AIT Conditioning
 

Flying out of CVG Sunday night, I noticed something that was either a coincidence or a new strategy that the TSA was employing.

In lanes 1-2, the AIT machine was processing about 3-4 people for every 1 going through the WMD. In the WMD lane, the TSOs appeared to be x-raying the carryon items very slowly; much slower than the AIT lane.

Was this a maneuver to get more people to self-select the AIT, or was it just a coincidence? I'll be flying out again from there in a couple weeks, so I'll look for it happening.

It is a common, and daily, occurrence now at MSP.

MSP has 2 completely NoS-free checkpoints currently (well 4, but the 3rd is for DL elite only, and the 4th for airport/airline employees). The 2 WTMD only lines are purposefully run slowly by means of the baggage x-ray. MSP TSA suits also camp out on a walkway overlooking one of these checkpoints, apparently gauging reaction.

People still self-select into these lines far more than into the NoS/WTMD combination lines.

I also noticed it once at LAX where the WTMD-feeding baggage x-ray was moving at a rate so that there was a 1:1 WTMD:NoS ratio. Meanwhile the bags in the NoS-feeding baggage x-ray was slowed to a near stop due to the "speed" of the NoS. Go figure.

I don't doubt it for a minute. As an aside, I was at MSP twice in the last 2 weeks. Both times checkpoint 1 (WTMD only) was completely closed.

Oh and just as a tip - I went to the Checkpoint 3 (Delta Elite only) and showed my boarding pass to the Delta agent standing there. I said "is this line OK for American 1st class?" (normally I wouldn't have asked but I wanted to get an idea of how dictatorial they are at MSP) and he said "Sure right through there". Granted, a different agent may have said something different but I proceeded through the checkpoint WTMD ignoring any person in a blue shirt and was on my way in under 4 minutes.

I'll bet they are just chomping at the bit to get those last three checkpoints cancered up.

I don't understand why Shena should have to help out at the WTMDs. According to Blogger Bob, 98% of passengers prefer the NoS.

Mike

I noticed on my last trip through terminal 7 at LAX (last Friday) that the lines were much, much longer for WMTD than WBI. Granted, you encounter the WMTD lines first. Still, it seemed to me that people were voting with their feet and choosing the WMTD lines over WBI. This particular screening point serves a lot of United frequent flyers, so maybe there's correlation.

A while back at BNA, they were actually restricting passengers from selecting WTMD only lines.

They had erected a rope line across a dual x-ray into one WTMD line that had the scanner off and blocked. The line guard would keep the rope closed and as people asked, I was one, to use the line they were rebuffed and directed to the line where the scanner was active. They allowed just a few through and the line was very short and fast. There were at least 25 people that went through the guarded mine before I could proceed through the WTMD (selected by another line guard) after the 8 or so folks in my line could move through.

It was obviously a ploy to prevent self-selection of a scanner "off" line, and a successful one at that.

Did you file a complaint with TSA? Here's the link: http://www.tsa.gov/contact/index.shtm

If you don't complain, you can expect the same treatment - or worse - on your next trip thru there!

Realistically, I'll a slow WTMD lane over a quick nude-o-scope lane any day.

I'm sure they're slowing the WTMD to pump up the numbers for NOS processing. They are probably working to create a claim that NOS can keep up with the WTMD and process an equal number of passengers per hour. Governance and/or the device manufacturers are likely the driving force. They have to make it a "success", even if just on paper. This is just one of the many creative ways they can generate "facts" for reports and audit purposes. There's no other way to justify something that is 3x slower, requires 3x more staffers and costs significantly more than a WTMD.

IAD is also forcing folks to back up for the strip search machine. One in 10 was allowed throuhg the wtmd, even though it caused a long backup. IAD is now one to avoid if you can. Surley screeners, overstaffed, and forced strip search.

They also don't fully man the elite checkpoint at MSP. Last three times the elite checkpoint had 30 or more people in line and only one WMD operating while there were other checkpoints with 'no wait'.

My guess would be the only correlation is the herd mentality of the flying public. See a line, join it.

But don't they usually join the shortest one? Unless they can't see it or don't think it applies to them.

Just went through LAX T4. Went through the small side checkpoint, the first checkpoint 'door' from the left side of the main terminal doors.
While in the line, I was thinking of what I'd do/say if I ended up with the NoS, but it didn't come to that. The mini checkpoint had 1 NoS and 1 WTMD with one line feeding to both. I self selected the moment I saw the choice. A TSO tried to get some people into the NoS line (both lines about the same size after the 'TDC').
The people just ahead of me saw that the NoS line was getting priority and were thinking of changing, so I told them what it was. The people behind me knew was it was and choose that line for the same reason I did.

It appeared that at least 1 in 3 were self selecting the WTMD, 1 in 3 just joining a line and the rest following orders.

The bag xray was going at about 2:1 on the WTMD side.

After going though, I heard someone who had been through the NoS say it was 'fun'.

This was very clearly happening at LAX AA terminal yesterday. The priority access (ie elite) lines all ended up in one common choke point that had both a WTMD and an NoS. Usually the odds of those have been pretty good in favor of WTMD, because the NoS is so damn slow, so you have small (maybe less than 1 in 5) chance of going NoS when you get to the front. But yesterday, the line was moving very slow, to the point that they had to back people up before the escalator that leads up to it. I use that line at least once a month and this seemed unusual. Upon careful observation, it was clear they were deliberately slowing down the WTMD line. It seemed like a two pronged strategy.

First, and most obvious, the TSO manning the WTMD line would just stop and stand in front of it every couple of people that went through. Not doing anything, just standing in front of it, not letting anyone through, observing the NoS line the whole time.

Second, it was clear the bag xray was being slowed down. The xray operator would either get up every so often to exchange words with colleagues (but not to bring over anyone to observe something on the screen), and then every so often would literally just sit there, staring at the screen, without moving the xray belt. Probably just being abundantly cautious.....

I'm guessing in the 15 mins I spent on that line (usually less than 5mins) they managed to get it down to between 2-1 and maybe even 1-1 ratio of WTMD-NoS.

Nope, the longest one is uually picked. Driven through a toll lately? There'll be one lane with 20 cars, another with two, both accept payment. Herd mentality.

Actually I have never seen that. Not even once. Although I have seen ETC lanes much shorter than cash lanes for obvious reasons. If that were really true I guess I'd never have to wait in a line again. It would be very nice.

Do you think it a coincidence that the pat-downs became more offensive with the roll-out of the Nude-O-Scopes?

Pavlo's dog.

My biggest fear for MSP but for now happy to have status to use checkpoint 3 exclusively. Oh, and I'm happy you encountered a friendly agent.

NOS is primary now.

Turning the pot of water up to boiling under the frogs. Pretty soon it will be mandatory.

Tonight at LAX T4 it was very obvious that the WTMD side had slower x-ray screeners. 3 minutes per passenger, including a FA.

And all the statements that it was an alternative to a groping to resolve a WTMD alarm were lies.

As were, I anticipate, Pishole's comments that they don't plan to go with more invasive searches.

I do not agree. They may both accept payment, but one may require "exact change." :rolleyes:

And I remember how many times BB swore up and down that wasn't going to be the case. :rolleyes: :td:

Did you file a complaint about it, or do you just intent to lament it here?

1) I arrived home a few hours ago (took the redeye). No point complaining at the screening station: the TSA screening station at LAX doesn't care - they've told me that before. Complaint will be filed shortly.

2) Posting here informs others so they can plan accordingly.

SAN WN gates 1/2 today, NOS only, no WTMD. I'm 3 out of 4 on getting tagged for NOS over the last two weeks, I'm sure Eyecue is correct in stating that it is primary now. Moat dragon seemed surprised by the opt-out. He kept telling me I couldn't take my wallet into the scanner (he saw the bulge in my pocket) & I told him three times that I wasn't going into the scanner. I had to say "Opt-out!" pretty loud to break his focus before he said "oh, okay, stand over there." Groper today was polite, didn't touch the jewels at all (didn't even come close) but was somewhat upset that I'd brought my wallet. He saw it in my hand as I approached (the usual approach) and freaked out asking "WHAT'S IN YOUR HAND?!" dramatically while backing away. I've always brought it (not gonna leave it in a tray) and they've always flipped through it in the past, but he took it off to xray instead, holding it high over his head like it was a burning stinkbomb. Never the same routine twice.

My wallet doesn't look anything else other than wallet. The theatrics surrounding it were amusing today, but that routine is going to get old very fast. I'll think I'll keep it pocketed until they begin their "patdown" speech in the future.

What?! Is that all you are going to say on the matter? I hope this is not your idea of a joke.

More evidence of conditioning.. DEN is following their friends at ORD, and putting cones in front of the WTMD, making all pax go through the NoS. They seemed to realize that the long lines were due to the NoS, so a WTMD opened up to clear the backlog, but they have gone back to putting all pax through the NoS..

Just went through SJC Term A. Only one lane open, duel WTMD/NoS. They are also doing the go slow bag xray and directing people to the NoS.

I self selected the WTMD side when I noticed they were directing primarily towards the NoS. I timed sorting out the bins so that there would be at least 1 person waiting for the NoS when I got there. I pushed my bags into the xray and was about to step through the WTMD when the guard on the other side stopped me and questioned the person feeding the NoS. NoS was backing up so I got through the WTMD, then waited for my bags.
Bags got out when the person ahead of me was leaving the NoS.

Any reports for DCA (my primary airport)?

I find this hard to believe, though... I thought TSA was less smart than this? ;)

TSA is passive-aggressive. They won't come right out and state "NOS is now the primary means of screening passengers" so they set up all sorts of obstacles to try to force people through.

Did you miss this:
Oh, and a big :)^ for acknowledging these things for what they are.

Exactly.. This was the scene from DEN. Notice the orange cone in front of the WTMD.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6704316_n.jpg

No, I didn't miss it - but the TSA itself has not set forth that NOS is primary.

If eyecue's assertion that "NoS is primary now" is true (and I have no reason to doubt him other than previous TSA spokespeople saying that would never happen), then...

Is it possible that a widespread observations of WTMD being slowed down so that more people more through NoS is simply so the TSOs can meet a new quota? i.e. they have to make NoS primary by admitting more people through NoS than WTMD, and the only way to do it is to slow down the WTMD?

I would appreciate any TSOs who can confirm or deny this chiming in!

ETA: I noticed some strange checkpoint statistics at DFW and SEA this weekend, where lines I would normally expect to move quickly were moving slowly, but I didn't connect the dots to a larger pattern.

Still a far cry from anyone with any power, like management, Pissy, or BB saying that though.

I noticed a lot of people standing around doing nothing.