DL1538 (FLL-LGA) today was already delayed (both DCA-LGA and LGA-FLL) and then a bit more by random TSA screenings at the FLL departure gate. Haven't experienced these before. Any idea why? I know TSA has been experiencing some evaders at the initial checkpoints lately. (https://shorturl.at/eozCV)

This was a thing for many years after 9/11 but I haven�t experienced it in ages.

See DLASflyer response. Of course it's happened before. We also used iPods and cash. A spate of FOH evasions is relatively recent. I'm hoping this doesn't become more common. Again.

Had this at the gate last year ATL>LAS. And they checked everyone�s ID too and matched it to BP like an intl flight. Strange.

because it�s proof that that initial screening you got was useless. If it worked and was effective then why would we have to do this? . Your tax dollars at waste .

Should I not be using my IPod anymore?

How do they know if you snuck the water through initial TSA inspection or bought it airside?

It�s a way for TSA to appear to be needed and useful - basically job security for them. I had it once about a year ago SEA-ANC. Supposedly random, but in reality just more wasting of resources from a failed government organization. As an airline pilot I see it maybe once or twice a month as I�m walking through the terminal.

I've never seen this, but If people are curious, they should just ask the agent why they are screening at the gate.

I have. They don�t answer. They claim they can�t answer questions like that. After all telling the people who pay your salary, why you�re harassing them is criminal.😂
I asked them if they were just checking to see if I lost my drivers license between when they last checked it one time too. I don�t think they really like that.😂

Me and my daughter (15) were both random screened last year at RSW. No big deal, it happens, and I am grateful for the checks and balances.

I experience this usually once a year (probably b/c I fly way too much...lol). Once out of DTW, I was just coming off a redeye from LAX, after getting to the gate of the connecting flight, there was announcement of secondary (security) at the gate upon boarding commencement. Either they weren't accepting digital boarding pass, or the DL app wasn't working, couldn't recall. Anyway, gate agents were giving me a hard time because I couldn't present a driver's license, as I gave them my GE ID. In the end, the TSA agent just looked at my bp.

Maybe they could randomly re-check the luggage in the hold - that's much more of a threat.

TSA really doesn't bother me. I've been travelling weekly or more for over a year now and have not experienced this though, mostly MSP/DTW. I have had this of course flying internationally, usually on late flights from YYC or ex Europe, but ofc that isn't TSA.

That said, if TSA purely exists to "provide jobs" and is a deterrent to even one bad thing a year, it's worth it for me. People get experience, I personally feel safer, and nobody loses lol.

Anyways, having spoken with some people who run TSA facilities in multiple major airports, y'all would be surprised at the outrageous stuff people try to bring onto aircraft. Doesn't have to be a literal threat to a planes structure to be something that people should absolutely not be flying with in the passenger cabin of the plane.

All good security is layered.