The bad touch
Aug 22, 2003 | 5:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: MCI
Posts: 296
The bad touch
Monday evening at MCI (AA gate) I refused to take off my shoes before going through the machine and was sent for secondary screening (as I figured I would).
To make for what I thought was an easy trip, I wore a light cotton dress (above the knees in length) and sandals. When they did the secondary screening, the screener wanded me up both of my inner thighs (she hit my underwear with the wand when she was doing this). When I raised my dress to just below my bum so she could see I had no metal, she got mad at me and said she had to wand me anyway. She was also a little aggravated with me because my shoes contained no metal - the shoe screening was particularly excessive, given that they were flats.
Given that I was touched (bare skin) in places that usually require a couple of dates, is it worth writing a formal complaint letter?
I have had several secondary screenings, gate screenings, shoe screenings, et cetera over the last 3 years, but nothing has even been this invasive. (On a side note, all of the horrid security issues I have had have been at the AA gates at MCI - it is a private security force, but I have never had problems at any of the other carriers' security areas).
To make for what I thought was an easy trip, I wore a light cotton dress (above the knees in length) and sandals. When they did the secondary screening, the screener wanded me up both of my inner thighs (she hit my underwear with the wand when she was doing this). When I raised my dress to just below my bum so she could see I had no metal, she got mad at me and said she had to wand me anyway. She was also a little aggravated with me because my shoes contained no metal - the shoe screening was particularly excessive, given that they were flats.
Given that I was touched (bare skin) in places that usually require a couple of dates, is it worth writing a formal complaint letter?
I have had several secondary screenings, gate screenings, shoe screenings, et cetera over the last 3 years, but nothing has even been this invasive. (On a side note, all of the horrid security issues I have had have been at the AA gates at MCI - it is a private security force, but I have never had problems at any of the other carriers' security areas).
Aug 22, 2003 | 6:55 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 187
I agree, as a TSA screener myself, all it takes is a little commen sense and staying off a power trip to screen someone. I hate anytime I have to secondary screen someone...Because usually it is a waste of time. Being a male screener it's kind of awkward having to touch another guy in his groin area. But I always tell them i'm going to use the back of my hand which I do and ask if they would rather it be done in private. I don't grope or feel or hit, just do what I gotta do to clear the area that alarms. But I agree that this screener was inappropriate and I would make a formal comlaint in person if possible rather than writing a letter, but if writing a letter is easier then by all means do so.
Aug 22, 2003 | 8:27 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: MCI
Posts: 296
As a female, I am always screened by a female (it might not been as bad if the attractive male screener had been doing the screening 
)
Anyway, it wasn't the fact that I was screened, but the promixity of the wand to my nether regions under my dress was rather offensive.
)Anyway, it wasn't the fact that I was screened, but the promixity of the wand to my nether regions under my dress was rather offensive.