I was flying CDG-ORD-MSN yesterday and had to clear security at ORD before making my connection. I've seen some pretty stupid things at ORD in the past (and I don't fly nearly as often as many FTers) but this simply burned my hide.

After waiting in a 20-minute line, I was ready to go through the walk-through thing (coat and shoes in bin with prescription cream and no other liquids, carryon bag on conveyer). I was signaled to walk through the walk-through thing, which I did with no alarm. The TSA guy told me to back up, pulled an Altoids can out of his pocket, set off the alarm and told me to walk through again, which I did with no alarm. He called for "Female assist, no alarm" and sent me to the pen to be groped, ordering me (no other term for it) to sit in a chair with my back to the conveyer where my bag and bin were.

When I saw my belongings coming through the xray, I stood up and said "Excuse me, sir, but those are my belongings and I want them within my sight and under my control." He ordered me to sit in another chair that faced the conveyer belt and called again for female assist.

As the "female assist" was still not appearing, I again said that I wanted my belongings within my sight and under my control. The female TSA person then showed up and I told her I wanted my belongings in front of me. A third TSA person (young male) started bringing my bin and bag over when the female barked at him to go back to the belt while she did the grope on me.

When she finished, I went to retrieve my property and the young guy said, apologetically, "I'm sorry, I was bringing you your things because I thought you alarmed." I said, "No alarm, they apparently needed to search me for entertainment."

I was clearly angry as I put my shoes and coat back on and a couple of other passengers asked what that was about. I said I must appear to be some sort of threat but that, if the TSA wasn't going to trust me, I certainly wasn't about to trust them with my property and that it really pisses me off to be treated like a criminal.

I suppose I should feel thankful they didn't escalate and call a LEO or worse but I don't. This was simply a ridiculous show of power-tripping and I (we all) deserve better and respectful treatment.

Thank you for allowing my vent.