The bright side: competent, polite security screeners
 

Lots of justified complaints here about incompetent, power-hungry, idiotic security screeners. But I've also encountered some good ones (I suspect these nominations will mostly be for smaller airports, but who knows). Let's use this thread to compliment them, which may also steer some business to the airports and airlines that hire them.

My first two nominations:

1. The jovial middle-aged supervisor and his equally jovial (but very competent and thorough) subordinates at the United gates at JAX.

2. The people who check cars coming into the terminal C parking lot at SJC. They are courteous almost to a fault.

I'll add two more. The screeners at the metal detector at International Arrivals at PIT. Coming through, they spotted my insulin pump hanging from my waist. One of them asked me if I could please remove my cellphone. Before it even clicked what he was referring to, he'd spotted the infusion tubing (thin plastic tubing), smiled, and waved me through, apoligizing for "his mistake". His partner was already in the process of saying I was Ok at the same time.

I'm actually rather impressed by this for some reason. Most of the time people don't even SEE it, let alone see it and realize what it is that quickly.




[This message has been edited by GregLeg (edited 12-14-2001).]

Good point. I had a very good, polite and friendly screener at IAD.

Every time I've flown through DFW - they all have been nice.
Coming back from LHR in NOV - the typical British charm.


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TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.

I'll give some props to the folks who work the UAL gates at BWI. They are exactly what someone working security should be, and I hope that they find jobs with the federales.

Birmingham, AL also. I was prepared for the worst - the city government is not exactly known as a model of public service - but the entire experience was polite and quick. Screeners into the parking deck looked around the trunk, but were very polite, and the screeners at the Delta concourse were pleasant and smiling. Just a little conversation during the process - no barking orders - and asked permission before doing each step. Very well done.

I would like to add the supervisor at the security check at TPA (K concourse I think). When they discovered my Swiss Army Pen Knife and Nail Clippers in My Briefcase (which I did not even know I had with me, This was a return trip) He apologized for having to confiscate and destroy them. Very professional and courteous. Maybe we can get SOS for Security?

On October 8, the FAA issued a press release stating that nail clippers are a "PERMITTED ITEM." Does anyone not understand what those words mean? Why in the world are nail clippers still being confiscated? This is just so bizarre.

Bruce

I'll have what he's smoking.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

JD

Actually, the few times they have caught mine, if you ask, they will just break off the nail file and give them back. Silly? Yes.

Using my mind as a calculater (dangerous), I think they have spotted mine about 20% of the time. Corkscrew is noticed once out of about 15 or so flights. By the way, in their effort to extract that from my bag, they moved another one out of the way.

Add the security screeners at MKE to the list. I fly CO or NW out of here, and they are always very friendly and efficient. I am not sure what they are like in the Concourse that Midwest Express flies out of, but the lines there are usually very long.

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Hell hath no fury like that of an elite frequent flyer in coach.

Stupid People Shouldn't Breed

On Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I flew Delta out of Seattle. The lines were long, but the security folks (Concourse B) were really efficient, and the lines moved quickly. The "pre-screener" (a security person working the lines) was especially pleasant. I am not certain that I could have done as well as she did. Thanks, Delta. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif