Originally Posted by GradGirl
Hi TSAMGR,
Thanks for asking about best practices. One thing that some airports have allowed in the past: putting your jacket (with nothing in the pockets) under your laptop for padding as it goes through the xray. At first, many airports allowed this, but the rules seem to have gotten stricter. If there's any flexibility left on this point it would be appreciated.
Also, I do think it's essential that screeners not use the threat of "You won't be flying anywhere today" lightly. At BWI, I used to hear this sentence all the time, when quibbling with the slightest point of procedure with a screener. I think you're already sensitive to this point, TSAMGR, so I'll assume your airports meet this request. In addition, it would be nice if screeners were advised not to needle passengers with condescending talk. The screeners I see sometimes get a kick out of picking on people who obviously dislike or object to the screening. I've had the experience of several screeners ganging up on me to tease me for the way I looked uncomfortable or unhappy about being sent to secondary.
I think passengers do better without the intervention of a hovering person right at the x-ray entrance. I prefer to be allowed to send the stuff down the chute myself. Right or wrong, I take offense (like I wasn't moving quickly enough or I did something wrong?) when there is a screener rearranging my bags, and especially when a screener lifts things out of my hands! I know that sometimes the arrangement needs to be fixed by a screener, but the least intervention necessary would be best.
my two cents.
TSA procedure states nothing in the bins but the new bins we will pilot have foam and are set up to minimize the sliding around (sorry, I told the manufacturer we would spill the beans until they were ready, I'll give you more when I can)
As far as the "you're not flying comment", I understand what you are saying. Screeners should be referring any problems to the Supervisor and the Screening Manager. In my mind, the Screening Manager should be the only one making that determination with the LEO and Airline Supervisor. No it shouldn't be taken lightly but there are times when this must happen. We haven't done this much, but when we did it was because the passenger was so drunk they couldn't stand. The airline refused to let them fly. I have pulled screeners to the side and told them to knock off the attitude. Almost all of our screeners will great you with a smile, help you through the process and hope you have a nice flight. We had a few "wonderful" screeners but they didn't last too long.
The position you refer to is called the Bin Loader. This position serves a few functions. They are there to assist passengers set their items, make sure the bins are spaced so the X-Ray images are easier to read and don't have to be re-screened and expedite the line. We have had people just dump their bags on the divesting tables and walk through the WTMDs or wait until they get right up to the belt then divest everything thus holding up the line. I have helped out and worked this position and have found people appreciate the help.
I understand you concerns and past history but perhaps you taking offense puts the screeners on the defensive. My suggestion would be once you head toward the belt state to the screener (in a calm voice) that you prefer to load it yourself. I can't guarantee it will work.
At a lot of airports you will probably have to load your own bags on the belt. Screener numbers are getting so tight that the bin loader position has been eliminated or left vacant.