...also, if they threaton to call the LEO and you haven't done anything to warrant it (and if you're not pressured by the time factor-eg-your -plane is about to leave), then throw them a curve-tell them yes-you WANT a leo present-in fact, after all that, in addition to calling for the screening manager, i would also call for a LEO...

get names, make note of dates & times, call washington(congresspeople, HS muckitymucks, TSA brass, etc.) and don't stop there-complain to the local municipality(sic) and the airport board...

you have to go thru screening to fly, but there is no reason to be treated in a rude and unprofessional fashion while undergoing it...

deleted

Heck, in this type of situation I probably would have felt it worthwhile to miss my flight and call a LEO myself.

When being threatened by the manager (i.e. the I'm-telling-on-you statement), I would have whipped out my cell phone, turned to the manager and said "That's a good idea. I need to ensure that my rights are protected and that I'm not violated any further", then dialed 9-1-1.

I wonder what her response would have been then...

...well, i would wait until that part of the screening was over with, because i suspect you wouldn't have your cell phone available to whip out just yet-more than likely it's sitting on a table in front of you in a white bowl...lol

but as soon as the screening is over with, i would DEMAND TO SEE THE SCREENING MANAGER and also a LEO...that should be enough to cause a little wide eye amazement...

but like i said, call EVERYONE-don't leave it to just a complaint form...

[This message has been edited by jrjcd (edited Dec 17, 2003).]

Screening Manager and LEO are not ALWAYS the best course of action either.

I asked for a Screening Manager in FLL to complain about the "Shoes off or else" policy. While waiting, I was approached by 3 different leads/supervisors whose sole purpose was to intimdate me into leaving.

When the SM finally arrived, she brought an LEO with her. The two of the tag teamed me and attempted to intimidate me into dropping my complaint. The SM actually had the balls to lecture me and rudely point out that she had the power to Secondary Screen anyone she wanted (She was a REAL head case, probably trained in BOS). The LEO lectured me on the fact that the TSA was there to "Protect me" and that 1000's of people have no problem with the policy, so I had no right to complain (He was an idiot).

Moral to this story is that you need to pick your battles. I got the SM's name, along with the AFSD and FSD names as well. All of this will be forwarded to Washington in a formal complaint.

I would have also taken the LEO's name and stated that you were planning to file a complaint with his/her department as well. Since this person was being a jerk, you may as well include him/her in the list of complaints too.

Part of the problem is that you apparently showed your strong dissatisfaction with them. You probably have observed some other pax being mean or saying some stupid things to TSA people. Most of the TSA people forget it, but some get downright power hungry and mean in response. It is probably not worth showing any dissatisfaction at all, but just getting names and filing complaints.

Cops lecture all the time. Creeping moralistic lecturitis is part of the job. A complaint about it will go nowhere. "Oh my god, he told me not to complain!!! He hurt my feelings! What a violation of my rights!" Give me a break. Save this customer-service complaint crap for screeners and waiters. Cops have real jobs to do.

[This message has been edited by CATSA Screener (edited Dec 17, 2003).]

CameraGuy,
What terminal or airline did you have the problem at FLL with the female tsa screening manager? and how long ago ?

Johnny,

Continental Terminal

Last Friday AM

Why is this not a surprise?



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

It's not surprising because you know that the power TSA and LEO think they have over people and the power the people think the LEO/TSA have over them can often go to their TSA/LEO heads, swelling them quicker than a dry river bed in a flash flood?

No, why is it not a surprise that he had trouble with them. Some of you guys go out of your way to be confrontational, then you complain about the consequences to bolster an argument.



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

Asking for a manager is not necessarily confrontational. It's can become confrontational when the bigheaded, holier than thou, for your safety, TSA/LEO decides they don't like being questioned or asked for name/badge #. Thus my comments:

"It's not surprising because you know that the power TSA and LEO think they have..."

Tell me... what is wrong with stating to a screener that being sent to secondary 9 out of 10 times, because your flip flops DID NOT ALARM is stupid? If a cop pulled me over because I failed to use my turn signal while in a "TURN ONLY" lane I would tell him that it's stupid and I know the REAL reason why I was pulled over. I'm sure he wouldn't threaten me with arrest or towing or worse, threaten to call the TSA. He would merely run me for warrants and cite me or not cite me. I would surely go to court if he did.

It still doesn't mean you shouldn't complain. In this type of case, my complaint would be that he threatened me in some way, shape, or form. I wouldn't expect to get anything from it, but would hope to put a small black mark on his record.

Cops are public servants; they are there to serve, not intimidate, lecture, or otherwise harass people. Unfortunately they seem to do way too much of the latter and not enough of the former these days.