So I flew from AMS-EWR-CLE yesterday and underwent increased screening in both AMS and EWR. AMS was extremely efficient.

EWR, however, when going down the jetway, there were 4 screeners looking in hand baggage. My screener skipped a compartment in my bag by accident because he was so incompetent and busy watching people walk by.

In addition, the guy who appeared to tbe supervisor of the four, was taking a log of how many bags they had screened and asked the other screeners while I was there. None of them knew how many they had looked at and he said, "I will just write down 7!"

From what I have seen of TSA screeners they are more qualified to supersize the fries with my Big Mac than find potentially dangerous items in carry-on luggage.

How exactly did this hurt security? Your bag was already screened at the main checkpoint, and it's impossible to pick up any banned items in the "sterile" area.

I thought you could still buy a pop in the sterile area (?)

After 9/11, the secondary screeners regularly missed compartments in my bag. They actually never once opened my large, toiletries bag. I think that this secondary screen is more a salve for flyers than a sincere effort to increase security.

Sorry, I should have said dangerous items.

Same here. I had one by the gate throw my shoulder bag on the table and proceed to open only the outer pockets, never opening the large inner one with my suits/shirts, etc.

Utterly worthless.

A couple of observations on the new screening/TSA procedures. I flew out of EWR Thurs night to FCO. In the airport at the DF shoppes, you could buy all the alcohol/wine you wanted and carry it on board, but you could not buy any perfume?? Also all the newstands took hairspray, toothpaste, mouthwash etc off their shelves. When I arrived at the airport around 3pm for my 5:25 departure, I was expecting the worst, and initially at the first security area (near the Airtran) crowds were unbelievable. I walked over to the security area in the center, and found literally no one on any line---this was the first time, I've sailed right through with absolutely no one in front of me on line!! I had gone through my bag prior to getting to the airport and removed most of the 'banned' items-- shampoo, toothpaste, hairspray and so I wasn't surprised when my bag went through security without being stopped or opened. But, later on I did find I had inadvertenly left contact solution, hair gel, face cream and lip gloss--- none of which was picked up by the screeners Today returning from Rome at FCO, I did toss the hairspray I had purchased, but left the other items in my bag. Again no problem getting through security. FCO did have a second security check prior to boarding where they opened only 2 sections of my bag (it's a carry on with about 3 or 4 compartments. One of the screeners found my corkscrew--(the cheapo kind you get free in hotels wih wine). She held it up asked what it was, I told her, she nodded and put it back in the bag. No other problem. I didn't buy anything from DF in Rome, as they did have big signs up saying no liquids would be allowed on board flights-- including foodstuffs, wine, perfumes etc.

This should be shocking me ...of course, if the TSA bosses are judging the success of secondary screening on the number of bags examined, then it could make sense.

And indeed, this post is an example of "poor thread screening." The Travel Safety/Security forum is more appropriate for this.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=222

Well, the people that did the secondary screening right after 9/11 weren't TSA employees. I am sure they were on minimum wage or something close to it. I wasn't surprised that the secondary screening was so poor (and not at all random)!

This is co related and entirely appropriate indeed. Why do people feel the need to police other peoples posts all of the time?

There was no such thing as the TSA "right after 9/11"

The screeners are TSA employees. The policies are set by TSA. CO is not a part of this at all. Just because you are screened by TSA getting on a CO flight doesn't make it CO-related. People who care want to keep the forums organized so other people still have a coherent place to visit.

I read a good book on a CO flight yesterday, and in fact spoke with a FA about it. Not CO related.

EWR International Arrivals "sterile" area has no access to any shops or kiosks whatsoever. One walks from the plane across an seemingly elevated endless second-floor walkway (from which you can look down at the shops on the main floor with envy), winding up in a vast, stark "sterile" baggage area with multiple carousels. Cell phone use is banned in this area. Once you pick up your luggage, you must pass through immigration/agriculture and then customs --- and finally out into the terminal area itself.

As far as I know, on outbound international flights from EWR, one can still purchase drinks in the food court --- but drinks may not be brought onto the plane.