Those wild and wacky TSA reps!
Nov 11, 2007, 11:54 am
#1
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Those wild and wacky TSA reps!
I fly out of the awful old Smith Terminal at DTW often. One of the few things I look forward to when departing DTW is the dude that looks like Archie Bunker that decides if you are going in the standard line or elite security line.
He squints at you with one eye, stares a few seconds to determine if you are a freak or something, checks out your ticket and literally GRUNTS and points to the line he wants you to go to.
Makes me laugh everytime. Any other TSA freaks out there?
He squints at you with one eye, stares a few seconds to determine if you are a freak or something, checks out your ticket and literally GRUNTS and points to the line he wants you to go to.
Makes me laugh everytime. Any other TSA freaks out there?
Nov 11, 2007, 11:57 am
#2
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My flights out of DTW are usually first thing in the morning, the 6am flights, so I don't usually pay attention as they shove everyone in one line. What time is Archie there?
Nov 11, 2007, 12:52 pm
#3
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Nov 11, 2007, 8:34 pm
#4
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I fly out of the awful old Smith Terminal at DTW often. One of the few things I look forward to when departing DTW is the dude that looks like Archie Bunker that decides if you are going in the standard line or elite security line.
He squints at you with one eye, stares a few seconds to determine if you are a freak or something, checks out your ticket and literally GRUNTS and points to the line he wants you to go to.
He squints at you with one eye, stares a few seconds to determine if you are a freak or something, checks out your ticket and literally GRUNTS and points to the line he wants you to go to.
Nov 11, 2007, 8:47 pm
#5
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Nov 12, 2007, 7:12 am
#6
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General rule (since I don't know how ALL airports are configured): the airlines are responsible for setting up the lines to the checkpoint. Either TSA or an airline contractor will check BPs & IDs at the entrance to the checkpoint or some other designated area. (For instance, at one of our terminals, the ID check is done just before you enter one of the screening lanes; at another terminal, the ID check is done at the entry point.)
I've seen TSA supervisors help expedite the line by reminding passengers to have their IDs and BPs ready or to inform them that there are actually two lines whenever passengers bunch up into one line, but I've never seen a TSA supervisor assign people to a certain line outside the checkpoint.
About the only passengers TSA supervisors are able to expedite to the front of the line are passengers in wheelchairs. What they're actually doing is expediting them to a lane set aside for passengers with special needs.
Still, now that TSA is assuming the TDC role at more airports, I wonder if this is going to change. I most certainly hope not. It's already contentious having to enforce the 1 plus 1 rule for carry-ons; I don't want to get mixed up in setting up the passenger lines to the checkpoint.
I've seen TSA supervisors help expedite the line by reminding passengers to have their IDs and BPs ready or to inform them that there are actually two lines whenever passengers bunch up into one line, but I've never seen a TSA supervisor assign people to a certain line outside the checkpoint.
About the only passengers TSA supervisors are able to expedite to the front of the line are passengers in wheelchairs. What they're actually doing is expediting them to a lane set aside for passengers with special needs.
Still, now that TSA is assuming the TDC role at more airports, I wonder if this is going to change. I most certainly hope not. It's already contentious having to enforce the 1 plus 1 rule for carry-ons; I don't want to get mixed up in setting up the passenger lines to the checkpoint.