Practical Travel Safety Issues - Boston TSO shows common sense

Since I'm the first to b*tch about BOS security when it does something stupid (meaning all of the time), I have to give credit to the TSO in my line who showed some common sense on Saturday.

A family of four, very infrequent fliers, were ahead of me. They had packed several bottles of water to take with them on the flight. The TSO caught the bottles and told them that they could not take the bottles on board. I suggested that they drink what they could and take empty bottles through, refilling them on the other side. The TSO agreed that this was a good idea.

Unfortunately, the kids were small and couldn't finish the big bottles of water. At this point, the TSO actually okayed them to take the half-full bottles through. No swabs, nothing.

Okay, this isn't exactly "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," but I'm pleased to see that someone in the security process showed some common sense. I was afraid to pass along any kudos at the airport for fear that the TSO would get in trouble for violating the rules (How sad is that?).

Mike

From my recent experiences @ BOS, I think they've kind of burned-out on the powertripping, and are going through the motions these days (180 degrees other way). If the kids drank it in front of the screeners, it sure wasn't some sort of solvent, etc.

From my recent experiences @ BOS, I think they've kind of burned-out on the powertripping, and are going through the motions these days (180 degrees other way). If the kids drank it in front of the screeners, it sure wasn't some sort of solvent, etc.


Speaking of that, I was transferring from an AC flight to a UA flight at BOS a couple of months ago.

Remembering the idiotic policy at LGA of not being able to enter the AC terminal with a UA-stock boarding pass (even for an AC flight), I decided to go to the check-in counter again at BOS. Before I could finish my point on why I wanted a new BP, the UA CSR ripped up my AC-stock BP, said that she didn't want me to run into some "TSA power-tripper" (her words) and issued me a new BP on UA stock.

Now, about the OP, this incident (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=613371&highlight=tools%3B+supervisor) raises the bar much higher to make me think that ANYONE at the TSA has turned things around.

Since I'm the first to b*tch about BOS security when it does something stupid (meaning all of the time), I have to give credit to the TSO in my line who showed some common sense on Saturday.

A family of four, very infrequent fliers, were ahead of me. They had packed several bottles of water to take with them on the flight. The TSO caught the bottles and told them that they could not take the bottles on board. I suggested that they drink what they could and take empty bottles through, refilling them on the other side. The TSO agreed that this was a good idea.

Unfortunately, the kids were small and couldn't finish the big bottles of water. At this point, the TSO actually okayed them to take the half-full bottles through. No swabs, nothing.

Okay, this isn't exactly "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," but I'm pleased to see that someone in the security process showed some common sense. I was afraid to pass along any kudos at the airport for fear that the TSO would get in trouble for violating the rules (How sad is that?).

Mike
I have nothing to add to your post except that your sig line is classic.

Darn - I thought you were going to say that he stood on top of the X-Ray machine and proudly shouted to the world "I QUIT - I am tired of shamming all of these people into thinking this is really aviation security!":D

I think [BOS TSOs have] kind of burned-out on the powertripping, and are going through the motions these days (180 degrees other way).

Sustained hypersensitivity to non-credible threats at some point will wear down an individual's self-respect over time. No one wants to feel useless.

From my recent experiences @ BOS, I think they've kind of burned-out on the powertripping, and are going through the motions these days (180 degrees other way). If the kids drank it in front of the screeners, it sure wasn't some sort of solvent, etc.i think you're right about bos as from a "shoe 'n orthotic ter'wrist's perspective" ;), they have handled it the way it should be.....no attitude, a simple "ok, follow me" and a swab 'n go (and all with a very positive and upbeat attitude as well ^)