Messing with the TSA at IAH terminal E!
May 26, 2012 | 9:23 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 157
I used my iPhone to scan my BP for the first time at BWI. They don't even touch it.
(I realized afterward that I could have gone to a kiosk to print one up. Haven't flown in quite some time lol)
(I realized afterward that I could have gone to a kiosk to print one up. Haven't flown in quite some time lol)
Last edited by danpass; May 27, 2012 at 7:12 am
May 26, 2012 | 11:30 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAH
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Posts: 466
Beam me up!
This thread follows on the footsteps of other threads about the TSA at some airports asking to see your BP just after you pass through either the WTMD or the other machines. I travel through terminal E quite often and they have been doing that there for awhile, the barking moat dragon keeps telling people to empty everything out of their pockets and have their BP in their hand.
So this time I printed 2 BPs and at the podium I showed my first BP with my passport and he made the usual nonsense scribble and sent me on. I put my passport and marked up BP in my computer bag and prepared everything to go down the conveyor belt. The moat dragon was still barking orders and when she pointed me towards the cancer box I pointed to the WTMD and she asked, "So do you want to Opt out?" And I replied, "yes."
She called for a male assist and pointed to the WTMD and as I passed through an older 1 striper asked to see my BP so I showed him the other one I had printed. He studied it carefully and looked on both sides, not being able to see the scribbled notations. He looked at me puzzled and asked, "Didn't someone write on this BP?" I looked at it and said, "No, doesn't look marked on to me
Now he is really puzzled and asks me if I did indeed pass by the TSA guy at the podium and I said "Oh sure, just a minute ago." "Didn't he write in your boarding pass?"
"Oh, yes he did and I put it away with my passport, it is in my bag over there! Why do you need it?"
"Well, it's my job to see it and sign off on it that it is all correctly marked off," he explained.
So I said I didn't realize that and that they don't do this at any other airport I go to around the country and he replied, "well of course we don't do it the same way everywhere, the terrorists would then know our system!" He went on to explain that doing it differently at all airports helps keep our country safer. I thanked him for explaining that to me and for his efforts to keep us all safe.
Then I had my body grope complete with at least one genital karate chop!
So this time I printed 2 BPs and at the podium I showed my first BP with my passport and he made the usual nonsense scribble and sent me on. I put my passport and marked up BP in my computer bag and prepared everything to go down the conveyor belt. The moat dragon was still barking orders and when she pointed me towards the cancer box I pointed to the WTMD and she asked, "So do you want to Opt out?" And I replied, "yes."
She called for a male assist and pointed to the WTMD and as I passed through an older 1 striper asked to see my BP so I showed him the other one I had printed. He studied it carefully and looked on both sides, not being able to see the scribbled notations. He looked at me puzzled and asked, "Didn't someone write on this BP?" I looked at it and said, "No, doesn't look marked on to me
Now he is really puzzled and asks me if I did indeed pass by the TSA guy at the podium and I said "Oh sure, just a minute ago." "Didn't he write in your boarding pass?"
"Oh, yes he did and I put it away with my passport, it is in my bag over there! Why do you need it?"
"Well, it's my job to see it and sign off on it that it is all correctly marked off," he explained.
So I said I didn't realize that and that they don't do this at any other airport I go to around the country and he replied, "well of course we don't do it the same way everywhere, the terrorists would then know our system!" He went on to explain that doing it differently at all airports helps keep our country safer. I thanked him for explaining that to me and for his efforts to keep us all safe.
Then I had my body grope complete with at least one genital karate chop!
Why they do this makes no sense to me....Do they think that someone is going to materialize in the boarding area? Do they think that the nude-o-scope is really a transporter, and that Mr. Scott is operating it?
Of course, more than once at a TSA station, did I think "Beam me up, Scotty, there is no intelligent life here."
May 27, 2012 | 5:08 am
#19
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
At BUF on Friday, I noticed a huge sign at the table where the bins are loaded that said specifically to keep out your ID and travel documents as one of the requirements along with remove liquids, take off belt etc.
I have not taken out my liquids for over a year, but for everything else on the list I was good to go. However, I was in the process of a successful SDOO, the BXS in my lane was roped off so I knew if the stuff was in my pocket, all I had to do was grab it.
I walked through the WTMD, and no questions were asked.
More than anything the thing about the TSA that makes me want to scream are the things they say you have to do but do not and the things they say nothing about doing, one has to do. Airport to airport inconsistency is one thing and almost understandable. Line to line, or screener to screener, is just designed incompetence.
I have not taken out my liquids for over a year, but for everything else on the list I was good to go. However, I was in the process of a successful SDOO, the BXS in my lane was roped off so I knew if the stuff was in my pocket, all I had to do was grab it.
I walked through the WTMD, and no questions were asked.
More than anything the thing about the TSA that makes me want to scream are the things they say you have to do but do not and the things they say nothing about doing, one has to do. Airport to airport inconsistency is one thing and almost understandable. Line to line, or screener to screener, is just designed incompetence.
May 27, 2012 | 10:09 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2006
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May 27, 2012 | 1:28 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Posts: 189
Also, wouldn't having your BP on your cell phone throw a monkey wrench into the whole "hold onto your BP through security" bit?
Ottermatic
May 27, 2012 | 2:07 pm
#22
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These stories warm my hearth after my experience Saturday
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/check...ience-ind.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/check...ience-ind.html
Last edited by GRALISTAIR; May 30, 2012 at 2:31 am Reason: add url
May 28, 2012 | 12:38 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SE Asia
Posts: 647
Assuming you have the time, print a dozen BPs. Go thru the doc checking, put the BP in your bag and hand over a 'clean' BP. Blah blah blah, go back to the doc checker and do it over and over....should drive them all crazy
May 29, 2012 | 11:58 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: Ham Sandwich Medallion
Posts: 889
What about the case where you get gate-checked when you're connecting to a second flight? I think I've only ever gotten the magic scribble on the first boarding pass (although, I don't always have both in hand when going through security at the original airport).
Also, wouldn't having your BP on your cell phone throw a monkey wrench into the whole "hold onto your BP through security" bit?
Also, wouldn't having your BP on your cell phone throw a monkey wrench into the whole "hold onto your BP through security" bit?
As to the first part of your post, your whole argument is based upon a false assumption. You assume that common sense prevails during gate checks. In my experience, common sense is shoved further back during gate checks than at any other point in the process, as the TSOs tend to go through your stuff especially thoroughly at the gate in hopes of catching something their checkpoint drone buddies missed. I always laugh when I see a water bottle purchased post-security confiscated at the gate, then thrown into the trash can right next to the GA's kiosk. That's totally going to make the whole terminal safe from the deadly bottle of water!
May 29, 2012 | 12:13 pm
#25
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May 29, 2012 | 12:37 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Geez, that's so 2009... I still remember when LGA was the only airport I frequented that required you to keep your BP with you. If you had a mobile BP (as I usually did), they'd give you a laminated piece of paper to hand to the guy on the other side of the WTMD. Quite pointless, imo.
Jun 8, 2012 | 9:04 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IAH mostly.
Programs: I still call it Onepass every now and then. Platinum.
Posts: 500
Talked about my name game adventures in another thread, but as I went through Terminal A today they were asking everyone who went through the MMW for their boarding pass.
I opted out and not once was my BP checked a second time. I even threw the squiggly one on the trash and had a second one on me just in anticipation of annoying Capital Redundant when he saw no squiggles. Unfortunately, I didn't get to use it.
I opted out and not once was my BP checked a second time. I even threw the squiggly one on the trash and had a second one on me just in anticipation of annoying Capital Redundant when he saw no squiggles. Unfortunately, I didn't get to use it.
Jun 9, 2012 | 7:49 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
Last time through I printed my BP so small that the it was barely legible, the TSA employee strained to read it and his marks were actually larger than the printed portion of the BP.
Upon going through the metal detector (the AIT was broken), I was asked for my BP and I handed him my miniature BP, he looked at and asked where was the rest of it. I said that was it and I am not really sure why it printed so small, but I would get the Club to sort it out. He handed it back to me, said that he guessed it was alright and let me through.
Dan
Upon going through the metal detector (the AIT was broken), I was asked for my BP and I handed him my miniature BP, he looked at and asked where was the rest of it. I said that was it and I am not really sure why it printed so small, but I would get the Club to sort it out. He handed it back to me, said that he guessed it was alright and let me through.
Dan
Jun 9, 2012 | 8:40 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,006
Last time through I printed my BP so small that the it was barely legible, the TSA employee strained to read it and his marks were actually larger than the printed portion of the BP.
Upon going through the metal detector (the AIT was broken), I was asked for my BP and I handed him my miniature BP, he looked at and asked where was the rest of it. I said that was it and I am not really sure why it printed so small, but I would get the Club to sort it out. He handed it back to me, said that he guessed it was alright and let me through.
Dan
Upon going through the metal detector (the AIT was broken), I was asked for my BP and I handed him my miniature BP, he looked at and asked where was the rest of it. I said that was it and I am not really sure why it printed so small, but I would get the Club to sort it out. He handed it back to me, said that he guessed it was alright and let me through.
Dan
Jun 10, 2012 | 9:58 am
#30
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Last time through I printed my BP so small that the it was barely legible, the TSA employee strained to read it and his marks were actually larger than the printed portion of the BP.
Upon going through the metal detector (the AIT was broken), I was asked for my BP and I handed him my miniature BP, he looked at and asked where was the rest of it. I said that was it and I am not really sure why it printed so small, but I would get the Club to sort it out. He handed it back to me, said that he guessed it was alright and let me through.
Dan
Upon going through the metal detector (the AIT was broken), I was asked for my BP and I handed him my miniature BP, he looked at and asked where was the rest of it. I said that was it and I am not really sure why it printed so small, but I would get the Club to sort it out. He handed it back to me, said that he guessed it was alright and let me through.
Dan