Gate searches -- still?!? AAARRRHHHGGG!! (merged)
Sep 10, 2009, 7:51 am
#467
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: somewhere in F, hopefully
Posts: 670
They do this in BUF all the time
Had the pleasure 
myself earlier in the year. They pulled me aside, sat me down in one of those skinny-wheelchair contraptions and embarrassed me in front of all the boarding pax. I was furious. It's a helpless feeling. No matter how much you protest, you either miss your plane or just cause yourself more hassle. I know I should fight it, but when I'm traveling on business, I have to get to where I'm going. Now, going through the security checkpoint, I always ask them to change their gloves and make the process as unpleasant for them as possible. I also refuse the strip search scanners and take the pat down. They hate that. 
myself earlier in the year. They pulled me aside, sat me down in one of those skinny-wheelchair contraptions and embarrassed me in front of all the boarding pax. I was furious. It's a helpless feeling. No matter how much you protest, you either miss your plane or just cause yourself more hassle. I know I should fight it, but when I'm traveling on business, I have to get to where I'm going. Now, going through the security checkpoint, I always ask them to change their gloves and make the process as unpleasant for them as possible. I also refuse the strip search scanners and take the pat down. They hate that.
Sep 10, 2009, 7:52 am
#468
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Somewhere near BWI
Programs: DL DM, HH Dia, SPG Gold, MR Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,654
There were 4 of them tonight (Wed) on the US Clt-Lgw flight. This flight is a passport control flight requiring every one check in with the gate agents & show ticket & valid passport. The agent at the gate announced that the TSA would be in the jetway checking passports. What a waste of tax payer money
TSA or CBP?
TSA specifically checking passports in the jetway would be grossly outside of their legal authority. CBP checking passports on the outbound leg is arguably outside of their purview since the USA does not, officially, have an exit control policy that I know of; however, I have seen it done on all of my flights to Japan over the past few years and they would arguably be the appropriate agency for doing so, if we did have an exit control policy.
Sep 10, 2009, 8:16 am
#469
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 1,439
I'd like to hear from some TSA staff about whether they believe people in the secure areas of airports are required to identify themselves to TSA staff upon demand. Dean, West, Ron?
Sep 10, 2009, 8:55 am
#470
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: Choice Hotels/FFOCUS
Posts: 7,256
(emphasis mine)
TSA or CBP?
TSA specifically checking passports in the jetway would be grossly outside of their legal authority. CBP checking passports on the outbound leg is arguably outside of their purview since the USA does not, officially, have an exit control policy that I know of; however, I have seen it done on all of my flights to Japan over the past few years and they would arguably be the appropriate agency for doing so, if we did have an exit control policy.
TSA or CBP?
TSA specifically checking passports in the jetway would be grossly outside of their legal authority. CBP checking passports on the outbound leg is arguably outside of their purview since the USA does not, officially, have an exit control policy that I know of; however, I have seen it done on all of my flights to Japan over the past few years and they would arguably be the appropriate agency for doing so, if we did have an exit control policy.
It was TSA. I watched all 4 of them enter the jetway just prior to the announcement.
Sep 10, 2009, 10:08 am
#471
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
So yesterday afternoon I was flying from LAX to SFO, and there were four TSA agents checking the ID's of all passengers at the jetway. This was for a domestic flight, where up until about a year ago you didn't need ID period. Another TSA enhancement?
Sep 10, 2009, 10:26 am
#472
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
Sep 10, 2009, 10:39 am
#473
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 1,439
- 2008-04-08: Article:No ID needed to board plane
- 2008-05-01: new info from TSA re: airlines requesting ID
- 2008-05-01: does the law/courts say ID is not required to...
- 2008-06-06: Starting June 21: Refuse to Show ID, No Entry to Sterile Area
- 2008-06-09: Actually, it looks like you can still fly without ID
- 2008-06-11: TSA blog addresses the new airport ID rule
- 2008-06-20: TSA says new airport ID rule is not about control
- 2008-06-22: No ID - Reports from the Field
- 2008-06-23: Forget ID after 6/21: expect invasive ?s including political affiliation
- 2008-11-19: Are you kidding me: No ID
- 2009-05-01: What is the ID Policy?
- 2009-05-27: TSA SOP re: airport ID requirements provided to IDP via FOIA request
- 2009-07-20: Flying with expired license
- 2009-07-28: Do kids with seats (age 2-10) need ID?
- 2009-08-04: Expired Drivers licence + Temporary One -Can I fly?
- 2009-08-10: Has anyone had a problem without photo ID at the gate of Jetblue at JFK and MCO?
Sep 10, 2009, 10:52 am
#474
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,891
smurf: excuse me, may i see you're i/d?
me: may i see your i/d please? (you know where this is going, don't you?)
smurf: why?
me: how do i know you are who you say your are and you actually work for the tsa?
smurf: i'm in uniform.
me: i can see that and i have an sfpd uniform in my closet with full patches from a uniform store in san francisco but i'm not a member of the sfpd. may i see your i/d please?
smurf: hands me the i/d.
me: thank you and i'll just record the information before i give it back to you.
me: may i see your i/d please? (you know where this is going, don't you?
)smurf: why?
me: how do i know you are who you say your are and you actually work for the tsa?
smurf: i'm in uniform.
me: i can see that and i have an sfpd uniform in my closet with full patches from a uniform store in san francisco but i'm not a member of the sfpd. may i see your i/d please?
smurf: hands me the i/d.
me: thank you and i'll just record the information before i give it back to you.
However, I think that, if a smurf comes up to me at the gate and demands to see my ID, I'll just tell him, "Sorry, no."
I am aware of absolutely no legal requirement that I show my ID to a government clerk who approaches me randomly. As well know, TSOs are not LEOs and, whereas a LEO can demand that you identify yourself, a TSO most certainly cannot in this context.
but seriously...a person purporting to be someone in authority must produce i/d when asked as it's the law-period. leo in uniform, leo u/c, fam, city building inspector and yes, even a tsa employee as it is the i/d that says who they are not a uniform and/or a badge. if they have "issues" with that, simply tell them you will gladly wait for a real <insert position here> who will produce i/d to verify their identity before answering any of their questions
Sep 10, 2009, 8:55 pm
#475
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
For more on this, see the following FT threads:
- 2008-04-08: Article:No ID needed to board plane
- 2008-05-01: new info from TSA re: airlines requesting ID
- 2008-05-01: does the law/courts say ID is not required to...
- 2008-06-06: Starting June 21: Refuse to Show ID, No Entry to Sterile Area
- 2008-06-09: Actually, it looks like you can still fly without ID
- 2008-06-11: TSA blog addresses the new airport ID rule
- 2008-06-20: TSA says new airport ID rule is not about control
- 2008-06-22: No ID - Reports from the Field
- 2008-06-23: Forget ID after 6/21: expect invasive ?s including political affiliation
- 2008-11-19: Are you kidding me: No ID
- 2009-05-01: What is the ID Policy?
- 2009-05-27: TSA SOP re: airport ID requirements provided to IDP via FOIA request
- 2009-07-20: Flying with expired license
- 2009-07-28: Do kids with seats (age 2-10) need ID?
- 2009-08-04: Expired Drivers licence + Temporary One -Can I fly?
- 2009-08-10: Has anyone had a problem without photo ID at the gate of Jetblue at JFK and MCO?
Sep 10, 2009, 11:10 pm
#476
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 1,439
Sep 10, 2009, 11:34 pm
#477
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
On 9/9 the TSA was doing "stare-downs" at LAX T5 for DL 198, LAX-JFK.
As it was an intl gate we were using, they hid around the corner in the immigrations corridor so pax could not see them at the gate, but the GA let it be known that the TSA is with us today.
When I boarded, I walked by, didn't look at them or even acknowledge their presence.
Flying out of JFK tomorrow, 9/11. Will be interesting to see if the TSA is doing anything out of the ordinary. I certainly hope no games or other procedures de jour.
I also noticed there was a "Nude-o-Scope" at LAX T5 security.
As it was an intl gate we were using, they hid around the corner in the immigrations corridor so pax could not see them at the gate, but the GA let it be known that the TSA is with us today.
When I boarded, I walked by, didn't look at them or even acknowledge their presence.
Flying out of JFK tomorrow, 9/11. Will be interesting to see if the TSA is doing anything out of the ordinary. I certainly hope no games or other procedures de jour.
I also noticed there was a "Nude-o-Scope" at LAX T5 security.
Sep 21, 2009, 8:16 am
#479
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MSN/HOU
Programs: DL Silver (0.239 MM), DL SkyClub Life, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,107
It's made its way to MSN now. Yesterday afternoon, two smurfs waiting around for a YX hop MSN-MKE to start boarding. I was on the arrival of that bird, so didn't get to see the fun.
