Got to LGA at 04:15 this morning in time to watch the shoe sniffers warm up the machines and get ready for another day of "protecting" us. Having nothing else to do, I started counting TSA employees. (Notice I did not say "workers"). And it soon became apparent that making the world safe for Democracy is a very labor intensive job. Frankly it looked like a state highway road repair crew. 20 or so people standing around.

So, here we are, well into the 21st Century and the typical government solution to a given problem is still to throw headcount at it. Never mind technology. Never mind that we should be able to simply walk through a device, rather than be physically checked - some would say assaulted. Oh well....typical.

Did you expect anything else from the govt?

I can only comment on the following airports CSG, ATL, GSO, RDU, CLT, DFW, PVD, LBB and LGA in the recent but would be interested where everone else thought TSA was on the ball and where you thought they were not.

I felt LGA was not and RDU was really on the ball!

Again, these are just my opinions on the days I was there...but interested in everyones opinion....

At SFO the other day the TSA drones were so intent on de-shoeing me, ensuring laptops were out, jackets were off, etc. that they forgot to check or even ask for my boarding pass <gasp>. Could it be because two of the TSA standees were on their cellphones having conversations that were obviously not related to their employment?

Of course, the airport-supplied bag counter (whose sole job seems to be to limit you to two "bags" no matter how big/small) wasn't able to do his job properly either. Q: "How many bags do you folks have?" A: "The requisite number." (ie: These are not the droids you are looking for!)

What a pathetic waste of time and effort. THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

Were they all there and working when hords oe people arrive to check in 30 minutes later after you had gone on to your gate?

Would it be more cost effective to hire people for two short shifts instead of one long shift in a day better matching rush ours but the travel tipe to and from work on one of the shifts is paid time?

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
________________

Why does it take awhile for the letters to appear on the screen after I type them? Happens only on Flyertalk.

I have to add we noticed that two about 2 weeks ago at SFO...two people to watch a rope and say don't go through there...then 3 supervisors...and a lot more and some cell phone chatting while standing near the supervisors desk....

Your 9/11 security fee dollars at work!

You make my point well! The number of bodies is not the issue. The issue is that headcount is seen as the solution, not technology!

RDU? No way! I hate that place. It is the only airport where a TSA screener asks for my ID along with my boarding pass, after the contract worker looks at my ID and boarding pass. Normally the second check is boarding pass only (still stupid, but it's better than double check of both).

When I protested, saying that I just showed my ID and boarding pass downstairs, the ***** looked at me with a look of hatred in her eyes and said, "This is how we do it here." Whatever!

So you don't have that done everywhere? The ONLY place that I have been that I don't remember having to do that is LGA and possibly GSO. Heck even in CSG...I like to call them the Cheers airport...everyone knows your name...ASA is the only carrier and I have had to do this.

I am always glad to see at least all of them "working" instead of having the Thousands Standing Around syndrome, if you know what I mean.

In all honesty the whole deal needs to be revamped.....I will be more then happy to volunteer for the gov't to fly around and be like a mystery shopper and report back to them on what the average flyer sees everyday.

Does anyone have any opinions about ORD...might have to go there soon.

a little over a year ago there was a lot of complaints that there were too many, then there were cuts-and complaints that there were too few. now that the lines are relatively low at most airports, it's back to the former.

sure, just enough for people there "right now". does anyone know how much the #'s vary from day to day, week to week?

Or day to day even. 5000-6000 passengers come through my checkpoint on average but days when the numbers go over 8000 aren't all that uncommon. But even on busy days there are slow periods when most of the flights have already boarded and there is not many people going through. So yeah we all mull around for a little while until the next rush comes in and it picks up again. But of course people come through the checkpoint once in a day during the lull and here comes the thousands standing around comments.
Or even better is since we don't have a nearby break room a lot of us just eat our lunch at the seats behind the checkpoint and of course we always hear the comments about TSA employees not working. God forbid we should get to eat.

I have no clue what the variance in workers are from day to day week to week-and honestly I don't mind there being workers on duty IF they are doing something.

My Thousands Standing Around comment was more directing towards my opinion on every work place not just TSA. Just like w/ my employees...I am paying you to do a job let's do it...don't stand around letting a bag go thru a scanner while you are talking to Mary Jane instead of doing your job (stop talking to Mary Jane and answer your patient phone calls), lets get off of the cell phone(lets get off of the cell phone), don't let the job of brininging back the gray bucket things lead you to somewhere you aren't stationed.(come back from picking forms off of the printer instead of roaming the building)..etc etc... You get breaks & lunch for all that business.

And in reading this security section I am actually being nice...giving credit where credit deserves and pointing out IMO where I have seen it slack. But I do agree w/ the OP that in these days and times we could use more technology then it "appears" we are using.

Let me say that I know when it is a slow time and I AM NOT talking about these times. I am specifically making comments when it is not a slow time. Just like with any other job you have worked w/ some slack butts that don't need to be there! These certain people need to be brought to someones attention just like the people that do a good job need to be brought to light.

And yes everyone does deserve a break/lunch and something to eat but that is were we are going to disagree. I do not believe this should be done in the seats behind the checkpoint as I think this gives the WRONG impression. I don't like to bring a new client around to view "our floor" and see one of my CSRs having there full lunch at there desk over the clients insurance claim forms, records etc...

I try seeing it from your opinion try seeing it from our side.

So what would you suggest then for us who bring our own lunch? Eat at the food court anyway? The resturants will love people who aren't buying their food taking up their seats. I sure as heck don't want to pay the airport prices for my lunch everyday either.
Go to the TSA break room? Only trouble is it's outside the checkpoint and almost always full. With only a 30 minute lunch that doesn't leave you a lot of time to eat and get back on time. Security checkpoints often have a break closet for employees to eat in but since mine is being remodeled we haven't had one for awhile.
So that leaves us with sitting in metal chairs with ripped cushions because it's the best choice available. By the way those chairs we eat in do belong to the TSA, we use them for the morning meetings. But often times passengers do politely ask if they can sit there for a few minutes and we always say it's okay. Of course things like that are never mentioned.