An Accomodating Screener
 

Hastening to make a twenty minute connection to United Express SEA/PDX yesterday, wife and I were the last out the door to the ramp steps.

Screener collected both boarding passes and then asked which of us would like to board while the other stayed for wanding and bag search. Had a notion (very brief) to remark: "Go ahead, Hon, you're carrying the heat".

After giving my carry-on to my wife, I stayed for the wanding. No bag search necessary as I had passed it to my wife in FULL VIEW of the screener.

Now does anyone believe that if I had evil deeds in mind I would let chivalry dictate who stays and who goes?

But you have to admit this guy was courteous!!

FINALLY!!!!! I screener that realizes how assine things are at the airports.

Traveling to CVG on DL with spouse and two sons, as we boarded with other Medallions, the screener said that one of us had to be subject to the search/wand routine. While he was courteous, all I could think of was what if we were a family of terrorists and, given the choice, offer up the family member not carrying the weapons. I always thought that random meant their choice, not ours.

Depending on the mood of the GA's, I'm beginning to believe that they REALLY could care less... that, or they're tired and just want to get it over with. "We have to search SOMEONE". Atleast one person with a pulse must be searched, per flight. I'd LOVE to know what the 'true' criteria for picking random people is... The little old lady with her purse, the business traveler, with laptop bag, wearing a trench coat, or the guy with his wife and three screaming kids. Hmmm... choices, choices... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

RG

Does seem like nonsense. On all my recent DL flights, the agent randomly selected every non-native born US citizen for inspection, whether traveling alone or in a pack.

I was recently on a Southwest flight and 3 out of 5 searched at the gate (including me) were employees of United Airlines. Two were in uniforms, I was in civilian clothes. I really didn't mind but they cut it so very close to the departure time. We "ran" to get on. I wonder why they singled out other airline employees ?

Misstree,
Did you list close to departure? I read somewhere else that if you list (or what ever you do for WN) close to departure time the computer think it is a last minute booking and therefore you are selected for secondary screening.

That's pretty funny. On the flights I was on on Delta, the randomly selected folks were elderly people with grandkids. The deadheading pilot that I chatted with was even joking about it with me. He said, yup, the random search. Whatcha wanna bet that they'll choose the women with kids and little old ladies with walkers?

I personally say that they do a one or two of those folks, and then throw in the folks who come from countries where Muslim fanatics are known to come from. You cannot be accused of profiling if you get a couple of old ladies in with a bunch of those folks.