flying on 9/11 and odd TSA question
 

planning a trip where we will be leaving NYC, possibly on 9/11.

we have been pleased with TSA processing on pretty much all flights for the past year but do you think flying that day would be an extreme TSA hassle/ delay?

BTW, yesterday when leaving JFK the TSA guy looked at my driver's license photo and said in a very hostile manner " who is that?'" This picture is a clear indication of me and so I don't know if it's a some sort of tactic they use for unknown reasons.

Security (visible and otherwise) is always heightened around significant anniversaries such as 9/11 but you should not experience "extreme" delays because of it.

As for the question - perhaps the fellow was trying, poorly, to be humorous?

JFK has some real characters in the TSA. Like those who demand ID be presented for even young children. Like those who seem to need help identifying who is who by ID. You seemed to have gotten this last one.

I fly on 9/11 a fair amount; and except for the ridiculous show of force done as a PR/CYA move across various parts of US, I've not noticed much slower, longer airport lines on that day. Rather the lines used to be shorter on the day.

If the current TSA work slow down is still in place on 9/11 no telling how many people will be made to miss flights.

Nothing good comes from TSA.

No- this guy was really hostile and a little aggressive. Having a bad day?

BTW- what training do the TSA people go through? What is the selection process? Not many look like Ivy League graduates

A person is not required to have completed high school and could qualify as a TSA screener. Initial training is all of 80 hours.

I'd give an extra 20 minutes to processing time for 9/11 as in my experience things are a bit more "by the book" and intensified "professionalism". I've traveled on 9/11 3 out of the past 5 years to or fro NYC and have had 1 normal experience, 1 where things went slowly and 1 where I got into a verbal fight with an TSO that threatened to have me arrested because I defended a military cadet from his abuse and lies about TSA rules & regs. On all 3 occasions I was PreCheck.

At JFK, that would be a big surprise. When I've seen that kind of question and very closely related ones asked, it's been because the TSA employees are serious and even confrontational in some ways approaching a degree of hostility akin to that seen when 5-7 year olds are left to play by themselves for a long time and deprived of proper nutrition and mature guidance.

I would have given him a hateful, go to he!! look, and replied, "My EVIL twin!"
...but that's just me. ;)

Not a good idea.
I deal with people doing 1-2 years in a local federal prison for doing stuff in front of TSA.

One guy was just acting stupid in front of a security camera and they told him to stop, and he didn't. He's now making license plates for the next year.

At least he is now more societally productive than the average TSA "oofficer" [sic]

Didn't know that Unicor was into making plates.

I have been told by TSA at lax that "she" did not like my passport picture at all. I told her very calmly with a smile that "she" had to take that up with the swedish gov. not me. I dont decide what kind of pass port picture the gov. decides to do. I am not the Swedish gov.

IDEA-

do you want to start a topic for stupid TSA comments or behavior?

Once left Philadelphia with really good Hoagie on a foodless flight. TSA impounded it, claiming it was too big. I am convinced he was just hungry

Ha!

My bag was pulled for a check. I had four large sandwiches from a very good local place. I was taking them to out-of-state fans.

The TSO opened my bag, patted around, gripped one of the triple-bagged sandwiches with both hands and said 'fish, right? People come through here all the time with fish.'

???

Fish? Hoagie-sized fish in their carry-ons?

Fortunately, I had time, so if he had tried to confiscate the sandwiches, I would have asked him to escort me back airside, where I would have thoroughly destroyed and disposed of the sandwiches before going through security.