We all know that LGA is a pretty good TSA operation. I go through there often and usually have compliments for the supervisors. But not always.

On Friday, July 14, at 3:00, I went through the C-gates checkpoint (United). I had my usual rollaboard and soft canvas book-type bag (my "personal item"). The soft bag has no solid structure at all and could easily be crushed between more solid bags on the belt, so I always put it in a plastic bin. On Friday, screener "James" (a sort of dull-looking young guy wearing a jacket) removed my bag from the bin. I asked what he was doing. He replied that I don't need a bin for that bag. I objected and took back the bin, pointing out that my bag has no solid frame of any kind and contains articles that could be damaged. I did this nicely, believe it or not. James again removed my bag from the bin, told me that bins cannot be used for bags with zippers (which mine has), and carried the bin away. I went and got another bin for my bag.

At this point, James (obviously furious) allowed the bin containing my bag to enter the x-ray machine, but he practically screamed to anybody listening, "Continuous! Continuous!" Obviously, he was trying to get me a retaliatory screening for my disobedience. Interestingly, the other screeners had seen us interacting and simply ignored him. It was kind of amazing. He again screamed "continuous" while I walked through the metal detector wearing my non-profile shoes. I took my bags from the belt, looked around to be sure that other screeners had noticed me, and kept on walking. Nobody stopped me or asked to do additional screening, even though they could not possibly have failed to hear James screaming. They just ignored him. He looked very disgusted and walked away.

I went to speak with the supervisor (the extremely competent "Alex"), who was pretty unhappy, as were two other screeners who heard my story. Alex agreed that (1) I could use a bin for my bag and (2) a retaliatory screening for such action was totally inappropriate. Alex promised to speak with James about his behavior, which I am sure will happen. I also completed a complaint form.

Bruce