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TSA agent Payback!
As many of you know, Monday mornings at O'Hare is a zoo; this past Monday was made worse due to weather delays, etc. I was dropped off at the First class entrance as it is usually less crowded but when I approached the self-checkin machines, I noticed the first class security line was incredible long. I checked-in, had my bag tagged by the agent and proceeded the drop my bag off at the baggage check area. For those of you familiar with O'Hare, the middle security check-in area has a section for elites. The elite line was long but not as long as the first class area.
As we got closer to the TSA agent who checks your ID and boarding pass, I could see there was a lady (she was 3 ppl ahead of me) who did not belong there and the agent was trying to get her to go back to the normal line. This lady would not budge even after several requests by the agent and after the agent had unhooked the rope barrier so she could step aside. I was getting a bit annoyed at this time because this lady would not leave the line and my flight was boarding within minutes. Long story short, the agent let the lady back in line - but I noticed she did more than stamp her boarding pass - seemed like she wrote something on it. I thought it was weird that the TSA agent kind of gave in and let her though, but oh well. The agent checks my ID and I'm in line to go through the screener. As the other lady was going through the security screener, she was pulled aside. This is where it got funny because she is now whining about how she's going to miss her flight and all that, and they're telling her she was flagged for additional screening. I did not stick around long enough to find out what happened, but the agents looked like they were going to make her wait for a little bit longer. |
Originally Posted by badjuju
(Post 8276776)
Long story short, the agent let the lady back in line - but I noticed she did more than stamp her boarding pass - seemed like she wrote something on it. I thought it was weird that the TSA agent kind of gave in and let her though, but oh well.
The agent checks my ID and I'm in line to go through the screener. As the other lady was going through the security screener, she was pulled aside. This is where it got funny because she is now whining about how she's going to miss her flight and all that, and they're telling her she was flagged for additional screening. I did not stick around long enough to find out what happened, but the agents looked like they were going to make her wait for a little bit longer. So, if it's not security, then what is it? It's simply a minimum wage employee who, for the first time in his/her life, is in a position to boss others around under the pretense of "security". Some folks cannot resist such a temptation. |
Was this a Kettle that was in the wrong line?
Actually, I don’t like to see additional screening doled out as “punishment”. EDIT: The poster before me stole my thunder. Anyway, how badly did the lady in question behave? |
I'd like to have seen security called and the woman forcibly removed.
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I wonder if she had a French accent and was bumping people with her cart.
Cheers. |
All, you can follow this thread in the Travel Safety & Security forum.
bollar Moderator, AA |
Originally Posted by badjuju
(Post 8276776)
As we got closer to the TSA agent who checks your ID and boarding pass,
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Originally Posted by ralfp
(Post 8277013)
I thought the lines were under "airline control." Why is a TSA agent enforcing elite lines?
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Correct, the person checking your ID is NOT a TSA employee, rather a contractor of the airline/airport.
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Originally Posted by DL4EVR
(Post 8277554)
This is something Comrade Chertoff is trying to (and in some airports, already has) change(d).
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Originally Posted by SquareDanceGuy
(Post 8276832)
Maybe it's just me, but I have a problem with a service employee inflicting "punishment" on the traveling public, simply because they can. This is not even remotely a "security" matter. ID checkers don't even work for the TSA.
So, if it's not security, then what is it? It's simply a minimum wage employee who, for the first time in his/her life, is in a position to boss others around under the pretense of "security". Some folks cannot resist such a temptation. FWIW, I was at O'Hare Sunday night. Average flight was delayed about two hours in T3 and there were many cancellations. On top of that, add in the mis-connects from late arrivals as a result of a significant ground-stop at ORD. Flow control held me up for about 3 hours on my inbound. In addition to it being a Monday morning, I'd be willing to bet many of the pax in the security line had spent the night at ORD as well. The end result was likely a mess (and I understand the weather was still ugly on Monday). I'd like to see the integrity of the FC and elite lines kept; it is one of the benefits of having status and/or travelling FC. At the same time, I think common sense needs to be used if it is extremely busy. I'm not saying open the floodgates to the elite line, but apply common sense. Marking the pax for additional security was wrong and just strains the existing resources. Just out of curiousity, how long did the OP have to wait to reach that point in the security queue? If it was a long wait, I'd say send her through as an exception -- if it was short, the ID checker (line control) should have stood ground and sent the pax to the proper queue. Sometimes you have to do what is in the best interest of everyone to keep the line going and punishing someone with additional screening is not the answer. IMHO... |
Originally Posted by rmc1
(Post 8277576)
Correct, the person checking your ID is NOT a TSA employee, rather a contractor of the airline/airport.
If they are a TSA employee or doing the TSA's work & have the "powers" of a TSA checker, then they should not be enforcing elite lines. (BTW: I'm "elite" and use elite lines). |
Originally Posted by Superguy
(Post 8278330)
TSOs are checking ID's at BWI.
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While I agree with the sentiment that security personnel and other people in authority positions (no matter what level) should not abuse their powers, it goes against human nature to expect this will never happen. This is especially true if you are trying to do an unpopular job and are constantly being criticized, ridiculed, and belittled for trying to do it.
A friend of mine was a traffic (police) officer. He was and is a consummate professional. I never saw him lose his temper, even in situations where it required saintlike patience not to do so. One day I was covering him (providing stand-by assistance) on a traffic stop. The violator had been stopped for speeding, but had a number of other non-moving violations with regard to his vehicle, driver's license, insurance, etc. The officer handling the stop had considerable discretion as to whether warn the violator for these, or issue citations. Each violation required a separate citation form. While my friend was preparing the citations, the violator delivered a running stream of invective on our personal, professional, and organizational incompetence, capriciousness, lack of ethics, immorality, inferior intelligence, etc. My friend merely nodded and kept writing. After several minutes, the light bulb went on, and the violator asked my friend, "You're just going to keep writing as long as I talk, aren't you?" My friend nodded. The violator shut up, my friend completed the citation he was working on, documents were signed and returned, and everyone was on their way. Yes, these people (traffic cops, ID checkers, TSOs, etc.) can be petty and officious, but so can the passengers they are dealing with. Most of the workers are just doing the job that they are paid to do. The way that they do it is largely determined by someone higher up in the pecking order, and they can't do anything about it. They want to get to the end of the day and pick up their paycheck, much like most of the rest of us. If you want to change the system, complaining to or about the working stiff is unlikely to do much except make both of your lives more difficult. The same trafic officer I spoke of had a little sticker on the back of his citation book: "Do not [expletive] with the alligator until after you have negotiated the swamp." |
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^^^ |
If you let one person improperly use the elite security line, then they will just go onto FlyerTalk and blab about, and next thing you know you will have 100 people a day doing the same thing. :p
The employee attempted to do everything they could within the realm of politeness to get the errant pax to leave the elite line they were not entitled to use. They did not have authority to do more, but they could mark the boarding pass to SSSS and let TSA (who do have the authority to use more than persuasive language) to route her through the secondary screening, which frankly was about the equivalent in delay probably to her going through the regular line (and likely less). I have no problem with this solution to the problem at hand. Steve |
The vendor that is checking ids can not mark a boarding pass with quad SSSS. The airline would have to do that...I have never gone thru The checkpoint in Ord, but I am under the assumption there is signage all over letting folks know what line is for elite etc.....
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You know what? I'm not all about TSA enforcing punishment. However, what we have here is a person who blatantly disregards the rules.
The TSA employee advised of the rules, the passenger chose to disregard. If you've been told the rules ad choose to ignore them, well, in the Agent's eyes, perhaps the passenger is trying to pull or get away with something, and action that comes with consequences. I say thank you TSA agent. |
This story reminds me of the passengers who cuss out and berate the gate agents over seating, only to end up in the middle seat in the very last row in front of the lavs that doesn't recline. Some people are richly deserving of some of their own medicine and it sounds like the person in the OP got it.
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Would You Rather Be Happy Or Right?
Originally Posted by copwriter
(Post 8279715)
While I agree with the sentiment that security personnel and other people in authority positions (no matter what level) should not abuse their powers, it goes against human nature to expect this will never happen. This is especially true if you are trying to do an unpopular job and are constantly being criticized, ridiculed, and belittled for trying to do it.
A friend of mine was a traffic (police) officer. He was and is a consummate professional. I never saw him lose his temper, even in situations where it required saintlike patience not to do so. One day I was covering him (providing stand-by assistance) on a traffic stop. The violator had been stopped for speeding, but had a number of other non-moving violations with regard to his vehicle, driver's license, insurance, etc. The officer handling the stop had considerable discretion as to whether warn the violator for these, or issue citations. Each violation required a separate citation form. While my friend was preparing the citations, the violator delivered a running stream of invective on our personal, professional, and organizational incompetence, capriciousness, lack of ethics, immorality, inferior intelligence, etc. My friend merely nodded and kept writing. After several minutes, the light bulb went on, and the violator asked my friend, "You're just going to keep writing as long as I talk, aren't you?" My friend nodded. The violator shut up, my friend completed the citation he was working on, documents were signed and returned, and everyone was on their way. Yes, these people (traffic cops, ID checkers, TSOs, etc.) can be petty and officious, but so can the passengers they are dealing with. Most of the workers are just doing the job that they are paid to do. The way that they do it is largely determined by someone higher up in the pecking order, and they can't do anything about it. They want to get to the end of the day and pick up their paycheck, much like most of the rest of us. If you want to change the system, complaining to or about the working stiff is unlikely to do much except make both of your lives more difficult. The same traffic officer I spoke of had a little sticker on the back of his citation book: "Do not [expletive] with the alligator until after you have negotiated the swamp." |
Originally Posted by runarut
(Post 8285300)
Would You Rather Be Happy Or Right?
I'm amazed by the number of people who just don't get this concept. I gave up on happy years ago ;) |
Originally Posted by Wally Bird
(Post 8287263)
Right.
I gave up on happy years ago ;) |
Originally Posted by notmypetunia
(Post 8284743)
You know what? I'm not all about TSA enforcing punishment. However, what we have here is a person who blatantly disregards the rules.
The TSA employee advised of the rules, the passenger chose to disregard. If you've been told the rules ad choose to ignore them, well, in the Agent's eyes, perhaps the passenger is trying to pull or get away with something, and action that comes with consequences. I say thank you TSA agent. |
Originally Posted by chrisny2
(Post 8287476)
I agree with this. The TSA usually annoys me, but at least here this person was clearly not following requests to enter the proper line, which would seem to provide reasonable cause for additional screening.
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Originally Posted by vassilipan
(Post 8287503)
While I don't have huge heartburn with the TSO's actions, I question the efficacy of directing a passenger to SSSS because she was in the wrong line. If the pax could not follow directions or didn't understand the procedures, what is beneficial about special screening? If the goal is to effect a behavior change and have the pax use the proper lanes, going to the pen is not going to achieve that goal. I seriously doubt the passenger made any connection between the two.
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Originally Posted by chrisny2
(Post 8287512)
I don't think it's intended to punish the person...
Varies by airport and/or individual screening team, but that's a whole other thread... |
Originally Posted by notmypetunia
(Post 8284743)
You know what? I'm not all about TSA enforcing punishment. However, what we have here is a person who blatantly disregards the rules.
The TSA employee advised of the rules, the passenger chose to disregard. If you've been told the rules ad choose to ignore them, well, in the Agent's eyes, perhaps the passenger is trying to pull or get away with something, and action that comes with consequences. I say thank you TSA agent.
Option #2 is probably what "should" have happened, but give the overall situation, I'm not particularly upset about #3. I don't like any to see security-related personnel going on a power trip, but in this case, I'd personally be ok with it, as it seemed to be more about doing the right thing for the people who belonged in the line (by setting a precedent) than about a personal power trip for the TSA agent. |
Originally Posted by vassilipan
(Post 8287503)
While I don't have huge heartburn with the TSO's actions,
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Originally Posted by ralfp
(Post 8288200)
Was it a TSO? If so, he/she should not be enforcing an elite line.
"You're in MY house now punk; you have no rights; the Constitution does not apply; yadda, yadda...". |
Originally Posted by ralfp
(Post 8288200)
Was it a TSO? If so, he/she should not be enforcing an elite line.
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Originally Posted by vassilipan
(Post 8288772)
TSO's are now the ID checkers/line police at a number of airports.
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Originally Posted by hockeyguy
(Post 8287856)
Well said. I think there were 3 likely outcomes from this scenario:
Option #2 is probably what "should" have happened, but give the overall situation, I'm not particularly upset about #3. I don't like any to see security-related personnel going on a power trip, but in this case, I'd personally be ok with it, as it seemed to be more about doing the right thing for the people who belonged in the line (by setting a precedent) than about a personal power trip for the TSA agent. Agreed. To me, this seemed like a way to give the Pax a little bit of time to think about her actions... sort of like having to write "I will not cut in the wrong line" a thousand times on the blackboard. If it were a power trip, I would have expected the ID checker to call in some muscle, to handle the situation before she even passed through the metal detector. |
Originally Posted by Wally Bird
Do something, anything, which is not "going with the program" without question and there's a good chance you're in for the extra luuuuv.
Very well put. ^ :D Steve |
Countless incidents (that have received media attention anyway) aboard aircraft started with people acting inappropriately at the security checkpoint. (ie. the Chechen women and the boy who said he had a bomb in his shoe)
What is past is prologue. |
Originally Posted by We Will Never Forget
(Post 8317725)
Countless incidents (that have received media attention anyway) aboard aircraft started with people acting inappropriately at the security checkpoint. (ie. the Chechen women and the boy who said he had a bomb in his shoe)
What is past is prologue. Bribing screeners is a bit more egregious than the inconsiderate, ineligible passenger using an elite line. In fact, apples and oranges to about the millionth power. What, pray tell, is the "boy who said he had a bomb in his shoe"? Did any harm occur to an airliner because the boy said he had a bomb in his shoe? ??? |
Originally Posted by PatrickHenry1775
What, pray tell, is the "boy who said he had a bomb in his shoe"? Did any harm occur to an airliner because the boy said he had a bomb in his shoe?
Treated similarly to yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theater. I would have thought after former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis did the same and got roughly treated that the lesson would have been fairly clear to others. Steve |
Originally Posted by steve32
(Post 8326174)
The potential for causing panic in the area and injury to people trying to escape from the vicinity.
Treated similarly to yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theater. I would have thought after former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis did the same and got roughly treated that the lesson would have been fairly clear to others. Steve I think the only bomb we'll be finding at the checkpoint is TSA. |
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