New policy for families?
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2006
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New policy for families?
Just arrived from EWR, traveling with my wife and 3 year old daughter. At security, told one of us "has to got through the scope". When I said I would do it but opt out, he said "Then all of you will get a pat-down" Since I didn't want my wife or daughter subject to groping, I took it for the team by going through the scanner.
Is this a new policy?
Is this a new policy?
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
Can you imagine a bigger security loophole than letting a group traveling together decide which one of them will go through the NOS? The guy with the metal parts up his bum will choose the NOS, and the one with the non-metallic parts taped to her torso will choose the WTMD.
This is a case where you should refuse to make the choice, and call over a supervisor. One a TSO decides who should go through the scope, that passenger is entitled to opt out. If one passenger opts out, and the TSOs pat down other members of the party due to the decision to opt out, that would be retaliatory and a basis for disciplinary action.
This is a case where you should refuse to make the choice, and call over a supervisor. One a TSO decides who should go through the scope, that passenger is entitled to opt out. If one passenger opts out, and the TSOs pat down other members of the party due to the decision to opt out, that would be retaliatory and a basis for disciplinary action.
Last edited by janetdoe; Jul 5, 2011 at 9:30 am
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
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I always found it funny that at an unnamed agent at an unnamed airline at an unnamed airport printed our boarding passes, and noticed that mine was SSSS. They casually said you've probably been through this before, give your wife your carry on and all the stuff in your pockets and you will be through before the regular line.
Security at it's finest. Guess they are working to prevent that now.
Security at it's finest. Guess they are working to prevent that now.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Just arrived from EWR, traveling with my wife and 3 year old daughter. At security, told one of us "has to got through the scope". When I said I would do it but opt out, he said "Then all of you will get a pat-down" Since I didn't want my wife or daughter subject to groping, I took it for the team by going through the scanner.
My personal view is that toddlers ARE terrorists, but not the kind that need to be subjected to that kind of abuse.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
As for the new family policy,this sounds remarkably like the statement that castrobenes made:
Interesting thread...I have never seen this requirement implemented. However I don't have any problem with a TSO asking for a passenger to pronounce his name at the TDC station. If that passenger doesn't want to communicate with the TSO or supervisor, then I don't see how your ID can be verified.
If you just want to insult TSOs, well then you and every member of your family is getting a pat down.
castro
If you just want to insult TSOs, well then you and every member of your family is getting a pat down.
castro
#7
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As for the new family policy,this sounds remarkably like the statement that castrobenes made:
"Then all of you will get a pat-down"
Which made me wonder if it is now policy?
#8
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 616
This seems like another one of the "choices" the TSA keeps telling us we have. They are going to try to make one member of the party go through the NoS to prevent the entire party getting groped. Also, this will probably be used by the TSA to say there is an increase in the number of people "voluntarily" choosing the NoS.
This does seem to be a potential security problem. A group could definitely take advantage of this by letting them pick their method of screening.
This does seem to be a potential security problem. A group could definitely take advantage of this by letting them pick their method of screening.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,145
There are a number of reasons, and this is one of them, that traveling companions might not want to appear to be transiting the checkpoint together. Where possible, put one/some of the children with one adult, and after one or two others join the line (or after stopping to pass time adjusting one's shoelaces...) the rest of the party steps into the line behind them. Don't all step up to the podium together; don't create a party to retaliate against.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
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#11
Join Date: Jul 2003
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As for the new family policy,this sounds remarkably like the statement that castrobenes made:
#12
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 959
Nope...they probably just made this up on the spot!!
#13
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There are a number of reasons, and this is one of them, that traveling companions might not want to appear to be transiting the checkpoint together. Where possible, put one/some of the children with one adult, and after one or two others join the line (or after stopping to pass time adjusting one's shoelaces...) the rest of the party steps into the line behind them. Don't all step up to the podium together; don't create a party to retaliate against.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
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I went through with wife and two very young children at IAH a couple of weeks ago, and each of us took one child (both under two) and just walked through the wtmd. It was actually very fast as they had a machine I had never seen used before, that they put each bottle of liquid in and a few seconds later we were cleared. This was faster than last year, where we only had one child, which my wife carried, then they send me through nude-o-scope, which I opted out of. I was the only one to get a pat down, and the TSA agent at that time said "I'm glad I don't have to go through them".
You never know with TSA. Policy is "Adjusted" on the spot. I was pleasantly surprised by the machines they used on the liquids. It was quick and painless.
You never know with TSA. Policy is "Adjusted" on the spot. I was pleasantly surprised by the machines they used on the liquids. It was quick and painless.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 283
The TSO should be fired immediately for such retaliatory/coercive behavior. This is the main problem with a family trip, with such capricious actions, you never know when you will have to compromise yourself...either to submit or deal with the financial consequences of answering "NOT LIKE THIS" to the DY...T question.