It was the worst of times, it was the best of times . . .

I've been commuting, more or less, between SFO and SNA, as we relocate to Newport Beach. This process has included flying with a fair amount of my music recording equipment in my carryon. I had no trouble until last night. In my rollaboard was an 8-track mulitrack recorder and about a dozen 8" reel-to-reel tapes. In my computer bag was another dozen tapes. I was flying Virgin America (more about that in another thread -- suffice to say, I won't fly Virgin ever again).

The worst of times.

I cleared security at Concourse A, International. When I got to the WTMD I told the TSO (who is contract, as are all the TSOs at SFO) that I had about 2 dozen recording tapes that I need hand-checked. He seemed completely flummoxed by the request and got his supervisor. I repeated (politely) my request to the supervisor. The supervisor said, "We can hand check them but they have to go through the x-ray." I told him I would not put them through, as they were irreplaceable and represented about a decade of my work from the 1980s. He said, "It's safe to put it through." I said, "No, it is not. The x-ray has a motorized conveyor belt, motors emit EMF, these are old tapes that have probably already picked up a lot of hiss just from background magnetism, and I won't risk them by putting them through. I'd like them hand inspected, please." He said, "Well, then you won't fly today." I said, "Please call the FSD." He looked surprised when I said this and said, "Just a minute." Another
TSO came over and said, "What's the problem?" I said, "I'm sorry -- are you the FSD? Because I'd like to see the FSD." The TSO said, "I'm a supervisor, the FSD isn't here." (Really?) I explained to him that I wanted the tapes hand inspected. He said, "No -- everything has to go through the x-ray. If you don't want them x-rayed, you're not flying." I said, "Fine, I won't fly. What's your name? And what's the name of the FSD?" He said, "Why do you want that?" I replied, "Because you're not following SOP and if I can't fly, I'm going to complain."

At this point, this guy got really angry (and, note, that I never raised my voice, always was polite and, needless to say, never used obscenities or anything like that). I think this was an intimidation tactic. He yelled, "Don't tell me about the SOP. I know the SOP backwards and forwards. Don't threaten me with the SOP. You're threatening me!" This is a verbatim quote. I said, "Do you think I'm threatening you?" He said, "Yes, I do." I said, "In that case, please call over a police officer." He said something like, "Don't think I won't do it." I said, "I'm sorry, you don't understand. I want a police officer. Now!" He said, "Then you'll have to wait over there," pointing to outside the security area. I said, "I'm not moving. Call a police officer. We'll both speak to him."

At this point, yet another senior TSO came over and introduced himself as a "supervisor." He asked what was the problem. I told him, "That TSO claims I threatened him. I want a police officer called right now, and I want the tapes pulled." This TSO said, "Well, wait a second -- what's the problem?" I explained what transpired and he quickly ordered a TSO to perform a hand inspection of my tapes. The TSO who performed the inspection, as well as a few others who were interested in what was going on, where all polite, friendly and helpful. When the inspection of my tapes was over, I went back to the second supervisor and told him, "Tell your colleague, attitude is everything. I'm more than happy to work with you if you work with me. I will not put up with petty intimidation."

The best of times.

After all of that, I wound up not flying on Virgin last night -- I'll write a separate post about that later. Cut to this morning -- United premium checkpoint. I get to the WTMD and tell the TSO, "I have about 2 dozen audio tapes that I can't put through the x-ray -- I'd like a hand inspection." The TSO said, "No problem, sir. Please meet me on the other side of the checkpoint." I cleared the rest of my carry-ons, met her on the other side and she promptly and efficiently hand-checked all my tapes and wished me a pleasant flight.

So ends this parable of TSA excess. Even among the subcontractors, there are good TSOs, who do their job efficiently and pleasantly, and then there are the petty martinets -- the hall monitors of the airport who delight in making life miserable for everyone. All I can say, STAND YOUR GROUND! Know your rights and don't let some little Napoleon of a TSO play, "Police State for a Day."