Showing our thermos cup leads to hand swab and then to full patdown
Dec 31, 2010, 7:02 am
#1
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Showing our thermos cup leads to hand swab and then to full patdown
We just passed through SEA security. We're on our way to a cruise so brought along a couple of insulated coffee mugs for various beverages. Mrs. Fredd placed them separately in the tray to avoid any hassles, obviously a mistake.
The TSA then swabbed both the cups and Mrs. Fredd's hands. That's apparently SOP. The cups were deemed okay but Mrs. Fredd's hands tested positive (must be that Doubletree soap).
We didn't see any of the new scanners in operation but in any event they told her she would need a full patdown. They suggested it could be in a private room and that I could come along, but we both elected to have it done in public.
It wasn't as bad as the worst we've heard about but it's still not a great way to start your day at 5:30 a.m. It also took several minutes before two female screeners could be summoned, one to feel and the other to watch. The screeners were probably more uncomfortable doing it out in public than we were. We'd definitely recommend that to others, as has been mentioned here regularly.
Happy New Year...
The TSA then swabbed both the cups and Mrs. Fredd's hands. That's apparently SOP. The cups were deemed okay but Mrs. Fredd's hands tested positive (must be that Doubletree soap).
We didn't see any of the new scanners in operation but in any event they told her she would need a full patdown. They suggested it could be in a private room and that I could come along, but we both elected to have it done in public.
It wasn't as bad as the worst we've heard about but it's still not a great way to start your day at 5:30 a.m. It also took several minutes before two female screeners could be summoned, one to feel and the other to watch. The screeners were probably more uncomfortable doing it out in public than we were. We'd definitely recommend that to others, as has been mentioned here regularly.
Happy New Year...
Dec 31, 2010, 9:18 am
#2
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We just passed through SEA security. We're on our way to a cruise so brought along a couple of insulated coffee mugs for various beverages. Mrs. Fredd placed them separately in the tray to avoid any hassles, obviously a mistake.
The TSA then swabbed both the cups and Mrs. Fredd's hands. That's apparently SOP. The cups were deemed okay but Mrs. Fredd's hands tested positive (must be that Doubletree soap).
We didn't see any of the new scanners in operation but in any event they told her she would need a full patdown. They suggested it could be in a private room and that I could come along, but we both elected to have it done in public.
It wasn't as bad as the worst we've heard about but it's still not a great way to start your day at 5:30 a.m. It also took several minutes before two female screeners could be summoned, one to feel and the other to watch. The screeners were probably more uncomfortable doing it out in public than we were. We'd definitely recommend that to others, as has been mentioned here regularly.
Happy New Year...
The TSA then swabbed both the cups and Mrs. Fredd's hands. That's apparently SOP. The cups were deemed okay but Mrs. Fredd's hands tested positive (must be that Doubletree soap).
We didn't see any of the new scanners in operation but in any event they told her she would need a full patdown. They suggested it could be in a private room and that I could come along, but we both elected to have it done in public.
It wasn't as bad as the worst we've heard about but it's still not a great way to start your day at 5:30 a.m. It also took several minutes before two female screeners could be summoned, one to feel and the other to watch. The screeners were probably more uncomfortable doing it out in public than we were. We'd definitely recommend that to others, as has been mentioned here regularly.
Happy New Year...
and then your hands.....Did the TSO use a fresh swab for your hands after swabbing the cups? If no, I'll bet that was the problem and where I always get a shoe swab (and sometimes a hand swab as well) and have had a false positive, I follow the advice given to me here on F/t by one of our resident TSO's ^ and ask for a fresh (i.e. new out of the tin can) swab for each one of my shoes and both my hands as I don't want to run the risk of any cross contamination. Plus, I always visit the head prior to entering security and wash my hands with warm water. No soap, just warm water.
Dec 31, 2010, 1:28 pm
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As to washing hands (in water only) before going through security, that's good advice, although we've formerly found it prudent to wash our hands after undergoing security. Before and after from now on? Nothing like this to bring out my obsessive / compulsive behavior.
Dec 31, 2010, 1:57 pm
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Did you notice what Mrs. Fredd's hand tested positive for? Sorry you had to deal with this crap 
Dec 31, 2010, 2:08 pm
#5
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We don't think they know why she tested positive. They said it might be her hand cream (which she hasn't used in weeks), maybe her makeup (which she'd deliberately avoided for that reason, along with our 4:00 a.m. getting up time), and that it "happens all the time."No complaints about the TSA staff at SEA. They were uniformly pleasant and apologetic. The two females seemed taken aback by our joint request to have the search done in public, and we're appreciative of FTers for helping to shape our views on that - better in the open than in some little alcove.
It's certainly an interesting SOP for anybody carrying two insulated cups and we won't bother bringing them back with us.
Dec 31, 2010, 3:52 pm
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Dec 31, 2010, 5:12 pm
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so annoying, Fredd. i'm sure you and the mrs gave as good as you got, though, and you were totally right to get the pat-down in public. ^
mr kk recently tested (falsely) positive after a swab as well, and i'd forgotten to tell him to get a new swab...will rectify that for our next flight.
mr kk recently tested (falsely) positive after a swab as well, and i'd forgotten to tell him to get a new swab...will rectify that for our next flight.
Jan 1, 2011, 7:14 am
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Jan 1, 2011, 10:07 am
#12
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Explosive Starbucks Mugs causing intrusive pat-down in SAV.
http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13766028
What's next?
A Savannah woman said TSA workers went overboard when she passed through security with a Starbucks coffee thermos.
What's next?
Jan 1, 2011, 10:32 am
#13
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Regarding the swab of the dangerous cups and then your hands.....
Did the TSO use a fresh swab for your hands after swabbing the cups? If no, I'll bet that was the problem and where I always get a shoe swab (and sometimes a hand swab as well) and have had a false positive, I follow the advice given to me here on F/t by one of our resident TSO's ^ and ask for a fresh (i.e. new out of the tin can) swab for each one of my shoes and both my hands as I don't want to run the risk of any cross contamination. Plus, I always visit the head prior to entering security and wash my hands with warm water. No soap, just warm water.
and then your hands.....Did the TSO use a fresh swab for your hands after swabbing the cups? If no, I'll bet that was the problem and where I always get a shoe swab (and sometimes a hand swab as well) and have had a false positive, I follow the advice given to me here on F/t by one of our resident TSO's ^ and ask for a fresh (i.e. new out of the tin can) swab for each one of my shoes and both my hands as I don't want to run the risk of any cross contamination. Plus, I always visit the head prior to entering security and wash my hands with warm water. No soap, just warm water.
Jan 1, 2011, 10:37 am
#14
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We don't believe there's any such intelligence, because your agency has zero credibility. Perhaps if your agency didn't have such a track record of hysterical, bed-wetting overreactions you'd get a different response.
Jan 1, 2011, 11:06 am
#15
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And to the point that a thermos in the bag triggers a bag check? It apparently also includes a gratuitous sexual molestation, because rubbing people's genitalia is an appropriate and reasonable response to likely invented "intelligence". That is, of course, if you happen to be one of the 30% of People w/ Thermos unlucky enough to actually get caught.
Remember - 70-100% of prohibited items are actually missed by screeners.
One grope at a time...