It is the Canadians that do the security.

The TSA Press Secretary
 

TSA PS came on Cruise Critic awhile back with the same pitch, that he would answer, or find answers to questions, concerns.

I don't think he anticipated how many questions and responses he was going to get, especially on Flyer Talk. It is certainly a time consuming thing to take on, especially as a volunteer endeavor, but will be much appreciated if it works.

I, and apparently others, from reading this thread, would like to know why the TSA employees make opting out so difficult, plus in many cases taking 30 minutes or more just to get to the other side.

I have a heart devise. My Electrophysiologist and the device maker tell me to not go through any of the screening machines because TSA will not give the heart device makers enough information for them to advise the people with the device that it is safe.

Multiple times I have had TSA employees argue that it is safe, and try to just blow me off. I have a letter from the device maker stating what I said above. I travel a lot and have had a heart device (this is my 2nd one) for over 14 years.

If the TSA PS ever comes back, and if he ever sees this, I would be interested to know how best to handle this when TSA employees seem to think they know more then my device maker and therefore choose to not call a female to pat me down so I can get on my way.

As someone posted above, another issue is the personal item and carry on.
I have also been told to just send it through, which obviously is not something I can do until there is a female agent there to catch it and pat me down.

And Ross, just so you know.... I am always polite, I never argue, I just repeat "my device maker says I can't go through". I say "please" and "thank you". I just want to get to the other side. Help please!!!!

There are also TSA employees who don't argue, and who do call a female, and it goes reasonably well. Unfortunately there is no consistency to the process.

I now get to the airport 3 hours in advance for a domestic flight. This is due to almost missing a flight when I arrived 2 hours in advance, and got held up due to the opt out.

My home airport is IAH but I fly all over. All I want is to get to the other side in time for a bagel and Diet Coke. :)

Are we declaring this experiment over?

Thanks,
Mike

Well I guess "Ross" is gone. :(

How to get KTN
 

Do you have to have pre-check to get a KTN? I thought I opted in to this for AA years ago and I do usually get pre check. But I almost always fly first class so I thought that was why I was getting pre. How can I know if I have a KTN?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered.

If you're a frequent flyer with status, which is sounds like you are, then your airline sent your info to TSA to give you Precheck on that airline only. You wouldn't have a KTN assigned to you.

If you want to get Precheck on all eligible airlines, you need to get a KTN, which can be done by either joining Global Entry ($100), NEXUS ($50) or the TSA's Precheck program ($85). All three will give you eligibility for 5 years.

I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he had gone on vacation, had a death in the family, some big project grabbed all of his work time, or had some personal issues outside of work, or some combination of the above.

Ross's last post in this thread was July 23, and his last post on FT was July 24. That's over three weeks without a peep from him, and any slack I had been willing to grant him has now evaporated. He's gone, and the Great Experiment has come to a stuttering halt like a starship missing components from it main transwarp computer drive. :D

That'll teach me to be cautiously optimistic.

Do you even understand basic science? A starship with a broken warp drive can travel at nearly the speed of light on impulse power. So that isn't a proper analogy to use to describe the Great Experiment.

He hasn't had time for us, but he did have time, a few weeks ago when somebody accidentally brought a gun on an airplane, to yap about the Twenty Layers, evidently failing to realize that once somebody brings a GUN on an airplane, all the layers have already been penetrated. The only thing that kept somebody from being killed is the fact that the person who brought the gun on board (like the thousands of people who bring in explosive cupcakes, water bottles, and snowglobes) didn't want to hurt anybody with it. In light of the attentiveness and competence of the TSA, "lack of desire to hurt anybody" is the only effective layer of protection, but if Ross had admitted that, he would have to admit that there is no need for the TSA.

Well, obviously I was speaking metaphorically, Carl. Excelsior certainly could have maintained orbit using thrusters or impulse indefinitely, for all practical intents and purposes, and probably would have taken years to spiral in even if she had lost all propulsion and directional control.

But her pursuit of Enterprise came to a stuttering, embarrassing halt when her transwarp failed to engage.

I was literally using a metaphor. And it figuratively went over your head. :D

NOTE: The preceding post has been entirely tongue-in-cheek satire of the overly serious discussions of fictional science and it's relationshoip to actual science that so often take place between Star Trek fans.

\\//_ Live long, and propsper _\\//

I had my doubts from the beginning. Now I am certain that this is another TSA hit and run.

As soon as he said he followed this forum but never heard of the "name game" and then, AFAIK, didn't return with any info on said name game, I knew the whole thing was a farce.

His handlers have put a muzzle on him and all he's allowed to say is:

By the way, I note that the TSA's advice on traveling with nitro pills still has not changed in spite of:

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/cib_re...src=tsawebsite

I know this post is a little older now but it never received a response. This is part of TSA's new program. It seems to be trial run at several airports. The wife didnt alarm the WTMD. TSA is moving to random full body scanning. The beep used to mean random hand swab but not for much longer.

I could be wrong, but I suspect that Ross, like West, may have assumed that I was wrong, just ran into an rogue group of ill-informed overly cautious TSA employees (including suits) who all agreed that nitro pills are absolutely prohibited.

It's possible that Ross, like West, actually tried to look into this and found out that official SSI TSA rules do prohibit nitro in any form, including nitro pills. They were wrong and the crew that took my pills were following stated (but secret from the public) policy.

Don't really know Ross and he wasn't here very long, but I'm disappointed that West isn't willing to publicly admit that he was wrong, that official TSA policy does ban medical nitro - not under rules that apply to medicine, but under the rules that prohibit any 'explosive' substance in any quantity ever.

Sorry, been out of the office for a few different reasons, but trying to get caught up on emails, social media, FT, etc. Will try to get further caught up over the weekend as well.

But yes, this is correct. The vast majority of passengers who experience TSA Pre✓™ have been, and will continue to be, screened via a walk-through metal detector. However, we are expanding the use of Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) at TSA Pre✓™ checkpoints through a phased approach.

With the utilization of AIT at select TSA Pre✓™ checkpoints, a random generator on each walk-through metal detector may direct a passenger to be screened via an AIT unit; happened to me Monday, and added less than 30-second to my screening.

Important to note:

TSA Pre✓™ eligible passengers, who prefer to be screened via AIT, will now have the opportunity to do so at these select checkpoints. Many passengers with joint replacements, prosthetics or other medical devices that would regularly alarm when passing through a walk-through metal detector often prefer this technology because it is quicker and less invasive than a pat down. Unlike standard lanes, passengers will not be required to divest their shoes, light outerwear and/or belt. Passengers who alarm when passing through the walk-through metal detector due to metal soles or other metallic items can now utilize AIT without requiring the divesture of shoes. Previously, if a passenger alarmed when passing through the walk-through metal detector after multiple passes, that passenger would be required to receive a pat-down. Passengers at these select TSA Pre✓™ checkpoints, where available, will now have the option of being screened via AIT, possibly precluding the need for a pat-down.