Practical Travel Safety Issues - TSA - Selected Twice for Screening

Hi:

Can anyone tell me what place in line one has to be for extra screening? The past two times I checked in I was in-line with no one in front of me and was selected to have my bags searched and complete the extra screening process. Twice in a row? First in TLH and now again at BWI... am I doing something wrong? This only happened once before and it was about 8 months ago.

Hi:

Can anyone tell me what place in line one has to be for extra screening? The past two times I checked in I was in-line with no one in front of me and was selected to have my bags searched and complete the extra screening process. Twice in a row? First in TLH and now again at BWI... am I doing something wrong? This only happened once before and it was about 8 months ago.
Generally speaking, in DAB you have to be elderly (it helps if you're being assisted to the gate in a wheelchair), or under the age of four :D

Although I've never seen evidence of it, I've heard rumours that failing to remove all of your body piercings before screening could also subject you to additional screening :D

Deleted

I can discuss the one day that I was selected to be screened five separate times, all before boarding Delta Air Lines flights in various cities on the same itinerary, but I would rather keep that day as a distant memory. During my last screening in Kansas City, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screener actually asked if she could have some of the candy I carried with me after she already unwrapped some of it and started eating it!

What a bad day that was!

However, the new home of this thread is now the Travel Safety/Security forum, as it has nothing to do with Delta Air Lines or the SkyMiles frequent flier program.

Regards,

Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta forum

Hi:

Can anyone tell me what place in line one has to be for extra screening? The past two times I checked in I was in-line with no one in front of me and was selected to have my bags searched and complete the extra screening process. Twice in a row? First in TLH and now again at BWI... am I doing something wrong? This only happened once before and it was about 8 months ago.
You weren't SSSS'd right? The other reason would be that you were the next continuous person in line. If screeners aren't busy with alarms and SSSS, they are supposed to be busy at all times. So if they weren't doing anything and you came along, that's the reason.

The other reason would be that you were the next continuous person in line. If screeners aren't busy with alarms and SSSS, they are supposed to be busy at all times. So if they weren't doing anything and you came along, that's the reason.

Sounds like a "good" reason to can a lot of screeners.

The old gate rapes were easy to beat, and various techniques were legendary here on FT a while back. These days, a technique I use is to pick a line I suspect will have a lot of secondaries going on. I know it goes against the grain of every FT's mindset, but it works. Just pick the line with the young family, the wheelchair-bound person, or someone overflowing with jewelry or someone who you just know will set off the metal detector.

Now, if you're a victim, make sure you insist on keeping all of your stuff in your sight at all times, require anyone who touches the inside of your bags or you -- with dignity & respect of course -- to change gloves, and demand compliance with the Privacy Act if they assume they can copy down your personal information without your permission.

Don't roll -- push back.

If screeners aren't busy with alarms and SSSS, they are supposed to be busy at all times.

This must be the reason they are checking BPs three times at the same security checkpoint now...something to look busy with!

At MIA the TSA screener actually stopped me heading to Term A from Term C to check BP....what nonsense!

This must be the reason they are checking BPs three times at the same security checkpoint now...something to look busy with!

At MIA the TSA screener actually stopped me heading to Term A from Term C to check BP....what nonsense!
I don't know what their doing down there. There is no reason to stop you while your walking between terminals. Checking the BP a couple of times I would bet would be to make sure a SSSS doesn't somehow get through without secondary. It reduces gate calls and keeps everybody on their toes. If somebody is missing them, they'll be able to find out who it is. But, that's my opinion.

I don't know what their doing down there. There is no reason to stop you while your walking between terminals.

Took me by surprise - I at first thought he was talking to the folks exiting the screening area for A, but after he shouted at me as I passed by I just stopped at looked at him in amazement. My wife with with me so I didn't ask for a supervisor, but he had a bad attitude as well!

Took me by surprise - I at first thought he was talking to the folks exiting the screening area for A, but after he shouted at me as I passed by I just stopped at looked at him in amazement. My wife with with me so I didn't ask for a supervisor, but he had a bad attitude as well!
Sounds like a whacky screener to me. Was a supervisor even near him? I would question why he was doing that next time you go through, after your through security. Or even ask at another terminal if they know why. If you ever get an answer please let us know, I'd be curious as to what it was. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Sounds like a "good" reason to can a lot of screeners.
What is a good reason to can screeners? The fact they they pulled someone for secondary? Or the fact that they weren't busy at that particular time?

What is a good reason to can screeners? The fact they they pulled someone for secondary? Or the fact that they weren't busy at that particular time?Yeah, fire the screeners for not having a backed-up line at quiet times. Then we can all b**** about why there aren't enough screeners at busy times :rolleyes: :p

What is a good reason to can screeners? The fact they they pulled someone for secondary? Or the fact that they weren't busy at that particular time?

Re. Question 2. Not that.
Re. Question 3. Not that.

Re. Question 1. If an organization's employees feel a need to "look busy" or "create busywork" -- and then go about doing so with such nonsense as "continuous (secondary) screening" and more -- the organization (and its overseers) ought to consider streamlining or alternative strategies -- including eliminating full-time screener positions.

Yeah, fire the screeners for not having a backed-up line at quiet times. Then we can all b**** about why there aren't enough screeners at busy times :rolleyes: :p

With information technology that the private sector routinely uses, TSA should be able to check schedules and passenger loads to efficiently staff checkpoints. This is not rocket science.

With information technology that the private sector routinely uses, TSA should be able to check schedules and passenger loads to efficiently staff checkpoints. This is not rocket science.

^^

With information technology that the private sector routinely uses, TSA should be able to check schedules and passenger loads to efficiently staff checkpoints. This is not rocket science.
You would think that wouldn't you? But here, the guy doing the schedules is one of "the boys". He really has no clue what he is doing. The airlines give their flight information to the terminal managers every week. They know when the busy times are going to be for the most part. But our scheduler doesn't use that information for staffing. Not sure what system he uses if he even uses one. ANd then there's the fact that our airport is understaffed by 400 screeners. You would think they would allocate what we have better than they do.

The folks in charge (if there is anyone in charge) at the TSA have no clue about operational effeciency. Ever notice that every airport has a different complaint form...why didn't the "national" office create one form, and distribute to every airport instead of paying someone at each airport to create what they think is a proper form?