Plane passes to be checked for explosives

The airport closest to the nation's capital is now the first to test boarding passes for residue from explosives...

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...e-checks_x.htm

Hmm... let's see how to defeat this:

Wash your hands before checking in? Have somebody else pack the bomb for you?

I hope I'm not giving evil terrorists any new ideas, but it seems scanning one's boarding pass is just silly.

...another system designed to catch the amateurs.

Spiff & other knowledgeable folks: What are the sources of false positives and how likely are they to occur?

I'm no expert here, but wouldn't a boarding pass be a bad sample to check for residue? What if someone uses Purell to clean their hands between the time they get their BP and the time they go through the checkpoint? From what I understand, Purell will set off a trace detection machine.

I'd say most people, unless you do your boarding pass at home, get their BP's from kiosk machines and then typically go straight to the checkpoint.

Perhaps it can be a useful tool, but I have heard from others, in this exact forum, IIRC, that it's not an ideal item to check.

Thoughts, anyone? I am completely for more security when it comes to detection of explosives - but is this window dressing or is this a real attempt at improving security?

Last, but not least, I once had a trace detection machine go positive for my checked baggage. I had items inside my suitcase which setoff the CTX and the TSA agent then did a swab of the inside of my suitcase. For the swab she went into a sealed bag which contained little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, purell, deoderant, etc, swabbed around in there, and boom, it came up positive for traces of TNT. I suspect that probably wasn't the best place to do a swipe with all of the chemicals/residues from the shampoo/conditioner, mouthwash bottle, purell, deoderant, etc... (?).

I then had to wait for a TSA supervisor. I was told not to move from the area I was in. The supervisor came along, requested my drivers license & ticket. All of my personal information was collected. My suitcase was completely emptied and all items were carefully inspected, all shampoo bottles opened, deorderant opened, etc.

This is a procedure I never wish to endure again. I later contacted my senator's office because of privacy concerns with personal information collected from this incident - they contacted the TSA on my behalf and my senators office even got frustrated with different answers and a general lack of co-operation at getting a response on my behalf.

I have had my suitcase (same one + others, along with my roll-aboard) swiped many, many times since with no problems. (thankfully)

Best,

SDF_Traveler

Argh!! I say: they should keep you in the area, check your bags. Once they find out it is just shampoo they should let you go with no more hassle. They didn't need all your info!!!

Sad thing is, even with the help of my Senator's office, we never got any clear answers as to what happens to the personal information which is collected when one sets off the trace detection machine.

On the subject of personal info -- at EWR as a "selectee" last week the TSA took my boarding pass and wrote down information onto some list on a clipboard. Not sure what they wrote and why they needed it - I did ask what they were doing and I got a vague answer about them needing to track selectees.

This was the first of three times I cleared the checkpoint as a selectee. While they took down the info from my boarding pass, no additional screening was done; I walked through as normal w/shoes on and didn't beep.

The second pass through, no one noticed I was a selectee and my BP was never viewed by the TSA (only the ID checker out front). Walked through w/shoes on, no beep, no problems.

The third time, I got the full treatment - shoes off and x-rayed, full wanding, check of my belt and belt area, etc. I even got yelled at by a TSA agent because I wouldn't allow them to start secondary until my cell phone & document holder with passport was in full view. Despite getting the full SSSS treatment, my boarding pass info wasn't collected as it was done the first time through the checkpoint.

Luckily I had my carry-on luggage stored in a locker behind security.

Now, only if they had a smoking area inside EWR -- it would certainly cut down on the # of people going through the checkpoint who are on longer layovers. Given the # of long-haul international flights at EWR, I am really surprised they don't have a smoking area inside like many other airports do. Even some of the strictest non-smoking airports still have smoking areas hidden inside airline lounges/clubs.

Best,

SDF_Traveler

Question to the TSA folks: assuming the one side of this statement is entirely true, that SDF_Traveler was 'yelled at' for waiting until he could view his possessions, what is the appropriate response?

Would yelling back be appropriate (in a one-sided power equation like an airport checkpoint, I wouldn't want to be the first to try). Would calmly asking for a supervisor be appropriate?

Obviously, yelling at passengers is unprofessional behavor and not something TSA condones. What is the correct response here? This isn't an entirely hypothetical question. I haven't personally had this happen to me (perhaps because of my size...) but I have seen it happen to others.

Would yelling back be appropriate (in a one-sided power equation like an airport checkpoint, I wouldn't want to be the first to try). Would calmly asking for a supervisor be appropriate

Instead of yelling back just address him as Comrade

This is in response to the Russian tragedy where the terrorists had explosives strapped to their bodies. If they had it on their bodies then it would be on their hands and it would transfer to a boarding pass.

Calmly request the supervisor, explain to the supervisor calmly what occurred. Request the screener's name and ID number (most of what you will get is the name tag first name and number), request the supervisor's name and number and a complaint form. Fill out the form either there or on the plane and submit it to a TSA supervisor at either airport. Write an email to: [email protected] and/or call the TSA Contact Center toll-free at 1-866-289-9673.

This is the recommended method of a complaint.

Good advice; but it can be tough to maintain calm when one is being yelled at and otherwise treated unprofessionally by a uniformed agent of the government. Hopefully with other people arond and cameras, that can mitigate a 'he said, she said' situation.

In fairness, at least at DCA, I don't see passenger harrassment as a frequent problem.

Much of the time the nametag is missing.

I have had TSA agents refuse to identify themselves in any manner to me.

"Jahvol mein genosse" is more appropriate as the only other agency I have ever encountered with such "manners" is/was the DDR Grenzpolitzei.

Hmmm, I guess I better not stick my boarding pass in my mouth when my hands are full with my carryons when leaving the checkin counter!

On second thought, maybe I should lick my boarding pass so it's nice and wet before it gets swabbed!

Thus the request for the Supervisor. If Supervisor refuses (which they know is against regulations) then request the Screening Manager.