I agree, it should be taped to every podium that the TDC sits behind. However, my guess is that TSOs are not allowed to have tape because of the sharp edges on the dispenser :-).

Great. I just spit all over my keyboard!:D

It takes at least a three-striper to operator the tape dispenser. SOP.

I was going over Porter's ID requirements and came across this:
Given that the NEXUS card is supposed to be used in cross-border transportation (obviously), can they really do that?

By the way, there is a book that they have that actually shows all the ID allowed. A 3 striper at BUR actually used it in a very polite way to confirm about my NEXUS card. No huff, no gruff and actually a thanks for showing them something.

NEXUS is allowed, as you saw. The problem with the PP card is that the US government has specifically said it can only be used crossing land or sea borders between WHTI countries. Its stupid, but true.

Another stupid rule is that the Canadians, not the Americans, technically make you carry your passport along with your NEXUS card for air travel, despite the fact that neither actually comes out of your bag.

I've seen a TS Clerk have a laminated list up there of her own volition, which I actually commended her on.

After my second big LAX incident, the CS/QI was supposed to be putting out an airport-wide bulletin along with launching a program to provide lists like that on every TDC. Haven't seen them yet, but I do believe she was being genuine.

:D:D

Actually, calling for a supervisor is really the best thing to do. How else will the management of these people know who is trained or who remembers the training they all got? In my many decades of work, I've often found that kicking a conflict to the manager of the person giving me the problem at least lets me get confirmation that my information is correct (or not). Fighting with someone whose ego is smarting is just a recipe for wasting the time of all involved. Again, people supervising any work crew need to KNOW when they are handing out false info. Ideally, every person have difficulty with a particular TSO will request the supervisor so that frequency of the problem will also be known. PLUS, last argument is that tempers don't rise. It is bad to get yourself in a lather over something a supervisor can resolved. Considering the context, you might also get yourself in trouble that you don't want. I mean, seriously, why are there supervisors on duty if not for exactly this type of thing?

Except that the odds of the supervisor knowing their training has only been slightly better than the TDC.

My typical experience has been for the sup to initially back the TDC and say "we don't accept those here."

Except in DEN, where the TSA thought it was issued by France (...???)

Inappropriate elevation of the situation often starts with the TSA. See Phil's ABQ video for a documentated example.

Yes, asking for a supervisor is the only thing to do. It is the quickest resolution. I found I can discuss this with the TDC for a long time time and it will always end up with a supervisor, so I go ahead and ask for one. The dynamic is always quite different when the PAX asks for a supervisor and whether the clerk asks for one, no matter where you are in the process. If I have learned any lesson from dealing with the TSA, it is when I feel myself getting angry, I take a deep breath and say, "Let's get a supervisor on this." That is true anywhere in the process. It creates a bit of time to calm down, the clerk is now relieved of immediate responsibility, and it is in the supervisor's job description and pay grade to handle these things. Now, if the supervisor is an idiot, well...... that is what creates the really long threads here.

That's well and fine, but many managers (including TSA supervisors) will back their employees decisions (under the misguided management claim of "empowerment"). This is particularly true in an organization like TSA where the employees are essentially unaccountable (and will get worse with the union). 1

While I agree that the first step should be to try and engage a supervisor, don't expect that the results will be favorable. You may need to escalate several times.

1- early in my career I worked for such a person. He explicitly told me that he would back me 100% in my decision with respect to "the public" and never tell "the public" if the decision was wrong, but that he would retrain me as necessary later. I found that kind of attitude abhorrent in a customer-facing environment, and especially so with a government agency. I left that job a few months later.

I had my NEXUS refused in ROC, and then the TDC also handed my ID to the INS guy standing next to him, who had also not seen one before. :td:

Last time through, at an airport to remain unnamed, I presented my Nexus. TDC does the light of amazing properties routine, looks at the back and comes back with the standard "Do you have another ID."

"The Nexus is an acceptable form of ID according to you SOP. Please get your supervisor." I hand him the paperwork and step to the side to wait.

The supervisor arrives, visibly not happy, and I think "oh no, this is not good." He gets to the podium, glances at my Nexus, writes the magic squiggle, hands me my Nexus and BP and smiles and says "Thank you, have a nice flight."

As I am walking away, I hear briefly in my hearing impaired way, "How many d... times to we have to tell you idiots this....." and that's when it faded out.

:):):)

I smiled and proceeded to my SDPOO.

I wish I had been a fly on the wall :D

I used my NEXUS card at MCI, this afternoon. Instead of the "do you have another ID", they said "have a good flight"... ^

I used my NEXUS card at ATL this past Sunday and the agent kept flipping it back and forth. She asked if I had a passport and I said no. She then turned to one of her colleagues and said I've never seen this. He said it was a NEXUS card and she let me through.

Yesterday at LAS, the agent had no issues with NEXUS and let me through.

It's even simpler than that. From the TSA website:
Seven features:
1) issued by the federal government or a state
2) photo
3) name
4) birtdate
5) gender
6) expiration date
7) tamper-resistant feature

They only have to remember SEVEN things and check any new or suspicious ID against those SEVEN criteria. It doesn't matter if anything is on any list. If it meets these seven criteria, they should let you through the checkpoint. Period. :mad:

[/rant]

Actually, I find that most of the TSOs are curious/interested in the new ID. A smaller fraction just don't seem to care. But no one has ever been hostile or delayed my screening for using that ID. Although less than 10% of TDCs recognize it without calling a supervisor, it's never taken me more than a few minutes to get past a TDC stand with my NEXUS card. Perhaps other people fought that battle before I arrived on the scene.

Not INS but Border Patrol. He had no business doing that. Also, the BP person had to be an absolutely colossal idiot, given that the NEXUS card would be proof of citizenship for a Canadian.