RoyalFlush

Today's #TSAfail:

I received a VM & SMS messages this morning about 0730 Pacific from a fellow FTer (contributor to TS&S).

He was at T6/7, UA Elite side. TDC, supes & a 3 striper initially refused his NEXUS. They eventually let him through but it was too late. He asked me to post this. I'm sure he will offer more details when he can.

AngryMiller

Top of the bottom management often does things like this.

mikeef

Wow. How long did the whole thing take to get cleared up at the WTMD?

Mike

senseker

I can tell you for sure this is wrong. NEXUS cards are acceptable forms of valid id, so these TSO's did not know their SOP.

LAX FAIL.

Boggie Dog

Seems to be an ongoing problem with TSA not knowing what ID is ok.

Who is responsible for signing off on a persons training before being assigned a job? That is the person who should be disciplined!

Scubatooth

sounds like all involved need to be decertified from there positions and sent packing. This is BS and needs to be taken up the chain and to congress. This has got to stop!

FriendlySkies

Typical TSA..

I suppose you could suggest your friend carry this document. It is a PDF from the TSA website. It lists what forms of ID are acceptable.

"US federal or state government-issued photo ID
• Must contain a name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and some tamper-resistant feature
• State IDs must meet REAL ID benchmarks; Federal IDs meet equivalent standards
• Examples: US passport, US passport card, “Trusted Traveler” cards (such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST), US military ID, Border Crossing Card, DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license, and any state-issued driver’s license that has received a REAL ID extension"

Link to the site:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...documents.shtm

jkhuggins

Which works right up until the TDC says "the website is wrong" ...

AngryMiller

Which is what I've been on the receiving end of on more than one occasion. When the front liners don't know something, admit to not knowing it then take care of the situation properly. Don't lie. We've got you fact checked seven days from Sunday.

ElPasoPilot

No suprise here. Happens to me more often than not.

bocastephen

Probably a useful exercise to print out a list of approved ID's from their own website and be prepared to wave it in the supervisor's face if this happens again.

FriendlySkies

Until they claim that the document is false, and they are all knowing!

Himeno

Forget taking it up the chain. The ID check is illegal. It needs to go to the courts.

Boggie Dog

Wouldn't a person have to be harmed before they could contest the ID requirement?

This FT may be in the position of being able to do so if they want to pursue action.

N1120A

I'm the nefarious trusted traveler the OP is referring to and it was pretty ridiculous. The TDC was actually relatively nice and actually walked me through the unusually thick line to the WTMD after I had waited 30+ minutes. None of the 3 podiums had the big binder of IDs and I was not going to risk ID theft by pulling my passport or DL. I actually showed both her and the supe the TSA website on my phone, which clearly shows NEXUS is accepted. After I got through the WTMD (after I was told I needed a "quick pat down" by the TSO working the Gorilla Position (old WWF reference) at the WTMD because I had on a "bulky" sweatshirt. I put it through the X-Ray instead. I had already missed, so I went up to the "manager" (Ethiopian guy in a suit who was not an FSD, who I had asked for after the 3 striper pulled his garbage). I said I wanted to file a complaint against the supe, and the manager claimed he also told them that NEXUS "is not accepted at LAX" to which I flatly said "you are wrong, and it is scary that you don't know TSA policy regarding a federally issued ID." They wanted to write down my info on some piece of scratch paper, and I told them no. I will file formally on my way back.

Now for the good news. I don't hear a lot on here about UA's ground staff at LAX, but the reality is that the people who work airside, at least IMHO, are United's best people. One of the RCC people moved mountains to get me on the next IAD flight, which allowed me to make my connection and make this post from the comfort of the C-11 RCC.