Sitting next to an Air Marshal....
Jul 27, 2011, 8:42 am
#31
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
Dan
Jul 28, 2011, 6:14 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, FB Plat, AS Gold, Marriott Gold, Fairmont Plat, BA wannabe
Posts: 684
I flew seated next to a FAM from CDG to Dallas this week. It is always obvious when you're the first up the bridge and there are two people already seated in business class.
On was an unfriendly lummox who said not a word to anyone; but they guy seated next to me was quite pleasant who warmed up and we chatted quite a bit towards the end of the flight.
He is aware of FT although hadn't visited for awhile. He did say they were warned gently to avoid the site as to not disclose too much to a mixed crown. He was aware of the perceptions "that some of us are annoyed we're just taking their seats" and some "just love us".
He did ask how i recognized them, and when I stated the obvious preboarding he said "yes we've been trying to change that forever". I'm not sure who makes those rules, but decided not to ask to avoid an SS! answer in the middle of a good conversation.
He did have a few comments for the TSA including "they\re still not doing their job (in preventing WEI) from aircraft". "They keep finding creative ways to piss people off" as a result of my "it's really bad theater" comment about checkpoints. He understood/agreed with me that expanding their missions wasn't necessarily a good idea. He snorted when I mentioned the VIPR program.
We talked about where he's visited in Europe, his schedule (5 daus of flying a week) and his future plans.
All in all a really nice guy with a quite pragmatic view of the world and a job security.
On was an unfriendly lummox who said not a word to anyone; but they guy seated next to me was quite pleasant who warmed up and we chatted quite a bit towards the end of the flight.
He is aware of FT although hadn't visited for awhile. He did say they were warned gently to avoid the site as to not disclose too much to a mixed crown. He was aware of the perceptions "that some of us are annoyed we're just taking their seats" and some "just love us".
He did ask how i recognized them, and when I stated the obvious preboarding he said "yes we've been trying to change that forever". I'm not sure who makes those rules, but decided not to ask to avoid an SS! answer in the middle of a good conversation.
He did have a few comments for the TSA including "they\re still not doing their job (in preventing WEI) from aircraft". "They keep finding creative ways to piss people off" as a result of my "it's really bad theater" comment about checkpoints. He understood/agreed with me that expanding their missions wasn't necessarily a good idea. He snorted when I mentioned the VIPR program.
We talked about where he's visited in Europe, his schedule (5 daus of flying a week) and his future plans.
All in all a really nice guy with a quite pragmatic view of the world and a job security.
Jul 28, 2011, 6:46 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,336
Jul 28, 2011, 8:30 am
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: AA, DAL, blah, blah, blah...The usual.
Posts: 646
Interesting. The OP doesn't say what led him to be able to identify the air marshals on his flight, but if I believe someone on the plane with me is armed, I'm definitely going to speak to the FA or GA. Certainly not going to operate under the assumption that "he's got a gun, but there's no way that someone unauthorized could slip through the rigorous TSA process, so he must be a LEO of some sort."
I made a very deliberate choice to ensure the numerous clues that gave away the FAMs' (plural) identities weren't disclosed in my post. I hope others would extend the same curtesy.
I will say, it wasn't his printing sidearm that gave it away. I also carry concealed, and I am quite aware of the challenges faced when trying to carry a weapon concealed, yet accessible. I had to look for the telltale clues of a concealed handgun. To their credit, they all concealed their weapons well (albeit in the exact same manner, which, in itself, made the group stand out).
Jul 28, 2011, 1:59 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, WN, US, Avis, AA
Posts: 662
The OP said that the incident happened during gate screening, not screening to enter the sterile area. The OP also stated that the person tried to explain to the screener that he should not be screened.
Jul 28, 2011, 2:03 pm
#37
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
I've been wanting to see this documentary Please Remove Your Shoesbut I haven't bothered to order it yet - I was hoping it would come out on NetFlix.
However, in the trailer, there is a guy who is clearly an FAM, griping about how 'they were more concerned with our appearance - they wanted us to 'look professional' - rather than actual security.'
However, in the trailer, there is a guy who is clearly an FAM, griping about how 'they were more concerned with our appearance - they wanted us to 'look professional' - rather than actual security.'
Jul 28, 2011, 3:02 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 291
While I do not think it is supposed to work this way, recently at DCA TSA had setup to preform a gate screening on my flight to PBI.
The third person selected kept trying to talk to the male TSA employee but the employee was not hearing any of it and started to screen the man, saying things like this is for your security, etc. It turns out that TSA employee hit the man's ankle and started to laugh almost uncontrollably.
He turns to his fellow employees and says something like, we got one and finished the screening very quickly and wished the man a nice flight. The man left the gate area (I do not know if he returned) but I boarded laughing to myself that the TSA gate screening caught a FAM or at least a LEO.
Dan
The third person selected kept trying to talk to the male TSA employee but the employee was not hearing any of it and started to screen the man, saying things like this is for your security, etc. It turns out that TSA employee hit the man's ankle and started to laugh almost uncontrollably.
He turns to his fellow employees and says something like, we got one and finished the screening very quickly and wished the man a nice flight. The man left the gate area (I do not know if he returned) but I boarded laughing to myself that the TSA gate screening caught a FAM or at least a LEO.
Dan
Jul 29, 2011, 12:09 am
#39
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA/Hawaiian/Marriott
Posts: 840
Why are they checking folks at the gate....? I thought they were supposed to be catching everything during screening...?
Personally, I would have had the FSD down there screaming at him for having a Screener blow my cover at the gate....and taken another flight and had the damn airline upgrade me to 1st Class......
The only time I wouldn't have been doing that is if I was transporting a prisoner...as you just have to take that risk when you do that..... But traveling alone would have had me ticked off......
There is no reason for them to be checking folks at the gate if they were supposedly already properly screened at the checkpoint.....
Jul 29, 2011, 12:13 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA/Hawaiian/Marriott
Posts: 840
Risk one has to take when transporting prisoners..... but when flying alone i don't want anyone to know who I am.....thats why all armed LEOs should board with everyone else......
I use to have fake biz cards when I flew armed all the time out of DCA for about 4 years. Worked rather well if you can come up with a good cover story and a card. I have a HS Buddy who owns a print shop who made real nice, professional cards on the cheap for me. Still does for that matter......
Jul 29, 2011, 12:19 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA/Hawaiian/Marriott
Posts: 840
As I just posted, why are they doing checks in the gate/boarding area at DCA when they are supposed to be catching everything at the checkpoints....?
TSA management is a bunch of dumbasses. I need to get back into local LE around the KC area where I was at and start arresting screeners again....
Jul 29, 2011, 12:26 am
#42
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA/Hawaiian/Marriott
Posts: 840
They dress as they want for the most part....though, a few offices will still send folks to the airport to spy on their people to see how they are dressed.....
I got caught up in that mess a few years ago flying out of DCA. I was heading home to visit my parents and was in sweats with a hoodie and ballcap on.....and a FAMS Supervisor came up (he ask me to step off to the side then showed me his Creds) and started acting stupid with me wanting to know who I was and what FO I worked out of. After a few nasty words back from me telling what he could do to himself with my 9.5 shoe as I showed him my DOJ Creds.....I wandered off and made my way to my gate......as he stood there with a silly look on his face...
Jul 29, 2011, 6:31 am
#43
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
I read your post wrong....so it was at the gate then....
Why are they checking folks at the gate....? I thought they were supposed to be catching everything during screening...?
Personally, I would have had the FSD down there screaming at him for having a Screener blow my cover at the gate....and taken another flight and had the damn airline upgrade me to 1st Class......
The only time I wouldn't have been doing that is if I was transporting a prisoner...as you just have to take that risk when you do that..... But traveling alone would have had me ticked off......
There is no reason for them to be checking folks at the gate if they were supposedly already properly screened at the checkpoint.....
Why are they checking folks at the gate....? I thought they were supposed to be catching everything during screening...?
Personally, I would have had the FSD down there screaming at him for having a Screener blow my cover at the gate....and taken another flight and had the damn airline upgrade me to 1st Class......
The only time I wouldn't have been doing that is if I was transporting a prisoner...as you just have to take that risk when you do that..... But traveling alone would have had me ticked off......
There is no reason for them to be checking folks at the gate if they were supposedly already properly screened at the checkpoint.....
I am really not sure why TSA feels they (at gate screenings) are needed, maybe they do not trust themselves, maybe it is to justify more bodies, or maybe they really believe that it is just another layer of security.
Regardless, they do exist and occur at many airport that I travel throughout the country.
As to being upgraded to First Class, FAMs are generally in First Class to begin with (as "it is closer to the flight deck") and always on the aisle.
Dan
Jul 29, 2011, 10:06 am
#44
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