Originally Posted by macska
TSA John: Welcome to Flyertalk!
I know that my underwire will set off the detector, so I wear a tank top with a shelf bra when I fly. Likewise, I have a pair of shoes without metal that I always wear. I don't like getting felt up when I fly nor do I like getting my bags rifled through. I'm sure you guys don't enjoy it any more than I do. What other things can I do when I fly to avoid unintenionally triggering a search? I recently learned that a keychain can look like the detonator of a grenade, so I'll be mindful of that when I pack.
Another concern I have is that if my bag is searched or my laptop is swabbing, I want to be right there. I don't like the thought of someone else grabbing my laptop off the belt, and taking it aside for swabbing unless I am watching. I also don't like the thought of someone digging through my bag unless I am right there to make sure they put on clean gloves and so I can see exactly what they touch (cause if they touch my undies, those go straight in the trash). What tips do you have so that we can all deal with this with a minimum of pain?
I don't want to get too detailed, but here are a few tips. You can also check out the TSA Web Page for
TSA TRAVEL TIPS
It sounds like you're doing the right thing with the walk through. Every now and then you'll be picked at random, but there is nothing you can do about that. IF IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU REMOVE YOUR SHOES, YOU SHOULD DO IT. THIS WILL SAVE YOU TIME.
As far as bag searches, keep the clutter out of your bag like change, jewelry, keys, heavy electronics, etc. The easier it is for us to see in your bag, the less likely it is that we'll look into it. The majority of bag searches we perform are due to cluttered objects that are unrecognizable. If you know something gets you flagged, take it out and run it separately. For example, if you have a pair of rounded scissors in your bag, take them out an run them in a bowl. They look sharp on the X-ray. Put your change in a baggy and run it separately etc. Lay your bag flat and don't put anything on top of your lap top and you'll avoid the timely hassle of a re-run.
As far as bag searches go, they must be performed in your presence. You can also request that the screener put on fresh gloves. They have to do it. If these things are not happening, ask for a supervisor. If the SUP won’t do anything, contact the TSA and take it up the ladder.