Positive experience at ___ airport
Aug 18, 2011, 6:23 am
#1
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,603
Positive experience at ___ airport
Yes, I'm not going identify it, because I'm afraid that if I do, some idiot at TSA HQ will ruin it.
I've always enjoyed this location, as the lines aren't long, the clerks don't bark, and it is generally a truly pleasant experience. Totally unlike the usual TSA storm trooper environment.
Yesterday, though, was my first experience at this location now that the NoS machines are everywhere. To my surprise, this location lets you openly self select. You don't need to game the system by waiting for someone to go into the NoS - the NoS is fed by one line and package xray belt, and right next to it, another x ray belt feeds a WTMD. And yes, the WTMD was twice as long as the NoS line, and none of the clerks were directing people into the NoS line.
After putting my gear back together, I walked over to the three-striper manning the command post and thanked him for maintaining a true opt-out experience without coercion. He looked at me in a puzzled fashion and said "but you should have that option everywhere." I laughed and told him how IAD and DCA worked, and that if you asked for an opt out of the NoS, you were treated to a delayed retaliatory grope by clearly annoyed clerks. He said "well, they aren't supposed to be doing that."
The flyers who use ___ airport don't know how good they have it.
I've always enjoyed this location, as the lines aren't long, the clerks don't bark, and it is generally a truly pleasant experience. Totally unlike the usual TSA storm trooper environment.
Yesterday, though, was my first experience at this location now that the NoS machines are everywhere. To my surprise, this location lets you openly self select. You don't need to game the system by waiting for someone to go into the NoS - the NoS is fed by one line and package xray belt, and right next to it, another x ray belt feeds a WTMD. And yes, the WTMD was twice as long as the NoS line, and none of the clerks were directing people into the NoS line.
After putting my gear back together, I walked over to the three-striper manning the command post and thanked him for maintaining a true opt-out experience without coercion. He looked at me in a puzzled fashion and said "but you should have that option everywhere." I laughed and told him how IAD and DCA worked, and that if you asked for an opt out of the NoS, you were treated to a delayed retaliatory grope by clearly annoyed clerks. He said "well, they aren't supposed to be doing that."
The flyers who use ___ airport don't know how good they have it.
Aug 18, 2011, 8:02 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
After putting my gear back together, I walked over to the three-striper manning the command post and thanked him for maintaining a true opt-out experience without coercion. He looked at me in a puzzled fashion and said "but you should have that option everywhere." I laughed and told him how IAD and DCA worked, and that if you asked for an opt out of the NoS, you were treated to a delayed retaliatory grope by clearly annoyed clerks. He said "well, they aren't supposed to be doing that."
It's sad that the situations at airports have gotten so bad that you'd feel gratitude for the TSA simply doing what their website says they're supposed to be doing.
Aug 18, 2011, 3:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Programs: AA - EXP 2.3 MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold, recovering UA Premier
Posts: 280
And, just as with the OP, I'm not going to identify the airport for fear the TSA will wreck it.
Aug 18, 2011, 6:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 959
I had a great experience at an airport today myself. There was no say-your-name threat. The TDC looked at my boarding pass, my ID, and made the magic squiggle. There are no NoSes. I only wish I could fly to this airport more often. As it is, I felt weird enough submitting a positive comment card saying that it was the best TSA experience I've had in years.
And, just as with the OP, I'm not going to identify the airport for fear the TSA will wreck it.
And, just as with the OP, I'm not going to identify the airport for fear the TSA will wreck it.
Aug 18, 2011, 7:20 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 79
If word of this pleasant experience made it back to Washington somebody could lose his or her job.
I remember when the postal service was the butt of jokes about incompetent employees being identified through comment cards so they could be promoted.
I remember when the postal service was the butt of jokes about incompetent employees being identified through comment cards so they could be promoted.
