As a crew member who is a very frequent flier of the security folks - I can attest to the fact that they are MUCH friendlier and helpful. They actually say things to us, ask how we're doing, ask where we're going and actually seem to care about their jobs. They also seem to have a bit of a brain in the heads they wear too. Every once in awhile there is the idiot who seems to think they are in a very high powered position and has a superiority complex. These are the kinds of people that treat crewmembers like we've never been through security before. Now, I understand they're just doing their jobs, but hello? I KNOW I have to take everything out of my pockets and I know I have to remove my hat.

In BOS last week they were so cool to me as I got the "special" search as a flight deck jumpseater. There is a new security directive out that removes uniformed or ununiformed crewmembers with a badge from the special screening at the gate. When the agent forced me to do it - as the captain stood by and shook his head and educated her in the new directive - the TSA people were like "Uh... you're a pilot, uh.. you're a crewmember - why are you here?" My response like a good little untrusted crewmember was "I can't argue, complain or refuse or I'll get fired. Search me !!"

I'm still miffed that they make more than me and that there are always TONS of them sitting around on breaks.


AZJ