Gate searches -- still?!? AAARRRHHHGGG!! (merged)
Aug 28, 2010, 10:43 pm
#886
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,952
Just saw a gate check this morning, for my flight.. UA608 MCI-ORD. Luckily it was FirstLine, which is a bit (a tiny bit) nicer than TSA, but still the same jerks.. I was the fourth on the Red Carpet, and they snagged the third person! whew!!
If I'm ever chosen for a gate check, I'm going to make sure they know that I'm displeased.. "So, you don't believe in your primary screening efforts enough? Is that why you are wasting my time and money by doing a gate search?"
If I'm ever chosen for a gate check, I'm going to make sure they know that I'm displeased.. "So, you don't believe in your primary screening efforts enough? Is that why you are wasting my time and money by doing a gate search?"
Aug 29, 2010, 12:29 pm
#887
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,455
Gate searches and full CBP staredown at PHL the other night total of 7 officials of one sort or another. The TATL flight was delayed until 10.45 so I guess they were just filling time until they clocked off for the night !!
Aug 29, 2010, 12:36 pm
#888
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,165
Just saw a gate check this morning, for my flight.. UA608 MCI-ORD. Luckily it was FirstLine, which is a bit (a tiny bit) nicer than TSA, but still the same jerks.. I was the fourth on the Red Carpet, and they snagged the third person! whew!!
If I'm ever chosen for a gate check, I'm going to make sure they know that I'm displeased.. "So, you don't believe in your primary screening efforts enough? Is that why you are wasting my time and money by doing a gate search?"
If I'm ever chosen for a gate check, I'm going to make sure they know that I'm displeased.. "So, you don't believe in your primary screening efforts enough? Is that why you are wasting my time and money by doing a gate search?"
Aug 29, 2010, 7:15 pm
#890
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Somewhere near BWI
Programs: DL DM, HH Dia, SPG Gold, MR Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,654
I usually fly DL (C Concourse). I have seen them doing screenings, but only on B6 and AA (they occupy the gates closest to the TSA chokepoint). The only TSO I see wandering down to the DL gates (C10 and higher) are those going to either Potbelly or Wendy's for their chow.
Oct 18, 2010, 2:40 pm
#891
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Western PA
Programs: ExPlAAt; United 1K
Posts: 480
They're back!!!
Four TSA agents staked out our flight from PIT to Denver this morning. They clipped up a tiny little sign indicating that if you were chosen for gate searching and decided not to cooperate that you would not be flying. It may be a coincidence, but the flight took forever to load.
Oct 18, 2010, 3:26 pm
#892
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,675
Four TSA agents staked out our flight from PIT to Denver this morning. They clipped up a tiny little sign indicating that if you were chosen for gate searching and decided not to cooperate that you would not be flying. It may be a coincidence, but the flight took forever to load.
Oct 18, 2010, 3:42 pm
#893
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 621
Four TSA agents staked out our flight from PIT to Denver this morning. They clipped up a tiny little sign indicating that if you were chosen for gate searching and decided not to cooperate that you would not be flying. It may be a coincidence, but the flight took forever to load.
I did this in AUS back in October 2009. It did not fare well for the screeners.
Oct 18, 2010, 5:05 pm
#894
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,603
Last time I flew out of TPA, I saw this nice sign. Two screening clerks descended upon the gate for TPA-IAD. Luckily, they weren't even setup when the GA called GS/1K/F boarding! whew..
I wish they would drop the "Your Safety is our Priority" crap..
I wish they would drop the "Your Safety is our Priority" crap..
Dec 1, 2010, 11:51 pm
#895
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MSN/HOU
Programs: DL Silver (0.239 MM), DL SkyClub Life, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,107
Gate searches/ID checks were in full effect this evening at IAD gate B78 for DL to DTW and ATL. Saw the same at MSN on Thanksgiving Day. 
BTW, any recent opinions on the legality of TSA demanding ID at the gate? Does one have any justification in telling them to take a hike?
BTW, any recent opinions on the legality of TSA demanding ID at the gate? Does one have any justification in telling them to take a hike?
Dec 2, 2010, 3:15 am
#896
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
Gate searches/ID checks were in full effect this evening at IAD gate B78 for DL to DTW and ATL. Saw the same at MSN on Thanksgiving Day.
BTW, any recent opinions on the legality of TSA demanding ID at the gate? Does one have any justification in telling them to take a hike?
BTW, any recent opinions on the legality of TSA demanding ID at the gate? Does one have any justification in telling them to take a hike?
Dec 2, 2010, 5:24 am
#897
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The World.
Programs: UA MP/UC - "RIP Tulip Plat"
Posts: 1,225
IAD on the day after Thanksgiving- Right before the departure of UA895 to ORD...
The Blue Man Group went around the whole gate area of C5 and C6 checking IDs and passports, looking through them and such while asking questions about travel plans- when they had finally got to me I pretended to ignore them- Luckily that worked and they just skipped over me....
The Blue Man Group went around the whole gate area of C5 and C6 checking IDs and passports, looking through them and such while asking questions about travel plans- when they had finally got to me I pretended to ignore them- Luckily that worked and they just skipped over me....
Dec 2, 2010, 6:36 am
#898
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Wash D.C. metro area
Posts: 254
IAD on the day after Thanksgiving- Right before the departure of UA895 to ORD...
The Blue Man Group went around the whole gate area of C5 and C6 checking IDs and passports, looking through them and such while asking questions about travel plans- when they had finally got to me I pretended to ignore them- Luckily that worked and they just skipped over me....
The Blue Man Group went around the whole gate area of C5 and C6 checking IDs and passports, looking through them and such while asking questions about travel plans- when they had finally got to me I pretended to ignore them- Luckily that worked and they just skipped over me....
They had the one smarmy looking guy swabbing everyone's drinks and everyone just hands him their cups and bottles without a thought. My first thought was, "Hey, I'm drinking that. You're not sticking something down in there." I then saw he was swabbing the actual straw and thought that if I had a drink I would get an extra straw, stick it in right before he swabbed it and then use a new one after I passed him. This entire process is idiotic. Since we can't bring any liquids through where do they think the liquid is coming from?
Dec 2, 2010, 9:08 am
#899
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Here Today, There Tomorrow
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Posts: 1,318
Saw the same thing 11/10 PHX to DTW. Two smurfs trying to stay awake waiting for boarding to start. First 18 passengers (including me) boarded before they woke up and realized boarding had started, then a mad dash to put on their gloves and harass somebody. What a joke and waste of money.
Dec 2, 2010, 9:13 am
#900
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 1,356
My favorite was out of BOS recently where the GA announced that the TSA was doing ID checks before boarding. But they wanted us to go to the screeners and present our ID and then get into line. I noticed they weren't comparing them to boarding passes or marking anything on the BPs, so I just skipped the whole process and got in line to board. Meanwhile, everyone else is happily crowding around the screeners to get their ID checked before boarding. 