"I'm 87 years old!"
May 22, 2013, 8:34 am
#31
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TSA interactions I tend to set bar very low and have only had a couple experiences where I felt a need to escalate.
I immediately stop communication with the TSO and take out a paper and pen and write their name down, after screeening I'll discuss the situation with the supervisor and while doing so taking their name and notes (let's them know you are serious) I tell them I will be following up with the FSD and do so - it isn't an empty statement.
Its a lot of effort and it isn't for everyone but for me its something I feel is important to prevent abuse or overreach.
I immediately stop communication with the TSO and take out a paper and pen and write their name down, after screeening I'll discuss the situation with the supervisor and while doing so taking their name and notes (let's them know you are serious) I tell them I will be following up with the FSD and do so - it isn't an empty statement.
Its a lot of effort and it isn't for everyone but for me its something I feel is important to prevent abuse or overreach.
1) I actually asked for a comment card to provide positive feedback on a TSO a few years ago. Unfortunately, I was too focused on the process to ask for her name until it was over and she'd moved away. I went through the almost 30 minute process of waiting while someone was summoned to get someone to get a comment card. I explained what I wanted for. In the end, when I pointed her out and asked the supervisor for her name, I was told to fill in the card without her name and leave it with him so he could add the name and submit the card.
I did not do that, in part because I didn't trust him to put the right name on the card.
I have rarely, if ever, been able to read a TSOs name from the tag, and when I've asked, they have always refused to supply a name or even employee ID # of some sort, and always either turn away or flip the badge over.
2) if your experience is post-NoS or grope, you won't have a pen and paper on you...
May 22, 2013, 11:44 am
#33
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If you are responding to my post, I did.
Well, actually, I stopped a TSO and asked for a comment card. He asked why. I pointed out the TSO I wanted to praise. Then he said to wait, he'd have to get a supervisor. Supervisor came, I explained why I wanted a comment card, pointed the TSO out. He took my BP/ID and left to get the comment card. (All of this took time - altogether, almost 30 minutes). When he came back with my BP/ID and the comment card, he told me to fill it out and give it to him. I asked for the TSOs name or identifying info. He said to fill out the card, leave that field blank, give it to him and he would fill the TSOs name in.
I left. By this time, I didn't have any more time to spend at the checkpoint and I honestly didn't trust him. It seemed so shady to me - how did I know he wasn't going to read the comment card and either fill in some other TSOs name (or even his own) or, if I had lied and wanted it to complain, just throw it away.
Even if I had time to spare, put yourself in my shoes: what do you think his reaction would have been if I had asked for a higher up supervisor? I didn't want to risk the situation turning ugly and possibly delaying me until I missed my flight. He had copies of my BP/ID you know - required to get a comment card.
So a TSO who I thought did an outstanding job did not get deserved praise.
Well, actually, I stopped a TSO and asked for a comment card. He asked why. I pointed out the TSO I wanted to praise. Then he said to wait, he'd have to get a supervisor. Supervisor came, I explained why I wanted a comment card, pointed the TSO out. He took my BP/ID and left to get the comment card. (All of this took time - altogether, almost 30 minutes). When he came back with my BP/ID and the comment card, he told me to fill it out and give it to him. I asked for the TSOs name or identifying info. He said to fill out the card, leave that field blank, give it to him and he would fill the TSOs name in.
I left. By this time, I didn't have any more time to spend at the checkpoint and I honestly didn't trust him. It seemed so shady to me - how did I know he wasn't going to read the comment card and either fill in some other TSOs name (or even his own) or, if I had lied and wanted it to complain, just throw it away.
Even if I had time to spare, put yourself in my shoes: what do you think his reaction would have been if I had asked for a higher up supervisor? I didn't want to risk the situation turning ugly and possibly delaying me until I missed my flight. He had copies of my BP/ID you know - required to get a comment card.
So a TSO who I thought did an outstanding job did not get deserved praise.
May 22, 2013, 12:28 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Colorado
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,745
if you are responding to my post, i did.
Well, actually, i stopped a tso and asked for a comment card. He asked why. I pointed out the tso i wanted to praise. then he said to wait, he'd have to get a supervisor. Supervisor came, i explained why i wanted a comment card, pointed the tso out. He took my bp/id and left to get the comment card. (all of this took time - altogether, almost 30 minutes). When he came back with my bp/id and the comment card, he told me to fill it out and give it to him. I asked for the tsos name or identifying info. He said to fill out the card, leave that field blank, give it to him and he would fill the tsos name in.
I left. By this time, i didn't have any more time to spend at the checkpoint and i honestly didn't trust him. It seemed so shady to me - how did i know he wasn't going to read the comment card and either fill in some other tsos name (or even his own) or, if i had lied and wanted it to complain, just throw it away.
Even if i had time to spare, put yourself in my shoes: What do you think his reaction would have been if i had asked for a higher up supervisor? I didn't want to risk the situation turning ugly and possibly delaying me until i missed my flight. He had copies of my bp/id you know - required to get a comment card.
So a tso who i thought did an outstanding job did not get deserved praise.
Well, actually, i stopped a tso and asked for a comment card. He asked why. I pointed out the tso i wanted to praise. then he said to wait, he'd have to get a supervisor. Supervisor came, i explained why i wanted a comment card, pointed the tso out. He took my bp/id and left to get the comment card. (all of this took time - altogether, almost 30 minutes). When he came back with my bp/id and the comment card, he told me to fill it out and give it to him. I asked for the tsos name or identifying info. He said to fill out the card, leave that field blank, give it to him and he would fill the tsos name in.
I left. By this time, i didn't have any more time to spend at the checkpoint and i honestly didn't trust him. It seemed so shady to me - how did i know he wasn't going to read the comment card and either fill in some other tsos name (or even his own) or, if i had lied and wanted it to complain, just throw it away.
Even if i had time to spare, put yourself in my shoes: What do you think his reaction would have been if i had asked for a higher up supervisor? I didn't want to risk the situation turning ugly and possibly delaying me until i missed my flight. He had copies of my bp/id you know - required to get a comment card.
So a tso who i thought did an outstanding job did not get deserved praise.
May 22, 2013, 12:57 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 8,956
Had a similar situation at BOS earlier this year. No joy.
May 22, 2013, 1:05 pm
#38
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Had a similar situation at BOS earlier this year. No joy.
Kids under 18 aren't required to have photo ID and kids under 12 aren't required to remove shoes. However, whether or not they are actually under 18 or under 12 is entirely up to the TSOs judgment..unless, of course, they provide the ID that they are not required to have....
I am curious about the reports (multiple) of elderly folks being told to remove shoes based on the screener's judgment of age. These are adults who are required to have ID. Why (well, I think we know why), if a screener really thinks a pax is lying about his/her age, doesn't the screener offer to resolve the issue by viewing the DOB on the ID?
eyecue, is this a 'training' issue?
May 22, 2013, 1:46 pm
#39
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That age thing is a double loophole.
Kids under 18 aren't required to have photo ID and kids under 12 aren't required to remove shoes. However, whether or not they are actually under 18 or under 12 is entirely up to the TSOs judgment..unless, of course, they provide the ID that they are not required to have....
Kids under 18 aren't required to have photo ID and kids under 12 aren't required to remove shoes. However, whether or not they are actually under 18 or under 12 is entirely up to the TSOs judgment..unless, of course, they provide the ID that they are not required to have....
May 22, 2013, 3:12 pm
#40
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I recently booked an award ticket for a friend's 89 year old mom so she could attend her sister's funeral. As I knew she didn't fly often, I coached her extensively on how to handle dealing with the airline (fortunately, due to UA's bugs/features with award tickets, she inherited my 1K status) and the TSA.
Amazingly, the IAD TSA did allow her to keep her shoes on. ^
Amazingly, the IAD TSA did allow her to keep her shoes on. ^
May 23, 2013, 4:00 pm
#41
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: North of DFW
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, TSA Disparager Gold, going for Platnium
Posts: 1,535
I really wish someone (Say a Drill SGT or DI) would get in one of these punks faces and gives a dose of there own Bull Cookies. I'd bet a Benjamin the clerk would be crying or soil themselves in short order.
If it was me I would be very tempted to yell at the clerk (Louder then the clerk and enough for the whole terminal to hear) " ... is wrong with you? Do you have no respect for your elders? Do you think yelling louder at someone is going to accomplish anything? Just makes you look like an unprofessional, poorly trained idiot and a bully?"
Yet again TSA proves its incompetence and that its hiring standards are absymal. This whole sad experiment needs to be terminated as DD Daschle was wrong when he stated "To professionalize you must federalize"!
If it was me I would be very tempted to yell at the clerk (Louder then the clerk and enough for the whole terminal to hear) " ... is wrong with you? Do you have no respect for your elders? Do you think yelling louder at someone is going to accomplish anything? Just makes you look like an unprofessional, poorly trained idiot and a bully?"
Yet again TSA proves its incompetence and that its hiring standards are absymal. This whole sad experiment needs to be terminated as DD Daschle was wrong when he stated "To professionalize you must federalize"!
May 23, 2013, 4:30 pm
#42
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I really wish someone (Say a Drill SGT or DI) would get in one of these punks faces and gives a dose of there own Bull Cookies. I'd bet a Benjamin the clerk would be crying or soil themselves in short order.
If it was me I would be very tempted to yell at the clerk (Louder then the clerk and enough for the whole terminal to hear) " ... is wrong with you? Do you have no respect for your elders? Do you think yelling louder at someone is going to accomplish anything? Just makes you look like an unprofessional, poorly trained idiot and a bully?"
Yet again TSA proves its incompetence and that its hiring standards are absymal. This whole sad experiment needs to be terminated as DD Daschle was wrong when he stated "To professionalize you must federalize"!
If it was me I would be very tempted to yell at the clerk (Louder then the clerk and enough for the whole terminal to hear) " ... is wrong with you? Do you have no respect for your elders? Do you think yelling louder at someone is going to accomplish anything? Just makes you look like an unprofessional, poorly trained idiot and a bully?"
Yet again TSA proves its incompetence and that its hiring standards are absymal. This whole sad experiment needs to be terminated as DD Daschle was wrong when he stated "To professionalize you must federalize"!
They are TSA employees.
May 23, 2013, 4:38 pm
#43
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May 23, 2013, 5:51 pm
#45
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The country has gotten the TSA which the country deserves, and it is very unfortunate.