Is JFK the worst out there for TSA?
 

I've only been O&D out of JFK twice, with most of my travels seeming to take me to LGA or EWR - both of which have their issues, but are miles ahead. Both times I have been treated incredibly rudely by TSA - including Screening Managers who have sworn at me, argued with me, yelled at me, etc. While I'm obviously no fan generally, JFK has been the absolute worst.

Anyone else?

The experience is dependent on the departing terminal.

Two international departures in 2012:

March 2012 - Departure from T4: I requested an opt-out and was escorted to the private screening area. I showed the two TSA workers my Swiss passport and made it clear where I did not want to be touched.

One of the TSA workers responded, "Don't worry, we only do that to the US passport holders."
I am not kidding.

June 2012 - Departure from T3: Only standard metal detectors and no pat down procedure.

DTW.. hands down.

Others here know far more than me but I did have a problem at JFK but the worst of the worst for me was Mobile,Al. I will NEVER set foot in their airport again as long a TSA is there:td::mad:

How did you get into T3? I believe there are 3 checkpoint areas, one in a circular area and one in each of two wings slanting away from the circular area. In September I went in what must have been one of the wings and there was one checkpoint to my left with no NOS visible and another to my right with NOS visible. Last weekend I went in what I guess was the other wing, and there were NOSs both to my left and to my right, but WTMDs were open and I was able to go through one without difficulty.

I go to T3 now because T2 (the Delta "elite" terminal) has the stupidest, rudest TSA clerks that I have yet seen.

Here are the ones I've seen consistently complained about during my time here on FT:

DFW (probably the most complained about)
EWR (a close second, term A was nicknamed the Dumpster)
BWI
CMH
JFK
SAN
LAX
SFO
IAD
ATL

Those are the top 10 based on my observations, but outside the first two, they're not in any particular order.

At least my experience with JFK is that you do not get hassled if your three ounce containers are not in a Kippie Bag. Most of the large airports tend to not care as long as everything is under three ounces. Unlike at SBA where the wannabe FBI agent started lecturing me that I was over a Kippie Bags worth and chucked some of them out (I'd bet my next paycheck they went home with him that night.)

They acted like absolute morons with my 4 oz prescription toothpaste.

I was on the return leg of a DL trip, flying JFK -ZRH. I checked in at the DL BE desk and simply walked to the airside lounge. Only had metal detectors...

"At least my experience with JFK is that you do not get hassled if your three ounce containers are not in a Kippie Bag.."

What's the deal with the Kippie bag, anyway? If someone *were* planning some sort of terrorist activity on the plane, how exactly
would a little 10 mg Kippie bag encasing his explosive devices
prevent him from doing so? I don't get it.

EWR is the worst IME.

With the exception of using Pre-Check, as the clerks in those lanes seem to think that you're not a terry wrist.. :rolleyes:

ORD
JFK
EWR
LAX
SJC
MCO
DEN (saddens me to say this, as DEN was a good place before the NoS came in)
PDX (same with DEN-- used to be a great airport. Not so much these days :td:)

The "West Side Check-in" of the Terminal 3 expansion is the area without BKSX. If you arrive by car, it's the first set of doors you approach once you make it into the back horseshoe.

Is there a walkway or sidewalk from the front of T3 to get to that checkpoint if arriving via the Air Train.

I remember in the past before the AirTrain when I would park in the long term parking lot and take the shuttle bus to the TWA terminal, the shuttle buses used to go down that roadway under the terminal, but I don’t remember seeing a sidewalk there.

Mr. Elliott

DTW is pretty horrific.

the horrible situation at JFK T5 has made me stop flying jetblue