Thought I'd seen it all until today....
 

I've been fortunate (or unfortunate) to travel quite a bit. Today as I went through security at SBY (Salisbury, MD) which is a small regional airport, I watched as the guy who was looking for contraband etc in the xray machine in security was texting someone real time. Though he tried to make it look like he was working, it was clear he was spending the majority of time on his phone with a few brief glances up on the screen. Retrospectively I should have asked for a supervisor, but was in a hurry. A little scary when these folks are supposed to be keeping us safe....

Is this is a one off or have any of you seen this also?

I've never been to that airport but for all others I've been at, I can't say I've ever seen that.
At EWR, it's the opposite due to the theft, etc. scandals they've had with the TSA employees. At EWR you have to present you BP getting in line for security (normal), and again after you've gone through the X-ray machines! They make you hold it in your hand during X-ray.

what about mobile boarding passes?

He's likely not compromising safety at all. From what I understand, the decision as to whether a pax needs to be detained for further search after going through the scanner is made by a TSA worker who is away from the scanner, in another room. So the guy you saw simply sees something like "Go" and "Stop" on his screen. That's a very easy command to follow -- leaving plenty of time for texting.

Are you talking about body scanners (does an airport that small have them?) or the x-rays of bags?

I think the OP was referring to the conveyer-belt xray machines. So yes, it is a compromise of safety.

In my experience, the TSA has been consistently professional; I've never seen anything like in the original post (although I certainly don't doubt the OP).

They are not consistent. Unprofessionalism has increased 26% in the last three years:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...t-three-years/

Could be. I thought the word "contraband" pointed to the body scanners (while the x-ray belt workers are looking for explosives, weapons, etc.?). Would be uncommon for a small airport to use body scanners?

As this doesn't seem like a US topic, I'll move this over to the TSS (discussion) forum.

Thanks.


aztimm

As I stated, IN MY EXPERIENCE, they have been consistently professional.

Others' experiences may vary!

I by professional you mean they do their job as they have been trained and as they are expected to do it, I would have to agree that this happens the majority of the time.

But then, mob hit men are professionals as well. (Not saying there really is a mob.)

You have to hand it to the moat dragon, hope s/he doesn't drop it, then get it back, put it in the dog food dish, & then go back thru either the WTMD or NoS. Sad to say I'd gotten used to seeing lines 6-8 deep for the NoS, because of how long those things take (plus the requisite false+'s they generate) but @ EWR, you see the same thing for the WTMD's because of this BP stupidity.

As someone posted on TSAstatus.net, this place, hands down, is the worst when it comes to the TSA Dog & Pony show-after a year of monthly treks out of there, I've reached my limit & will go out of LGA from now on (which also has the benefit of Pre-check).

At the A3 (US Airways terminals) they don't have mobile boarding pass capability at EWR

Fly through... anywhere in the Midwest and then reassess. :cool: