jcazes

Had an unfortunate TSA experience at Detroit yesterday and am curious to hear what some other flyers think.

Was randomly selected for additional screening in the pre-check line. I've flown ~500k miles over the past few years and have never had an issue with pat downs but was under the impression random screenings were supposed to be a simple pat-down after the x-ray. Instead, the man asked me to walk through a body scanner, so I politely declined and opted for a pat down. He then asked me to remove my shoes / belt and get a full pat down. Has anyone else encountered this in the pre check line? I thought this was a little weird but proceeded as I've done this dozens of times in non pre-check airports.

My coworker thought this was funny and started filming, and what followed was the most aggressive pat down I've ever received:


I muted it to remove some of the comments my coworker made. I spoke frankly but only cursed once. You can see how much my body moves near the beginning -- not a huge deal but uncomfortable. Then he proceeded to my lower body and felt my groin 7 times and groped the front of my crotch.

My coworker had a good laugh but I'm still frustrated about this and would love to hear what you all think.

petaluma1

Screener was retaliating because he was being filmed and because you apparently "dared" to question his authority.

File a complaint here: https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php

Include link to video of pat down; name names if you can.

FliesWay2Much

One can never overreact to the TSA's useless, abusive, and intrusive sexual assaults.

Did you make him change his gloves?

Boggie Dog

The rubdown of FREEDOM!

jcazes

Thanks for the link. Just submitted a complaint.

yandosan

Yuck, I need to go take a shower after seeing that.
He slimed you.
Maybe if you had broken into an earnest "Sir, have you no decency?" tirade a la
McCarthy witch hunt the whole TSA security bubble would have come crashing down. Hell, it's worth a try.

Agustinl71

I feel personally violated after watching the video, good on you for filing the complaint.

DocP

In the mid 2000's I got SSSS almost every time I flew. I am a woman, but with attention to slightly different anatomy, this is pretty much the pat down I got every time. Haven't had a patdown since PreCheck. While this security theater is useless, absent previous abuse, I don't understand the vehement objections many have. Perhaps my professional need to examine patients who would rather be almost anywhere else gives me some sympathy for a TSA officer just doing his/her job. This looks like a "by the book" patdown with a difficult and over reacting passenger. Sorry. They do need to examine the crotch/groin area in some detail to avoid a repeat of the underpants bomber.

shuttercookie

Yikes!! You were much more obliging than I would have been!
Glad you have video to file with your complaint.

o mikros

They do randomly select people from PreCheck and this looks like a fairly standard patdown procedure, which I have had to undergo countless times. (Much of my flying was/is through non-precheck airports.)

For the record, I'm not saying I support this absurd security theater, I'm simply stating that I don't think you got anything out of the ordinary. My favorite way to make them even more uncomfortable than they usually already are is to make soft moaning noises during the patdown. Definitely immature, but also worth it to see the discomfiture of especially aggressive agents.

Also, submit any extra complaint you can. Until these goons are relegated to the dustbin of history, it's worth raising every extra bit of fuss that we can.

eajusa

I was there to see what you went through. I had just gotten through TSA Pre and was gathering my luggage when I turned around to see the pat down. I saw how uncomfortable you were and tried to put myself in your (no pun intended) position. However, I just couldn't as it creeped me out. For a moment I just froze in disbelief. Had I been in a hurry, I may have missed it, but I had a five hour layover. I almost walked over to speak to you as it ended, but then I saw you were with someone, and decided to mind my own business. I wanted to tell you I thought it was over the top. Was refusing the body scanner worth it? Let us know what becomes of your complaint. BTW I hate how one has to go through secuurity a second time when making a connection at DTW that involves landing in terminal ABC and having to take the shuttle to the North terminal or vice-versa.

Annalisa12

You didn't want to go through xray so good on them. I dont think there should be a choice. He might of thought you had something to hide.

I've had a full body pat down including all over boobs. It was like firm foreplay where they could tell my bra was underwire and where the lace is

You refused to go in xray so good on them for doing their job.

Bradhattan

It's reality...sometimes it happens.....are you really that disturbed? Some people pay escorts for this type of treatment....I'd call it a freebie! Or are you mad because perhaps you usually charge for such interactions? Modearators may edit this post if too "real" for FT sensibilities. Lol

Annalisa12

I actually liked my patdown..

Im a female too. Ive had the full body and boob pat down.

If it was a female doing the patting itbwould of been ok i think.

If passenger had looked middle eastern i bet many would of said that was ok in that circumstance.

Same check for everyone

747FC

deleted. just too strange..