No one is arguing the right or appropriatness of you & your staff to wear gloves-in fact, I'd guess that if any of us were in that position & not provided w/them, we'd put up a stink trying to get them. But the problem is, Bart, most of the TSA staff that we come in contact with DO blame the passenger for doing just that-asking for the gloves to be changed. Or for insisting that our bags be relocked when the screening is done. And, of course, heaven help the hapless passenger who actually has the courage to ask where the screener is going w/his or her belongings or what he/she is doing touching down there...

Those screeners need to get a grip. I guess customer service is something that either comes natural or it doesn't. Either I have it naturally or perhaps I have it because I, too, used to be on the other side of the walk-thru as a passenger and try to treat people the way I wanted to be treated. Of course, some passengers are pretty unreasonable and make comments in an attempt to get a rise out of us. But that can happen anywhere. I'm sure waiters and waitresses could write a book on what they've experienced that would be classified as fiction because nobody would want to believe it.

I understand that many folks have negative experiences at other airports...and some even here at SAT.

When I was a contractor screener, we didn't have gloves even though we were supposed to. We either begged, borrowed or stole them from the airlines OR, as often was the case, a couple of us supervisors would chip in and buy boxes of gloves on a weekly basis...but would ask the screeners to wear them as long as possible before exchanging them. TSA keeps us well-stocked and has a policy that encourages screeners to change gloves often.

No one would argue w/you on that, either! :)

sort of off-topic, but every airport that i've gone to, business or pleasure... in the restrooms-business travellers more often than not do not wash their hands.

i mean... c'mon... at least wet your hands and fake it.

sorry for the digression. now back to your scheduled thread.

No, that observation is relevant to this thread. When those disgusting travelers touch their belongings in their carry-on and luggage, they are depositing millions of bacteria and viruses, some more virulent than others. Then, if screeners examine their bags, the screeners will pick up some of those germs on their gloves. If screeners do not change their gloves, they in turn deposit those germs onto the next items they touch, which could be my bags and belongings. This is how some disease like bird flu, SARS, or TB could be spread thanks to TSA.