Travel Tips for Security Screening
 

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Hi Bart. Welcome to FT.

While your post is very informative, you'll probably find that it falls on deaf ears. Most of the ppl here are FF's or TSA'ers, and have known this info for a LONG time. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/rolleyes.gif

I'll add my welcome as well.

Of course these are great tips. I've been practicing most of them for a long time.

Bart what you say is true, BUT no matter what you say, the triplets will say we need to get rid of the TSA. I would suggest that you sit back and join in on occasion but had a good laugh at what they say to people. No matter what you say most of the time they will go against you because they hate the TSA that much. Just a word of warning.

Now you have done it. Now sit back and watch the fireworks.



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

Actually, these are good tips. The shoe one is the only one I don't agree with because I know my shoes do not set off any magnetometer. No one should have to remove their shoes who does not want to remove them and does not alarm at the WTMD. (The underwear remark is just inane.)

I and others like me want to get rid of the TSA because this agency continues its policies of passenger harassment. I'd likely shut up if all the stupidity went away.
If Reid had put his bomb in his pants, the TSA's soultion would likely be one that is so stupid and futile that no one would fly. That's why the TSA should be disbanded.


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

[This message has been edited by Spiff (edited Dec 18, 2003).]

Welcome to FlyerTalk, Bart. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Excellent tips, one gross misstatement: The assertion that "most shoes have steel shanks" is false. "Some shoes have steel shanks" is a correct statement. "Many popular leather dress shoes have steel shanks" would likewise be accurate.

Americans value precision, especially when dealing with individuals who are enforcing rules. Strive for better precision in your communications, and it will enhance your professionalism.

I usually wear cowboy boots or running shoes. The runners have a stiff piece of plastic as a shank, and all my boots have a wooden shank - steel makes them way too stiff.

I'm still peeved that if I choose to keep them on, I get the third degree after the magno.

Re: boarding pass and ID at the screening. I recall a recent conversation on FT about someone that was subjected to additional wanding and screening because they were holding their passport and boarding pass in their hand when they went through the magnometer. I know that I'll never lay mine on the belt, but I usually stick them in a pocket when being scanned.

BZZZZZZZZZ, wrong. Those who criticize the TSA don't hate it. Most despise the stupid policies, the lack of consistency, and the very occassional cases of abuse by power-hungry screeners who take delight in lording over law-abiding citizens. The TSA simply does not provide the best security for the enormous amounts of money that is spent.

OK I know you TSA'ers ARE sitting back and waiting for a barage. You have all been disappointed I'm afraid.

Welcome to FT Bart. I take issue with #5.

The TSA should provide a pair of slippers if they are intent on screening every pair of footwear and are looking for whatever it is they think can ONLY be found in shoes. Otherwise there should be no secondary unless you alarm or have received the dreaded SSSSSS (which can be circumvented by anyone that pays attention). Also note that if you have the SSSSS and are traveling with someone you can always hand your stuff to them also circumventing the "purpose" of selectee's "random" screening.

Your obviously aware that screening shoes does nothing to make the traveler safer (refer to #8).

Addressing Tuners comments:

As pointed out by UALOneKPlus just because the TSA is critized doesn't mean it is hated. This apparently is what most TSA'ers perceive. I've read many postings where FF'ers expressing the absurdity of the particular dance they are "recommended" to perform are answered with "comply or don't fly", or "shall we get a LEO involved" or the like. It's obvious to me that most people in a perceived postion of authority do not like to be questioned. It may be a stereotype or generalization but as you well know, stereotypes exist for a reason...because there is "some" truth behind them.
Better learn how to count, Tuner, triplets means three. I count a lot more than that even without "de-shoeing".

Welcome Bart

I'd like to add to that list if I could:

1) If the screeners don't tell you to place your bags in a bin, then don't do it. It usually clogs up the belt.

2) If you have items in your pockets, just place the items in your carry-on, to keep honest people honest. Also speeds up the process.

3) If you have rollerbags, remove them from the belt the first chance you get. It clogs up the belt, causing longer wait times. If you need help, feel free to ask screeners if they are avaiable.

Happy Holidays

I would venture to say that the "majority" of leather shoes have steel in them, "dress" or not.

Nice addition to my list - but that does not lend any validity to the original erroneous statement "Most shoes have steel shanks." http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

But I'm not convinced that most leather shoes have steel, since very few leather athletic shoes have steel, but you may be right.

all is lost

[This message has been edited by Fenito (edited Dec 21, 2003).]

Bingo!

A common sense approach!

Any chance your FSD would like to inject some of that sense to the morons running BHM, LAX, PHX and FLL?

all is lost

[This message has been edited by Fenito (edited Dec 21, 2003).]

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Greg I meant by the triplets is the 1 or 2 or 3 FF's that seem to post the most and have nothing but negative to say and very little positive about the TSA. Plus it is the same thing all the time. I think we are all in agreement there are things wrong with the TSA. I just returned from the supervisory training that all supervisr's will or have been through. From listening to the ones in class it the big airports that have alot of problems. I attended in MCO, they have as many supervisors as ther are personnel at my airport. All their management is in another building 5 miles from the airport. I saw no upper management when I left so the supervior has to make the calls on things. When I left and walke thu the mag the hand wander *****ed out the walk thru person for not sending me to secondary. The walkthru person knew I was TSA and did what he was supposed to. After I informe the hand wand person that I was a supervisor he said they send aircrew to secondary I told him he needed to read the regs about who is exempt from secondary. If a manager I would ave informed him of what happened. The nice thing about the training is we get the supervisors e-mail address so I e-mailed one of the supervisors what happened. With the 2 chance thing going on at all airports within 30 days this should stop the shoe thing that most people ***** about. Maybe with the e-mail thing we as supervisor can change thing at our level

Fenito -- as another poster commented, what a great, common sense approach. I wish this was SOP at all other 428 airports in the US!

Too bad my travels haven't brought me through GSO.

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

ROTFLU .... I love it! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

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

tuner,

I am going to respond assuming that I am one of your "triplets".

A: I post very little positive about the TSA because the TSA has been vastly negative. When the TSA does something right I'll be the first to commend it.

B: You yourself saw firsthand the power trip that most leads/supervisors are on. Imagine going through that multiple times each week.

C: The "Second Chance" policy is a step in the right direction, but it will not effect any change at airports that have the "de-shoe, or else" policy.

D: The TSA will NEVER give the country a return on our investment. It is one of the largest boondoggles ever created by congress.

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Bart, You have started your FT life with some very diplomatic posts and I appreciate it. Reading the TSA postings (pro and con) one can see that the FF'ers here don't want No Security we want real security. Your joke about the underwear isn't really a joke as it is more possible/probable than shoes at this point in the game.

The airports that I frequent (except ORD) just recommend you remove your shoes/flip flops. There is more often than not no "or else" said or even implied, however by observing passengers it is obvious that if you do not, and pass through the metal detector and do not alarm, you are still directed to secondary to sit and remove your shoes/flip flops while they x-ray them. While I have not experienced a "2nd chance" airport, I look forward to it.

The oh so dangerous items you listed aren't credible threats (perhaps the ammunition, but it's a stretch). I realize they are on the "list". I wonder, just because a pair of scissors is wrapped in a towel how is this an attempt to conceal unless the "offender" confessed. How can any prohibited metallic item be concealed when one places it through the x-ray. Maybe they didn't want it poking a hole in something. I'd be more concerned with the glass wine bottle on board the aircraft being used as a weapon than scissors.

"Mr. Platinum" should be able to have a one time background check and then unlimited/unscreened access to airplanes just like every single unscreened ground person that accesses airplanes. Pretty ridiculous don't you think?

What's your position on checked luggage? For or against the leave it unlocked "or else" we aren't responsible for destroying it to "inspect" rule? Do you think this is a resonable request, to leave your checked luggage unlocked? Considering that all cargo on passenger planes is not screened but rather randomly screened it seems ridiculous to destroy someones luggage because of the need to inspect, while potential threats can easily slip through in cargo.

Tuner, I assumed you were including me in your triplets comment. Again, without de-shoeing and using my toes, I still count more than 3.

Although I am not a FF, I only fly maybe once or twice every other year but since I just recently returned from Maui Hawaii and had to deal with TSA, I will give you my input.
Fist off Barts comments will be helpful to future travelers who may stumble onto this site like I did a month ago. I read so many things about the TSA that I already arrived at airport (JFK) with a chip on my shoulder for them. What I encountered at JFK (AA terminal) was somewhat chaotic. TSA telling some to take off shoes, others not to, yelling at some people. TSA just looked at my Merrell Clog type shoes and said No you don't have to take them off. My husband's Boat shoes had to come off. My carry-on had to go through a double screening for whatever reason. At one point TSA telling me to get moving but still my bag was not returned. Finally TSA holds up my bag and say's it needs to be hand checked. Fine, Whatever. . . the guy was nice but kinda cold. I asked him why it was being hand checked and he just said sometimes the machine cannot see "everything" thus having a 3rd check. Upon arriving in Maui (OGG) our check in bag was not opened nor did it look like it was checked.

When returning home from Maui (OGG) I encountered very very friendly TSA people with the Aloha Spirit. First off they have some sort of metal device with a shoe imprint on it. Both my husband & I had to place our foot (shoe on) onto this thing. TSA say's "your ok" with a smile. This time my carry-on which had the same exact things in it cleared the scanner with no second checks. Even TSA said to us as we were leaving "have a safe trip home" which I reply "I wish this was my home" with a smile.
While waiting at the gate my husband & I were standing up front as we were due to board first. Just then a male & female TSA agents come up to us. Surprise . . we have been picked for a random inspection. I have to say we were laughing all through it. My husband is a NYC Police Officer and now the "search" was on the other foot. Even the TSA guy was laughing with my husband as it's just a random thing. No big deal. We are actually happy that they are checking. The female who searched me was courteous, etc... About the only thing that I did not "care" for was that they started boarding and the other passengers where all staring at us like we did something wrong but really there was no place else to go. Right after they let us go they grabbed another couple. When we landed in JFK our check-in bag had a locking plastic twist tie on it. When I broke it off I noticed a card inside from the TSA saying that our bag was inspected in Maui. Nothing was damaged or missing. The Kona coffee and trinkets all made it back home safe & sound.

Although I do not encounter TSA as much as some of you do but for my first time flying since 3 weeks after 9/11 my experience was positive.

Bart,

I think that no one here will object to a secondary screening when they alarm at the WTMD, unless the sensor level is set so low that a stiff, non-ferrous/ferris breeze sets it off.

However, what many of us will object to is any form of secondary screening when the WTMD does not alarm. Such a policy is the source of many of my negative comments about the TSA and why I would rather see this agency disbanded.

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

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/thumbsup.gif

With one exception, my thoughts exactly. Mineta the idiot instituted the "set off the WMD and you get the full treatment" rule following September 11, abandoning what had been a sensible "if you accidently left your phone or keys in your pockets you can empty them and get a second pass thru the WMD" policy that had universally been my experience prior to Mineta the Terrorist's changes. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif

There never was a legitimate reason to get the full treatment just because the dammed machine beeped, and everybody knows it.

Fortunately, some semblence of sanity has returned in the form of the "2d chance" WMD policies showing up at various checkpoints. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Now, if the second pass after emptying pockets (I refuse to use bureaucratic-speak like "divestment") still produces a beep, then the full secondary treatment may be warranted. Like has always been the case.

And don't even get me started on the subject of "random gate secondary inspections."

I've noticed that a lot of people don't really seem to have a problem with the carry-on bag checks.

I want to address the rescan on xray of some bags. The reason for a rescan sometimes, is to get a different angle on the bag, lay the bag down, or because of a weird image. The rescan can usually save a bag check.

But if a bag check gets called at one airport but not another, don't get to upset. Remember each airport has a different set of screeners, who are more comfortable on the xray then others. Maybe the screener at the first airport just wasn't sure what the item was, so had it checked. But the screener at the next knew exaclty what it was and didn't have to check.

Honestly, on a daily basis, we see at least one or two new items on the xray.

My airports policy is we can tell you what we're looking for and even ask you to point it out if you can. But we can't give you access to the bag until we've cleared it after a bag check has been called.

I've NEVER had a screener point anything out to me. In fact, when I've offered to help, they became insistent that I not do so.

hehe Like I said, it's my airports policy to ask. It just seems to speed up the process.

Ask where the said item is, clear that area, rerun the bag through xray without item(s) in it, have the passenger on the way.

Average bag check seems to take about 5 minutes. Most people know where they put their stuff in their bag and it's just getting to that spot and finding the said item hehe.

PS Fenito, my airport has pretty much the same policy. Some consistence.

[This message has been edited by screenerx (edited Dec 19, 2003).]

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Ok Bart. Thanks. I think we've already heard most of the others position re: checked luggage. I'm not sure you have a "right" to be present at some of the larger airports.....

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Originally posted by screenerx

My airports policy is we can tell you what we're looking for and even ask you to point it out if you can. But we can't give you access to the bag until we've cleared it after a bag check has been called.

We have the same procedure at my airport also. Although our new supervisor who was an ITS employee doesn't like it to much.

Bart, I meant it's common knowledge amongst FF'er how to get around the SSSS on your boarding pass (many posts about this on FT), not getting around "secondary screening". The random gate screening was also easily predictable. By standing back until all screeners were busy screening, then boarding the aircraft.

When I've been selected w/SSSS and I'm traveling with someone I give them my carry-on so less time is wasted searching me and my belongings.

And if you really want to beat SSSS, then just buy a fully-refundable ticket on another airline, use it to pass "security" and then get on your original flight.

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

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Interesting. I usually keep a spare lock in my luggage (one of the Travel Sentry TSA approved locks now that they're out), as they are still cut-off from time-to-time, despite the fact they are not supposed to be.

These locks have displayed some type of image on the x-ray screen that has resulted in a bag check a couple of times -- and in one particular case had a couple screeners a bit nervous as if they thought I had something else in my bag.

In this one case, after having my BP & ID checked (again) during the bag check, the screener sees the lock and yells to the supervisor "It's just a lock" -- and then I was free to go. In the meantime, I had other screeners surrounding me, looking over my shoulder, etc., and it seemed a bit strange (and I must admit intimidating) for just a bag-check. I figure something didn't look right given all of the attention I received.

At any rate, I presume there some objects which appear on the x-ray that appear to the screener to be potentially something else (i.e. a weapon) on an occassional basis? If this happens, is any special treatment taken (such as what I received) until the item is identified?

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

SDF-Traveler,

Some locks at certian angles can appear to be a knife. Might be why it was checked. Not sure why that one incident happened though.

As for screeners being around you, might have wanted to see what the item was for future reference?

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A couple of points --

Laptop: I agree with your idea to do something to set your laptop apart from the crowd. But, I NEVER use a business card, because nobody at a checkpoint has a need to know my home address or the business I'm in. I use stickers that clearly make my laptop different.

Money & other valuables ALWAYS go in my LOCKED briefcase. This procedure, I've found, ensures that you're nose-to-nose with the screener when they open your briefcase. This is especially handy when you're being gate-raped, because it ensures that your valuables aren't examined outside of your purview. For extra measure, I ALWAYS insist on a new pair of gloves.

As I said in a previous post, an airport checkpoint has really become like professional wrestling -- everybody knows it's fake, but we're fascinated by it anyway.