ID checks at the gate
 

Last week at LGA I was boarding a flight and saw a TSA employee come down to gate A1. Oh, great, a gate frisking show... but no... just an ID "check".

When I get to the guy I show my passport card, with my thumb covering my name (and far enough away that he could not see much detail in the photo). Of course he did not ask for, or get to see, my boarding pass

Don't the TSA (A being for actors) even try to pretend anymore?

In a previous thread I suggested that TSA employees should join the SAG. I realize that was in error; this would have been a more appropriate suggestion.

I had a similar experience at IAH a few weeks back. I was also VERY late to the airport and to the gate and was not happy with the guy and probably let it show. He actually followed me down the jetway to yell at me about how he was just doing his job, blah, blah, blah. Pretty ridiculous.

Same at STL a few weeks back... Was asked twice for id an bp within a 5 minute span at the gate..... It is all theater...

Maybe you should ask for their ID to make sure they aren't a terrorist..:cool:

I've had my flight delayed out of Newark because of this. We missed our departure slot. I'd really like the TSA to say, "We have a solid, well-thought-out reason for doing this." It's a very third world, cumbersome, and pointless exercise. I have no idea why they still get away with it.

TSA should not be looking at any ones id. Period end of story.

February 17, 10:01 a.m., DL2059, ATL-TPA, Gate A17 in Atlanta: I was first in line (with a first-class seat), waiting to board when at least six TSA smurfs arrived, including at least three two-stripers, carting some sort of machine. The two-striper who seemed to be in charge spoke to the gate agent, who announced, "These nice TSA officers are going to be checking all IDs, so get them out for inspection. After they check your IDs, you can give me your boarding pass to board the plane. They will also be randomly checking bags. Anyone who does not cooperate will not be allowed to board." That's pretty close to verbatim. The lead smurf nodded approvingly. Really. I also noticed a sign repeating the essence of the agent's last sentence.

It appeared that every passenger's ID was checked (or glanced at, anyway). I have no idea what that was supposed to accomplish. Obviously, it accomplished nothing meaningful.

Bruce

A taxpayer funded cheque and display of ego, as well as power.

In some countries railoads have a position that flags a train to continue on or to stop. One such employee got married and told his wife that he held a job that gave him so much power that he could stop even the most important train by waving a red flag. The wise was really impressed and considered herself lucky to be married to such a powerful man and exclaimed, "Really! I have got to see that!" The guy put on his uniform, not much unlike the TSA smurfs, and stood by the tracks, with the red flag in his hand, when the fastest train in the system was to whiz by. As the time for the train approached, he started waving the flag. To the wife's amazement, the train came to a screeching halt. The engine operator stepped down to ask the flagman "what is going on? The flagman asked him "Where are we going today?"The engine operator asked him again"What's going on?". "Nothing at all!", the flag man responded, "I just wanted to show my wife how important my job is and how much power my job gives me." :D

That's what TSA smurfs are accomplishing. Demonstration of power. :mad:

I made it all the way from an EWR ticket counter to the plane without a boarding pass that matched my ID last week.

The kiosk could not print my boarding pass and a message referred me to the ticket counter. After dealing with the rude ticket counter agent I proceeded to the gates without noticing she gave me someone else's boarding pass (of a different gender). After going through security I not only proceeded onto the plane with the wrong boarding pass but realized I had forgotten to remove my baggie of "liquids" from my suitcase - not only that did that go unnoticed but I may have gone unnoticed except that the person who's boarding pass I was holding had boarded the plane before me. The gate agent was clearly annoyed with the ticket counter agent's mistake and asked me how I got through security - I'm wondering the same thing!

I can't believe you made it past security with a boarding pass that didn't match your name! Somebody must have had too much TSA Kool-Aid that day:p

Great job TSA!!!:rolleyes:

In the second half of September 2001 I flew unknowingly with two medium size pocket knives in my purse.

IAD, SFO or SJC ( can't remember) SEA and DCA

They were discovered on flight #4 leaving SEA. :eek:
PBQ

And somehow no hijacking occurred. ;)

Knives are not a threat to aircraft and should be ignored.

I don't know that I would go that far. The Sept. 11 hijackings were done with box cutters. Yes, the doors are re-enforced now I understand that but how about the individual pilots psychological resolve? How are the pilots going to react if the bad guys start killing the flight attendants one by one then move on to the passengers if they don't open the door? Yes, I am sure they intellectually know that if they open the door likely they are all dead but I am sure it is a different story if you had to sit there and listen to the screams.

Is it a likely scenario? No, I don't think so but it doesn’t matter what I think or what you think. It only matters what the collective public thinks. It all boils down to what the public is willing to endure. Right now the vast majority of the population is willing to endure a lot to feel safe. Notice I said feel safe not necessarily be safe. The posters on this board have to realize that they are not the vast majority of the traveling public. The vast majority of the traveling public, the ones you refer to as the "ma and pa kettle" travelers, which those of you who scream racist and bigotry at every turn I wonder how those travelers would feel about being referred to in what appears as a belittling term because they don't travel a lot, would feel about that. Seems pretty elitist to me but that is a different topic.

Anyway, I hear a lot about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on this board. The US is a representative form of government. Our representatives seem to think that this is what we want. The only way I see it changing is if we convince our representatives that the majority want it to change. I don't see that happening because the majority of the country that these people represent doesn’t care. They don't care because they fly maybe once a year at best and just doesn’t affect them.

FB

I agree. First thing I think about when I hear "knives" is 9/11. Lots of stuff is theater and ineffective. Doesn't mean we should allow knives and weapons and explosives on board. I'd really rather not make it easy for any bad guys to create a hostage situation.

Sorry, that's a ridiculous scenario. The same situation can occur with broken glass, etc.

Cooperation with hijackers is what caused 9/11. Not box cutters.

Banning knives and box cutters was a stupid, knee-jerk, feel-good (to some) solution that did not address the problem, just like blaming Argenbright for not stopping the hijackers at the security checkpoint.