My worst TSA experience to date, filling out a complaint form today! .
My wife and I fly a lot and always elect for an Opt Out if not able to do a SDOO. So last week at IAH terminal C we both opted out and had to wait a moment or 2 for a female and male assist. My TSO was a LTSO and I noted his name was Johnson. He was very official with me at first by asking me to point out my items as they sat on the conveyor belt and told me sternly not to touch anything. As he shouldered my heavy camera bag (I shoot pictures for a living) I joked that he could see what I had to carry around all day and I noticed he did not smile or say anything.
We got to the pat down area and he started in with the pre-pat down explanation and asked if I had ever had a pat down before. I replied that I did this about 2 times per week. He then said he was going to explain what was about to happen to which I replied that was fine but if he wanted to skip it and move on to the pat down I was OK with that and that some TSO's did this as I was a frequent traveler. He replied, "Well sir, if they are doing that they are endangering you and all of your fellow passengers!" So I pondered that thought for a second and it hit me as really rather funny as it really only protects the TSO as they have explained the procedure so the passenger can't complain that they didn't know what was about to happen.
I then smiled at his stupid statement and probably rolled my eyes a bit giving an expression that might be interpreted as "Oh sure... Yea, right... NOT!"
And he replied, "Sir I can see from your attitude that I may have to call a supervisor!"
My attitude? I admit it caught me off guard and I really pictured a delay and having to explain to a supervisor and I quickly said, "I'm sorry but I'm not sure what you mean" and he said "you obviously have a bad attitude and if it doesn't change immediately I will call my supervisor!" So I apologized and told him he was free to go on and please proceed with his security screening. He stared at me like a parent would to a child who has disobeyed and then in a moment began his canned speech again and proceeded to search me in the most official text book manner. And as he did my front legs and back legs he went on about he kept going on about what he was doing and as he was behind me I could barely understand him and wondered what a person with hearing loss would do and I felt like asking him if he ever had to deal with people who were hearing impaired but decided not to engage him. He gave me a pretty hard karate chop to my groin as he finished and checked his gloves and then told me I was free to go and walked off without a smile or a thank you or a "have a nice day" or even a look eye to eye.
I felt humiliated and violated, not because of the search which I have become accustomed to but because he was so rude, condescending and his attempt to intimidate me. I was also annoyed with myself for not calling his bluff and insisting on a supervisor and telling him he was the one with the bad attitude. I have never been treated so rudely by a TSO in all my years of flying. Unfortunately he succeeded in using the element of surprise and had caught me off guard and I can't undue that or my response at the time.
So after I put on my shoes and belt and picked up my things I approached the raised desk are and asked the 3 stripper TSO for a complaint form and told him to please inform Officer Johnson that he did not succeed in intimidating me and that I would be filing an official complaint.
Today I will fill out the form and submit it in detail. Maybe not much but it will give me some satisfaction. It just frustrates me that he is a LTSO, how the heck did someone with zero personality or communication skills get to that position if not for a system that rewards his kind of attitude. Very sad.
It just frustrates me that he is a LTSO, how the heck did someone with zero personality or communication skills get to that position if not for a system that rewards his kind of attitude.
I think you just answered your own question. Two-stripers tend to be the worst in my experience. They have just enough authori-tah to think and act like they're God's gift to national security and you should be groveling in their presence, but they haven't got the rational thinking capacity that most three-stripers do (note, I said "most," not "all").
Same sort of busybody personality who volunteer to be school bus "monitors", homeowner association CCR-violation-detectors-and-tattlers, and overly-aggressive civilian neighborhood watch patrol staff. Too young to be elder-team-police-volunteers.
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 11,356
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisinhouston
I felt humiliated and violated, not because of the search which I have become accustomed to but because he was so rude, condescending and his attempt to intimidate me. I was also annoyed with myself for not calling his bluff and insisting on a supervisor and telling him he was the one with the bad attitude. I have never been treated so rudely by a TSO in all my years of flying. Unfortunately he succeeded in using the element of surprise and had caught me off guard and I can't undue that or my response at the time.
Just keep this in mind: OJ is obviously a miserable person. Once you leave the checkpoint, you are done with him, but he has to live with himself forever. I pity people like that.
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 11,356
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanja
I really dont get why anybody do karate chops to another person!?
It really hurts plus it can cause injuries.
Anybody known for "falling to the floor" and/or "holding" them selves in pain!
This is so sick with all these perverted TSO'S who like to hurt people.
Because they can. Because they're essentially bullies. Because they have no other way to take out their frustration. Because there are no puppies to kick. The reasons are endless. But the explanation of this mentality is here.
Because they can. Because they're essentially bullies. Because they have no other way to take out their frustration. Because there are no puppies to kick. The reasons are endless. But the explanation of this mentality is here.
Mike
I do understand everything you write and I do agree.
But what if a passenger gets hurt and demands a MD. Cause they are so much in Pian?
I do belive that TSO's dont think anybody would like that kind of attention in front of other people.
Why not/
if they would hurt me I would have no problem demanding help.
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 11,356
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanja
I do understand everything you write and I do agree.
But what if a passenger gets hurt and demands a MD. Cause they are so much in Pian?
I do belive that TSO's dont think anybody would like that kind of attention in front of other people.
Why not/
if they would hurt me I would have no problem demanding help.
The TSOs figure that nobody would report them or that nobody would believe the victim. In this case, they would have the burden of proof on their side. The chop is hard enough to cause pain but not enough to do visible damage.
The TSOs figure that nobody would report them or that nobody would believe the victim. In this case, they would have the burden of proof on their side. The chop is hard enough to cause pain but not enough to do visible damage.
Mike
I get bruises very easy.
And sure they dont expect anybody to talk about pain to their genitals.
Not taking sides here but why small-talk with the agent? My goal is to stand there with a straight-face, let them give their speech, and finish my screening as quickly as possible. I have nothing to say to them one way or another unless the agent himself tries to break the ice, then I'll communicate back. I'm in no way blaming you but I don't understand the need for any jokes or the long explanation of your frequent travel habits and that he can 'skip' his speech. Do your part, let them do theirs, and move on. Helps me keep my sanity intact.
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 11,356
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanja
I get bruises very easy.
And sure they dont expect anybody to talk about pain to their genitals.
And what proof would they have?
None. They think they can get away with it. Believe me, there is nothing I would like more than to see someone who is karate-chopped get one of these guys nailed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanja
I have never heard that word before. What does that mean?
English is not my first language.
Unnecessarily repetitive. In other words, you don't have to say "perverted TSOs," since the implication is that, just by saying "TSO," the "perverted" part is understood.
None. They think they can get away with it. Believe me, there is nothing I would like more than to see someone who is karate-chopped get one of these guys nailed.
Unnecessarily repetitive. In other words, you don't have to say "perverted TSOs," since the implication is that, just by saying "TSO," the "perverted" part is understood.
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 11,356
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanja
So Redundant. means repitive?
Correct!
Essentially, yes. There are some nuances in how the word is used, with the focus of redundant being more on the "unnecessary" part of the repetition but, for this example, that works.
