Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 17,987
this belongs in the Travel Security forum as it is not unique to UA.
That said I have seen this many times - it is more common in certain higher risk airports like IST and DXB.
Good for you for your questions as they should not pretend to be TSA when in fact they are simply contract workers hired by UA or the airport. However I could also see this escalating in an unpleasant way and those stories will be more instructive