TSA PreCheck Etiquette [Parents with Autistic Child]
Apr 9, 2019, 8:59 am
#46
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 223
The “correct” way for this family would have been to contact https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support a few days prior to the flight. The TSA Cares program offers support to disabled passengers to assist them getting through security. They should not,have taken it upon themselves to go through the pre check line. That said, if they truly did take 10-15 minutes, then maybe one or two compassionate people in line could have offered them some advice about pre check protocol. I feel for the family, flying must be a stressful and difficult time for them.
Apr 9, 2019, 9:55 am
#47
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Just curious what everyone's take is on the following situation...
I was going through the PreCheck line (Terminal 6, 11AM, for a noon departure) at LAX.
Ahead of the traveler in front of me were parents with a child (appearing to be in his late teens) on the autism spectrum, with sensory issues.
They (not so discreetly) explained their situation to the traveler in front of me, as well as why they were all in the PreCheck lane (in order to minimize any contact their son would have with screeners, due to sensory issues).
The family proceeded through screening, treating it as if were any normal security lane - pulling out medicines, and liquids, taking multiple bins in the process.
While the amount of time they took would have been considered terrific if they were going through a regular screening lane, it was an eternity in Pre.
The traveler in front of me seemed a bit frustrated but didn't say anything.
I didn't say anything either, as I was on leisure travel, and not in any particular rush.
I'm just curious as to how you all think everything was handled.
Do you think the parents should have done things any differently (i.e. - offering to step aside for those behind them - it was considerate that they explained why they were slower).
Do you think they improperly used the PreCheck lanes?
It wasn't a terribly busy afternoon (by LAX standards), but had it been, I think a lot more people would have been frustrated.
I was going through the PreCheck line (Terminal 6, 11AM, for a noon departure) at LAX.
Ahead of the traveler in front of me were parents with a child (appearing to be in his late teens) on the autism spectrum, with sensory issues.
They (not so discreetly) explained their situation to the traveler in front of me, as well as why they were all in the PreCheck lane (in order to minimize any contact their son would have with screeners, due to sensory issues).
The family proceeded through screening, treating it as if were any normal security lane - pulling out medicines, and liquids, taking multiple bins in the process.
While the amount of time they took would have been considered terrific if they were going through a regular screening lane, it was an eternity in Pre.
The traveler in front of me seemed a bit frustrated but didn't say anything.
I didn't say anything either, as I was on leisure travel, and not in any particular rush.
I'm just curious as to how you all think everything was handled.
Do you think the parents should have done things any differently (i.e. - offering to step aside for those behind them - it was considerate that they explained why they were slower).
Do you think they improperly used the PreCheck lanes?
It wasn't a terribly busy afternoon (by LAX standards), but had it been, I think a lot more people would have been frustrated.
No, I don't believe they should have to go through the hassle of 'scheduling' a TSA Cares person who may or may not show up. We have been assured, over and over, that TSA trains and retrains its screeners to work effectively and compassionately with people with disabilities.
Any delays are the fault of the checkpoint staff for not stepping up and 'directing traffic' effectively. That includes any delays caused by screeners watching and saying nothing while uninformed newbies disrobe and unpack. They bark about what has to be taken out and off all day long; they can bark about what doesn't have to be taken out and off in the PreCheck lanes.
Apr 9, 2019, 10:00 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2015
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The correct way for this family would have been to contact https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support a few days prior to the flight. The TSA Cares program offers support to disabled passengers to assist them getting through security. They should not,have taken it upon themselves to go through the pre check line. That said, if they truly did take 10-15 minutes, then maybe one or two compassionate people in line could have offered them some advice about pre check protocol. I feel for the family, flying must be a stressful and difficult time for them.
Apr 9, 2019, 1:12 pm
#50
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Similarly, I don't blame the passengers at the checkpoint. I blame the TSOs who are supposed to keep things moving smoothly. They are the trained professionals and that's their job.
I have witnessed this done correctly at a checkpoint. A TSO stationed between two lines coming off the TDC stood right there letting people who didn't know better that they didn't have to take off their shoes, might have to remove their jacket, no unpacking, etc. - best of all, not barking, but using his 'inside' voice. At that same checkpoint, twice I've seen a passenger unpacking on the table and the TSO proactively directed people around the unpacking traveler.
Keep in mind: there is wide variation in availability of PreCheck vs. PreCheck Lite and there are random changes that can throw even experienced fliers a curve. (I have been caught causing a 'delay' twice at PHX because of this - once because I hadn't removed my Sonicaire toothbrush on a day when PreCheck passengers had to remove electronics). There are also experienced travelers in the PreCheck lanes who know that their footwear is going to alarm. An inexperienced traveler might just be following the example of the traveler in front of him/her.
Apr 9, 2019, 2:04 pm
#51
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The correct way for this family would have been to contact https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support a few days prior to the flight. The TSA Cares program offers support to disabled passengers to assist them getting through security.
Apr 9, 2019, 2:10 pm
#52
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That's what I said in my first post-- special needs, special phone number-- then everyone complained that special needs folks have to be in the normal PRE line for the sake of not ruffling anyone's politically correct feathers because how can we possibly treat them specially if they have special needs.
Former Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken has talked about her bad TSA experiences before (she's paralyzed, wheelchair bound, has TSA PreCheck). She flies a fair amount. If TSA Cares was widely available and reliable, I'm sure Van Dyken and the trans-gender former Navy Seal who also regularly has bad checkpoint experiences have heard about TSA Cares, yet there's never any mention of them using it - or recommending it to others in their situation. Both have had direct conversations with higher-ups in TSA.
If the ides is that screeners aren't as well-trained as we have been told when it comes to accommodating anything 'special' and TSA Cares is an acknowledgement that TSA fails in this regard, then perhaps TSA should have at least one TSA Cares staff member on duty at all times when the checkpoints are open.
It is horribly annoying that those with PreCheck don't understand. Before I even enter the security line, I have my stuff in order. I empathize with the family in question, but that doesn't excuse the lack of knowledge of what is permitted or not, and not properly preparing.
I got caught out a few months ago in the PHX PreCheck line. It was 'electronics out' day and guess what? Neither I nor anyone else in that line had our electronics out.
Last edited by TWA884; Apr 9, 2019 at 4:29 pm Reason: Merge consecutive posts by the same member; please use the multi-quote function. Thank you.
Apr 9, 2019, 4:42 pm
#53
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Moderator's Note: Topic Drift
Folks,
While some natural deviation from the topic of the thread is acceptable, please remember that the focus of this thread is the acceptable behavior of non-PreCheck parents traveling with an autistic child when accommodated in the PreCheck lanes.
This is not a free for all thread for raves and rants about everything that is wrong with the TSA's handling of handicapped passengers or other TSA screening procedure issues in the PreCheck lanes.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
While some natural deviation from the topic of the thread is acceptable, please remember that the focus of this thread is the acceptable behavior of non-PreCheck parents traveling with an autistic child when accommodated in the PreCheck lanes.
This is not a free for all thread for raves and rants about everything that is wrong with the TSA's handling of handicapped passengers or other TSA screening procedure issues in the PreCheck lanes.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Last edited by TWA884; Apr 9, 2019 at 8:06 pm
Apr 9, 2019, 6:57 pm
#55
Join Date: Oct 2005
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God I can barely tolerate people on this planet anymore... debating if people with a disability are allowed in a pre check line slowing them down, what disability qualifies and if children can be accompanied.
From personal experience, if you have a genuine disability, you go to the front of the line, show the card and use whichever line you are directed to use by the officer, if the nature of your disability means you might require a manual search or accommodation, you confirm if require that. From a strict liability stand point a child is always accompanied in any situation where they might require to be touched, searched or restrained.
Mind your own god damn business postulating on the nature of a persons disbaility and consider for a moment that person, however they may appear might have an extremely embarrassing or personal circumstance to be there.
From personal experience, if you have a genuine disability, you go to the front of the line, show the card and use whichever line you are directed to use by the officer, if the nature of your disability means you might require a manual search or accommodation, you confirm if require that. From a strict liability stand point a child is always accompanied in any situation where they might require to be touched, searched or restrained.
Mind your own god damn business postulating on the nature of a persons disbaility and consider for a moment that person, however they may appear might have an extremely embarrassing or personal circumstance to be there.
Apr 10, 2019, 5:31 am
#56
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God I can barely tolerate people on this planet anymore... debating if people with a disability are allowed in a pre check line slowing them down, what disability qualifies and if children can be accompanied.
From personal experience, if you have a genuine disability, you go to the front of the line, show the card and use whichever line you are directed to use by the officer, if the nature of your disability means you might require a manual search or accommodation, you confirm if require that. From a strict liability stand point a child is always accompanied in any situation where they might require to be touched, searched or restrained.
Mind your own god damn business postulating on the nature of a persons disbaility and consider for a moment that person, however they may appear might have an extremely embarrassing or personal circumstance to be there.
From personal experience, if you have a genuine disability, you go to the front of the line, show the card and use whichever line you are directed to use by the officer, if the nature of your disability means you might require a manual search or accommodation, you confirm if require that. From a strict liability stand point a child is always accompanied in any situation where they might require to be touched, searched or restrained.
Mind your own god damn business postulating on the nature of a persons disbaility and consider for a moment that person, however they may appear might have an extremely embarrassing or personal circumstance to be there.
If I have to wait a few minutes for a genuinely disabled person to go ahead of me I can live with that. If they don't go through as quickly as expected I can either go around them or put up with it. What I'd like to know however is that person goes through a process to ensure their disability is genuine and requires special accommodation not just someone who strolls up and declares "our child has autism" and the entire family automatically goes to the front of the line.
Apr 10, 2019, 4:48 pm
#57
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
If I have to wait a few minutes for a genuinely disabled person to go ahead of me I can live with that. If they don't go through as quickly as expected I can either go around them or put up with it. What I'd like to know however is that person goes through a process to ensure their disability is genuine and requires special accommodation not just someone who strolls up and declares "our child has autism" and the entire family automatically goes to the front of the line.
Oh, right ... we don't live in a civilized society, and people try to screw things up for everyone else by claiming accommodations they don't need. Sorry, I forgot myself.
But seriously, though ... which is worse: giving someone who needs a disability all sorts of grief to ensure they really "need" the help, or giving assistance to a few jerks who don't really need it in order to treat those who do need it with dignity? I'll take the latter in a heartbeat.
Apr 11, 2019, 10:48 am
#58
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This thread is about proper etiquette in PRE lines. Etiquette means not holding up the line. Want to get in everyone's way and slow everyone down? Your right to do so. Proper etiquette? Hardly. That goes equally for the able and disabled alike.
Apr 14, 2019, 9:53 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Your PRE line is still part of society as a whole and local etiquette is trumped by general good manners in a civilised society.