Originally Posted by FliesWay2Much

In spite of the sanitary issues (made more prominent by the government screwing up flu shots), making screeners change gloves is one way to assert what little authority passengers have these days. Yes, it slows things down. Yes, it inconveniences screeners. So what?

When it's time for my gate-grope or the search of my carry-on, I usually wait until the last possible second, look surprised at the screener and say (in a calm, non-threatening manner, of course), "I assume you're going to change your gloves before you touch me (or my stuff)." If I get something short of "Yes, sir" or any resistance, my next exchange is (more sternly), "That wasn't a question."

If the box of new gloves is within my view, I simply make sure I demonstratively watch him change his gloves. If he disappears behind something, I will say, "I want you to show me that the box contains fresh gloves and I want to watch you change gloves because I don't want you to just fake it." Once, in DEN, I had a screener rummage through a bunch of drawers at the checkpoint and say, "I'm sorry. I can't find any that are my size." My retort: "That sounds like a personal problem."

Making screeners change gloves is one of the few forms of social protest we have available to us. I've had screeners and their supervisors whine and complain about changing gloves, but I have never had one absolutely refuse. I'm prepared to call a cop over if that ever happens.

I know it's petty, but darn it, it's worth it every time.