Grounds for Interrogration before TDC?
Dec 18, 2010 | 2:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,644
Grounds for Interrogration before TDC?
I was at MCO this morning, and noticed something that I have never seen. Two & Three stripe clerks were wandering through the lines of pax waiting for the TDC, questioning them about the trips... From what I heard, they were asking questions about destinations, who they were visiting, etc... Do we still have the ability to refuse these questions as we have not entered the checkpoint, or will we run into the same clerk that last night told me that we have no rights?
Dec 18, 2010 | 2:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,386
Perhaps this story will give you some insight on how TSA terrorizes people.
John S. Pistole..... said: "But if it's an Abdulmutallab type, I can almost guarantee, when they see a dog, he or she is going to think that's a bomb-sniffing dog and take evasive action. That's what we're looking for."
Dec 18, 2010 | 2:36 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,664
Dec 18, 2010 | 2:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: Choice Hotels/FFOCUS
Posts: 7,259
I was at MCO this morning, and noticed something that I have never seen. Two & Three stripe clerks were wandering through the lines of pax waiting for the TDC, questioning them about the trips... From what I heard, they were asking questions about destinations, who they were visiting, etc... Do we still have the ability to refuse these questions as we have not entered the checkpoint, or will we run into the same clerk that last night told me that we have no rights?
Dec 18, 2010 | 2:42 pm
#5
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,644
Seemed like all of the pax they were "targeting" were happy to comply.. Some of them did seem a little confused when they were being questioned.
Dec 18, 2010 | 2:51 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: Choice Hotels/FFOCUS
Posts: 7,259
Perhaps this story will give you some insight on how TSA terrorizes people.
Dec 18, 2010 | 3:18 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,664
It only happened to me once; I had time to spare, so I had fun with it. He came up with his partner nearby but pretending not to listen. He asked me how I was and I said "fine". Then he asked me for my BP and I gave it to him. He asked why I was going to Chicago. I got fed up and replied: "See spot; see spot run; go spot; go spot go . . . bother another passenger". The look was priceless. I was given SSSS treatment and filed a complaint.
Dec 18, 2010 | 3:20 pm
#8
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,644
It only happened to me once; I had time to spare, so I had fun with it. He came up with his partner nearby but pretending not to listen. He asked me how I was and I said "fine". Then he asked me for my BP and I gave it to him. He asked why I was going to Chicago. I got fed up and replied: "See spot; see spot run; go spot; go spot go . . . bother another passenger". The look was priceless. I was given SSSS treatment and filed a complaint.
Dec 18, 2010 | 3:21 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,343
I was at MCO this morning, and noticed something that I have never seen. Two & Three stripe clerks were wandering through the lines of pax waiting for the TDC, questioning them about the trips... From what I heard, they were asking questions about destinations, who they were visiting, etc... Do we still have the ability to refuse these questions as we have not entered the checkpoint, or will we run into the same clerk that last night told me that we have no rights?
Dec 18, 2010 | 3:22 pm
#10
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,644
Dec 18, 2010 | 3:31 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,664
It was not so much fun having a pat down, enjoying 15+ minutes of swabbing, enduring a lecture on jokes at the security checkpoint and having my information being recorded by the TDC upon instruction from the BDO that was pretending not to listen to our conversation. God bless the Passport Card (I didn't want to use the NEXUS card in this case).
I think it was worth it-- he was very put-off. VERY put-off. Looked like no one had ever stood up to him before and he was like a deer in headlights.
I think it was worth it-- he was very put-off. VERY put-off. Looked like no one had ever stood up to him before and he was like a deer in headlights.
Dec 18, 2010 | 3:43 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MSP
Programs: DL-PM, Small Luxury Hotels & Proud Member of TSA Disparager-Gold
Posts: 774
Here's my take on TSA interrogation of pax - it's what a lot of us on FT have suggested is needed, Israeli-style security tactics, interviews, bomb sniffing dogs & profiling. Unfortunately I don't think our current TSA are qualified or trained in effective interrogation, but I think it's a step in the right direction. Frankly I would rather answer their questions than submit to NoS or molestation.
Dec 18, 2010 | 4:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Mississippi
Programs: formerly SW, DL; currently Amtrak S+
Posts: 86
I wouldn't mind answering questions, but how do we know that they're not asking these questions in order to find out the information they need to deliberately make us late or miss a flight altogether? You know, "Do you want to fly today?" I recall reading threads where posters felt they were being asked the time of their flight so the TSA would be able to use that to bully "problem" passengers who opted out.
They think we're all terrorists and don't trust us. We don't trust them. This is NOT the way things should be!
Dec 18, 2010 | 4:40 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
Here's my take on TSA interrogation of pax - it's what a lot of us on FT have suggested is needed, Israeli-style security tactics, interviews, bomb sniffing dogs & profiling. Unfortunately I don't think our current TSA are qualified or trained in effective interrogation, but I think it's a step in the right direction. Frankly I would rather answer their questions than submit to NoS or molestation.