Topic moved from "MilesBuzz"

eastwest

Posts: 1509
From: OP Gold, HH Gold (Living/Freezing in Anchorage, AK)
Registered: Aug 2000
posted 03-31-2002 05:19 PM
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I know a guy who is a Psych major at UAA (University of Alaska, Anchorage) and who works as a Security Screener at ANC. He says the job is awful but they work around his school sked so he is sticking with it. Some of the stories he tells about how he is treated by pax certainly rival the horror stories about pax being mistreated by screeners.
Anyway, this last trip I decided to try a new approach. Each time a security screener was professional, I acknowledged/thanked them. In ANC, I even sought out the supervisor and said "thanks."

When security screeners ask to touch my back and/or ankles, I respond affirmatively and say, "Thank you for asking first." When they are professional about the secondary carry on search at the boarding gate, I thank them. When a security screener carefully handled my laptop as he checked it with the "swab test," I commented to him that I appreciated how he didn't throw my laptop around. And when I sought out the security supervisor to compliment him on the lack of problems/delays in security at ANC -- he was so surprised you could have knocked him over with a feather.

I can't change the FAA or their policies, but I can recognize and thank the people who make it a bit more decent and humanized. I hope you will join me in the effort.

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Lokahi

Posts: 244
From: Honolulu, Hawaii USA
Registered: Jun 2001
posted 03-31-2002 05:28 PM
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thank you eastwest for this post and for the reminder about some very basic lessons in humanity that I, to my regret, too often forget.
Aloha.

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Radiocycle

Posts: 45
From: Columbus, OH
Registered: Jan 2002
posted 03-31-2002 06:03 PM
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I was chosen as a "Selectee" for the security check at the gate at CMH and they did a thorough search and when I was ready to board the plane they passed over a bowl of Tootsie pops.
Some kind of "reward" for putting up with them?

I told them that passing out tootsie rolls was inappropiate.

Any other recent security stories?

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richard

Posts: 2460
From: UA 1K, NW Silver, AA Gold
Registered: Sep 1999
posted 03-31-2002 06:23 PM
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Great points. Thanks.
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svpii

Posts: 2037
From: Hickory, NC USA US Chairman's, AA Gold, HIlton Diamond, SWood Plat
Registered: Jun 2000
posted 03-31-2002 06:39 PM
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They could at least have made them Butterfingers
Thanks Eastwest for a valuable reminder of how to be civilized..

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Spiff

Posts: 3162
From: Louisville, KY - DL PM, AA Plat, HH Gold
Registered: May 2000
posted 03-31-2002 06:49 PM
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My vote is for 2 free drink coupons, or just scrapping these pointless checks all together.
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"Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither." - Ben Franklin

[This message has been edited by Spiff (edited 03-31-2002).]

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JoeDoakes

Posts: 117
From: Anywhere and Everywhere
Registered: Oct 2001
posted 03-31-2002 07:29 PM
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What's wrong with passing out Tootsie Pops?
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Helen123

Posts: 299
From: SD, Bay Area (sometimes)
Registered: Sep 1999
posted 03-31-2002 08:23 PM
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Thank you Eastwest for this good idea too.. def will practice this next time when being selected.
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UAL Traveler

Posts: 1537
From: EWR and BKK; UA MP:1K, TG ROP:Gold
Registered: Oct 2000
posted 03-31-2002 09:20 PM
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quote:
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Originally posted by Radiocycle:
I told them that passing out tootsie rolls was inappropiate.
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Absolutely agree 100%. I just emailed 'em and asked 'em to switch to those small bags of M&Ms. Far more paletable.

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pynchonesque

Posts: 1067
From:
Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-01-2002 03:21 AM
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Excellent post, eastwest: attitudes often mirror each other and go in cycles. Maybe this will start some good cycles.
As for the tootsie rolls, Singapore immigration officials have handed out candy for as long as I've been going there.