Yesterday afternoon, I flew out of ICT. While passing through the security, I was amazed at what I saw.

1. An elderly lady in front of me was having trouble understanding the process. The WTMD guard walked her through the process and, when the passenger required additional screening, was courteous and respectful.

2. Following the elderly lady's secondary. She had trouble getting her shoes and coat back on. One of the TSA team helped her with the shoes and held her coat for her. Pretty impressive to watch.

3. At the same time, a group of 4 with severe development disabilities worked their way through security. The TSA officers helped each one of them walk through the detector and were extraordinarily patient.

For the rest of us, the TSA team followed procedures perfectly. Didn't force non-profile shoes off, were patient with pax and, as is the case all too frequently, didn't make up bogus rules.

Since most of what we hear about the TSA is so negative, I just wanted to pass on a positive experience.

Hate to spoil this, but why was she required to do secondary? SSSS?

Old Lady?

*closes eyes and hums...*

I am sensing metal implants... probably hips but possibly knees...

*hmmmmmmmmm*

Thanks for posting this. It's nice to hear some positive things now and then.

Couldn't it be that she alarmed?? Is it so hard to imagine us being nice and doing a good job? Let us have one compliment.

I think she had some type of implant. She wasn't surprised that she set it off, but she was worried about the secondary. What impressed me was the screener treating the lady like she was her own grandmother. Patient, took the time to explain the process and courteous.

I know ICT is a small airport, but it usually has the same BS as JFK, EWR and SFO. Okay, all except the screaming that happens at SFO. Don't know why the difference in this last go around, but it was definitely above the standard I've come to expect.

No need to get overly excited. I just asked the "why." The question has been answered by OP! I haven't had a single problem with TSA in a while.

"Following the elderly lady's secondary..." Let's back up a step. Last time I was in the REAL USA, elderly ladies didn't GET "secondaries". By definition, they preclude the affirmed but false "dignity and respect" pledges made to you by TSA.

Which part did you miss?

She was being treated as a lying suspect subject to public display-frisking.

As an American citizen you are ENTITLED to so MUCH better!

That isn't American, no matter what paint job of courtesy and smilies you try to cover it with. Her dignity, respect, rights and constitution were willingly and eagerly crapped on by those anxious to show her how pleasant they are and how this isn't really such a bad thing.

Good lord, people! Grab yourselves by the face and slap hard with the other hand until you wake up!!!

December 2, 2005, 8:00 a.m., EWR Terminal A, United satellite: Put my stuff on the belt and approached the metal detector. Moat dragon asked me to remove my shoes. I said, as usual, "less than an inch, no metal, never alarm," as I walked through. He let me go without another word. I found the supervisor on duty and profusely complimented her. All the screeners on duty there heard me.

I had almost the same experience on November 30 at the same checkpoint. The dragon let me pass, but then another TSA busybody who happened to see it called me back and demanded to swab my shoes (same ones!). I pretended not to hear him at first and kept walking until his ever-increasing volume and frantic nature became impossible to ignore. The swab took just a moment, and the shoes passed -- unlike my recent experience at LGA where TSA screener Adonis Williams managed to trigger a false alarm somehow!

Bruce

Good to hear. Perhaps that hellhole is finally shaping up.

I like the part about simply ignoring the busybody: These are not the profile shoes you are looking for

ok, I'll add one; got SSSS coming and going from CO to CA (alone, expired license, doh!) and was treated with kid gloves, calmly, courteously, and professionally (with an explanation of what, why, etc.). If they must do it, at least it was well done. But really, the shoe carnival at Denver is ridiculous--flip-flops from the dollar store, and not "we recommend" but "you must remove."

The last time I was in the 'REAL USA', people were treated the same regardless of physical attributes.

I agree with the OP. It was great that she was treated with dignity and respect--I would ask for no less.

There really are a lot of good people in the TSA and it is good to see some of them being recognized. It is just a shame their hard work is so often overshadowed by their idiot peers and a management team that has historically been more interested in the appearance of action than the effectiveness of security.

All it takes is one idiot to ruin the good deeds of so many.

AdamK...

OMG! I thought my brain was FULL! I apologize! Now please educate me further. Please name, well, ANYTHING dignified or respectful about a CP!