SFO International Terminal - asking you to confirm your last name
Mar 29, 2011, 11:19 pm
#166
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 346
Here is the kicker. Yesterday passed through SFO with my ( Japanese ) mother-in-law in tow. Usually Mrs. EX and I approach the ID check desk together to make sure she gets through alright, since she speaks no English and has terminal cancer. This particular agent ( a young lady ) had the idea to draw imaginary lines on the floor and succeeded through various hand signals ( like "stop" and "behind that line" ) to separate us. From afar I heard her asking mother-in-law what her last name was. I told her that she does not speak English, maybe she should ask in Japanese. Her answer was "that's never going to happen. Either she learns English or she is not going to fly!". We got m-i-l to say her last name and she was waived through. I did make sure to ask for the supervisor to complain and he promised me to talk to "M" ( guess it's not right to mention her name here ). Don't know if that happened. Unbelievable.
@EXLEFTSEAT: What checkpoint was this at?
Mar 29, 2011, 11:21 pm
#167
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Just because they are new, there is no excuse for their behavior 
Mar 29, 2011, 11:31 pm
#168
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 346
And technically, they are enforcing SOP by having to get the passenger to say their last name, but obviously that screener did not know how to interact with someone who speaks another language.
Mar 29, 2011, 11:55 pm
#169
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Some idiot says "Everyone has to be asked their name" without anyone considering people who don't speak English, people who have difficulty hearing, people who are mute, and so on.
Some idiot says "No liquids over 3.4 ounces" without considering people who have medical or nutritional requirements for liquids.
Some idiot says "Everyone will (eventually - you know it's coming) have to stand in the NoS with their hands over their heads for 45 seconds" without anyone considering people who can't stand, people who can't raise their hands, infants and toddlers, etc.
Some idiot says "Everyone has to show a gov't issued ID document" without anyone considering people who, for various legal and private reasons, don't have a gov't issued ID document.
Pathetic.
Mar 30, 2011, 1:03 am
#170
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OOL/DOH
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Posts: 3,192
I know that a lot of these newer people are all super SOP about everything, and seem to not know how to interact with people from other countries much.
And technically, they are enforcing SOP by having to get the passenger to say their last name, but obviously that screener did not know how to interact with someone who speaks another language.
And technically, they are enforcing SOP by having to get the passenger to say their last name, but obviously that screener did not know how to interact with someone who speaks another language.
If that means they are unable to perform any function... well unemployment here they come.
and, as an aside, when the SOP is further amended so everyone is required to hop counterclockwise* while whistling 'my old man's a dustman'*, will clerks keep blindly requiring all passenger to comply or not fly?
* deliberately chosen as 99.9% of the clerks would not know which direction is counterclockwise nor 'my old man's a dustman'...
Mar 30, 2011, 4:31 am
#171
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,114
I know that a lot of these newer people are all super SOP about everything, and seem to not know how to interact with people from other countries much.
And technically, they are enforcing SOP by having to get the passenger to say their last name, but obviously that screener did not know how to interact with someone who speaks another language.
And technically, they are enforcing SOP by having to get the passenger to say their last name, but obviously that screener did not know how to interact with someone who speaks another language.
Mar 30, 2011, 7:00 am
#173
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Mar 30, 2011, 7:06 am
#174
Join Date: Oct 2010
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... {Female TSO's} answer was "that's never going to happen. Either she learns English or she is not going to fly!". We got m-i-l to say her last name and she was waived through. I did make sure to ask for the supervisor to complain and he promised me to talk to "M" ( guess it's not right to mention her name here ). Don't know if that happened. Unbelievable.
Also please file with the DHS IG, DOJ, and local newspaper. "Granny who doesn't know English denied right to travel" might make a good story.
Mar 30, 2011, 7:25 am
#175
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Here is the kicker. Yesterday passed through SFO with my ( Japanese ) mother-in-law in tow. Usually Mrs. EX and I approach the ID check desk together to make sure she gets through alright, since she speaks no English and has terminal cancer. This particular agent ( a young lady ) had the idea to draw imaginary lines on the floor and succeeded through various hand signals ( like "stop" and "behind that line" ) to separate us. From afar I heard her asking mother-in-law what her last name was. I told her that she does not speak English, maybe she should ask in Japanese. Her answer was "that's never going to happen. Either she learns English or she is not going to fly!". We got m-i-l to say her last name and she was waived through. I did make sure to ask for the supervisor to complain and he promised me to talk to "M" ( guess it's not right to mention her name here ). Don't know if that happened. Unbelievable.
I witnessed a US Customs agent at IAD doing a very similar thing - yelling and berating an elderly oriental woman one day who mistakenly went into the wrong line. The poor woman spoke no English, and the Customs guy started yelling louder berating her for trying to come to the US without being able to speak English.
Welcome to the US, and Welcome to the nation's Capital.
That TSA does it is completely unsurprising. After all, they are on a witch hunt.
Mar 30, 2011, 8:13 am
#176
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
The UA terminal ( T2? ). We came down the escalator from the airport train and made a U-turn, so facing the gates, left side of the escalator. Line was short, so I thought no need to go through the 1k security.
Mar 30, 2011, 8:36 am
#177
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
ExLeftSeat, please please file a complaint with the ACLU! For my three cents, I think there's a civil rights violation here.
Also please file with the DHS IG, DOJ, and local newspaper. "Granny who doesn't know English denied right to travel" might make a good story.
Also please file with the DHS IG, DOJ, and local newspaper. "Granny who doesn't know English denied right to travel" might make a good story.
am out of words.
If someone can give me some advice how to file please PM me. I have had enough this time.
Mar 30, 2011, 8:37 am
#178
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posts: 684
I am not surprised at all.
I witnessed a US Customs agent at IAD doing a very similar thing - yelling and berating an elderly oriental woman one day who mistakenly went into the wrong line. The poor woman spoke no English, and the Customs guy started yelling louder berating her for trying to come to the US without being able to speak English.
Welcome to the US, and Welcome to the nation's Capital.
That TSA does it is completely unsurprising. After all, they are on a witch hunt.
I witnessed a US Customs agent at IAD doing a very similar thing - yelling and berating an elderly oriental woman one day who mistakenly went into the wrong line. The poor woman spoke no English, and the Customs guy started yelling louder berating her for trying to come to the US without being able to speak English.
Welcome to the US, and Welcome to the nation's Capital.
That TSA does it is completely unsurprising. After all, they are on a witch hunt.
What the TSA/Customs/BP don't realize/understand/care is that there's a reciprocity of abuse that can be, and is, applied to US citizens in reaction the treatment we give to international visitors.
I travel enough through Asia and Europe with other EU citizens to know that you are scrutinized more closely and treated differently by carrying a US passport.
Want a Chinese visa? Make no mistake that the US is charged more than any other country in retaliation to the cost we charge them. For example ESTA is perceived as just another nuisance/money grab and ultimately a barrier to tourism at a time where the US needs it most.
Want to see you hand luggage tossed around with gusto? Have your shoes scanned while others don't? Random "confiscations" of 'illegal' articles?
It's all benefit of our policies; and the perceptions of the countries that equally feel abused; or want to appear "tougher" than our beloved TSA/DHA handlers.
It's a sad state of affairs.
Mar 30, 2011, 8:41 am
#179
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Think for a minute how much economic damage one government employee can cause, causing visitors to this country to spend their tourism dollars elsewhere in the future.
Mar 30, 2011, 11:08 am
#180
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
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Is it any wonder why DHS and its agencies is getting so much negative press?