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Had to fly this past weekend. Scopes off at IAD Diamond and at JFK Terminal 5.

It is "Sunprint" film paper HERE -- bought at a science store. Develops in the sun, rinse with water to "set". No hits on google about how it reacts to X-rays... :-/ If it's damaged -- I guess I should file a complaint?

Flew out of LAS yesterday. Smurfs were friendlier than usual. NOS was closed at the D gate checkpoint. YEA!!!

Flying out of EWR on Thursday night. Will let "yous" know how that goes.

just wait-you'll be groped by TSO's wearing red and green gloves.


Out of an Abundance of Caution®, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), has issued new security screening procedures. Effective 12/20/10-1/2/11. All Transportation Security Officers (TSO's) will be patting down travelers wearing red and green gloves as after extensive studies performed by scientists at Wassamattah Univeristy in Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, it has been determined that the colors red and green do absolutely nothing to make air travel safer.

Will they change to blue and white for Hanukkah? :cool:

If the TSA is changing their behavior, then they're changing their behavior for the same reason anyone else changes their behavior... to get something new, or to keep something that's at risk of being taken away. Either there's new searches coming, or else they're afraid of loosing some search powers? :)

My guess is that sunprints probably won't be affected - they require several minutes of outdoor light, correct? That's very low sensitivity. If they turn out bad I'd file a complaint, but it doesn't sound like there will be a problem.

Flew out early this AM (1AM redeye to IAH)...TDC was overly friendly (loved the "next victim please" comment), but the traffic control smurf at the WTMD could have used a crash course in personality.

Unfortunately, NOS was in operation in the far right lane. Far left at the First Class side was just the WTMD. Self-selection was possible and they did not seem to be paying attention to those who did (possibly since I was the only one who did and it came on the heels of getting tired of waiting for the idiots in front of me who seemed to have no clue about getting their stuff together to GIVE the TDC. So to the smurfs it may have seemed as though I was just a late night experienced traveler looking for a line with less BS from clueless pax...

Hmm, flew out of LAS on Sunday afternoon and I had the opposite experience with the TSOs at the A CP. Got barked at to just approach the podium instead of politely waiting to be called forward, got barked at for daring to have the mrs. carrying both IDs and boarding passes. Guess I had to be in control of my own BP and that was just the way they do things there.

My experience has been different. Cross-posted here.

I flew out of MCO this morning (Tuesday), and got some attitude from the clerk when I asked him to use a new swab on my laptop. He looked at me like I was speaking in a foreign language, and then complied after I nicely asked again. He then asked if I worked for TSA... I thought about saying something like "I wouldn't be caught dead working for TSA", but I bit my lip ;)

Friendly at DCA as well on Saturday. The TDC even asked me if I needed any special assistance (I'm Deaf). Made gestures to take shoes off and laptop in the bins. Would be really nice if I wasn't a frequent flier. ;) Also held the line up a bit, it was a bit embarassing.

Otherwise, it was a great experience. NoS was roped off (DL/CO terminal). Went through the WTMD, got a quick pat down at the WTMD because I was wearing a sweater, and then was on my way.

ORD two TSOs shushed another who felt the need to scream 'BAG CHECK!' and a supervisor came over and told her 'there's no need to shout'.

But that doesn't offset the other issues I had at other airports last week... It was odd enough for me to note it and comment on it here.

Follow up report for this week
 

Flying out of DTW on Tuesday very nice people, TSA told me to put my stuff through as the belt was running. This was in the AIT lane. Told him I wanted to wait until the dude in their was finished as I did not want my things on the other side without me. He told me to go ahead and he would hold the regular metal detector for me to go through. OK, pushed them in and walked next door and got through no problem. Standing and waiting for my stuff and the Xray screener grabs my bin and starts screaming for the owner. Then I get a lecture on how I did not put my purse in the bin correctly. HuH? I think she was angry I got "special" treatment for keeping the line moving.

Everything else went great.

When we returned to DTW I was outside of baggage having a smoke and this TSA was walking around in combat boots and cargo pants like he was rambo on the sidewalk. You know it is a few who cause the worst impressions.

And on a lighter note, I have been noticing there always has to be a fat out of shape person at the checkpoints with a really loud voice. How do they advertise or screen for that job.

So far this month only 1 nasty and the rambo wanna be outside on the sidewalk, for 5 flights. One more next week, will let you know.

Maybe TSA is backing off over the Christmas holidays to avoid more bad press.

I was picking up a friend at BWI (WN) on 12/23 and while waiting watched the security theater at gates A and B. I’ll be going out on WN in January and see how things are evolving.

Traffic was light and the lines moved pretty quickly and there is an even split of WTMD and MMW at each gate. It seemed like slightly more went through WTMD but were otherwise equal. The WTMDs moved a little quicker which probably is why more went through them.

There also seemed to be a form of self selection, with folks opting for the shortest line with little or no direction from TSOs. I think they were just trying to move the crowd.

I saw very few pat downs, maybe three at gate A in twenty minutes. All were very quick. One young male in a bulky sweater got an upper body pat down that was over in a couple of seconds, really quite cursory. The others were a middle age business man and elderly male vacationer. Both got full pat downs but were so quick I doubt that there was any groping.

The really odd one was a young overweight woman going through the WTMD at B. She triggered the alarm the first pass and the male TSO waved her back to empty her pockets. She triggered the second time and he had her stand off to the side, in the secure area. I thought for sure that he had called for a female assist when he waved a male through the WTMD. To my amazement he sent her back through for a third try! This time she removed earrings and a something else in her pockets and walked through without a trigger.

I watched to see if she was going to get pulled aside but she didn’t. She picked up her things which another TSO had placed on the floor near the belt and was standing next to while she finished screening. Other than the MMW dance everything looked pretty much like it did last year.

I also saw four or five groups of TSOs (all in threes for some reason) standing around talking and laughing. There were another two outside smoking and one wandering around staring into space. On our way we passed two other gates and things looked pretty similar.

So now I’m wondering what the explanation is for the sudden shift in practice.
1. TSA is trying to avoid a second holiday PR meltdown and will resume the abuse in January.
2. Political pressure has caused Pistole to adjust practices in advance to avoid from getting slammed with the new oversight committee in January.
3. The TSOs, LTSOs, and STSOs are inherently lazy and have simply returned to their usual Thousands Standing Around behavior.

Is this peculiar to BWI or is this a trend? I’ve managed to stay off of planes since November but it will be back to reality come January.