Last year I was going home from a conference in Las Vegas on UA, after that I was connecting on KLM from LAX to AMS. So I checked in in Vegas only for UA, one ticket but no partners. No scrutiny. The flight had an excessive delay and I had to run from one terminal to another. When I checked in with KLM the flight was already boarding and I got SSSS. So I understood I wasn't going to make it home.

I walked to the checkpoint relaxed (hoping to make it to a later Air France flight with only seats in F available). I was taken to the special line and the TSA person asked me quite nervous why I was so late. When the explanation was done he said "well you will miss your flight" so I said "I take KLM won't be the last flight to Europe ever, so that will work out eventually."

He walked over to a desk, asked me for my laptop put it through x-ray. Then he sent me off to catch my flight . I don't think he did it on purpose, but was just confused. The metal detector went off, no checks, no pad down no nothing. I made my flight and left approx. 10 minutes from the gate. Amazing.

A TSA officer CONFUSED???

What a horriffic concept!

Please don't share these fear-mongering ideas with others!

Well at least he checked the laptop. I would've been more than a little concerned if he hadn't done that.

Why would you want to check my laptop. I'm a member of FT so you know you can trust me .