SFOSpiff

I agree completely. TSA canceled the outside contractors program a few months ago, right about the time that SFO started asking your name. But then unexpectedly, TSA announced recently that it was coming back. I haven't seen any details, so I don't know if the intention is to structure the new rules in such a way that they can easily force contractors out.

Wally Bird

They are being very close-lipped about this. I'm certain that Pistole is not behind the about-face so he must have been told to do it. We won't see those details in public for sure, but I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall. ^

PhoenixRev

The big deal is that it is yet another unnecessary inconvenience and annoyance for passengers. How many more of these non "big deals" are we supposed to tolerate, especially when there is no legitimate reason for performing them?

I don't understand the need for the false choice here. Why have either of them? By giving up one for the other, you are empowering the TSA to simply add more inconveniences that provide dubious security at best.

No thanks.

TheGolfWidow

Show up with your iPhone video innocuously running on your armband and you are "interfering with the screening process," but somebody creates a ridiculous waste your time on a redundant procedure that contributes nothing and it's a "layer of security."

mulieri

If the choice is between inconvenience and intrusiveness, I would choose inconvenience every time. In an ideal world there would be neither, but if given the choice, it would not be difficult to make.

The point is that repetitive requests are simply hallmarks of inefficiency bureacracy (which exists all over the world). I would rather have a mildly inefficient system than what we have now: both inconvenient and intrusive.

milepig

But, I'll bet those checks weren't 4 feet away from each other, and in full view of the next checker.

PhoenixRev

You are still making a false choice and giving the TSA all the power.

If the TSA required you to undergo 180 ID checks before your flight and, therefore, you had to arrive at the airport 6 hours before your flight, are you okay with that?

If not, then what would you consider reasonable because from the tone of your post, as long as it is only "inconvenient" you won't mind if they demanded to check your ID for the 12 hours prior to your flight.

mulieri

Actually, TSA should be able to check my ID 72 hours before the flight with their Secure Flight program. Even If I show up 2 hours prior to the flight, they already had their 70 hours to figure out whether I am a potential threat...But I digress.

Frankly, I don't care if TSA has "all the power" to ask me for my ID repeatedly, so long as that power is limited to such mundane, albeit annoying tasks.

If that would help them understand that 'I'm still me' every four feet--fine, as long as they leave me alone otherwise: no NoS, no taking off my shoes, no limiting the size of my sunscreen, etc.

exbayern

But in my case, and in the case of others who reported here, at SFO they are asking passengers to spell their name as it appears on their boarding pass (previously to state their name). goalie was not apparently asked to do this, but it was occuring over the weekend at SFO. The only reports I have are for people carrying non-US passports, so I don't know if this is 'random' or required or just required of non-US passport holders.

Before one even reaches the line for the WTMD, one shows BP to Airserv, shows BP and ID to TDC #1, shows BP and ID to TDC #2 located less than 2 metres from TDC #1, and then one has to either spell one's name or pronounce one's name. (Again, I don't know why goalie was exempt, but in my case every person around me was asked to do this)

travfar

Is this new? It's been years now that I remember them checking your id and bp before allowing you to get in the line to get your id and bp checked.

mulieri

I do agree it is absolutely ridiculous--but it is SFO. Next, they might start making you read the so-called "foreskinman" comics or renouncing the use of plastic bags before you get through security.

goalie

But having this done just 6 feet away from where it was just done and already in line?

Where? At a U.S. airport or international one?

InkUnderNails

There are airports, ONT for one, in which the rope line is at the top of the escalator and it is difficult, but not impossible to back out if you go up by accident. There is an ID/BP checker at the bottom of the escalator that gives it a cursory check so that when one goes up to the real ID/BP TDC line, at least everyone has shown they have an ID/BP to check. Without the precheck, some travel naive people could go up the escalator before checking in with their airline.

It is more than 6 feet, however.

exbayern

I said 2 metres (= approx 6 feet). I believe that goalie may have said 4 feet. He is probably correct; I was rounding up.

InkUnderNails

There are logical reasons to check it twice, but I agree, not in 6.56167979 feet or especially 1.2192 meters.

This would be a great opportunity to use my backup BP. I always print two, just in case. What will TDC #2 say when it does not have TDC #1's magic squiggle? I was just 1.2192 meters away and he saw me get checked.

BTW, why 2? It is great fun for the gate checks. I will hand one to the OA and the other to the TSO. (I started doing it after spilling coffee on one.)