einTier

I used to fly all the time, and I've had my own battles with the TSA over the years. A few years ago, I'd had enough and transferred into a job title where I no longer have to travel. I've been enjoying avoiding the TSA.

Until this weekend. I had to fly AUS->JFK and back again. I knew AUS had finally installed the pornoscanners, though they seem to be the new sort that only uses the gumby image. JFK uses the old style.

What I wasn't prepared for was the additional hassle. Lines at AUS have increased at least 100% since these devices were installed. I can't remember security taking longer than half an hour except on special days, this was just a run-of-the-mill Thursday and it still took an hour.

I digress. My biggest concern was that at both airports when I opted out, I was immediately separated from luggage and placed in an area where I could no longer view my luggage. Moving where I could see it absolutely enraged the TSA agents in Austin and they took their sweet time waiting for someone to come over and grope me. I watched at least one guy try to walk off with my luggage before my girlfriend (who got through first and quicker) stopped them. It would have been a nightmare had I been traveling alone. The supervisor took the attitude of, "guess you shouldn't opt out then."

Similar things happened at JFK except I got through quicker and the GF and I coordinated so that one of us was able to keep an eye on things at all times. Still no idea how I should handle it in the future.

What am I supposed to do? They tell me to never leave my bags unattended, then force me to do so if I want to skip having nudie pictures taken of myself.

T.J. Bender

The TSA's own website says to insist that you be able to see your luggage at all times. I always opt out, and if I can't see my belongings, I tell the TSO as much, then tell them that I'm moving over a few feet to where I can, and then I do so. Don't make it a question, just state your intentions and do it. If the TSO freaks out because you moved three feet to the left, tough dookie for them. And if I were to observe someone trying to steal my luggage off the line, TSA be damned, I'm running over there and taking them down myself.

The "guess you shouldn't opt out then" attitude is totally unacceptable. While the actions involved with an opt-out frequently are punitive in nature, they're not supposed to be. If that line is a direct quote, you should have asked for a three-striper (an actual supervisor--many two-stripers will refer to themselves as the "supervisor") immediately. If you were already dealing with someone wearing three stripes, take a look at their ID, address them by name and number (two reasons: one, it helps you remember their number, and two, it REALLY drives them nuts), and tell them that you would like a comment card. They're not supposed to refuse to give you one, but occasionally one will. If that happens, tell them that you expect either a comment card or the FSD to be presented to you within the next 30 seconds. That also gets a great reaction.

Also, absolutely opt out at JFK. They use backscatter x-ray scanners as opposed to the (theoretically) safer MMW technology that AUS has.

Track

Recently at JFK (Terminal 1) when I opted out, the TSA person made a point of saying we would wait until my carry-on bag (and jacket, etc.) had gone through the X-ray machine before moving off for the groping. He then collected all my stuff and asked me whether there was anything else coming through. It was all very professional and courteous.

Ord Liza

When I calmly and politely told the TSA worker at LAX that I would need to stand where I could see my things, he rolled his eyes in a really exaggerated way and then announced to the others in a loud voice "We've got another crazy here." I had one at ORD get immediately belligerent. He literally shoved his face up to mine and started a routine about what do you think, we're thiefs? That's the type of behavior you can expect; doesn't really instill a lot of confidence in me that they know what their focus should be.

bobob

I had a run-in at DFW last week for the same reason. When I moved three feet over where I could see my belongings the screener went nuts and threatened to send me back outside and stand in line again. I wish I could have taken a picture of his face when I asked him if his reason for separating me from my belongings was to make it easier for the other screeners to steal my stuff.

InkUnderNails

If you know you are going to opt out and watching your bag may be a problem, just put a big bottle of water right on top just under the lid and seal it up with cable ties. They will watch it for you. When they open it say, "Oops, forgot that was in there."

Loren Pechtel

Exactly. While I've never needed to do it that's how I would handle it. I'm keeping my luggage in view, if that puts me somewhere other than where they want me, too bad.

MMW doesn't bother me. I find the evidence of danger from low frequency stuff very lacking.

rankourabu

I was told at LAX
"sir if you opt out, you give up your right to see your belongings"

I said, ok, I ll just check that with a supervisor when we're done...

The low-rank continued with something about if its busy, it can happen, blah blah... I wasnt interested in more conversation.

As an aside, saw my first opt-out at LAX. 1 in 100,000 sheeple.

T.J. Bender

Did they try to force the opt-out through the scanners anyway? Had that happen to me twice there, where after opting out I've been instructed to go through the BKSX before my pat-down. Fun times arguing that point with LAX's particularly sorry excuses for TSA screeners.

Also, being told that opting out involves giving up the right to see belongings would prompt me to ask for a LEO to come over and watch them, because the TSOs are clearly planning to commit theft.

gobluetwo

Just insist that you keep your things in view. The vast majority of TSA employees I've encountered seem to know the drill and acquiesce when I tell them I want to keep an eye on my things.

Last week in SEA, the lady told me to stand to the side where I couldn't see my things coming out of the xray. I moved over and said I'd like to stand here so I can see my bags. She pushed back, so I pushed back. As she didn't want to deal with my polite self (and I was polite), she just let me go on the other side of the gate. A few seconds later, a male TSA employee came over, asked me which bags were mine, collected them, and placed them on a table right in front of me as I was being patted down.

Lesson - don't act helpless. If anything, they generally don't want to deal with you and will just give in. It helps to be civil, if not polite. Being belligerent just primes them to treat you poorly.

Wally Bird

Correct. If you can't see your stuff, simply refuse to "assume the position" for the grope. Impasse.

squeakr

T.J. Bender

I treat people with the same level of respect that they treat me. That includes TSOs. Any interaction with them starts out pleasant on my part, and if they return the feeling, we're not going to have any problems. If I'm told to stand somewhere that I can't see my belongings, I'm going to move so that I can see my belongings. If they respond by acknowledging that, or even by ignoring me, that's the end of the conversation. It's when they feel the need to make a scene of it by yelling, shrieking, howling, screaming for divine intervention, whatever, that I ask for a supervisor. You'd be amazed how quickly a one-striper goes berserk when you ask for a supervisor, and you'd be equally amazed how quickly a two-striper with a bad attitude goes berserk when, after he's sat there and continued to insist that his screener was in the right by telling you not to move three feet to your left, you tell him that you asked for a supervisor and you want a supervisor, not a lead.

Treat others as you want to be treated. If screeners insist on treating me like a two-year-old, guess what? I insist on treating them like a disapproving parent.

Not an impasse at all, as you're refusing to submit to screening at that point, and a supervisor with a God complex can have you escorted off the property.

MrHalliday

.. Maybe, ... but this probably was a "special day",
smack in the middle of AUS's biggest festival of the year.
All the TV stations were running warnings to get there 2 hours early.

einTier

A special day for arrivals, sure. For departures, not so much. Other than the TSA lines, it didn't seem any busier than any other day I've been there. I have to fly out again before long, I'll see if the long lines hold true.