Originally Posted by Mats
Bart, it actually is the TSA.
In Atlanta, Cincinnati, and a few other airports, International Passengers arrive at a midfield location. The exit from Customs and Immigration is in a sterile concourse. One must pass through the sterile concourse to get to the airport exit.
Since passengers have had access to their checked baggage during Customs, ALL passengers must pass through TSA screening--even if they're home already and just trying to leave the airport.
There is no shuttle bus, no secured way of taking non-transit passengers directly to the Landside area.
It's really stupid.
Well, what can I say? This is a result of poor airport design. I'm pretty sure that the TSA screeners who man that checkpoint also agree with the absurdity of the situation. I'm surprised that airport management hasn't sought a better way to resolve this.