Help me understand...
 

Hi people, this is my first post. Wanted to seek your comments on a weird and discomfiting experience on Northwest, flying from MSP to LAX on Dec 23rd. Worse things have happened to other people (like the SS Agent), but still I was disturbed by the connotations of the event and how improperly it was handled. Bare facts: flying from ORD to LAX via MSP on NW. Because of CO Silver Elite, was upgraded to FC on both sectors. ORD-MSP goes fine. Problem is at MSP. When the pre-boarding call is made, I proceed to the gate, whereupon I am pulled aside and searched by 3 security personnel. Believing it to be random, I comply good-naturedly. One of them is in plain clothes (call him #1), the other 2 are uniformed (#2 and #3). #1 searches my carry-on. #2 checks my ID against a list he had. #3 proceeds to wand me and pat me down. At some point this exchange takes place between #2 and #1:
#2: He's not on the list.
#1: He's not on the list?
#2: Nope.
#1: We'll keep searching him anyway because the last guy I picked out was on the list.
(You figure that one out. If there is a list, and I'm pulled aside seemingly arbitrarily, the chances of me actually being on the list are slim, so why have a list at all?)
#1 proceeds to search through my personal effects. He is boorish and rough, but I bite my lip in the interest of maintaining cooperation. Then he takes out a plastic bag containing some toiletries I had packed at the last minute. This exchange follows between #1 and myself:
#1: What's this?
Self: Some toiletries.
#1: No, what's THIS?
Self: Shampoo [seeing that he is holding up an elongated object that is my shampoo].
Disbelieving me, he proceeds to rip apart the bag with unusual force, spilling out its contents. I can think of no reason he did that other than to intimidate me. Dropping my docile Asian act, I inform him so, firmly but gently, and point out that I had tied the bag loosely and it would have taken negligible effort to simply open it to check its contents. He looks at me blankly, and shoves the contents and the erstwhile plastic bag back into my carry-on. Now, #3, who had wanded me, patted me down and made me do a hop dance while checking my shoes, refuses to hand over my boarding pass and ID. Instead he tells me officiously that he will be escorting me to the gate (less than 10 feet away). We push our way through a cluster of passengers, and the NW gate agent asks him in a voice loud and shrill, "Is he the one?" To which #3 replies, "He's the one." I board my flight and take my seat in FC, feeling vaguely disturbed and embarrassed and enduring the (understandably) suspicious glares of the passengers boarding after me. As I mulled over this incident, I wondered if I was making too big a deal over it. After all, it was a worthless plastic bag, I didn't miss my flight, and I got my upgrade to FC, right? But I can't help feeling that these security guys were power tripping. There was no need for such boorish and intimidating behavior, no need for conveying innuendos that embarrass me and alarm my fellow travelers. And none of this addresses the mystery of this list and why I am "the one."
I would appreciate your input and comments, esp. if you have had a similar experience. (For your information, I am Chinese, not that race has anything to do with it, but in these times, you can never be too sure.)

Cheers,
PO'BOY

Welcome to the world of security paronia in the post Sept 11 travel world. Security guards are becoming more aggresive (good or bad I am not the one to decide but my feelings have been made crystal clear on previous threads), but the aggresion shown to you was uncalled for. The "random" search is supposed to be done as to inconvience you as little as possible. The search does not seem to be any different than any I have been subjected to, but the fact that you were singled out by the security guard and gate agent at boarding is unacceptable in my mind. I would write a letter to NW with copies to FAA and the security firm involved.

I've always believed that there are two types of people who go after police/security type jobs. First, you have the people who want to make society safer by helping out and making a difference. Then, you have the others who want power and to be able to throw their weight around. I wonder which type you encountered? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Neal (edited 01-12-2002).]

Welcome to Flyertalk, POBOY.

I'm sure it's not too much comfort, but I don't believe your situation is out of the ordinary. Some security personnel are polite, some are not. Most are incompetent.

As for being escorted to the gate, that is quite normal. I would presume it is done to prevent you from retrieving anything after you have been searched though it does have the benefit of keeping you from waiting in line again.

One tip -- don't be the first to board. Stand back for a few seconds and let one of the other first three to board be "randomly" selected.

The screeners and "security" personnel, whoever they are do what they feel like doing. 10 days ago I watched with interest how a twenty-somthing lady in UA uniform, choose arbirarily to "random search" ayoung man. Ninteen or twenty years of age. She went slowly over the contents of backpack. Pulled out his books, patiently, one by one, read the cover title, then asked him with a smile about the book, then they conversed. She seemed approving of his literary interests. That was no security check....
Then she went ahead and wanded him, and then -- she patted him all over his body from his ankle and up to between his thighs. And then his torso, front and back and arms. It was a thorough examination... And he enjoyed it. Too bad the plane had to take off soon.

Intrepid Your story is hilarious! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

poboy Yours isn't. If it's any consolation, I am a white guy (and an obvious native American English speaker) and I too have gotten the rude inspection post 9/11. If someone treated me so shabbily during hockey I would proceed to beat the crap out of them, however, I have exercised restraint at the airport so far. Congratulations on not letting them get the best of you in the end and BTW Welcome to Flyertalk.

poboy, welcome to FlyerTalk.

I just returned about 2 hours ago from an AS flight where I got searched 3 times within 2 hours prior to boarding. If I feel up to it I'll post the experience in the next few days. I'm still seething about it right now.

There are so many inconsistencies in the system it's really ludicrous. But, as we all know, it makes Ma & Pa Kettle and the Griswold's feel better about travelling, so we will continue to endure this treatment.

Neal, you are absolutely correct!!!

On Friday (Nov 11) as I was boarding UA6873 PDX-SEA (these flts are run by Skywest) the first man boarding was randomly pulled aside for screening. He verbalized slight annoyance with being searched and stated he had already been searched 3 times. He was Asian and about 45-55ish.

I was going to tell him he was randomly selected this time because of his line position but I figured he was probably upset.

My guess is it had more to do with your line position as well. If you are truly upset you can always write NW and ask that they reimburse you for the damaged plastic bag. I would, because I know how much trouble it is for them to issue a $0.03 check. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

a week ago, dfw-lga, [i was in steerage] , the first person to go for boarding [fc,caucasian] was randomly selected for the search at the gate. perhaps being polite pays off [ no please , i'll go after you!] and be second.

when posting a subject, it would be so much more helpful if the it were more descriptive than "Help me understand..." Or, better yet, I love when people's subject is "I have a question". Boy, that's helpful.

Let's cut him a little slack on the topic line - it was his first post. And a good one.

POBoy,

Welcome to FT... sorry your first post had to be one about a poor experience. I have learned to be as nice and polite as possible... and make the job of the screeners easier. Of course, I have not experienced what you have either. I got "screened" four times on a flight from SFO to OGG back in October... even had to remove my shoes to be x-rayed.

Take the advice and write to Northwest and the FAA. They need to be made aware of these incidents... if you remember the names, that is even better.

Hope your future posts and experiences are much better than these.

William

Welcome to FT, poboy. What you went through is dreadful and I would complain very loudly were I you. Do us all a favor and make sure that NW etc. hears about this one!!

Writing to the airline and the security company is a good idea. But isn't it time to start writing to our Congressmen?
We all want to feel safe. But to achieve that goal, our government has empowered ever "Barney Fife" want-to-be who is currently wearing a security guard uniform. We would never accept this type of treatment from our local police. The system has to be both safe and responsible.

Hello and welcome poboy. yes, I too essentially agree with the above assessments, and particularly echo the sentiments of wharvey, eastwest, Neal and shadow! Being "hassled" is now, very sadly, apart of the "deal" it seems! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif