Chat Down at DTW
Dec 26, 2011 | 11:02 am
#106
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: SW Rapid Rewards, Hilton Honors, Marriott, Avis First
Posts: 4,831
Flew out of DTW a few days ago and got the podium interrogation - I wasn't aware of the pilot program going on so I was a bit off-guard for this asinine experience...gave the screener my US passport and both my boarding passes for my flight to ATL and my final destination, and the screener started with:
"Hi, my name is (screener's name), and I'm going to ask you some security-related questions"
"Where do you live?"
(Ontario, Canada)
"What do you do there?"
(student)
"Are you going to Atlanta (my connecting point)?"
(no)
"Why are you going to (destination city)?
(Visit my parents over the holidays)
"So since your parents live there, did you use to live in (destination city) then?"
(no)
"Where did you live then before you moved to Canada?"
(discourse on my life's history after I graduated college in 2007)
"Ok, go ahead"
Laughable experience in the extreme...this tactic might work in Israel where they know what they are doing and are damn good at it, but applied en masse to our fine uneducated friends in the TSA? Very disturbing thought...
"Hi, my name is (screener's name), and I'm going to ask you some security-related questions"
"Where do you live?"
(Ontario, Canada)
"What do you do there?"
(student)
"Are you going to Atlanta (my connecting point)?"
(no)
"Why are you going to (destination city)?
(Visit my parents over the holidays)
"So since your parents live there, did you use to live in (destination city) then?"
(no)
"Where did you live then before you moved to Canada?"
(discourse on my life's history after I graduated college in 2007)
"Ok, go ahead"
Laughable experience in the extreme...this tactic might work in Israel where they know what they are doing and are damn good at it, but applied en masse to our fine uneducated friends in the TSA? Very disturbing thought...
Dec 26, 2011 | 2:35 pm
#107
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Dec 26, 2011 | 3:50 pm
#109
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: SW Rapid Rewards, Hilton Honors, Marriott, Avis First
Posts: 4,831
It just kills me that that all the TSA has to say is "It's security related" and many Americans will breathe a sign of relief and thank their lucky stars the crack TSA team is thwarting terrorism because, as we all know, the terrorists are hiding out saying, "If only they didn't ask where we lived 20 years ago, we could have brought America to its knees!"
Dec 26, 2011 | 4:23 pm
#110
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
Since MUC is a shopper's paradise including the large mall in the central area and often outdoor markets, is one of the only places in the area to shop on a Sunday or holiday, and offers free parking with two hours of shopping, it really falls into the stupid question category.
Fortunately when I have responded in that fashion, they never pressed any further. Apparently they too know that the question does nothing to further security.
Dec 26, 2011 | 4:31 pm
#111
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,006
Flew out of DTW a few days ago and got the podium interrogation - I wasn't aware of the pilot program going on so I was a bit off-guard for this asinine experience...gave the screener my US passport and both my boarding passes for my flight to ATL and my final destination, and the screener started with:
"Hi, my name is (screener's name), and I'm going to ask you some security-related questions"
"Where do you live?"
(Ontario, Canada)
"What do you do there?"
(student)
"Are you going to Atlanta (my connecting point)?"
(no)
"Why are you going to (destination city)?
(Visit my parents over the holidays)
"So since your parents live there, did you use to live in (destination city) then?"
(no)
"Where did you live then before you moved to Canada?"
(discourse on my life's history after I graduated college in 2007)
"Ok, go ahead"
Laughable experience in the extreme...this tactic might work in Israel where they know what they are doing and are damn good at it, but applied en masse to our fine uneducated friends in the TSA? Very disturbing thought...
"Hi, my name is (screener's name), and I'm going to ask you some security-related questions"
"Where do you live?"
(Ontario, Canada)
"What do you do there?"
(student)
"Are you going to Atlanta (my connecting point)?"
(no)
"Why are you going to (destination city)?
(Visit my parents over the holidays)
"So since your parents live there, did you use to live in (destination city) then?"
(no)
"Where did you live then before you moved to Canada?"
(discourse on my life's history after I graduated college in 2007)
"Ok, go ahead"
Laughable experience in the extreme...this tactic might work in Israel where they know what they are doing and are damn good at it, but applied en masse to our fine uneducated friends in the TSA? Very disturbing thought...
Dec 27, 2011 | 12:10 am
#112
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Scarborough, Canada
Posts: 614
Do foreigners (non-American) have the same "rights" as American nationals as to refusing to answer these stupid TSA questions or they can get into trouble (even if its a send-off to CBP) for not answering ridiculous questions.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
Dec 27, 2011 | 5:37 am
#113
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Do foreigners (non-American) have the same "rights" as American nationals as to refusing to answer these stupid TSA questions or they can get into trouble (even if its a send-off to CBP) for not answering ridiculous questions.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
Dec 27, 2011 | 6:30 am
#114
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,430
Dec 27, 2011 | 10:51 am
#115
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
Do foreigners (non-American) have the same "rights" as American nationals as to refusing to answer these stupid TSA questions or they can get into trouble (even if its a send-off to CBP) for not answering ridiculous questions.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
in their native tongue.Of course, the TSO response has generally been to raise their voice - you know, screaming at non-English speakers in English is the magic charm to suddenly make them understand....
(This at two of the largest international gateway airports in the US)
Dec 27, 2011 | 12:55 pm
#116
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,730
Do foreigners (non-American) have the same "rights" as American nationals as to refusing to answer these stupid TSA questions or they can get into trouble (even if its a send-off to CBP) for not answering ridiculous questions.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
Just wanted to see if things are different for non-Americans in this regard.
Dec 27, 2011 | 1:06 pm
#117
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
It IS a difficult one, but most often I am threatened not when I am conciously objecting, but when I am simply being a furriner (such as when I am asked for an American driving license instead of my German passport, or when I honestly don't understand being screamed at in a regional accent)