Originally Posted by SQ421

Ditto!!!

In Australia.

Been through SYD and BNE numberous times over last 8 months. And don't even need to have a boarding pass. Laptop out - yes. Liquid Restrictions - yes. A couple of times, was also pulled aside for a 'random' explosives check. Even then, polite smiles all over. A friendly chat, a smile, "thank you sir" and off on my way I went.

Have rarely spent more than 20 mins in the line at a check point. With carry on baggage only and self printed boarding card, I can still reach the airport 30 minutes or so before the flight and still make it (Domestic, ofcourse). FWIW, I don't even need a boarding card to go through the security (Great to just duck in and do some plane spotting as I did when I was spending a night near SYD before catching an early morning flight. The end of pier at the Jetstart terminal is great to watch the heavies begin their takeoff rolls). The security doesn't care if I am flying or not. All it cares is I take no restricted items beyond a certain point. Whether my boarding card matches my ID, or whether I am traveling on someone elses boarding card is left for the airline to sort out. (Security is to secure the sterile area, not "revenue protection" for airlines).

Looking like I do, these explosive checks aren't all that "random". And I got no objections to profiling. But i've seen a blue eyed blonde haired guy being given the exploseve check as well, so, maybe it was something with me that day when I was given the rub of the stick, a nervous twitch, looking tense, whatever...

Have never had the (mis)fortune to transit through the United States, but after reading about the security theatre, I am not sure I want to. And no, this is not a reflection on Americans as a people.

So, here's a question, is there a reason why the TSA is not as polite and friendly as the screeners I've come across in Australia, Singapore and India who seem to be doing thier job without antagonizing anyone, and do their job just as efficiently.