Gate searches -- still?!? AAARRRHHHGGG!! (merged)
Dec 24, 2013, 5:16 am
#1486
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Jan 11, 2014, 1:00 pm
#1488
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 729
This happened to me at FLL today out of Terminal 3 on a flight to DCA. When they said they needed to search my bag, I asked if something was missed at the checkpoint. When I took pictures, the TSA person got snippy and asked if I wanted a clearer shot of her badge. I said I didn't care who she was, since the illegal searches originate with her bosses. Below are a pic from just before boarding started and a pic of the violation of my rights. There were a couple of other TSA employees standing talking a few gates away, including a three-striper.
The second one is unfortunately blurry because my hands were shaking in outrage.
The second one is unfortunately blurry because my hands were shaking in outrage.
Jan 13, 2014, 9:21 pm
#1489
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
Years ago, in college, both of my German language professors (husband and wife) lived in Nazi Germany for the entire horror. They told us that they obeyed everything they were told to do - even if stupid - without question, because to do otherwise would have them noted as suspicious or worse. At that time, we were shocked and said that could never happen here with a free people under a Constitution. Boy, were we wrong!
Jan 30, 2014, 8:07 pm
#1492
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,106
I get stopped every. freaking. time.
At LAX Monday night, GA announced "random" TSA checks and asked all pax to have their IDs out and ready. I refused.
Of course, the TSA person, despite seeing my hands completely full, yelled for me to stop and come back and show ID. At the freaking gate.
I told her how useless and worthless the ID checks were. Her response? "But they're not worthless to me."
At least I wasn't getting the full bag dump and grope-down that other pax were getting. The TSA had a full complement of goons on hand.
At LAX Monday night, GA announced "random" TSA checks and asked all pax to have their IDs out and ready. I refused.
Of course, the TSA person, despite seeing my hands completely full, yelled for me to stop and come back and show ID. At the freaking gate.
I told her how useless and worthless the ID checks were. Her response? "But they're not worthless to me."
At least I wasn't getting the full bag dump and grope-down that other pax were getting. The TSA had a full complement of goons on hand.
Jan 30, 2014, 9:04 pm
#1493
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,079
I have found that if you mill around the gate, they will pick you and harass you, especially if you look different in any way. I stay away from the jetway until they have a few people in their clutches before I approach the area. I do not intend to provoke them or martyr myself to prove a point. The only way to address this is by writing to your congressmen, calling them, and asking them to contact their colleagues on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which does have authority over the TSA, despite Pistole's claims to the contrary. We still do live in a democratic, representative republic, but the place to fight these battles is through our vote and free speech, not in an airport with a low-level employee, who would like nothing more than to make your day miserable.
Jan 31, 2014, 4:56 am
#1494
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
I have found that if you mill around the gate, they will pick you and harass you, especially if you look different in any way. I stay away from the jetway until they have a few people in their clutches before I approach the area. I do not intend to provoke them or martyr myself to prove a point. The only way to address this is by writing to your congressmen, calling them, and asking them to contact their colleagues on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which does have authority over the TSA, despite Pistole's claims to the contrary. We still do live in a democratic, representative republic, but the place to fight these battles is through our vote and free speech, not in an airport with a low-level employee, who would like nothing more than to make your day miserable.
Which one is that? I'd like to move there.
Jan 31, 2014, 7:12 am
#1496
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I have found that if you mill around the gate, they will pick you and harass you, especially if you look different in any way. I stay away from the jetway until they have a few people in their clutches before I approach the area. I do not intend to provoke them or martyr myself to prove a point. The only way to address this is by writing to your congressmen, calling them, and asking them to contact their colleagues on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which does have authority over the TSA, despite Pistole's claims to the contrary. We still do live in a democratic, representative republic, but the place to fight these battles is through our vote and free speech, not in an airport with a low-level employee, who would like nothing more than to make your day miserable.
The TSA is an entrenched beast and it's not going to tuck in its tail and go away so easily. The TSA employees may tuck in their tails and flee, as understandably happened when the anti-TSA terrorist was shooting at LAX last year.
Jan 31, 2014, 7:14 am
#1497
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 330
The only way to address this is by writing to your congressmen, calling them, and asking them to contact their colleagues on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which does have authority over the TSA, despite Pistole's claims to the contrary. We still do live in a democratic, representative republic, but the place to fight these battles is through our vote and free speech, not in an airport with a low-level employee, who would like nothing more than to make your day miserable.
And I dare say Congressman Issa who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is more interested in other things that have little to do with actual reform other than increasing his party's power and decreasing the opposition. Just saying...
Feb 1, 2014, 9:53 pm
#1499
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Feb 1, 2014, 10:17 pm
#1500
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,766