"Please proceed for continuous screening"? (Curiosity)
 

So I was departing DSM yesterday, as almost every Thursday or Friday. Yesterday was the first time I was told to go for secondary search (despite the fact I ditched my shoes). I had no SSSS on my boarding pass. While I was at the secondary search area, a bunch of other TSA screeners brought my stuff to me and asked to see my boarding pass. Then, they told me that my bags wouldn't need to be further searched, unlike SSSS passengers.

Any idea what went on? My theory is that the screener at the metal detector either had seen me fly out of DSM in the past, or I had more metal on me than usual and the screener saw that indicated in the metal detector.

- Pat

Nope. You didn't do anything wrong. Just chosen for continuous screening. This has happened to me before too. I asked and was told that it was random.

If they didn't keep all those people busy then we might still call the TSA Thousands Standing Around. Since they're now running a make-work project we'll have to settle for calling them the Terrorism Support Agency instead.

I wasn't bothered by the continuous at all. Screener was professional and got through the wanding fairly quickly.

Hey
 

That is totally uncalled for and I resent that remark.

Some airports do "continuous screening" more than others. IAD seems to be one of the worst.

Will they let you walk back out of the WTMD, get your shoes off the belt, put them on and then walk through again? If you are getting the SSSSpecial treatment anyway, might as well.

Typically, I expect these kind of remarks from the regulars. I expect a bit more civility and professionalism from the moderators. This is my reminder why I strayed away from this site. Completely uncalled for. :td:

EVeryone is entitled to their own opinion, even moderators.

That's a very good point, tazi. Every now and then I forget that this forum is more specifically for TSA bashing then it is for exchanging information.

I agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, I also believe that the moderators have a better understanding of the concept behind these types of forums and would not resort to insulting comments. I understand that this forum is for the frequent flyers. TSA personnel who learned about this forum wanted to enter it in order to help create a clearer understanding of what is going on as well as provide views from the screener's point of view. We understand that we are the minority. After all, the TSA posters here are in fact in The Lion's Den. I have a lot of respect for the moderators and their positions in enforcing the TOS. I just get offended when they decide join the crowd and insult us.

If I am wrong and this forum hasn't grown into an information exchange type forum and is simply a TSA bashing place, then I obviously have no reason to be here. I've tried to explain things on some hot topics and I even sided with the FF'ers at times. It just appears to fall on deaf ears. I've noticed some posters like TSAMGR that just dissappeared from all the abuse. Moderators, if this is the way it is, let me know and I will terminate my account and bid farewell.

The only thing I have to say after reading just the page of msgs is, do what the Mag screener tells you to do and shut up. If you have something nice to say, say it, if not, put your clothes back on and move out of the way.
Spearhead...

I don't think that's a wise way to put things.

Although it would be ideal if everyone did what the screeners said, it's definitely not the best idea. Although we are the enforcers of our policies, sometimes we need the public to keep us in check. If the flying public is educated on their rights and responsibilites, then there would be no worries of any TSA employees overstepping their bounds and power tripping. With so many specifics in our SOP, it can be possible to forget any recent changes. If the public brings it up, then training can be conducted to correct it. IT can also create material for briefings if they happen to be repeated comments by passengers. I welcome all remarks that the public has to offer. I've received compliments as well as benn cussed out. All the comments help give me a better understanding about what needs to be addressed and what needs to be praised. If the passengers never said anything, this job would be a real bore. They help keep it colorful. :)

IMHO, simply telling them to shut up, strip, walk through, get dressed, and get out doesn't seem to cut it.

If you got a ticket for going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone and you were in fact doing only 40 mph, would you just pay it or would you fight it, Spearhead? Would you not file a complaint against the cop who gave you that ticket?

It's the same thing with some TSA employees. There are published procedures that screeners are supposed to be following; many of us are just trying to make them do their job according to their SOP.

When a pax refuses to remove his/her non-profile shoes and then is sent to secondary because of that, it is nothing but a power play by the screener and does nothing to improve security. A complaint should be filed against that screener.

If it doesn't bother you, please go right ahead and take your shoes off, walk on the filthy floors in your stocking feet, let yourself be ordered around by former McD's employees.

I choose to respect myself too much to allow someone to treat me like a potential terrorist. If I am doing nothing wrong, you will not treat me as if I am and get away with it.

By the way, the itimidation game can be played two ways. As someone suggested in another post (maybe not in this thread), there are ways to imply that one might be doing a spot check of screeners without saying anything that is false. Bullies are easily intimidated.

You know, many respectful people in our country had their first job with McD's. Are you saying that former McD's employees deserve less respect than yourself? I too was once a McD's employee. I assume you are going to judge my character and commitment by my previous employer?

True. However, TSA screeners here are entitled to leave this forum whenever they want. As a compromise, say your opinion tastefully, keeping in mind TSA screeners are checking FT on their own free will. We want them here to keep us posted, don't we?

- Pat

If you came directly to the TSA from McD's because no one else would employ you and you're acting like an a**h***, you bet I'm saying that.

I believe it's been pretty well documented that the TSA is the employer of last resort for many individuals, some of whom could not even get a job at McD's.

I don't see how that can be true. I have seen many applicants that I feel do not meet the criteria get turned down as well as well-qualified applicants get turned down.

During my assessment, we began with over 300 applicants. When all was said and done, I signed up along with the 32 others that passed.

I'm not saying that the recruiting process is perfect. We do get our bad apples that slip through the cracks. In time, they will be dealt with.

I'm sure that there are many former McD's employees that have been excellent screeners. In your previous post, you made no mention of their behaviour, just a generalization of all former McD's employees.

No, I did not generalize all former McD's employees.

If you wanted to, you could have read into my post that all TSA employees formerly worked for McD's.

No need to read into it that deep. However, that may explain why one of our screeners talks to himself every time a plane drives up...

Lame joke, I know! :p

Did you see the 300 other applicants, or is that what you were told? The reason I ask is it has been stated here that there were 2000 applicants for every TSA position, so they hired only the best of the best. Mathmetically, this just isn't possible; unless the entire workforce in the country applied for TSA jobs...

Would you like fries with that?

Or even better -- TSA should install signs: "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" but then staff would be even more confused on what to do about the shoes.

As someone else said before, the TSA signs would say "Shoes, no service." :D

You know, I'm not a fan of the way the TSA do things and I don't believe that what they actually do makes things more secure than the less obvious security we have at European airports. I do believe, however, that name calling and baiting of those TSA employees who feel brave enough to venture here is both petty and childish. I always viewed FT as an enlightened discussion forum and for the most part it is, unfortunately that doesn't seem to extend to the "Travel Safety/Security" forum.

As the other poster said, I'd rather see them here posting than not so perhaps posters can agree a "no pointless antagonism" rule (I know people are going to argue that shoe carnivals etc. are pointless antagonism) and keep attacks on the TSA to known facts not just "You're all just mentally deficient people fired from Taco Bell for not knowing the difference between a taco and a coke".

It has got to be the worst job in the world. Like being a lawyer without the money. I wonder when the first TSA employee will go Postal? Will we have another word added to our society? Going TSA? Going megtronmeter?

I respect all the TSA folks who are still brave enough to post on this list.

ah ah ah
 

the SOP is not published. Even the published hints that are on the TSA website are not revealing of the SOP.

If appearances are everything. Sometimes they are not.

I never worked at McD's.

Everyone is not being treated that way. IF you want to fly, there are rules that must be adhered to. Its all point of view.

???? I must have missed that one.

ummm
 

Care to back that statement up with fact?

Recently I flew out of LBF in North Platte, Nebraska, on a Beech 1900 twin turboprop to DIA. This plane seats at most 18 passengers. LBF has one security checkpoint, staffed by 5 TSA screeners (3 male, 2 female) at about 5:00 p.m. CDT. My boarding pass did not have the dreaded SSSS in the corner. I followed the instructions of the TSA screener before walking through the metal detector, even to the point of removing my penny loafers that do not alarm but have heel-sole combination just over 1" thick. After the WTMD did not alarm, she told me to follow the instructions of the TSA screener to her right. I was wanded and patted down, lower torso only. Bags were not searched.

I saw one other passenger wanded and patted down, another attorney who was in North Platte for the same deposition I attended. She is a strawberry blond, 15 weeks pregnant, and did not have SSSS on her boarding pass. When some other passengers who were attorneys at our deposition commented on our grumbling, I pointed out to them that much of the cargo carried on passenger airliners is not screened. Pat downs of American passengers is a useless gesture in light of the failure to examine all cargo loaded onto commercial airliners. We ought to hammer that point home, that if security is actually the goal, rather than the appearance of security (kabuki security), TSA must search cargo with the same zeal that it searches passengers.