Practical Travel Safety Issues - What do you think about SFO screening?

hey guys how are all of you!! well I work for SFO and I am just curious of what people think about the screening at SFO.....
we are not actually federal TSA but a private company that was very well trained by a mobile force of TSA screeners that were from all over usa!!!
let me know about your experience

Personally, I think thery're as bad (or good, depending on your perspective) as TSA.

SFO typically has barkers and enforces the shoe carnival. While not as bad as some other places like IAD, EWR and DEN, it's not one of my favorite places for security.

Welcome to FT!

sfo (ua) screening imho is not that bad tho they could be more attune to the "sorry, i have to go on break" attitude and making sure that the eilte line is properly staffed at key times. other than the "barkers" which just annoy me ;), but they seem to follow the sop very well-i don't take my shoes off and every time it's been only the swab (i.e. not like las :mad: ). on the rare occasion that i was ssss'd, it was quick, very professional (complete with "i need to open this, will you please watch me while i do it) and always a thank you.

Last time I went through one of the "TEAM SFO" working as a barker was actually singing. Weird for early in the AM.

yea your right about the shoes superguy whe try to get everyone to take the shoes off jejeje for some reason SFO is one of airports that really really enforce the shoe policy, we always here from the passengers "but at ??? they dont make me take off my shoes" or "my shoes dont alarm at ?? airport why do I have to take them off?? or here a good one that I personally dont get sometimes " BUT HE didnt take off his shoes why do I have to??" of course they are either seeing an employee or a person whos wearing very thin flip-flops....I just think that they are acting like children who tattle tale w/that comment!!!
thanks for your comment!!!!

hello qoalie thanks for your comments!!! well about the breaks I just could speak for my checkpoint...we sometimes have some Supervisor or leads that sometimes we start our shift and then we have to take our first break either too early or tooo late so its sometimes annoying!!! but hey we try!!!

as for the being curtious besides trying to be effieciant and good at screen our company really really enforces the "customer service policy" they really want us to be efficiant and at the same time do it with good customer service...its a was and is a big thing when we got trained.
thanks again!!!

SFO really, really, really wants my shoes almost everytime, though most of the other airports don't want it most of the time.

But, they were polite about it each and every time. So, it's fine with me if they ask for them.

yea your right about the shoes superguy whe try to get everyone to take the shoes off jejeje for some reason SFO is one of airports that really really enforce the shoe policy...What does "enforce the shoe policy" mean? I thought off OR a swipe IS the policy?

OT - Why does SFO use contractors anyway?

What does "enforce the shoe policy" mean? I thought off OR a swipe IS the policy?

OT - Why does SFO use contractors anyway?

it is off or te swipe policy!!! but its easier for the passengers to just take them off cuz then they get into the secendary line and have to wait sometimes a while until one of us to be free to swipe the shoes!!!

yea your right about the shoes superguy whe try to get everyone to take the shoes off jejeje for some reason SFO is one of airports that really really enforce the shoe policyNo, that's the problem; you are not enforcing the shoe policy. The shoe policy says that if the shoes are non-profile, no further screening is required. So SFO is going beyond the SOP, which is prohibited.

as for the being curtious besides trying to be effieciant and good at screen our company really really enforces the "customer service policy" they really want us to be efficiant and at the same time do it with good customer service...its a was and is a big thing when we got trained.But yet you are not allowed to answer questions at the exits to the secure area? Don't see how this is very "curtious" (sic).

No, that's the problem; you are not enforcing the shoe policy. The shoe policy says that if the shoes are non-profile, no further screening is required. So SFO is going beyond the SOP, which is prohibited.

But yet you are not allowed to answer questions at the exits to the secure area? Don't see how this is very "curtious" (sic).

exactly (regarding exiting the secure area) when we are posted at the exit our sole purpuse there is to make sure nobody enters the secure area and not be the information desk, we were trained that any little thing such as answering questions can distract us!!! we are not even allowed to have conversations with our own screeners I know its not curtious but it is to ensure the saftey of the secure area! there are people who try to get in whether its because they cant read the huge do not enter sign or that they are so distracted that they dont see it...or its just because they are late for thier flight and they try to get in....when a flights has arrived and there is a passenger flow of people comming out the secure area it is our job to ensure that within the huge flow of people no one is trying to get in and answering a question is a distracting!!

as to the shoe policy most of us are usually good when we see a person with non-profile shoes we dont recommend them to take them off, its the profile shoes that we highly recommend off, but you are right some screener do make passenger take off all shoes weather or not they are profiled.

as to the shoe policy most of us are usually good when we see a person with non-profile shoes we dont recommend them to take them off, its the profile shoes that we highly recommend off, but you are right some screener do make passenger take off all shoes weather or not they are profiled.


What are profile shoes in your opinion?

And why don't employees have to take shoes off?

I generally find that T1 is alright in terms of policy but they do make you do a swab instead of not doing anything to non-profile shoes.

Only flown out of SFO 4 times - 2 intl SQ and 2 domestic UA. Never had any issues with the security that I remember. Then again, I have not had any bad experiences at BOS, DTW, EWR, JFK, IAD or RDU either. I must have really low expectations of US airport security to be satisfied this easily. :D

From what I have observed, Team SFO folks are very polite. I routinely get SSSS (due to last minute international bookings) and checking of bags and wanding is done quickly in professional manner. And at the end I usually get "Thanks for your co-operation/Sorry for the trouble, have a nice flight".

My laptop has been swabbed here more than other airports. Thrice it was turned on and off.

Team SFO employees in general seem to be proud of the whole "TEAM SFO" thing (in a good way). And any HR folks will tell you if you are proud of what you are doing you will be happy and treat others well - so that reflects in SFO I think.

On a sour note, "Remove the shoes" guys are really loud on checkpoints to UA gates. Very irrirating when you are flying to Hawaii on morning departures :)

I hate the remove the shoes bs at SFO -- I've worn shoes and sandals that are perfectly fine at other airports and they always make me take off my shoes at SFO.

I've also found that the people who man the front of the line (checking id and boarding passes) can either be very nice or downright obnoxious. And when I complain, they consistently tell me that they're just following AA's rules. Then I go to AA and they say that the people checking id/bp are part of Team SFO. Honestly, it's too tiring and time-consuming to figure it out, but I hate the finger pointing and "blaming the other" game.

I have had generally good experiences at the UA elite line and international. The lines move with good pace. I share the shoe frustration, but I never pass through with (tied) laces so it is manageable. Have been SSSS'd several times, and I felt the team was professional. As airports go, I think the SFO group do a great job.

[/QUOTE]I've also found that the people who man the front of the line (checking id and boarding passes) can either be very nice or downright obnoxious. And when I complain, they consistently tell me that they're just following AA's rules. Then I go to AA and they say that the people checking id/bp are part of Team SFO. Honestly, it's too tiring and time-consuming to figure it out, but I hate the finger pointing and "blaming the other" game.[/QUOTE]


Fyi the ticket boarding passes and Id checkers are not part of TEAM SFO they are not even screeners they are a private company of SFO....unless they are wearing the TEAM SFO uniform they are not us!!

Fyi the ticket boarding passes and Id checkers are not part of TEAM SFO they are not even screeners they are a private company of SFO....unless they are wearing the TEAM SFO uniform they are not us!!

Well, AA says the checkers are not their employees. You say they're not Team SFO employees. Do you mean to tell me that there is another company involved? Dear Lord, how many different companies does it take to get somebody on a plane at SFO? :eek:

Well, AA says the checkers are not their employees. You say they're not Team SFO employees. Do you mean to tell me that there is another company involved? Dear Lord, how many different companies does it take to get somebody on a plane at SFO? :eek:

how many jejeje I belive just 2 us TEAM SFO and the ticket checkers

nop they are not TEAM SFO, our jobs as screener start at the loading point in front of the wtmd and end when you leave the checkpoint they are a company called primeflight (in domestic) who is also incharge of the wheelchairing of the passengers and I belive argenbrite in INTL ...

What are profile shoes in your opinion?

And why don't employees have to take shoes off?

I generally find that T1 is alright in terms of policy but they do make you do a swab instead of not doing anything to non-profile shoes.


let me put it this way when there is a huge line at the security and passengers are in a hurry to get to thier flight...us screener or employees are here to help you get through the line quickly..not waiting in line and not taking off our shoes (which we would have to because most of us were profiled shoes) or getting them swipe would take longer therefore to open up a line to get the passenger screened would take longer, passengers would get upset ect ect ect!! thats one of the reasons why we are exempt same for pilots and flight attendants if they are not ready for thier flight your flight is not leaving on time!!

let me put it this way when there is a huge line at the security and passengers are in a hurry to get to thier flight...us screener or employees are here to help you get through the line quickly..not waiting in line and not taking off our shoes (which we would have to because most of us were profiled shoes) or getting them swipe would take longer therefore to open up a line to get the passenger screened would take longer, passengers would get upset ect ect ect!! thats one of the reasons why we are exempt same for pilots and flight attendants if they are not ready for thier flight your flight is not leaving on time!!

Sorry, the same standards that apply to crew and employees should apply to passengers too.

Having so many exemptions simply underscores what a pathetic joke the shoe carnival really is.

And why don't employees have to take shoes off?

The government feels that if you pass a background check, you would never stuff a bomb into your shoes.

Sorry, the same standards that apply to crew and employees should apply to passengers too.

Having so many exemptions simply underscores what a pathetic joke the shoe carnival really is.


^ ^ ^

Well, AA says the checkers are not their employees. You say they're not Team SFO employees. Do you mean to tell me that there is another company involved? Dear Lord, how many different companies does it take to get somebody on a plane at SFO? :eek:

The "Revenue Protection Army," as I call them....the people who check boarding passes and IDs, are hired by the airlines. It is the airlines' reponsibility to check the two items.

That's the rule at all airports., not just SFO.

The government feels that if you pass a background check, you would never stuff a bomb into your shoes.I've tried showing my govt. ID (for which I went through a background check) and the most I've gotten was "Oh, you're one of us" after which I was ordered to take my shoes off.

It was creepier having them think that I was "one of them" than having to take my shoes off :eek:

I've tried showing my govt. ID (for which I went through a background check) and the most I've gotten was "Oh, you're one of us" after which I was ordered to take my shoes off.

It was creepier having them think that I was "one of them" than having to take my shoes off :eek:

No, you have to have a SIDA (airport employee) badge.

There's CLEARLY a difference in a general Government ID badge and an airport employee badge. :rolleyes:

No, you have to have a SIDA (airport employee) badge.

There's CLEARLY a difference in a general Government ID badge and an airport employee badge. :rolleyes:
My point was simply that I have been through a more serious background check than any airport employee thus the "background check" as a reason for not having to take shoes off is bogus.

My point was simply that I have been through a more serious background check than any airport employee thus the "background check" as a reason for not having to take shoes off is bogus.

You can be on an official red passport, have travel orders and present your official agency ID and it still won't matter to those clowns.

Hell, you should have seen the workover one of my friends got at immigration when he came back into the country on official business with all of the above. :rolleyes:

SFO security check points.

1) Courteousness is very good overall, but I must also task the shoe carnival as probably the least professional point about SFO security.

2) Security staff need to become more aware of the international nature of SFO airport, IMHO. An example is and Itinerary from YYC-SFO-LAS. The entire itin is completed on AC/UA or Star Alliance group, therefore all points are checked through at point of departure. In YYC I get an AC (Air Canada) boarding pass for both the AC operated YYC-SFO and the UA operated SFO-IAH. As AC operates from T1 I take the train to T3 and go through the T3 security checkpoint with an AC branded BP for my UA flight. However on a few occasions this trips up the TSA and/or the BP checker as they are expecting a UA branded BP. THere are other examples with NZ, ANA, and a host of other carriers where the BP and operated carrier have different branding. It normal operations but the security people don't see it that way.

SFO security seems (slightly) less incompetent than at other airports.

The "Revenue Protection Army," as I call them....the people who check boarding passes and IDs, are hired by the airlines. It is the airlines' reponsibility to check the two items.

That's the rule at all airports., not just SFO.

So why do AA staff consistently deny that the boarding pass checkers are hired by AA? :confused: When I've complained to AA staff about how the boarding pass checkers have treated people, they consistently shrug and say "they're not employed by AA -- blame the TSA"?

So why do AA staff consistently deny that the boarding pass checkers are hired by AA? :confused: When I've complained to AA staff about how the boarding pass checkers have treated people, they consistently shrug and say "they're not employed by AA -- blame the TSA"?

Because most airlines get together and hire a contracter who hires the ticket checkers - so technically...

OT - Why does SFO use contractors anyway?

SFO is one of about five airports which are permitted to use outside contractors for the passenger screening functions. many (most?) of the screeners at SFO are not US citizens or nationals, and when everything went to TSA authority a few years ago SFO would have had no checkers (because you must be a US citizen to work for the TSA).

SFO is one of about five airports which are permitted to use outside contractors for the passenger screening functions. many (most?) of the screeners at SFO are not US citizens or nationals, and when everything went to TSA authority a few years ago SFO would have had no checkers (because you must be a US citizen to work for the TSA).

your very right.....I take it the only reason some ticket checkers have attitudes and are "mean" is because most of them were screeners who DID have the opportunity to apply but for some reason did not make it so they are now ticket checkers and wheelchair runners....

might I say that the ticket checkers I work with are very nice well to us anyway jejeje...

hey guys how are all of you!! well I work for SFO and I am just curious of what people think about the screening at SFO.....
we are not actually federal TSA but a private company that was very well trained by a mobile force of TSA screeners that were from all over usa!!!
let me know about your experience

Came thru in April in the AA elite line w/a friend-ID checker was fine, line moved along, no problems until I went thru the WTMD & turned around to speak to my friend to find she had disappeared! Turns out she had been selected for 'puffing' & while it was nice she got to keep her shoes on, those puffers aren't even CLOSE to the belt where the rest of her belonging were & definately weren't w/in her sight, especially when one considers how long the process took because the TSA person (or whomever they really work for if a private company has taken over in SFO) then stopped her before going thru the puffer for a lecture on what to expect. Had I not been there to grab all of her things & keep control of them, they would have been @ the mercy of any & all sticky fingers w/in reach. She doesn't travel that frequently & has no idea how easily things can & do disappear from the checkpoint.

While it's great to see the puffers being used, even if only for select passengers, better thought needs to be given to the passengers belongings while doing thru this process.

Had I not been there to grab all of her things & keep control of them, they would have been @ the mercy of any & all sticky fingers w/in reach. She doesn't travel that frequently & has no idea how easily things can & do disappear from the checkpoint.

While it's great to see the puffers being used, even if only for select passengers, better thought needs to be given to the passengers belongings while doing thru this process.

I always insist on my belongings being within my sight when being screened, and that includes the puffers.

I came through SFO last month and never took off my shoes - I refused. They did the swipe (despite being low profile), but overall I was on my way in under 2 minutes.

I always insist on my belongings being within my sight when being screened, and that includes the puffers.

Not @ this puffer you won't-they could very easily fit another screening lane in the amount of room between the puffer & the lane we were in, plus they had the puffer lane walled off. My friend doesn't travel that much & didn't make so much of a peep when she was 'selected' otherwise I wouldn't have been so surprised when I turned around & she was gone. But then again, that's probably why they picked her-she had a 'deer in the headlights' look the whole time (kept asking me if it was 'ok' for her to be in that line) & I'm sure she was pegged as someone who wouldn't agrue about not being able to see her belongings, etc.

Not @ this puffer you won't-they could very easily fit another screening lane in the amount of room between the puffer & the lane we were in, plus they had the puffer lane walled off. My friend doesn't travel that much & didn't make so much of a peep when she was 'selected' otherwise I wouldn't have been so surprised when I turned around & she was gone. But then again, that's probably why they picked her-she had a 'deer in the headlights' look the whole time (kept asking me if it was 'ok' for her to be in that line) & I'm sure she was pegged as someone who wouldn't agrue about not being able to see her belongings, etc.

Request that the screener carry your stuff to the other side of the puffer.

Since the exit doors to the puffer are clear plastic, you can watch your stuff while being puffed. @:-)

I think the screening at SFO is a joke, and I've made several contacts with customer service managers at Covenant regarding this. To their credit, the are nice and say that they will effect change 'on the line' but I don't think the message is getting through.

My general complaints are:

1. Carnival barkers saying 'all shoes must come off'. Clear violation of policy. I take names and report them.

2. The Shoe Carnival in general. It's a complete joke. Complaints are filed each time I'm puffed or swabbed when wearing non-profile shoes.

3. Location of the Puffer at the AA gates. It's quite out of view of your belongings. When I'm sent there every visit (due to the Shoe Carnival), my items are out of my view while I'm in the puffer. I refuse to enter until they have brought my items in view through the clear doors. This causes issues with a screener about half of the time.

I fly in to OAK much more frequently, and find that they are 1000x better at following policy.

Came thru in April in the AA elite line w/a friend-ID checker was fine, line moved along, no problems until I went thru the WTMD & turned around to speak to my friend to find she had disappeared! Turns out she had been selected for 'puffing' & while it was nice she got to keep her shoes on, those puffers aren't even CLOSE to the belt where the rest of her belonging were & definately weren't w/in her sight, especially when one considers how long the process took because the TSA person (or whomever they really work for if a private company has taken over in SFO) then stopped her before going thru the puffer for a lecture on what to expect. Had I not been there to grab all of her things & keep control of them, they would have been @ the mercy of any & all sticky fingers w/in reach. She doesn't travel that frequently & has no idea how easily things can & do disappear from the checkpoint.

While it's great to see the puffers being used, even if only for select passengers, better thought needs to be given to the passengers belongings while doing thru this process.

yes you are correct the person at the puffer should have gotten control of her items..and not let them go until she was clear.

how we do it at my checkpoint at t1 is that we usually dont put the items of the pax into the x-ray until the person is puffed.....then if all clear they are on thier way...

however if she was "SSSS" secondary screene then the same procedure would apply but then she would be in the coral waiting for screening and her bags should of been still in plain sight of her in brown bins.

I always insist on my belongings being within my sight when being screened, and that includes the puffers.

your absoultly right they should always be in your sight....thats how we do it and that how it should be at all airports.

I think the screening at SFO is a joke, and I've made several contacts with customer service managers at Covenant regarding this. To their credit, the are nice and say that they will effect change 'on the line' but I don't think the message is getting through.

My general complaints are:

1. Carnival barkers saying 'all shoes must come off'. Clear violation of policy. I take names and report them.

2. The Shoe Carnival in general. It's a complete joke. Complaints are filed each time I'm puffed or swabbed when wearing non-profile shoes.

3. Location of the Puffer at the AA gates. It's quite out of view of your belongings. When I'm sent there every visit (due to the Shoe Carnival), my items are out of my view while I'm in the puffer. I refuse to enter until they have brought my items in view through the clear doors. This causes issues with a screener about half of the time.

I fly in to OAK much more frequently, and find that they are 1000x better at following policy.

1. the barkers should not say all shoes come off he should say that we highly recommed it or you will be additionally screened for profiled shoes.

3. I ussually dont work at the AA screening gate unless we are sent out when its busy .. so I dont remember very well about the puffers..but at dl/nw gate we have a table in the front view of the puffers and we leave the items on that table until the puffing is done then as they go through the wtmd they go through the x-ray... the screeners should not get upset they should try to keep you in clear view of your belonings..next time im sent to aa I will check out how they do it and speak to the super about it.

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I've brought it up before with the screeners there that they really should take the items from the rollers over to the metal tables so that the person can at least see their stuff but it seems it's too much trouble for them as they want to just shuffle people in and out and get as many as they can for the continuous screening.

Just one more reason that continuous screening/harassment and those responsible for it (the TSA) should be abolished.

Last time I was there I was the only passenger around. I had to show my boarding pass three times in about 100 feet (once to the private guy to get up the escalator, once to the screener standing 5 feet in front of the WTMD, then again to the screener standing 5 feet behind the WTMD).

Worse, I was supposed to hold it up in a very precise manner as I goose-stepped through the WTMD so that the guy on the other side could see it the entire time (I suppose a lot of people try switching BPs after they show it to screener #1 on the land side of the WTMD and then walk the ten feet to screener #2).

Of course, I got a retaliatory secondary for rolling my eyes or otherwise making it clear (without saying anything) that this whole holding the boarding pass up in front of my chest with two hands as I walked through the WTMD manuever was stupid.

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last Monday morning (7/10) I was flying United to LAX, and the ticket checker at the entry to the screening line refused to let me in because my boarding pass and driver's license didn't match. The difference was that my boarding pass was first name, middle initial, last name, and my driver's license is first name, middle NAME, last name. The screener required me to go back and get my boarding pass reprinted with SSSS on it, at which point he was happy (VERY) to send me to secondary screening, since I was clearly a ne'er do well.
Needless to say, when returning 8 hours later from LAX to SFO, the screeners at LAX didn't bat an eye over the horrible mismatch between my ID name and ticket name.

Since then, I've discovered that at least on united.com you appear to only be able to enter a middle initial, not a full middle name. So it looks like one of three things will happen:
1) I'll be getting a lot of secondary screenings
2) someone with an IQ higher than 60 will reconsider this incredibly brain-dead policy
3) this individual screener will be terminated for making up his own asinine policies

Personally, I hope for option 3

Other than that, I haven't had any issues with the screenings at SFO. Mind you, I think the entire process is a farcical waste of money that could be much more effectively used in many different areas of traveller safety, but that's TSA and DHS management's fault, not the individual screener's.

Bob

last Monday morning (7/10) I was flying United to LAX, and the ticket checker at the entry to the screening line refused to let me in because my boarding pass and driver's license didn't match. The difference was that my boarding pass was first name, middle initial, last name, and my driver's license is first name, middle NAME, last name. The screener required me to go back and get my boarding pass reprinted with SSSS on it, at which point he was happy (VERY) to send me to secondary screening, since I was clearly a ne'er do well.
Needless to say, when returning 8 hours later from LAX to SFO, the screeners at LAX didn't bat an eye over the horrible mismatch between my ID name and ticket name.

Since then, I've discovered that at least on united.com you appear to only be able to enter a middle initial, not a full middle name. So it looks like one of three things will happen:
1) I'll be getting a lot of secondary screenings
2) someone with an IQ higher than 60 will reconsider this incredibly brain-dead policy
3) this individual screener will be terminated for making up his own asinine policies

Personally, I hope for option 3

Other than that, I haven't had any issues with the screenings at SFO. Mind you, I think the entire process is a farcical waste of money that could be much more effectively used in many different areas of traveller safety, but that's TSA and DHS management's fault, not the individual screener's.

Bob

Check in online, make copies of your BP.

If the sorry little punk sends you for a haraSSSSment BP, go get one. Fill out a complaint.

Use your copy of your harassment-free BP to clear security.

The next time you see said punk, feel free to tell him exactly what a drain on society and how much of an oxygen scrubber he is.

Hello carmelita! SFO is my home airport so I am quite familiar with what happens at UA Terminal 3 elite line.

I will say that things have substantially improved once the breast poking obsession was stopped last year. I am still annoyed by the barkers hollering to take your shoes off. My flights are usually in the early morning. It makes me cringe even though this guy is usually working the non-elite lanes at least 50 feet away.

Last fall I noticed an improved customer service attitude from the female screeners. They seemed to be more courteous, concerned that all my belongings came with me, made sure they were in my line of sight and the swab was quick and professional. I began to notice that I was thanking the screeners for their prompt and efficient screening, although I thought it was weird that one of them swabbed my shoes and hands the last time I was through. I have never had my hands swabbed before.

I find the difference between domestic and international at SFO to be remarkable.
The domestic is a shoe carnival, all shoes comes off or your off to secondary (and i've had boat shoes with less than 1/4" soles -doesn't matter. In fact, they will bark out shoes off as if they where machines, without even looking at the shoes. It seems to me that this is easier than looking at a pair of shoes and determining, is this what i am supposed to look after? I've once been a selectee for additional screening, i could tell that the guy had an attitude -but hey, i had plenty of time.

At Intl it's better. I rarely if ever hear the shoes off barking (occasionally but if you show your shoes and tell them that they don't meet profile they generally let you through). In general i like intl at SFO, they seem really efficient at what they do. There is some guy there who arranges and re-arranges the lines to make folks move through quickly, and every time i observe him it makes sense -he is really making the line move faster. And his personally is such that people do it happily, it's not what he says, its more *how* he says it. And he gets the line moving...

All in all though, post 9/11 SFO security is sooo much better. At times i would not have been able to decipher what screeners asked off me pre-9/11 due to some heavy or non-existent english language skills. Now i always can communicate with the staff, sure there are still accents but i can tell that the english language skills have significantly improved at SFO. This is no slam on immigrants, i live in the bay area which is largely an immigrant community, it's just an observation.

It is sort of funny to me how different the screeners operate (and behave) between domestic and international terminals (i only fly united).

I find the difference between domestic and international at SFO to be remarkable.
The domestic is a shoe carnival, all shoes comes off or your off to secondary (and i've had boat shoes with less than 1/4" soles -doesn't matter. In fact, they will bark out shoes off as if they where machines, without even looking at the shoes. It seems to me that this is easier than looking at a pair of shoes and determining, is this what i am supposed to look after? I've once been a selectee for additional screening, i could tell that the guy had an attitude -but hey, i had plenty of time.

At Intl it's better. I rarely if ever hear the shoes off barking (occasionally but if you show your shoes and tell them that they don't meet profile they generally let you through). In general i like intl at SFO, they seem really efficient at what they do. There is some guy there who arranges and re-arranges the lines to make folks move through quickly, and every time i observe him it makes sense -he is really making the line move faster. And his personally is such that people do it happily, it's not what he says, its more *how* he says it. And he gets the line moving...

All in all though, post 9/11 SFO security is sooo much better. At times i would not have been able to decipher what screeners asked off me pre-9/11 due to some heavy or non-existent english language skills. Now i always can communicate with the staff, sure there are still accents but i can tell that the english language skills have significantly improved at SFO. This is no slam on immigrants, i live in the bay area which is largely an immigrant community, it's just an observation.

It is sort of funny to me how different the screeners operate (and behave) between domestic and international terminals (i only fly united).

Two different companies, though one terminal recently reverted back to the government from the private contractor, I believe.

All in all though, post 9/11 SFO security is sooo much better. At times i would not have been able to decipher what screeners asked off me pre-9/11 due to some heavy or non-existent english language skills. Now i always can communicate with the staff, sure there are still accents but i can tell that the english language skills have significantly improved at SFO. This is no slam on immigrants, i live in the bay area which is largely an immigrant community, it's just an observation.


I'd rather not be able to understand a single word and have pre-9/11 security than understand the screeners and be harassed by them. @:-)

I don't think that being able to understand the screeners has anything to so with security supposedly being better. The same number of credible weapons: guns and bombs, still make it past the checkpoint during authorized and likely unauthorized testing. :td:

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Because most airlines get together and hire a contracter who hires the ticket checkers - so technically...

Fair point. So, let's say I would like the ticket checker to do something -- such as let me use the AA checkpoint with a UA ticket or take an extra piece of luggage through because I'm going to give it to Mr KS who is in the Admiral's Club already -- who gets to decide whether I can do those things? The TSA? or AA?

? Is this the screener or the ticket checker you're talking about? I've never heard of any screeners telling people to go back to the ticket counter to get SSSS since we don't look at the bording pass and id.

Ticket checker at the entry to the line, not the screener. I did get it right in my first sentence, then promptly messed it up 2 lines further down. Nonetheless, I seriously doubt that United told the ticket checker to start requiring exact matches or SSSS on all boarding passes. As I said above, it was either an asinine policy decision by some higher up in TSA/DHS, or most likely it was an asinine policy invented by this one sad individual. Either way, it will hopefully be squelched soon.

I have to take the same flight pair next week, so I'll find out then.

Bob

1. the barkers should not say all shoes come off he should say that we highly recommed it or you will be additionally screened for profiled shoes.

At least we agree on this, but until the cowardly screeners and management stop forcing mandatory screening of non-profile shoes, SFO will remain on the same list as EWR, DCA, SEA, and DEN for me as a dispicable shoe carnival.

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SFO is pretty ok, as far as any domestic airport goes. They have the shoe fetish. On the other hand, now that I know the SOP and know to demand a shoe swab (and make sure to point out that it didn't alarm -- they should only swab, no full secondary), I haven't had a problem. In the past year, I haven't had a single screener act impolitely, play silly authority games today (e.g., the old "do you want to fly today?" and making up their own nonsense rules), or give me a retaliatory screening -- so that much is a good thing.

As far as US airports goes, SFO is probably among the top half.

(Everything above refers only to domestic SFO. I haven't flown enough international out of SFO in the past year to know what that's like.)

I got chatted up by a very cute screener at SFO yesterday... I could get used to this kind of screening...

Two different companies, though one terminal recently reverted back to the government from the private contractor, I believe.
actually our private company took over the whole airport all terminals inculding international in oct of 2004..
so its the same company

So why do AA staff consistently deny that the boarding pass checkers are hired by AA? :confused: When I've complained to AA staff about how the boarding pass checkers have treated people, they consistently shrug and say "they're not employed by AA -- blame the TSA"?


More than likely the airline staff does the same thing that general public does, they assume that everything connected with the checkpoint is TSA.

The reality is that anytime TSA wants the ticket checkers to do anything, the organization has to run through the contractor's chain of command. And it probably is just not a priority of the contractors to get their employees to stop demanding shoes come off.



Angry Dan

I think the screening at SFO is a joke, and I've made several contacts with customer service managers at Covenant regarding this. To their credit, the are nice and say that they will effect change 'on the line' but I don't think the message is getting through.

My general complaints are:

1. Carnival barkers saying 'all shoes must come off'. Clear violation of policy. I take names and report them. .

2. The Shoe Carnival in general. It's a complete joke. Complaints are filed each time I'm puffed or swabbed when wearing non-profile shoes.

3. Location of the Puffer at the AA gates. It's quite out of view of your belongings. When I'm sent there every visit (due to the Shoe Carnival), my items are out of my view while I'm in the puffer. I refuse to enter until they have brought my items in view through the clear doors. This causes issues with a screener about half of the time.

I fly in to OAK much more frequently, and find that they are 1000x better at following policy.

Are the carnival barkers employees of the security company that runs SFO screening? If they aren't, then they might not be violating policy.

The SOP governs TSA and Screening Partnership contractor employees. But the airport can hire carnival barkers and allow them to say close to anything they want about shoes.

Angry Dan

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hey guys how are all of you!! well I work for SFO and I am just curious of what people think about the screening at SFO.....
we are not actually federal TSA but a private company that was very well trained by a mobile force of TSA screeners that were from all over usa!!!
let me know about your experienceYour staff was unbelievably confused when I asked them to secure my (x-rayed) laptop and bag yesterday AM when I declined to remove my shoes and was directed to the puffer. The barker had to yell for a supervisor to carry this request out. The TSA normally does this without much hassle.

The shoe carnival is quite sad. I wasn't even issued the standard recommendation/demand for shoe removal before being directed to the puffer so my Teva sandals could be checked out. After exiting the puffer, I was wanded simply because the screener was not aware that I hadn't alarmed. After conferring with his colleagues and being informed that I hadn't alarmed, he went through with a "formality" wanding because he wanted to cover his a** due to the presence of cameras recording his work (his explanation, not mine).

Not impressed. :td:

FASCINATING reading, folks! And you are still willing to let these clowns give ya the TSA Big Feel??? OMG, go fer it! Long as the "Team" is on the job and you actually believe you are TSA "CUSTOMERS" for some godawful reason, and that they are providing you with "Customer Service", GO FOR IT! Read some of these posts! Your 'protectors' can't even spell two frigging words correctly, and you say "Thank you, Sir! May I please have another?" Trust them to be truthful? Put your LIFE in their HANDS? Sweet jeepers!

Guess I'm finally understanding why more and more people are flying at last. Customer Service.

My mama never did raise such a stupid, stupid child.

Fair point. So, let's say I would like the ticket checker to do something -- such as let me use the AA checkpoint with a UA ticket or take an extra piece of luggage through because I'm going to give it to Mr KS who is in the Admiral's Club already -- who gets to decide whether I can do those things? The TSA? or AA?

Plainly speaking we screen. The airlines/airport/some other entity decide pretty much everything else.

At least that's how our airport is, we do the screening and it's up to the airlines how everything else is done from how many carry on bags, to when the checkpoint will be open, etc...

...to who gets SSSS, etc...

...to who gets SSSS, etc...

Not really - it's neither the airline or the local TSA, it's a computer! Somewhere there's a computer with your name in it... Very finicky one too, I myself was on the list for a little while, and now am not.

Not really - it's neither the airline or the local TSA, it's a computer! Somewhere there's a computer with your name in it... Very finicky one too, I myself was on the list for a little while, and now am not.

Computers only do what they're told to do. TSA or the airline can blame the computer, but that doesn't change the fact that the airlines had the software installed at the behest of the TSA, and that the software was programmed by people (either TSA or contractors) to TSA's requirements.

Blaming it on the computer is a cop out and ignores the true source of the problem.

Computers only do what they're told to do. TSA or the airline can blame the computer, but that doesn't change the fact that the airlines had the software installed at the behest of the TSA, and that the software was programmed by people (either TSA or contractors) to TSA's requirements.

Blaming it on the computer is a cop out and ignores the true source of the problem.

Well, I kind of thought that was obvious... Computers don't generally input their own watchlists with no human interaction...