Yes you can cite a few instances out of the millions and mlions of interactions with TSOs that display TSA employees doing what they should not. Then you say it "probably" will not happen. The odds of it happening are about the same as winning the lottery (and we can all find at cite examples of abuse from any government agency, specifically looking at regulatory/LEO agencies (no I am not saying TSA is a LEO agency)).

However, based on my experience working x-ray, with the items the OP is planning on having in 1 bag, I can with a fair amount of certainty say that her bag will be picked for a bag check because it will be too cluttered to make out on x-ray. It would be better if the OP put the items into 2 locked carry-on bags.

The odds of winning megamillions is one hundred seventy five million to one.

I believe the odds of the TSA somehow making up a fantasy where they are about to catch somebody fencing jewelry because they are carrying some expensive watches to be significantly less than that.

Do we need to go over the checkbook lady story again?

With respect ... SATTSO, you don't want to get into a debate about probabilities.

TSA's mission is to prevent terrorist incidents aboard commercial air traffic: an event which, to begin with, is extremely rare. In order to achieve that mission, TSA would have to execute its procedures with a failure rate far, far smaller than that of any modern lottery.

TSA can't say, on the one hand, "not on our watch" or "it only takes one failure to let the terrorists win" (not quoting anyone specifically here), and then on the other hand say "well, we're not perfect, what's the big deal?" when examples of failure or abuse are made public.

I didn't bring up probabilities, and it wouldn't bother me in the least to talk about it - the odds of something like this happening are next to none. Millions of passengers fly each day, and all anyone here can do is cite a handful of examples.

But people on this site LOVE to spread fear, they LCD storing things up, attempting to make people anxious before they fly. Why? It suits the ends of most who post here, plain and simple. Let be honest and not claim that this is not true.

To the OP, you will not be questioned as to why you have these items. Many people travel often with multiple similar items each day, and none have incidents as described here. But what i did mention about cluttered bags is true - multiple ipads, a camera, all things that go with it will most likely make your bag cluttered on x-ray and result in a bag check. Best bet is to spread out the items in 2 locked bags.

You go over whatever you want. Still doesn't change the fact that what you are describing - a small handful of events - are 1 in millions in odds of happening.

Yes there may be 1:2,000,000 odds of getting illegal scrutiny of ones billfold.

But, this must be combined with the odds of getting ones genitals graped :).

Which must be combined with the odds of someone stealing from you while you are distracted.

Which must be combined with the odds of not getting ones Nexus accepted.

Which must be combined with the odds of getting screamed at by an out of control TSO.

Add odds of being delayed due to out and out incompetence.

Add the odds of getting an additional gate search.

And for good measure the 1:100,000 terminal dump.

Now stir in the mix that some of us fly 3-4 times a week and the odds get pretty good that one of these travesties will happen on a regular basis, we just can not predict which ones.

I will leave it to someone with more talent in statistics to provide the numbers, but it is one of the basics.

SATTSO: do you see the contradiction in what you posted?

and later in the same post:

Unless, of course, the OP is; since TSA clerks are uniformly poorly trained and unprofessional, no one should accept any assurances any one TSA clerk gives about screening. Remember, also, that TSA screeners are specifically empowered by their agency to disregard, at their whim, any and all policies regarding nonprohibited items.

I have one compartment inside my carry on bag that is nearly hidden from view. When you look into the bag, it is not obvious. Someone just hoping to grab something off the belt, has little chance of finding anything of value in my bag.

So far, so good.

Yawn - combining screening measures and other possibly illegal events together is one reason why most of the complaints from the people on this site are rightfully ignored. I wonder if people here will ever figure that out? Sadly, I doubt it.

No I don't. The odds of such a thing happening are so next to none that I fan confidently say that it will not happen.

But you think a pair of flip-flops could bring down a jetliner, even though no one's tried to use shoes to get explosives on an aircraft anywhere on the planet since 2001, regardless of whether or how footwear was screened. I just want to make sure we all understand your understanding of probability.

So, if I have a complaint at your checkpoint you will rightfully ignore me?

Combining different types of events to determine the potential for a negative experience is absolutely a legitimate exercise. The elements are inevitable linked by the fact that they are all controllable by the TSA and are perceived as TSA failures.

It is a quality control process that is used every day by manufacturers that actually care about quality and customer service.

Which is why people here keep dragging out the same old stories.

Claim: TSA says "Security Officers will not ask nor require you to remove your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace."

Fact: This happens all the time: at SNA, at PHL, at PSC, at PWM, and at SFO.

Claim: TSA says that you can present any ID card from their master list as evidence of identity, in order to avoid (certain forms of) additional screening.

Fact: Numerous threads in this forum give numerous examples where this is clearly not the case: presenting a passport card, presenting a regular passport, presenting a driver's license (when a passport is "expected"), presenting a TWIC card.

I could go on, but I trust the point is made. TSA is inconsistent enough with the way it enforces its rules, that any claim of "this will not happen" is, to be frank, suspicious on its face.

This is a perfect example of the complete lack of sense with which the TSA operates. Are you saying that a TSA'er isn't trained enough to watch what I'm doing with my hands? They can't apply common sense to see that I'm touching a bag or pouch that contains the item (alarm) they need to resolve?

TSA is about rules, power and authority, not security. And this is just another example of that.

........

(bolding mine) NoS = Nude-O-Scope, gotta watch those abbreviations. Also check out the DontScan.us link in my sig. ;)



Aw ‘cmon, those are just Isolated Instances™. :p



Well, remember that TSA screening clerks do not need a high school diploma, so it's best to keep things simple for them. And no, I really don't want TLV-style security in the States. Is. Not. Possible.