Originally Posted by
chollie
(bolding mine)
This made me laugh - and frown.
I am so sick of belt monitors who get rude when they bark at me about taking out my non-existent laptop. I'm sick of effectively being called a liar because I don't have a laptop to take out. I'm sick of bullying TSOs who owe me an apology for calling me a liar.
If you are reading this and you are one of the TSOs who stand by and watch while your co-workers do this and you don't 'see something, say something', then you are equally deserving of my contempt, because by your silence, you are condoning and supporting his/her behavior.
They can, and have, questioned people in the landside areas and even in the parking lots. Authority? You have the right to refuse - and they have the right to retaliate by making you miss your flight or putting you on a watch list or calling the cops on you. If you have Pre, it will get suspended or revoked. That's all the 'authority' needed.
This happened to me a few years ago in Paris. I was yelled at in french ( security did not speak english) and I dont speak french. She wanted also my cell phone out.
Finally she was angry at me for not taking out my non existing laptop and cell phone. That she grapped another passengers laptop and cell phone and pointed at me. I just shook my head. Eventuallt she most have figured out that I did not have them. She was loud and rude.