respect for the elderly
Apr 1, 2015, 10:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
respect for the elderly
Impatiently I waited for the guy in front of me to amble his way along the long, long walkway to the TSA check-point. I was in the pre-check line, and he was as well. But he was in front of me, and walked very slowly.
But he's old, with white hair.
And he didn't have any documents out when he arrived. He set his briefcase down to dig inside for his boarding pass. And then get his wallet.
I impatiently waited. I made a motion to move forward so I could get through but the TSA agent waved me down.
So I waited, until the old man's boarding pass was scanned. One beep. He wasn't even TSA precheck.
The agent escorted him to another line.
Was the agent's behavior good? After all, the agent is basically a front-desk clerk, and his job is to keep people happy. They obviously don't do much "checking" (as evidenced by all the people getting into the airport without a valid boarding pass).
Is their responsibility to the people who should actually be in the pre-check line, to speed it along?
Should we just respect the elderly and let them do what they want?
But he's old, with white hair.
And he didn't have any documents out when he arrived. He set his briefcase down to dig inside for his boarding pass. And then get his wallet.
I impatiently waited. I made a motion to move forward so I could get through but the TSA agent waved me down.
So I waited, until the old man's boarding pass was scanned. One beep. He wasn't even TSA precheck.
The agent escorted him to another line.
Was the agent's behavior good? After all, the agent is basically a front-desk clerk, and his job is to keep people happy. They obviously don't do much "checking" (as evidenced by all the people getting into the airport without a valid boarding pass).
Is their responsibility to the people who should actually be in the pre-check line, to speed it along?
Should we just respect the elderly and let them do what they want?
Apr 1, 2015, 10:54 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
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Posts: 21,690
I can see that those lost 30 seconds have made a profound impact on your life. 
Let it go. You'll be old some day, if you're lucky, as it sure beats the alternative.
And as I understand it, the TSA's job is to keep weapons off aircraft.
Let it go. You'll be old some day, if you're lucky, as it sure beats the alternative.
And as I understand it, the TSA's job is to keep weapons off aircraft.
Apr 1, 2015, 11:15 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: United 1K (Star Alliance Gold) IHG Platinum
Posts: 226
In all fairness, there should probably be some sort of special line for the elderly to allow them extra time to get through security without feeling pressured. While we're at it, let's have a kids line to allow parents the time to get through security without feeling pressured also. (not to mention to keep kids out of our way, right?)
However, which airport do you know of has the space/extra lines to do this? The best thing you can do is get to your airport as early as possible and take a few deep breaths. Or if you really can't handle it, you can start drinking before you go through security, though I believe most people save it for the lounge, but if you're that impatient....
However, which airport do you know of has the space/extra lines to do this? The best thing you can do is get to your airport as early as possible and take a few deep breaths. Or if you really can't handle it, you can start drinking before you go through security, though I believe most people save it for the lounge, but if you're that impatient....
Apr 1, 2015, 11:17 am
#4
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What else was the agent supposed to do? Guy wasn't pre-check.
If your argument is that in the bigger picture, we should *all* be proceeding through a checkpoint that looks like the pre-check process, because the other stuff is just security theatre anyway, then you won't get much disagreement from me.
But with today's rules, and for that front-line agent, that's probably correct protocol. Politely redirect the non-pre-check guy over to the nude-o-scopes and shoe fetishists.
I don't see how age matters, beyond the fact that he gets to keep his shoes on in either line.
Also, the TSA's job isn't to keep people happy. If that were their job, they would have to start by disbanding.
If your argument is that in the bigger picture, we should *all* be proceeding through a checkpoint that looks like the pre-check process, because the other stuff is just security theatre anyway, then you won't get much disagreement from me.
But with today's rules, and for that front-line agent, that's probably correct protocol. Politely redirect the non-pre-check guy over to the nude-o-scopes and shoe fetishists.
I don't see how age matters, beyond the fact that he gets to keep his shoes on in either line.
Also, the TSA's job isn't to keep people happy. If that were their job, they would have to start by disbanding.
Apr 1, 2015, 11:39 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,857
What else was the agent supposed to do? Guy wasn't pre-check.
If your argument is that in the bigger picture, we should *all* be proceeding through a checkpoint that looks like the pre-check process, because the other stuff is just security theatre anyway, then you won't get much disagreement from me.
But with today's rules, and for that front-line agent, that's probably correct protocol. Politely redirect the non-pre-check guy over to the nude-o-scopes and shoe fetishists.
I don't see how age matters, beyond the fact that he gets to keep his shoes on in either line.
Also, the TSA's job isn't to keep people happy. If that were their job, they would have to start by disbanding.
If your argument is that in the bigger picture, we should *all* be proceeding through a checkpoint that looks like the pre-check process, because the other stuff is just security theatre anyway, then you won't get much disagreement from me.
But with today's rules, and for that front-line agent, that's probably correct protocol. Politely redirect the non-pre-check guy over to the nude-o-scopes and shoe fetishists.
I don't see how age matters, beyond the fact that he gets to keep his shoes on in either line.
Also, the TSA's job isn't to keep people happy. If that were their job, they would have to start by disbanding.
Apr 1, 2015, 11:41 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: TK*G
Posts: 267
Apr 1, 2015, 11:44 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: United 1K (Star Alliance Gold) IHG Platinum
Posts: 226
Anyone who wants to see what serious VIP status in a security line looks like should fly domestic in India. Having the attendant assigned to push you past everyone is interesting...
Apr 1, 2015, 11:59 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: AAdvantage 2 million, Marriott Gold
Posts: 960
So them elderly can do what they want, in the wrong place, cause they are old? Does he get to leave his car curbside for the 10 days he is gone because it's closer? Or since he had a bad disease and does not want a wheel chair so he does not feel old? While I don't agree with the tactics of the TSA, he does not belong there, so he should be sent to the other line. No reason but APPROVED should get you in that line.
Yes, I heard a woman once say she should use Pre because she had had breast cancer. How many exceptions can you have that are valid and not valid? I have had a brain tumor, really.
That should not get me Pre, but should be used to avoid any doses of radiation I don't want and take the pat down. The tumor, etc, does not prevent me from following the rules or exempt me from being secure and practicing being secure. If it can, I don't need to pay for people parking ANYWHERE ANDcan park at the fire hydrant if it's he only space. And on and on it goes...
Yes, I heard a woman once say she should use Pre because she had had breast cancer. How many exceptions can you have that are valid and not valid? I have had a brain tumor, really.
That should not get me Pre, but should be used to avoid any doses of radiation I don't want and take the pat down. The tumor, etc, does not prevent me from following the rules or exempt me from being secure and practicing being secure. If it can, I don't need to pay for people parking ANYWHERE ANDcan park at the fire hydrant if it's he only space. And on and on it goes...
Apr 1, 2015, 12:05 pm
#10
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In all fairness, there should probably be some sort of special line for the elderly to allow them extra time to get through security without feeling pressured. While we're at it, let's have a kids line to allow parents the time to get through security without feeling pressured also. (not to mention to keep kids out of our way, right?)
However, which airport do you know of has the space/extra lines to do this? The best thing you can do is get to your airport as early as possible and take a few deep breaths. Or if you really can't handle it, you can start drinking before you go through security, though I believe most people save it for the lounge, but if you're that impatient....
However, which airport do you know of has the space/extra lines to do this? The best thing you can do is get to your airport as early as possible and take a few deep breaths. Or if you really can't handle it, you can start drinking before you go through security, though I believe most people save it for the lounge, but if you're that impatient....
Apr 1, 2015, 12:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SMF
Programs: Hilton Diamond-Marriott Platinum-life
Posts: 1,015
So them elderly can do what they want, in the wrong place, cause they are old? Does he get to leave his car curbside for the 10 days he is gone because it's closer? Or since he had a bad disease and does not want a wheel chair so he does not feel old? While I don't agree with the tactics of the TSA, he does not belong there, so he should be sent to the other line. No reason but APPROVED should get you in that line.
Yes, I heard a woman once say she should use Pre because she had had breast cancer. How many exceptions can you have that are valid and not valid? I have had a brain tumor, really.
That should not get me Pre, but should be used to avoid any doses of radiation I don't want and take the pat down. The tumor, etc, does not prevent me from following the rules or exempt me from being secure and practicing being secure. If it can, I don't need to pay for people parking ANYWHERE ANDcan park at the fire hydrant if it's he only space. And on and on it goes...
Yes, I heard a woman once say she should use Pre because she had had breast cancer. How many exceptions can you have that are valid and not valid? I have had a brain tumor, really.
That should not get me Pre, but should be used to avoid any doses of radiation I don't want and take the pat down. The tumor, etc, does not prevent me from following the rules or exempt me from being secure and practicing being secure. If it can, I don't need to pay for people parking ANYWHERE ANDcan park at the fire hydrant if it's he only space. And on and on it goes...
Apr 1, 2015, 12:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,857
So them elderly can do what they want, in the wrong place, cause they are old? Does he get to leave his car curbside for the 10 days he is gone because it's closer? Or since he had a bad disease and does not want a wheel chair so he does not feel old? While I don't agree with the tactics of the TSA, he does not belong there, so he should be sent to the other line. No reason but APPROVED should get you in that line.
Yes, I heard a woman once say she should use Pre because she had had breast cancer. How many exceptions can you have that are valid and not valid? I have had a brain tumor, really.
That should not get me Pre, but should be used to avoid any doses of radiation I don't want and take the pat down. The tumor, etc, does not prevent me from following the rules or exempt me from being secure and practicing being secure. If it can, I don't need to pay for people parking ANYWHERE ANDcan park at the fire hydrant if it's he only space. And on and on it goes...
Yes, I heard a woman once say she should use Pre because she had had breast cancer. How many exceptions can you have that are valid and not valid? I have had a brain tumor, really.
That should not get me Pre, but should be used to avoid any doses of radiation I don't want and take the pat down. The tumor, etc, does not prevent me from following the rules or exempt me from being secure and practicing being secure. If it can, I don't need to pay for people parking ANYWHERE ANDcan park at the fire hydrant if it's he only space. And on and on it goes...
Apr 1, 2015, 1:16 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Impatiently I waited for the guy in front of me to amble his way along the long, long walkway to the TSA check-point. I was in the pre-check line, and he was as well. But he was in front of me, and walked very slowly.
But he's old, with white hair.
And he didn't have any documents out when he arrived. He set his briefcase down to dig inside for his boarding pass. And then get his wallet.
I impatiently waited. I made a motion to move forward so I could get through but the TSA agent waved me down.
So I waited, until the old man's boarding pass was scanned. One beep. He wasn't even TSA precheck.
The agent escorted him to another line.
Was the agent's behavior good? After all, the agent is basically a front-desk clerk, and his job is to keep people happy. They obviously don't do much "checking" (as evidenced by all the people getting into the airport without a valid boarding pass).
Is their responsibility to the people who should actually be in the pre-check line, to speed it along?
Should we just respect the elderly and let them do what they want?
But he's old, with white hair.
And he didn't have any documents out when he arrived. He set his briefcase down to dig inside for his boarding pass. And then get his wallet.
I impatiently waited. I made a motion to move forward so I could get through but the TSA agent waved me down.
So I waited, until the old man's boarding pass was scanned. One beep. He wasn't even TSA precheck.
The agent escorted him to another line.
Was the agent's behavior good? After all, the agent is basically a front-desk clerk, and his job is to keep people happy. They obviously don't do much "checking" (as evidenced by all the people getting into the airport without a valid boarding pass).
Is their responsibility to the people who should actually be in the pre-check line, to speed it along?
Should we just respect the elderly and let them do what they want?
Had it been a younger person who was slow, and/or disorganized in his paperwork, why would it make any difference? The guy ended up being in the wrong line - not the first time that has happened; won't be the last. The TSA person showed him to the correct line. I wasn't aware that there is a special TSA statute that someone in a hurry gets to be waived in front of someone who isn't.
I doubt the half a minute or so of "delay" impacted you...if it did, then you should've arrived earlier to the airport.
If you truly were running late, you certainly could have politely asked the man, while you were both walking down the walkway, if you could pass in front of him as you're late for a flight. Most people will usually oblige such a request if done in a civil manner - though they're not obligated to do so.
And if you weren't running late, just relax - you'll live longer!
Apr 1, 2015, 1:32 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 506
Yes, they deserve our respect and more.
My mother is routed through Pre-Check all the time because
she is elderly.
In fact, she even gets away with telling the TSA agents "Well,
its not like I am a terrorist or anything Sonny!"
I'm sure one day she will use "carrying a bomb" instead of "a terrorist" and they will all just grin themselves silly realizing she is
no threat to anyone.
Impatient? Did you show up late for the flight again?
My mother is routed through Pre-Check all the time because
she is elderly.
In fact, she even gets away with telling the TSA agents "Well,
its not like I am a terrorist or anything Sonny!"
I'm sure one day she will use "carrying a bomb" instead of "a terrorist" and they will all just grin themselves silly realizing she is
no threat to anyone.
Impatient? Did you show up late for the flight again?