield here, but at least we are still in Texas.
I question your math as to your comment that "there is (sic) 15,000people coming through your area" in an 8 hour shift.
I have looked at the numbers for IAH and taking out arriving passengers and connecting passengers (who are not screened unless connecting from international to domestic), the total number of passengers for the whole airport is approximately 30,000 for the whole day. There are checkpoints in Terminals A, B and E and two separate checkpoints for each of Terminals C and E. That makes seven different areas. Are you confident about your number?
March 30, 2008 7:22 PM
As a first time passenger since 9-11, I fly private plane most of the time, I found things not as bad as I had been told. Only problem was my lap top, at MAF I put it in to a box by its self opened the case and all was fine. On return out of Love Field I did the same thing and boy was that ever the wrong thing to do. I was sure that I looked around for instructions but found none, would of been nice to know ahead of time
March 30, 2008 9:36 PM
I have been fortunate enough to fly in and out of Love Field several times over the past year. I must say that the TSA agents assigned to Love are genuinely good at their job.
"I have not had any problems with them at all. Every agent I have dealt with has been courteous and considerate. I think that the TSA staff at Love should be modelled in other airports.
Everyone understands the need for security in this day and age, however, there is not a single reason in the world to be rude about it."
I could not have said it any better well said and True
April 19, 2008 6:19 PM
On the sixth leg of a two state four city swing, I flew through Love Field on Mother's Day with my 12 year old (who looks 16 and acts 22). We have been flying togther since she was 2 and have the routine down - no liquids, shoes off, laptops out - boarding passes & ID's in hand ready for the initial review by TSA. We were DIRECTED to the "family line" behind two ladies in wheel chairs and a gentleman flying with 4 minor children (non of whom were holding on to their own boarding passes). If it weren't for one TSA agent who recognized the mismatch, my daughter and I would still be in line behind those nice people. So much for "self determination".
May 13, 2008 1:56 PM
While I appreciate the TSA and their efforts to keep airports safe, I do think we have gone a little overboard. On my recent journey through the security checkpoint at LUV and TUL, I noticed 6-8 TSA employees at each X-RAY line. There were 3 looking at the X-RAY screen, 1 checking boarding passes and 3-4 others just chatting it up at the end of the conveyor belt. I'm glad to see that the tax dollars we work so diligently for, are being thrown away by over-staffing airport security lines. Also, I would like to know the requirements and pre-reqs for obtaining such a job - 99% of the TSA employees I've encountered can't have more than a high school education. It makes me feel so much better that an uneducated, $8.00 an hour employee is protecting our National Security! Overall, I think the intentions of the TSA are good, but unfortunately, the employees are not quality and the TSA has failed to provide consistent checkpoints across the map. TSA gets two thumbs down and an F in my book! (P.S. The shoe thing is ridiculous - I saw the picture on the front page, and who cares if a guy is hiding $40k in his shoe - He's probably hiding it from the gov't so they can't tax it to create some other worthless agency!)
May 19, 2008 11:43 AM
Seeing TSO's stand around isn't as common at the larger, busier airports but even those have down time. The trouble with staffing is that airlines can and do change their flight schedules continually causing either over staffing or understaffing unless we get our schedules changed as well. Also BDO's wear the same uniform as TSO's but do not screen passengers or bags. Having a couple of BDO's standing around doing their jobs which have been talked about on this blog, makes it look like TSO's need to get busy running more screening lanes. But that just isn't how it works.
Also, we make more than 8 dollars an hour and most of us have either college degrees, military training and service, or police training and service. Those things aren't required to be a TSO, but most of us have one or more anyway.
May 20, 2008 5:07 PM
I recently traveled from DFW to ATL to MIA. I can honestly say that no matter how polite I was, the TSO was rude. The problem is, for every polite TSO that cares about their job and isn't a complete idiot/jerk, there are about six others making you look bad. I'm glad you have this blog because this saves me some letter writing time. There has to be some accountability for the way TSOs behave. There is no job that is without accountability. And whoever made the statement about having to guide over 15K people through security per day-that is no excuse for a negative attitude and poor customer service. As an educator, I have to have the same energy in my last class as I do in my first. No excuses. I'm employed and that goes with the territory. If you don't like your job and if it sucks, you're not being held captive-do something else. If you can't enjoy what you do, and if you can't have a better attitude, I really don't want to deal with you. I should be able to ask questions if I'm confused about something, and get them answered without having to deal with some kid who's in a bad mood. If TSOs are educated and make more than $8 an hour, I have YET to see one act like it. As a PAYING airline customer, I expect to be treated well during my entire flying experience.
May 22, 2008 3:16 PM
I am an expert traveler and the new system does not expedite the process for expert travelers. I have observed that I typically can get through the process quicker by going through casual versus expert. In my observation, more travelers are going through expert lanes (even though they are not even close to being experts). In addition, the lane is penalized by having only one station opened for scanning. The casual traveler typically has two.
Please ditch the proces....it's not working.
June 5, 2008 9:51 PM
thank you houston hobbie airport for putting me in your storeage room for a privite screening. IT was fun reading all your importent things on the wall and look at the dif forms u use. Thanks for the drink of water after u took mine. If you fly out off hobbie ask for a privite just for the room.
June 12, 2008 8:25 PM
I travel weekly through Dallas Love Field. I am very disappointed in the new security screening process. The three different lines (expert, family, etc) do not speed up the process. In fact, it now takes 10-15 minutes LONGER for me to go through security than it did before. Please revert back to the old way!!!
June 16, 2008 2:56 PM
I travel to Love Field every week. The three lines (expert, casual, family) do not speed up the process. Please revert back the old way of screening.
June 16, 2008 4:37 PM
My last few trips through Love field security lines have been a frustrating experience. The 3 lanes (expert, casual, and family) seem like a good idea in theory, but are not working! Last summer, even though the lines were long, they moved quickly. Since the new system has been put into place, the lines crawl. Please increase the number of employees checking IDs and the number of lanes available to the expert flyers so we can get through quicker! I have seen people get through the casual lane quicker than those of us in the Expert lane.
June 18, 2008 8:08 AM
I fly DAL almost every week. The new 3 line system slows travel not speeds it up. It takes 5 - 10 minutes longer to get through. Please return to the old process.
June 20, 2008 8:50 PM
I was heartened to find in Terminal D you can buy a brand of water other than the pervasive aquafina...there's a Mart that sells large bottles of Ethos water.
There should be a chance to buy something besides Aquafina and Dasani...
June 21, 2008 2:39 PM
In going through security at Dallas Love Field this week, we were behind an elderly couple who clearly did not understand the process of getting through the checkpoint. What upset me about watching this elderly man and woman attempt to properly get through their screening was a lack of effort on any TSA employee's part to assist them. The gentleman at the pass through point only kept telling them to please step back, empty everything from your pockets, remove anything metal that could be setting off the screening machine. Then everyone would sit and wait and watch these people try to figure out what it was they needed to do. At one point, the elderly woman pulled a pen out of her pocket. The screener only said, I doubt a pen would be setting this off. And she continued to search her pockets some more.
Elderly people sometimes need a little extra assistance and it broke my heart that it took 10 minutes of waiting and watching and frustration before a TSA employee finally stepped up and asked that the two step aside.
It would be my recommendation that TSA staff be trained to recognize that at times there will be certain individuals who might need some extra help in figuring out exactly what it is they need to do to successfully maneuver themselves through the security checkpoints. The elderly population is one such group who might need help in this regard more so than the average joe. To sit there and act so robotic as to say the same thing over and over and watch as someone clearly struggles with the process is difficult to comprehend. Can we not think beyond the points listed in a manual? At the same time, such scenarios hold up everyone behind that point and then pretty soon everyone is frustrated.
There should be a separate line where anyone who appears to be having some difficulty in understanding what to do can be pulled into by a designated TSA employee and given a little extra assistance and care. If the gentleman who finally did show up to help had not done so when he did, I wonder how long it would have taken before this couple would have removed every single item from their pockets, etc. before the alarm would no longer go off.
At some point, a little common sense and some common courtesy needs to be added to the mix. There have got to be better ways to get the process of moving people beyond security running a bit more smoothly and that can adjust based on the needs of the population being served at any given moment.
Thank you.
June 25, 2008 2:25 PM
I was flying Southwest Airlines from DAL to CRP and back again. I want to give praise for the TSA security checkpoint at Corpus Christie Airport and specifically agent 52606 who was very thorough in observing people's ID's and truly comparing the picture ID's to the person in front of him. I often feel that the tech making the checks don't actually look at the individual. This may be the new ID policy but he also looked at all the embedded codes in the ID's to make sure that the ID was authentic and I've never seen that before. I was impressed with everyone.
July 1, 2008 11:29 AM
Here's a tip -- just because you're an expert traveler doesn't mean you have to wait in the expert line. Look at the various lines and choose the one that's shortest -- it's simple. Chicago Midway airport also put this black diamond system into place, and I usually go in the casual traveler line, even though I've been traveling at least monthly for the last 10 years. The line moves much faster, and all you arrogant, pushy folks are in the expert line. Works perfectly from my perspective.
July 22, 2008 1:59 PM
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