Actually, Disney was brought in as a consultant in the early days of TSA; they helped design the screening checkpoints at (at least) BWI with creating an efficient passenger flow in mind.

Any regular Baltimore flyers want to comment?

I would say that there is so much noise in the area that shouting efforts are useless. Especially for me - hearing impaired - all that comes thru is there is someone over there shouting at the crowd and who is completely unintelligible. Culturally, shouting is considered rude and boorish. Something engaged in by bullies or people who mistake force of argument for cogent position. The message being conveyed is not a useful one about procedures it is a negative one about TSA employess.

A simple, well-placed, large type, concise sign would be much more effective.

Not a BWI regular, but the only checkpoint that seems "roomy" and has the "potential" to be efficient at BWI is the new A / B checkpoint.

My guess is if Disney was indeed consulted, it would have been for the design of the A/B checkpoint? Any BWI'ers?

Since I begain to read TS&S earlier this year, I have been counting. Counting 'please' and 'thank you' and 'you are welcome' around the world. Even on a busy holiday weekend at MUC I counted no less than 14 polite exchanges from me and the screener.

I hear 'may I' often instead of orders in other English speaking countries. I am asked at LHR if a spot check swab is going to make me late for my flight. I am beckoned over to a line with no wait with a smile and a cheerful good morning. I have been apologized to because only one lane was open and not two lanes early one morning, even though there were only a few people ahead of me.

It is entirely possible to do all of this and still provide security.

I sadly don't experience the same from the US. Simply choosing different words would improve the reputation of TSA, but it seems that there is always an excuse why that isn't possible. Request instead of demand, for instance. Some TSOs may do this, but it appears to be the norm elsewhere and the exception in the US at the airport screening.

I honestly don't know how to put this nicely, but do you realise that when you do that we are not impressed? It makes you look like an uncultured fool, and reinforces unfortunate stereotypes. What makes one think that if I don't understand a word in a regular voice I will understand it once it is shouted at me?

Explaining why security is Mickey Mouse...

I thought it was one of the big consulting firms (Booz, maybe) that came in and worked on passenger flow & screening procedures. Not that it really helped. The only checkpoints that are decent are the A/B checkpoints. And ALL of them have some of the worst personnel around.

Is that the reason the NoS was installed at the international gates?

Passing through SFO two hours ago, I was reminded of the many reasons that TSA is not liked. Although the barkers were not out, I was given the evil eye when I said that I would prefer to push my property into the xray. never happened in Sydney. Maybe we should send the clerks over to Sydney to learn some people skills.

This is the exact reason I have yelled back at the barker to shut up there giving me a migraine, and get a supervisor NOW. That response always gets there attention and everyone in earshot, and shuts the barker up pdq. Once i talk to the supervisor depending on how it goes i either go through that checkpoint or pick another one. Then once through security i get a comment card to fill out and mail in as well as get the contact info of the FSD Im sorry yelling accomplishes nothing other then to piss people off and have them tune out what ever your saying.

again and yelling louder and gesturing to someone who doesnt understand the language will all of a sudden understand....newsflash it doesnt, it just gives the person a very bad impression of the United States and makes its less likely that they will come back.

well your in a very small minority. In my travels maybe 1 in 50 govt clerks have a smile on there face the rest of the time it looks like the neighborhood dog thats been beaten repeatedly.

They won't get anything out of it. At most, they'll just tell Sydney "You're doing it wrong".

I mean, who really cares about Australia? I mean, they're all like "g'day mate". This is the US of A.

AMERICA. .... YEA.

....ing kangaroos.

...but... but

Oprah's coming.

Or worse, they'll like Sydney and want to stay.

Not with that Australian dollar selling for 99 U.S. cents. In my 15 years of travel to Australia it's never been that strong.

fortunately, we are just xenophobic enough to refuse you residency...

lol @ VH-RMD

In this country we do like to travel without succumbing to the moronic requirements of removing our shoes or producing I'd for a rentacop at the screening point in order to travel. Hell, we can even carry liquids on board our flights, and the planes aren't falling out of the sky.

As a humble Australian, I'm going to ask the posters to scratch their suggestions of sending TSA boors down under to learn a thing or few about respectful conduct at checkpoints, lest their hairbrained ideas surrounding IDs liquids gels and shoes seep through

@senseeker: ever wonder why people (americans and furriners alike) find your mob so annoying? Your last post holds the answer.

That was not my experience some ten months ago flying out of SYD. Have things changed?