Originally Posted by Bart
Still, you have those who will quibble over wording. I disagree that a TSA supervisor should show the SOP to a passenger on demand. However, I think TSA could do a better job of explaining things to passengers on request after it's been scrutinized by the legal advisors. In other words, TSA responds in writing as opposed to having one of its supervisors show the SOP to an unauthorized person. Members of the general public are unauthorized personnel.
Bart, thank you for your constant attempts to explain procedure and policy, based on your ‘insider’ perspective. Normally I can follow your explanations (irrespective of whether I agree or disagree) however this one has left me behind.
I'm curious as why you think that showing a section of the SOP should never happen. Reviewing a specific section is not handing out full procedure manuals to every 'terrorist' so they can look for loopholes… and to me, seeing that specific section of a SOP manual proves the agent has a clue what SOP really is, and is not just making it up as they go along
The OP indicated that they did not know the real policy in this case – an example of cases where inconsistent screening leads to misunderstanding. Sharing SOP on the spot resolves this concern. For travelers who had no previous misconception, it is even easier because they do not have to un-learn anything first.
Without a doubt, you will find the wanna-be-lawyer who will try to twist the wording of the SOP to mean what they want, however nothing will make them cooperate anyways. I cannot see how promising a written explanation some time (days/weeks) after their scheduled flight or a generic pamphlet would convince this type let it go and act 'normal'
