I flew PBI-ATL yesterday and they were yelling to everyone to hang on to their boarding passes while going through the scanners. I asked if this was a local thing. TSA Lady #1 said it was nationwide since Boston. TSA Guy #2 said it is just a PBI thing.

It very well may be a new thing but I did not encounter it on my MSP-ATL the previous Monday.

Do these regional nuances drive the TSA credibility down? Anybody else encounter this in the last week since Boston?

Since when did the TSA have any credibility?

I ran into something similar last Thu, JFK T2. They didn't make a loud announcement but the guy at the Metal Detector asked for BP - I pointed and told him it was in my bag going through xray and he waived me through.

Until I saw your post I really hadn't given it much thought but it did seem a bit odd at the time?

My understanding is that TSA don't have different rules by region or airport, but they do have an array of guidelines. The key is that they don't want the process to be 'routine.' I go through several different small airports in a month and they do different things. The most common is changing their stance on whether a computer tablet needs to be taken out of your briefcase or not.

It's a regional thing because I fly too often to different cities and never get asked for the boarding pass but only in PBI or FLL.
Every time I tell them my boarding pass is on my iPhone which is going through the x-ray machine.

However last weekend I decided to give the phone to the agent before going through since he asked for it and he said, "what's this?" My iPhone with my boarding pass... You didn't get a paper one? At that moment I wanted to be snarky but just said no.
He proceeds to swip through several boarding passes since its open on the passbook app. "What are you doing? I ask.
I walk through the metal detector and he hand me my phone, I turn and say doesn't it have to go through the machine! he says oh yeah.

I say take it with a grain of salt, like the what's your name? Where are flying security question to catch you off guard. :

They used to always ask for the BP. At LGA you would get a green postcard if to show the agent if your BP was on the telephone

They were doing the same thing at BWI 3 weeks ago. Thought about posting the same question. I guess it's just part of making the security process "unpredictable" to prevent threats. Doesn't seem to add any additional security IMO.

It's part of the "Full Employment Act of 2001/02," which required that DHS significantly over-hire to enhance its power and then find a job, any job, for excess employees. Resistance, and common sense, are futile.

BTW, I'm RBPing this for the inevitable move to TS&S.

Mike

My experience over the years is that TSA at regional airports are much less busy and this allows them the time to do all the "extra" things that you don't see at larger airports.

At larger airports maybe I have my laptop swabbed for explosives once or twice a year, but at smaller airports I've had the smurfs search through my wallet, had my contact lense fluid tested, my shoes wanded, among many other things I can't remember.

Occasionally, one of them will say something like "iPads need to come out of your bag." My standard response to some random change like that is "when did that change?" and "you have to tell us in advance of changes like that" and "you can't just make up new rules because you feel like it." Every time, they back down.

Depends on the layout of the checkpoint. There appear to be policies dependent on the physical construction of the facility.

This is one of my pet peeves. My husband had a knee replacement and if there is no body scanner has to get the pat down. I gather the bags while he does this. In PHX, one or two of the TSA people will insist that no one is allowed to touch his bags because he needs the pat down. PHX rule--NO! Just a few of the power hungry TSA people who set their own rules.

ROTFLOL

BDL (Bradley - Hartford/Springfield) used to also ask for BPs out, and when I (kindly) asked a TS"O" why this was different from other airports, he said it was their manager's discretion. Being as I always use a mobile BP anyway, I just got a snarky look when asked where mine was and me saying it's on my phone. They've since backed down from the policy in the last couple months and don't check BPs twice, when I've been there at least.

Unrelated, BDL also has ONE mobile BP scanner, and the line isn't even "mobile-only" dedicated (they have 5-6 lines total). Why should I be punished for using technology and having a bunch of people with paper BPs making the line longer? The inefficiency is baffling.

This is not a DL specific subject so I am moving this discussion over to the appropriate TS/S forum.

RSSrsvp - Moderator

TSA can be inconsistent and random. This is partially by design and does not decrease credibility but rather enhances security. Unpredictability in security procedures is a key element of TSA's approach. They have also been open about this -- you'll find the following language at tsa.gov: "TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport."

For those who want to read more, I would recommend this WSJ op-ed by the former head of TSA. (Quote: "Predictability is deadly.")