@:-)
Originally Posted by Bart
It all boils down to this (and this has already been covered ad nauseum in other message threads, but it seems worth repeating):
If you are a selectee, that is, have the SSSS on your ticket, TSA wants to screen you at the checkpoint where it is more convenient for both you the passenger and TSA screeners. If you are not selectee-screened at the checkpoint, then you will be screened at the gate moments before your flight is ready to depart. While selectee screening used to be conducted at the gates, TSA figured it would be more efficient to do it at the checkpoint.
The reason for all the visual checks of the boarding passes is to make sure a selectee doesn't slip past the checkpoint. Overkill? Perhaps so. But ask yourself this: don't you want to get the selectee screening out of the way once and for all at the checkpoint? Or do you want to wait until you're about to board the aircraft? Makes no difference to me. I get paid just the same.
Bart,
I usually appreciate you thoughtful, informative answers here, and next time I'm in SAT, I'm going to look for you just to say "hi", but from what you're saying, the TSAers don't seem to think their employees can do a very good job of seeing SSSS on the BP, so they need 5 people to look at it. Maybe they need to make sure their screeners can read english.
I've only experienced this at SJC, so I guess they are less competent than the other airports. I haven't had this happen at your checkpoint, ever.
What happens if the 5th screener misses it too? Maybe they should add a 6th and 7th BP verification as well.
Or maybe, instead, send 4 of them home and quit wasting our money.