GoingAway

Sorry, this is more like yelling at the GA/TA because of the bad weather outside delaying your flight. The tsa line person is just following the stupid directions they've been given, they don't have a choice in what those procedures are and it'll just get them in a crappy mood to deal with you and every other passenger they have to deal with. I'm all in for NOT removing my shoes, (although I'll switch down to flip flops for my trip next week), putting in a complaint form if something is wrong, complaining immediately if something is done incorrectly, etc. but to do something direct to the person just doing their job? Y'need to grow up and take care of any gas problems with some medication.

amartin1979

The San Joaquin route is more often on time than that Coastal route.

LLM

The flip flop removal was "recommended" last week.

Re "stupid" directions the best way to foil them is to make their employers live with the consequences - swabbing every pair of shoes. Once they realize how much manpower is required, it would stop.

Gargoyle

That would work if it was a private business. However, as a government work program, that will just cause them to appeal to congress for another $1B to hire more swabbers. And, of course, being a national security crisis, congress will approve.

Does Haliburton manufacture the swabs?

LLM

Likely they will as long as Congress doubles the present security fee to pay for them.

L-1011

Shoe removal is supposedly mandatory now, but the TSA web site is STILL not updated

daw617

Here's my experience with the latest shoe policy:

- Thu 8/10, early morning, SFO: At the metal detector, TSA agent says "We recommend you take off your shoes". I say "I'll take the swab, thanks", and it's no problem -- I get swabbed. ("Male assist, no alarm!")

- Fri 8/11, late afternoon, BOS: At the metal detector, TSA agent says "I need you to take off your shoes". I say "I'll take the swab, thanks", but he says "If you want to fly today, you must run your shoes through the X-ray machine -- it's mandatory". I say, "huh? I'd prefer the secondary", and he says "no, you don't have a choice; it's a new rule, as of yesterday". He blocked the metal detector and was not going to let me through unless I took off my shoes. I didn't inquire any further.

Spiff

Please file complaints. This is complete idiocy.

rar indeed

^

bdschobel

Try the medical exception: "I just can't bend enough to remove my shoes standing up. Either you take them off and put them back on me, or I do it sitting down on the other side of the metal detector."

Bruce

exerda

Unfortunately with the new mandatory removal, they've dodged that one.

LLM

Hmmmm...how about check bags and have them not allow you to board because of the shoes? If done en masse, with refundable tickets, they'd have to pull out an awful lot of luggage.

exerda

That's true, although it would be punishing the airlines much more than the TSA. I do think the airlines need to get their acts together and start hollering to the government about the water ban, but hopefully it won't take something so drastic to get the airlines in gear.

TTT

I ran into this at SEA today. Was told to remove my flip-flops, said I would take secondary, x-ray operator asked WTMD screener if that was allowed, he said yes, but the full secondary, I said it was fine and walked through. Got the male assist, but the WTMD screener didn't tell it was a no-alarm until the male assist screener asked. Got the swab and went on my way. I then decided to check the TSA website and see if shoe removal was still recommended and found this:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ing/index.shtm

Spiff

"Yes, you are required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. This includes all types of footwear. Due to the Homeland Security threat level being raised for the U.S. aviation sector worldwide this is critical to protect the world's travelers who transit by air to and from the United States. Our Security Officers will ask that you remove your shoes before entering the metal detector based on the fact that many types of footwear can be used to carry prohibited items. When a Security Officer asks you to remove your shoes, please do. If you refuse, you will not be able to board your flight."

Up yours, Comrade Hawley. You're a filthy little coward.