Practical Travel Safety Issues - Airport Employees Not Subject to Security??

I was meeting my mother outside of security today and during the 20 min or so wait, I saw probably close to 100 airport employees (TSA, US Customs, Pilots, FAs, GAs, Ramp Workers, Airport Store workers) enter the secure area using their badge and presumably some code without passing through security. Also, no checking of ID by the TSA manning the secure area exit. Note that this means absolutely no verification at all of these people entering the secure area. And many of them were openly carrying Coffee Cups & cans of Soda.

I wouldn't have any problem with this if it was limited to certain airport personnel that they can do a very thorough security screening on (perhaps TSA, US Customs, "some" airline personnel) but certainly not down to Airport Store workers and certainly with at least ID checks.

I'm just shocked that they allow this but subject flyers to much of the nonsense at security checks.

nope, if it is their home base they don't have to go thru the WMD's. They get to take all the liquids they want, travel is on their honor system. They have gone thru their 10 yr background checks (you would think). I think they just said that a TSA agent now has to HANDLE their ID before they could pass thru the gratter.

Sort of OT, but sort of not...

One thing that really annoys me is when you have soldiers (or people dressed as soldiers) traveling in their BDU's wearing combat boots. No one ever makes them take off their combat boots. Yet, I have to take off my flip-flops? ...?

Sort of OT, but sort of not...

One thing that really annoys me is when you have soldiers (or people dressed as soldiers) traveling in their BDU's wearing combat boots. No one ever makes them take off their combat boots. Yet, I have to take off my flip-flops? ...?

Of all the things to be jealous over, this is the most petty. They present military ID for this "perk". I wonder if while they are sitting in Iraq avoiding IED's and snipers, if they get annoyed at people over here in the safety of their home complaining about their flip-flops. I'll ask my son the next time he is allowed a phone call. :rolleyes: Until then, instead of worrying about who's slice of pie is bigger, just thank one of them for their service...it'll make you feel better. Back to the regularly scheduled TSA bashing. :)

When I had my internship at GRB over summer of 2007, I would move from the public side to the sterile side of the airport frequently, and was never subject to a search from TSA. It was basically an honor system. However, some TSOs did check my airport badge while in the sterile side, as I would always challenge them for theirs as well. But I could take liquids and food, on basically scout's honor. I could go through the checkpoint like every other passenger if I felt like it, which I did sometimes... but for the most part I did not. Other employees were able to do the same.

I'm just shocked that they allow this but subject flyers to much of the nonsense at security checks.
They are also not allowed on a flight unless they go through a checkpoint. I know at MSP, they have badge readers by the WMD and employees scan their badges right before passing through to prove they went through it. I've also seen plenty of store/wheelchair pushers/non-airline agents going through the WMD at MSP, so it looks like they may not exclude as many as some airports..

They are also not allowed on a flight unless they go through a checkpoint. I know at MSP, they have badge readers by the WMD and employees scan their badges right before passing through to prove they went through it. I've also seen plenty of store/wheelchair pushers/non-airline agents going through the WMD at MSP, so it looks like they may not exclude as many as some airports..

What is to stop an employee from skipping the WMD and bringing in a gun or a bomb to give to an accomplice who is flying? This makes the entire security show a joke.

Yes it is impossible for someone with ill intent to fake a military ID or even get access to a REAL Military ID. Also no one can go on the internet or just walk into a army surplus store and buy themselves some military uniforms. It's not possible.

What is to stop an employee from skipping the WMD and bringing in a gun or a bomb to give to an accomplice who is flying? This makes the entire security show a joke.
10 year background check.. fingerprint check.. random security checks inside the sterile area.. Its not a free for all. There are some checks in place, and lately, from what I've read in the media, more and more random checks are being done and some airports are screening some of their employees regularly.

10 year background check.. fingerprint check.. random security checks inside the sterile area.. Its not a free for all. There are some checks in place, and lately, from what I've read in the media, more and more random checks are being done and some airports are screening some of their employees regularly.

A background check is only good IF you have been caught before. If this is your first time doing something wrong, OR you have never been caught doing something wrong, a background check is nearly useless.

10 year background check.. fingerprint check.. random security checks inside the sterile area.. Its not a free for all. There are some checks in place, and lately, from what I've read in the media, more and more random checks are being done and some airports are screening some of their employees regularly.

What I saw was pretty close to free for all - even "kids" in store uniforms. I would not have been "bothered" if it was more limited and there was actually someone checking the ID badges. I find it quite appalling that "kids" working part-time at close to minimum wages can access the sterile area without anyone so much as looking at their IDs. What if the airport ID badge was stolen etc. From what I've seen, I would guess that close to 10,000 people have access without anyone even checking their ID badges at this airport.

A background check is only good IF you have been caught before. If this is your first time doing something wrong, OR you have never been caught doing something wrong, a background check is nearly useless.

I would venture a guess that the 9/11 terrorists do not have a criminal record in the US prior to 9/11.

Of all the things to be jealous over, this is the most petty. They present military ID for this "perk". I wonder if while they are sitting in Iraq avoiding IED's and snipers, if they get annoyed at people over here in the safety of their home complaining about their flip-flops. I'll ask my son the next time he is allowed a phone call. :rolleyes: Until then, instead of worrying about who's slice of pie is bigger, just thank one of them for their service...it'll make you feel better. Back to the regularly scheduled TSA bashing. :)

What are you on about? I'm sure you'll agree that water quality inspectors, cancer researchers and even the developers of the internal combustion engine have done and continue doing more for humanity than any American kid in uniform in Iraq or even Soviet casualty of WW2 would hope to do.
In what is supposed to be an equitable polity, do you want them to receive special treatment in their dealings with the state?
I can agree with special treatment for those who have special needs (disabled etc), but to do it just because somebody choose one career over another is just pathetic...or just another little step on the road to fascism.

What are you on about? I'm sure you'll agree that water quality inspectors, cancer researchers and even the developers of the internal combustion engine have done and continue doing more for humanity than any American kid in uniform in Iraq or even Soviet casualty of WW2 would hope to do.
In what is supposed to be an equitable polity, do you want them to receive special treatment in their dealings with the state?
I can agree with special treatment for those who have special needs (disabled etc), but to do it just because somebody choose one career over another is just pathetic...or just another little step on the road to fascism.


The military gets special treatment already. It's an unwritten policy on UA that if space allows, uniformed military personnel traveling on orders (or going home on leave), will get upgraded. Some airports, like DEN, allow uniformed military personnel to use the elite line. The military even have their own line at airports like ORD for immigration at the international terminal.

Letting them keep their shoes on is not a problem with me. I think it's completely embarrassing to have a TSAer manually search a uniformed soldier.

Not to mention it's impractical. Do you think there might be traces of explosives on their shoes. OF COURSE THERE WILL BE.

Soldiers are trained to do things with their bare hands and have survival skills that would trump any kind of prohibited item they would need if they wanted to take over the passenger area of a commercial aircraft, anyway.

As long as their orders and military ID are verifiable, I have no problem with them going through with shoes. I hold more respect for most active military members than I do for most TSAers.

When I had my internship at GRB over summer of 2007, I would move from the public side to the sterile side of the airport frequently, and was never subject to a search from TSA. It was basically an honor system. However, some TSOs did check my airport badge while in the sterile side, as I would always challenge them for theirs as well. But I could take liquids and food, on basically scout's honor. I could go through the checkpoint like every other passenger if I felt like it, which I did sometimes... but for the most part I did not. Other employees were able to do the same.

A background check is only good IF you have been caught before. If this is your first time doing something wrong, OR you have never been caught doing something wrong, a background check is nearly useless.

Welcome, both of you, to flyertalk! ^

What I saw was pretty close to free for all - even "kids" in store uniforms. I would not have been "bothered" if it was more limited and there was actually someone checking the ID badges. I find it quite appalling that "kids" working part-time at close to minimum wages can access the sterile area without anyone so much as looking at their IDs. What if the airport ID badge was stolen etc. From what I've seen, I would guess that close to 10,000 people have access without anyone even checking their ID badges at this airport.

There was the janitor ID scandal at ORD where one of the janitorial services employed by ORD had quite the revolving door with employees.

A new (illegal) hire was given a box of several dozen real ORD ID's from (legal) employees who moved on and was asked to "pick one that looked like him". :eek:

Due to the . . . homogeneity . . . of the employees the firm hired, finding an ID that looked like you was far from difficult.

It's an unwritten policy on UA that if space allows, uniformed military personnel traveling on orders (or going home on leave), will get upgraded.

But UA aren't really a state airline (though I'm sure they've gotten their fair share of backhanders and subsidies and inflated-price government "business", as many other "non-state" airlines worldwide have).

Some airports, like DEN, allow uniformed military personnel to use the elite line. The military even have their own line at airports like ORD for immigration at the international terminal.

How/why is this legal and/or desirable? What message does this convey to nurses and pharmaceutical researchers whose career is all about saving (not taking) lives and have to wait in the slower queue?



Letting them keep their shoes on is not a problem with me. I think it's completely embarrassing to have a TSAer manually search a uniformed soldier.

It's no more embarassing than them manually searching a water quality inspector, or anyone else for that matter.



Not to mention it's impractical. Do you think there might be traces of explosives on their shoes. OF COURSE THERE WILL BE.

They shouldn't fly on a public civilian aircraft, then. Them's the rules. Unless you're in favour of bending the rules wherever a "security" employee (who may or may not be any good) feels like it.


Soldiers are trained to do things with their bare hands and have survival skills that would trump any kind of prohibited item they would need if they wanted to take over the passenger area of a commercial aircraft, anyway.

The same can be said of professional Judo fighters. Do they get a fast-track pass through security?

As long as their orders and military ID are verifiable, I have no problem with them going through with shoes. I hold more respect for most active military members than I do for most TSAers.

This is not a personal thing with any military officers. It's something to do with a state where everyone must be equal in front of the law, and where these ad-hoc "exceptions" are just the visible tip of the iceberg...
Besides, much military travel involves cross-border airlines and/or authorities, which makes it even harder to standardise ID and/or verify any orders (and easier to add complexity for someone wanting to fool the system).

This is a polarized issue you will never get people to agree on...military people think they deserve a break....firemen...cops....doctors...lawyers...eve ryone thinks they deserve a break because they are more important or better than others. Go read some forums dedicated to any of the above professions as an example...they really think they are superior and everyone else are sheep.

We need people in all the above jobs...I myself am in one...no not a lawyer I have self respect ;)...so I am not saying they suck as humans...just that there are mindsets people don't want to admit to or know about.

Simply we DO NOT live in a world where everyone is equal...class is alive and well in all it's forms.

Nobody wants equality...they want to have a more comfortable way and if that comes in the form of special treatment they are not going to turn it down.

The ugly side of humanity most people will not admit to.

nope, if it is their home base they don't have to go thru the WMD's.

Yet, in most airports, I see that uniformed TSA personnel having to go through the WTMD.

Why them and not other airport employees?

This is a polarized issue you will never get people to agree on...military people think they deserve a break....firemen...cops....doctors...lawyers...eve ryone thinks they deserve a break because they are more important or better than others.

You can add us "frequent flyers" to that same list as well. Thus the elite lines at many TSA checkpoints.

We're getting to the point where so many people want and expect exemptions that the regular checkpoint lines will end up to be faster. ;)

First of all I have spent the past year working at international airport and have always had to go through security. To initially get airside we would have to go through an area just using swipe card access, however out of the public view we would then have to go through a staff security area.

Whilst we did not have to take our shoes off we were subject to the usual procedures. Any liquids had to be removed from handbags and put through - minus the clear bag though. I spent most of my time at the airport (setting up a new store) to the point that most of the staff knew me by name, yet every time I moved between land and airside it was necessary to go through a security check. I have a feeling the staff check in this case was further down out of public viewing.

Also, in a previous career I was an Army officer, if we were flying a civilian airline in uniform we were still subject to the same treatment as all others. Depending on how many of us would be clogging up check-in an extra lane may have been opened up to speed things up. Mind you this was in Australia and things are done a bit differently there :) and it is going back a few years when things weren't quite so tight. I can honestly say I neither received nor witnessed any special treatment.

What are you on about? I'm sure you'll agree that water quality inspectors, cancer researchers and even the developers of the internal combustion engine have done and continue doing more for humanity than any American kid in uniform in Iraq or even Soviet casualty of WW2 would hope to do.
In what is supposed to be an equitable polity, do you want them to receive special treatment in their dealings with the state?
I can agree with special treatment for those who have special needs (disabled etc), but to do it just because somebody choose one career over another is just pathetic...or just another little step on the road to fascism.

You're comparing apples and oranges. If the "perk" is letting them keep their boots on, then so be it. I may be rusty on my history, but I do not recall Europe being liberated from Nazi rule by water quality inspectors and I'm sure that those left alive in the death camps were freed by soldiers, not cancer researchers. Everyone plays a role in society, some big and some small. While those that choose to do cancer research and water quality control are indeed important, they have not taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. They understand that this oath means that they may be placed in deadly situations and the whim of those appointed above them. This does not necessarily make those in the military more important, but like the police, they can't get there quick enough when help is needed. Yeah, they can keep their boots on.

As long as police officers and firefighters dont get elite line priority and other perks I dont see a reason why military staff should be entitled to that.

Same like the "unwritten upgrade rule" on UA :rolleyes: Go to a carrier like AF, BA, LH even in official gala uniform and expect to get upgraded... I can just tell you it will be a disappointment you experience !

It gets a little bit out of hand in my opinion !

You're comparing apples and oranges. If the "perk" is letting them keep their boots on, then so be it. I may be rusty on my history, but I do not recall Europe being liberated from Nazi rule by water quality inspectors and I'm sure that those left alive in the death camps were freed by soldiers, not cancer researchers. Everyone plays a role in society, some big and some small. While those that choose to do cancer research and water quality control are indeed important, they have not taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. They understand that this oath means that they may be placed in deadly situations and the whim of those appointed above them. This does not necessarily make those in the military more important, but like the police, they can't get there quick enough when help is needed. Yeah, they can keep their boots on.

What is the point of your statement ?

While I have to agree that everyone takes different parts within the society I would also say that several things are not an automatical privilege when joining the armed forces.

Despite, I have never seen any soldier to intend to use the elite line/check-in or another perk. They have for sure other things in mind when leaving home for Iraq or Afghanistan than to save 5 minutes at security. The whole discussion gets OT as the thread title is about AIRPORT EMPLOYEES using their badges legally to go through a bypass door.

As a veteran and a member of society I agree either we should all be screened the same or not at all. Obviously in some situations common sense should prevail...like the SF honor guard escorting the fallen that was made to strip down recently...that was a bit stupid given how, when and where they were...but in normal ops a uniform should not be a free pass no matter what patriotic tales one wishes to tell about people that dies on the battlefield (while it is noble it is irrelevant to the security issue)

Hell I can be an Admiral with a couple stops at the surplus shop and a few online orders...who's to say a bad guy can't be too?

I cannot stand when people say "they bled for this country and stopped Hitler" like that throws common sense out the window (I am proud of them and thankful to them and they would be disgusted to have their memories used in such a nonsensical argument)

You're comparing apples and oranges. If the "perk" is letting them keep their boots on, then so be it. I may be rusty on my history, but I do not recall Europe being liberated from Nazi rule by water quality inspectors and I'm sure that those left alive in the death camps were freed by soldiers, not cancer researchers. Everyone plays a role in society, some big and some small. While those that choose to do cancer research and water quality control are indeed important, they have not taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. They understand that this oath means that they may be placed in deadly situations and the whim of those appointed above them. This does not necessarily make those in the military more important, but like the police, they can't get there quick enough when help is needed. Yeah, they can keep their boots on.

What is the point of this post?? Did I say that Europe was liberated by water quality inspectors?
And why is it an issue exclusive to the US?
Soldiers should keep their boots on when flying on military planes. In a republic, when using civilian facilities (like, for example, civil aviation), they should play by the same rules as civilians.
In the same vein as it's illegal for policemen to fit sirens to their personal cars and use them in order to get back home more quickly. Unless you want that law abolished as well.

First of all I have spent the past year working at international airport and have always had to go through security. To initially get airside we would have to go through an area just using swipe card access, however out of the public view we would then have to go through a staff security area.

Not at the airport (with international flights) that I'm referring to - once beyond the "badge" scan - no more security of any type.