Originally Posted by Mats

I missed a flight in Tucson, Arizona because of SPOT. I arrived 60 minutes in advance my flight with hand luggage only, and I had already checked in.

A man in <TSA> uniform felt the need to question every passenger with absurd questions and strange grammar. Many people missed their flights. The staff from United were in an uproar because they had to re-accommodate so many people. Passengers were crying in the queue, knowing that they'd miss their flights.

Tucson actually has customs and boarder patrol as well: an immigration officer stops and questions "select" passengers, by which I mean women who look Hispanic/Latina and who are carrying Mexican passports. (There are no international flights from the airport).

So you have to deal with the SPOTnik and, if you're unlucky or have the indecency to be brown-skinned, you get CBP too. (Yes, it's legal, due to proximity to the Mexican border.)

The actual TSA metal detector and x-ray was less than five minutes This featured a a TSA man raising his voice that I didn't have a laptop. He didn't believe me. I guess I had time go buy one and come back.

I'm sure that SPOT saved millions of lives that day. I should probably arrange for a medal of honour for the SPOT officer who helped me and others miss their flights that day. He's a hero.

I still question the constitutional ability for the TSA screening to begin outside of "TSA custody." My understanding is that screening begins when one presents identification and a boarding card. But the SPOT questioning that delayed everyone took pace before entering the TSA's control. Has anyone ever challenged them on this?