Yes, the passenger is supposed to be paged, but some airports do not bother with it and just go ahead and bust the bags open. Those are the places that need to be looked into. But most TSA airports will have the airline page the passenger several times before they break open a bag. Personally, I think everything should be done right in front of the passenger.

Toiletries set off a flag on more than a rare occassion.

Stories circulate about the intention of terrorists to hide explosives and other hazardous materials in toiletry-like containers/packaging since the consistency of certain materials and certain toiletries can be quite misleadingly similar.

I have no clue what sets off the CTX other than what stories I hear from fellow screeners on tsascreener.com. We use ETD's at our airport, and I can tell you toiletries do not set off any kind of flag for us. An ETD cannot see inside the bag, so sometimes we open the bags and check things inside...like swab certain materials or containers. That's bout all I could tell ya

Which terminal at EWR were you using? CO / C is my best guess as I don't recall seeing screening equipment out in front.

This morning, I flew out of EWR terminal B. There it seems (some) suitcases are collected and then brought to a 'central area' for CTX screening which is in public view in Terminal B.

As I walked by this area at B EWR, they had many suitcases lined up for screening, but it didn't seem to be a passenger luggage drop off area like at MCO, SDF, SAN, etc (have luggage tagged, take to TSA, and then they screen it when they get to it if a backup exists). Perhaps this was SkyCap luggage or they carted the luggage to this area after it was checked with the airline (or perhaps this was just CTX screening for Intl luggage @ B).

On this trip out of EWR, I only had hand luggage and didn't have to check anything.

While on the subject of EWR, The TSA checkpoint @ B EWR was quite professional, IMHO, this morning, which is in sharp contrast to an experience I had at "C" a couple of months ago.

Best,

SDF_Traveler

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

We had one go through Austin, two pull tabs on the unlocked zippers for the rollaboard.

When the bags were returned, no pull tabs on either zipper but a TSA "inspected your bags to keep you safe" note. Also, pull tab on the outside pocket was gone.

This bag is no longer unusable. There was no lock. They seem just to have removed the pull tabs out of spite or ignorance.

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"We know you have a choice of airlines" ... the most important frequent-flyer words you heard this week.

It was actually Terminal A, using American Airlines.

Most of our baggage scanners are now inline. The belt system will pull off blue tags,straps or anything else hanging loose to include ribbons and ID tags. Unfortunately a construction worker got his arm caught in the belt.

Funny how this "person" knows EVERYTHING there is to know about the TSA. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/rolleyes.gif

Haven't you figured it out yet? Frequent flyers are brought in and educated on all things security related. They are given classes in how to wand, search a bag, CTX and x-ray theories and operation. They are given the secrets of "shoe removal techniques" too. Then after all of this, they are flown to TSA HQ and shown the "big picture." They are the only ones who are given even a glimpse of this great sight. They are informed of ALL security directives and given all updates to same. They are then sent out to correct any misstep on the part of any hapless screener who comes across their path, and they are legion. So before you treat them too harshly, remember, their training has been more intense, more thorough, more physically demanding, more mentally grueling and nausiating than anything present and former screeners could have endured. Their willingness to take on such a task should be commended highly, for without them and their guidance, the TSA might be run like....well, the TSA. So when you come across one of these "soldiers of sacrifice" you should perform every step of your job as a professional, for you are truly "on stage" and performing for an audience of true critics who have years of experience to lord over you if you misstep.

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Don't take life too seriously, afterall, you won't get out alive.

And others of us simply went to college, paid attention, and understand why much of what the TSA does is crap.

We don't need to be included in any of these magic briefings for much of what is conveyed there is neither a secret, nor is it of any practical value. The TSA's system of security is a charade, designed to fool the traveling public into thinking that the TSA is doing something and to scare would-be terrorists with an IQ of less than 70 into thinking they'll be instantly apprenhended by this crack security organization.

The TSA could replace the briefings and memos and layers of play-security with cardboard cut-outs of policemen or even just good old corn field scarecrows for the amount of real security that all this nonsense imparts.

As the saying goes, I don't need a degree in agriculture or 30 years of farming experience to be able to identify bull@#$% when I see it.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry


[This message has been edited by Spiff (edited Nov 13, 2003).]

I'm tired of fighting for TSA's sake, and tired of trying to get people to see both sides of the story. Some people obviously only like their side, which makes them A$$holes, $hitheads, C**Ksuckers, you name it. I'm tired of someone telling me I know squat about security and safety. I'm tired of someone telling me my job is a joke. And I'm sick and tired of know-it-alls who only want to B*tch and moan and not come up with a solution. You know what we would do with you when I was in the military. Drop your @ss out in the middle of nowhere to rot and die, or ship you back home to your mommie to bottle feed you a little more til you grow up and become a real person. I'm not the type of person to let things under my skin. But I do, however, believe in respect. Now I don't care if you want to generalize people, it's wrong and it shouldn't be done. If you can't say something respectable about the people who do their jobs correctly and work every day to bring home money to pay bills, then come on in to NC, we'll meet, I'll show you what hard work is and give you a better perspective of what respect means.

Spiff is generalizing again....and missed the humor.



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Don't take life too seriously, afterall, you won't get out alive.

Actually, I recognized the sarcastic humor as quickly as I recognize so many of your former agency's joke "security" policies. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif



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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

But Spiff.....they HAVE to do something!!

Think of the children!!!!



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Don't take life too seriously, afterall, you won't get out alive.

I'm not sure why you chose to cross-post this, but I'll add on another thought to my previous reply.

Your agency puts you in a position that does not command respect. "Do it because I told you to do it?" Newsflash: You're not my mom and I'm not in the military. Furthermore, your agency's policies of searching people without probable cause go against the principles upon which this nation was founded. That also sets you up to be in a position of not receiving respect.

So, you've got two choices: live with it or find another job that does command respect. Anything you do otherwise is going to cause someone else to make that decision for you.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

[This message has been edited by Spiff (edited Nov 13, 2003).]