Gate searches -- still?!? AAARRRHHHGGG!! (merged)
Dec 11, 2009, 4:41 pm
#706
Used to be Sydneysider
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: CPH
Programs: AS MVP/Gold (and 75K aspirant)
Posts: 2,984
A good suggestion. Sadly, it's clear to me after six years of this bullroar that the airlines are totally complicit in the TSA's shenanigans. I'd love to see just one of them stand up to TSA and tell them to stop [insert idiotic TSA policy].
Last edited by Cholula; Dec 11, 2009 at 7:54 pm Reason: Softened the post a bit...:)
Dec 14, 2009, 7:36 am
#707
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
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Posts: 1,704
Got gate-searched in SFO for AS313 - SFO-SEA. 7 or 8 of them were doing the random search, and of course as just getting off a 13 hours flights from HKG, looking very tired, and had two carry-ons, I was selected... Not that big of a deal - just searched the bags, and I am sure they would get nothing, since I just got through the custom over at the international terminal and the TSA screening before getting into the sterile area.
They did significantly slow down the boarding procedure though... Not happy with the search, but happy to make this flight standby rather than waiting for the one 3 hours later which I was scheduled on.
They did significantly slow down the boarding procedure though... Not happy with the search, but happy to make this flight standby rather than waiting for the one 3 hours later which I was scheduled on.
Dec 14, 2009, 4:41 pm
#708
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,956
Got gate-searched in SFO for AS313 - SFO-SEA. 7 or 8 of them were doing the random search, and of course as just getting off a 13 hours flights from HKG, looking very tired, and had two carry-ons, I was selected... Not that big of a deal - just searched the bags, and I am sure they would get nothing, since I just got through the custom over at the international terminal and the TSA screening before getting into the sterile area.
They did significantly slow down the boarding procedure though... Not happy with the search, but happy to make this flight standby rather than waiting for the one 3 hours later which I was scheduled on.
They did significantly slow down the boarding procedure though... Not happy with the search, but happy to make this flight standby rather than waiting for the one 3 hours later which I was scheduled on.
"Team SFO", in addition to being a disgusting joke, is very obviously overstaffed.
Dec 14, 2009, 5:21 pm
#709
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
6 smurfs hanging around the gate last Friday afternoon (12/11) in PBI for a DL flight that appeared to be only about 1/3 full...
I was on the inbound and didn't stay to watch how they utilized their time, but couldn't miss them while deplaning. Honestly - 6 of them - really? On a concourse that often only has one screening station open?
I was on the inbound and didn't stay to watch how they utilized their time, but couldn't miss them while deplaning. Honestly - 6 of them - really? On a concourse that often only has one screening station open?
Dec 14, 2009, 6:44 pm
#710
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
Programs: Holiday Inn Plat NW gold AA gold
Posts: 2,157
For a government supervisor to admit doing something like this strikes me as rather dishonest (adding unneeded employees to get better budgets).
At MSP I've often wondered where were the smurfs doing gate screening. Seems that they congregate on E concourse where the walk isn't too bad. Saw around 6 smurfs and a guy wearing a BAO shirt making their way to the far end of that concourse. Funny thing is at the checkpoint this morning there was another bin handler wearing civilian clothing. She didn't appear to be a supervisor because she took directions from the checkpoint smurfs. Didn't the manager's SOP require that the checkpoint be kept free of non TSA employees? If so then what was she doing there?
Right now google acts strangely, if at all (out of the US). Will get back to this next week.
Last edited by AngryMiller; Dec 14, 2009 at 7:07 pm Reason: acts
Dec 14, 2009, 6:58 pm
#711
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: DFW
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Posts: 3,097
a month ago MDW to MSP, 3 or 4 smirfs were hanging arounf the boarding area for DL flight I was about to board. I was at the bar across the gate and just watched them hanging there for a while doing nothing. They announced FC boarding, and while they were putting gloves on I was able to stroll passed them and onto the plane. Not sure how many people they got. Idiots.
Dec 14, 2009, 7:09 pm
#712
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
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Posts: 31,849
Dec 15, 2009, 9:45 pm
#715
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 953
"Random" gate check CMH to ATL coming home after turkey day. They took up shop as we started breezeway boarding. The guy stopped me, opened up my laptop bag (but not my duffel-style carry-on), peered in, and said something to the effect of "I only stopped you because this looked easy to search through." Two points for honesty, I guess. -100,000 points for the lunacy of it all.
Dec 17, 2009, 12:13 pm
#718
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,903
Happened at DCA yesterday. There was no one in the security line up front so maybe they were just bored.
They snagged two people from FC - one male and one female - and as the guy came on the plane I queried "Did you ask them what they missed the first time?" And he said "I sort of did by saying 'didn't the people up front do a good job'" and he said their response was "just double checking, Sir." The guy in F who had been snagged then asked the women "Did they ask you to dinner?" and her response was "no, but they know me well enough now that they should have!"
They snagged two people from FC - one male and one female - and as the guy came on the plane I queried "Did you ask them what they missed the first time?" And he said "I sort of did by saying 'didn't the people up front do a good job'" and he said their response was "just double checking, Sir." The guy in F who had been snagged then asked the women "Did they ask you to dinner?" and her response was "no, but they know me well enough now that they should have!"
Jan 19, 2010, 11:30 pm
#719
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 83
Happened to me today at DFW, on the morning flight to LGA
I was actually checked by 2 agents, one checked my bags, the other did a pat down on me
When he was doing a patdown, I commented "you guys giving out complimentary massages now too" to which he started chuckling
They conducted these to a few people who were waiting too board
I was actually checked by 2 agents, one checked my bags, the other did a pat down on me
When he was doing a patdown, I commented "you guys giving out complimentary massages now too" to which he started chuckling
They conducted these to a few people who were waiting too board
Jan 20, 2010, 5:29 am
#720
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SFO/SJC/SQL
Posts: 1,412
