My first truly retaliatory TSA experience!!!
Mar 7, 2008, 4:09 pm
#91
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 21
I had the misfortune of boarding in PHL the first week we used Zip Lock Bags. Lines were very long and extremely slow. I had one 18" carry on and a large purse that held my Zip Lock. In an effort to speed things up, checkers moved up and down the line to examine our Zip Locks & approved of our belongings, or not. My Zip Lock passed. It passed inspection again at the start of the conveyor belt.
Figuring all was fine, I put the Zip Lock inside my purse, placed my purse on the conveyor next to my clogs, and sent everything through to be x-rayed. I got through the metal detector & waited, and waited for my stuff.
Before I knew it I was escorted into the back room. At this point I remembered the cuticle scissors in my purse & figured I'd have some 'splaining to do. But that wasn't it.
By placing the ZipLock inside my purse, I apparently "concealed" my liquid items. That crime was punishable by lecture. For nearly ten minutes I sat & watched a P.O.'d agent paw through my belongings while lecturing me.
I learned that I not only concealed liquids, I was also personally responsible for holding up the line at PHL. This was serious business.
The situation was absurd with me sitting like an errant child while the agent scolded me. My feeble "I'm sorry," was met with an expression of utter disgust. In the agent's zeal to protect the skies from shifty eyed passengers with implausible stories about previously inspected Zip Locks, she missed my cuticle scissors.
I eventually made my plane, feeling more amused than humiliated, and carrying my cuticle scissors.
Why should anyone be subjected to this type of treatment? I get overworked and tired, but I don't get to take it out on other people. Why do they get to?
Figuring all was fine, I put the Zip Lock inside my purse, placed my purse on the conveyor next to my clogs, and sent everything through to be x-rayed. I got through the metal detector & waited, and waited for my stuff.
Before I knew it I was escorted into the back room. At this point I remembered the cuticle scissors in my purse & figured I'd have some 'splaining to do. But that wasn't it.
By placing the ZipLock inside my purse, I apparently "concealed" my liquid items. That crime was punishable by lecture. For nearly ten minutes I sat & watched a P.O.'d agent paw through my belongings while lecturing me.
I learned that I not only concealed liquids, I was also personally responsible for holding up the line at PHL. This was serious business.
The situation was absurd with me sitting like an errant child while the agent scolded me. My feeble "I'm sorry," was met with an expression of utter disgust. In the agent's zeal to protect the skies from shifty eyed passengers with implausible stories about previously inspected Zip Locks, she missed my cuticle scissors.
I eventually made my plane, feeling more amused than humiliated, and carrying my cuticle scissors.
Why should anyone be subjected to this type of treatment? I get overworked and tired, but I don't get to take it out on other people. Why do they get to?
Mar 7, 2008, 4:14 pm
#92
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHL-adjacent
Programs: AA Executive Platinum (but always US in my heart), HH Diamond
Posts: 3,344
They sure don't make it easy to track down the guy. I just spent ~45 minutes on the phone trying to find someone at the TSA or the airport who would give me any information about the FSD for PHL. A bit of perserverence pays off, it would seem...
According to his "call screener" the FSD isI also got her name and phone number and will PM it to the OP so that she can attempt to get additional contact information directly. Even though the OP has the FSD's name and number already (from an earlier post ~10am today), this additional contact point might help.
They sure are suspicious of someone calling and asking for that information, which is surprising considering that they seem to have press releases half the time a new one is appointed. Go figure
S.
According to his "call screener" the FSD is
Robert L. Ellis, Jr.
2 International Plaza
Philadelphia, PA 19113
2 International Plaza
Philadelphia, PA 19113
They sure are suspicious of someone calling and asking for that information, which is surprising considering that they seem to have press releases half the time a new one is appointed. Go figure
S.
Thanks to all!!!!!
Mar 7, 2008, 4:23 pm
#93
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHL-adjacent
Programs: AA Executive Platinum (but always US in my heart), HH Diamond
Posts: 3,344
FSD update from the OP
Okay, so if you are reading this far into the thread, you are either interested in what happened or you just have no life.
Here's an update:
I phoned Mr. Ellis, the PHL FSD and left a voicemail this morning. A few hours later (and quite to my surprise) I received a phone call from the Deputy FSD for PHL. She seemed to be genuinely concerned about the incident which I explained to her in excruciating detail. I told her that I planned to write a letter and copy Congresscritters, the media, basically anyone who would listen and let them know about this disgusting event. I also told her that I plan to contact the police about it. She asked that I wait before contacting any media so that she could possibly get to the bottom of things. She was confused that I was not given a complaint form but was given the time stamp card thing instead.
She said that she would get back to me by EOB on Tuesday. I don't really know what to expect. Oh, I did tell her about FT and suggested that she might want to have a look here. I wonder whether she'll take a look? She did also give me her office number, which I hope that I won't have to use.
Now I'll wait to see what happens.
Oh, one more thing: She said that having the name/badge number of the TSOs is EXTREMELY helpful in looking into these matters, so if you are a victim of the TSA, get those names!
Here's an update:
I phoned Mr. Ellis, the PHL FSD and left a voicemail this morning. A few hours later (and quite to my surprise) I received a phone call from the Deputy FSD for PHL. She seemed to be genuinely concerned about the incident which I explained to her in excruciating detail. I told her that I planned to write a letter and copy Congresscritters, the media, basically anyone who would listen and let them know about this disgusting event. I also told her that I plan to contact the police about it. She asked that I wait before contacting any media so that she could possibly get to the bottom of things. She was confused that I was not given a complaint form but was given the time stamp card thing instead.
She said that she would get back to me by EOB on Tuesday. I don't really know what to expect. Oh, I did tell her about FT and suggested that she might want to have a look here. I wonder whether she'll take a look? She did also give me her office number, which I hope that I won't have to use.
Now I'll wait to see what happens.
Oh, one more thing: She said that having the name/badge number of the TSOs is EXTREMELY helpful in looking into these matters, so if you are a victim of the TSA, get those names!
Mar 7, 2008, 4:31 pm
#94
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,441
Okay, so if you are reading this far into the thread, you are either interested in what happened or you just have no life.
Here's an update:
I phoned Mr. Ellis, the PHL FSD and left a voicemail this morning. A few hours later (and quite to my surprise) I received a phone call from the Deputy FSD for PHL. She seemed to be genuinely concerned about the incident which I explained to her in excruciating detail. I told her that I planned to write a letter and copy Congresscritters, the media, basically anyone who would listen and let them know about this disgusting event. I also told her that I plan to contact the police about it. She asked that I wait before contacting any media so that she could possibly get to the bottom of things. She was confused that I was not given a complaint form but was given the time stamp card thing instead.
She said that she would get back to me by EOB on Tuesday. I don't really know what to expect. Oh, I did tell her about FT and suggested that she might want to have a look here. I wonder whether she'll take a look? She did also give me her office number, which I hope that I won't have to use.
Now I'll wait to see what happens.
Oh, one more thing: She said that having the name/badge number of the TSOs is EXTREMELY helpful in looking into these matters, so if you are a victim of the TSA, get those names!
Here's an update:
I phoned Mr. Ellis, the PHL FSD and left a voicemail this morning. A few hours later (and quite to my surprise) I received a phone call from the Deputy FSD for PHL. She seemed to be genuinely concerned about the incident which I explained to her in excruciating detail. I told her that I planned to write a letter and copy Congresscritters, the media, basically anyone who would listen and let them know about this disgusting event. I also told her that I plan to contact the police about it. She asked that I wait before contacting any media so that she could possibly get to the bottom of things. She was confused that I was not given a complaint form but was given the time stamp card thing instead.
She said that she would get back to me by EOB on Tuesday. I don't really know what to expect. Oh, I did tell her about FT and suggested that she might want to have a look here. I wonder whether she'll take a look? She did also give me her office number, which I hope that I won't have to use.
Now I'll wait to see what happens.
Oh, one more thing: She said that having the name/badge number of the TSOs is EXTREMELY helpful in looking into these matters, so if you are a victim of the TSA, get those names!
Mar 7, 2008, 4:36 pm
#95
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Iowa, USA
Posts: 95
Iworkhere:
[QUOTE=Iworkhere;9372812]honeytoes -
Someone gives attitude about answering simple questions at your job, and then needs you to finish something for them, I bet you'd be jumping ALL over it.
But, it would be WRONG. A professional knows (or should know) that retaliation is wrong.
The correct thing for a professional to do is to recognize when he/she is taking something personally, and step out of the situation. Let someone else take over the task at hand. Retaliating is the most base, childish thing to do.
We're all tempted to do it. We wouldn't be human otherwise. But, the professional realizes when his/her limit is reached and does not cross the line.
A professional should know the methods to defuse a situation, and definitley should not escalate it.
No, this job we have no authority,
That is absolutely ludicrous. At the security checkpoint, who is in control? It is certainly not the passenger. How many instances of "Do you want to fly today?" have been cited? There is definitely 'authora-tay' on TSA's side.
Think about the OP's situation. Did she have authority? I don't think so. Was she the victim of someone demonstrating her power? Absolutely.
One cannot defend this TSO's actions. And any professional knows that retaliatory behavior is inappropriate. If you choose to defend retaliatory behavior, you cease to be a professional.
[QUOTE=Iworkhere;9372812]honeytoes -
Someone gives attitude about answering simple questions at your job, and then needs you to finish something for them, I bet you'd be jumping ALL over it.
But, it would be WRONG. A professional knows (or should know) that retaliation is wrong.
The correct thing for a professional to do is to recognize when he/she is taking something personally, and step out of the situation. Let someone else take over the task at hand. Retaliating is the most base, childish thing to do.
We're all tempted to do it. We wouldn't be human otherwise. But, the professional realizes when his/her limit is reached and does not cross the line.
A professional should know the methods to defuse a situation, and definitley should not escalate it.
No, this job we have no authority,
That is absolutely ludicrous. At the security checkpoint, who is in control? It is certainly not the passenger. How many instances of "Do you want to fly today?" have been cited? There is definitely 'authora-tay' on TSA's side.
Think about the OP's situation. Did she have authority? I don't think so. Was she the victim of someone demonstrating her power? Absolutely.
One cannot defend this TSO's actions. And any professional knows that retaliatory behavior is inappropriate. If you choose to defend retaliatory behavior, you cease to be a professional.
Mar 7, 2008, 5:06 pm
#96
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 621
Okay, so if you are reading this far into the thread, you are either interested in what happened or you just have no life.
Here's an update:
I phoned Mr. Ellis, the PHL FSD and left a voicemail this morning. A few hours later (and quite to my surprise) I received a phone call from the Deputy FSD for PHL. She seemed to be genuinely concerned about the incident which I explained to her in excruciating detail. I told her that I planned to write a letter and copy Congresscritters, the media, basically anyone who would listen and let them know about this disgusting event. I also told her that I plan to contact the police about it. She asked that I wait before contacting any media so that she could possibly get to the bottom of things. She was confused that I was not given a complaint form but was given the time stamp card thing instead.
She said that she would get back to me by EOB on Tuesday. I don't really know what to expect. Oh, I did tell her about FT and suggested that she might want to have a look here. I wonder whether she'll take a look? She did also give me her office number, which I hope that I won't have to use.
Now I'll wait to see what happens.
Oh, one more thing: She said that having the name/badge number of the TSOs is EXTREMELY helpful in looking into these matters, so if you are a victim of the TSA, get those names!
Here's an update:
I phoned Mr. Ellis, the PHL FSD and left a voicemail this morning. A few hours later (and quite to my surprise) I received a phone call from the Deputy FSD for PHL. She seemed to be genuinely concerned about the incident which I explained to her in excruciating detail. I told her that I planned to write a letter and copy Congresscritters, the media, basically anyone who would listen and let them know about this disgusting event. I also told her that I plan to contact the police about it. She asked that I wait before contacting any media so that she could possibly get to the bottom of things. She was confused that I was not given a complaint form but was given the time stamp card thing instead.
She said that she would get back to me by EOB on Tuesday. I don't really know what to expect. Oh, I did tell her about FT and suggested that she might want to have a look here. I wonder whether she'll take a look? She did also give me her office number, which I hope that I won't have to use.
Now I'll wait to see what happens.
Oh, one more thing: She said that having the name/badge number of the TSOs is EXTREMELY helpful in looking into these matters, so if you are a victim of the TSA, get those names!
Ask her for the surveillance tapes. Also make sure the PHL airport manager is involved in all of this. I'd say end-of-business on Monday is plenty enough time for her to gather the facts.
Mar 7, 2008, 5:14 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,771
Don't wait until Tuesday; there may be time limits on how long they keep certain things (such as their videotapes) and those may be long gone by next week.
Contact the media and everyone else as you had planned and let them know she asked you to wait, but go forward with your life.
Good luck!
Mar 7, 2008, 5:28 pm
#98
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: I work for the TSA
Posts: 848
It also seems as if you and many of your co-workers could use a serious attitude adjustment -- especially in Philadelphia.
It is, of course, Spring Break week, and the checkpoint where I work is, of course, INSANE!
This morning I was working TDC at our #2 checkpoint, where the passengers snake through four rows of stanchions, each about 60 feet long. As folks rounded the last bend, they spotted me standing on the other side of the rope, and about every fifth person interrupted me to ask whether they could take 'cuts' to the front of the line, as they were running late.
In the beginning, I tried to be polite, explaining that there probably were many peope in line who were worried about making their flights, and if we started letting people jump the line, we'd have a riot on our hands.
After about the 18th polite explanation, I began simply barking, "NO!" as soon anyone started up with the, "Excuse, me, Ma'am ..."
One man shouted back in exasperation, "Well, in PHILLY, they take care of people!"
I wanted soooooo badly to reply, "WELL, FLY OUT OF PHILLY NEXT TIME!"
Well, at least I only have to spend 5 hours a day in this madhouse. Some of my co-workers volunteered for overtime, and will be logging 60 hours this week!
Mar 7, 2008, 6:49 pm
#99
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Georgia and Manila, PH
Programs: NW Gold Elite, DL, HH, Victoria Court Select Member
Posts: 637
During the whole feel-up procedure, she was WAY too thorough. I mean, listen, I am not the type to be easily offended. Really I am not, but CRIPES what the hell was she doing? I DIDN'T ALARM so I asked her why she was doing such a thorough job. She kept smiling and laughing softly to herself and she was clearly taking pleasure in what she was doing.
Sounds like this sick individual not only abused her authority but she really violated you in the process. I have to believe this sicko was receiving some sort of personal gratification when she was pawing at you, as were the other screeners who watched in delight. If they did these things on the street they'd be charged and locked up. Sounds like they should be anyways....
Mar 7, 2008, 6:54 pm
#100
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Georgia and Manila, PH
Programs: NW Gold Elite, DL, HH, Victoria Court Select Member
Posts: 637
I agree. The likely purpose of asking you to wait is so they can find a way to minimize their wrong doings and put a spin on it where you look like the bad guy. I'd be especially cautious now that they have asked you not to go to the media. They're not above trying to make some type of allegations against you in order to cover their own asses. I'd assume the worst and go through with talking to the media before they have a chance to slander YOU. You'll have a lot of ground if you get your story out FIRST. Anything they do after that will look like what it is, unethical TSA employees trying to cover their asses.
Mar 7, 2008, 8:17 pm
#101
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: BDL
Programs: NWA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, SPG, YX, AA
Posts: 5,351
That is the part I don't agree with. Get the media involved now in the background so the pressure is on. When the newspapers and TV station are asking for comments, it's a lot tougher to hope that you'll forget about it.
Ask her for the surveillance tapes. Also make sure the PHL airport manager is involved in all of this. I'd say end-of-business on Monday is plenty enough time for her to gather the facts.
Ask her for the surveillance tapes. Also make sure the PHL airport manager is involved in all of this. I'd say end-of-business on Monday is plenty enough time for her to gather the facts.
Please consider how long you give this person to "look into the matter"
Stall tactics are a very effect way to make sure you give up, or evidence such as security tapes disappear.
Mar 7, 2008, 9:49 pm
#102
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In the home of the "brave"?
Programs: Whatever will get me out of Y and into C or F!
Posts: 3,748
Nothing will get me more pissed off than anyone involved in public transport of any sort refusing to give me their name or badge number, or silly "contrived identifiier".
Mar 7, 2008, 11:00 pm
#103
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 562
I don't get that either! Name tags, per our "strict" uniform policy, are supposed to be displayed on the upper right shirt pocket flap. If we do not display our name tags, we are "out of uniform" and subject to a write up. Also, we are required to display our airport identification too. Sadly enough, I guess every pax is gonna have to walk around with a note pad and quickly write down the screeners info before any interaction takes place! I.D. checker: "Can I see your BP, Sir?" You:"Yep, hang on, gotta write this down." Then you go to the Mag : "Sir, push your items into the machine and step thru." You: "Ooops, hang on, gotta write this down"...
Mar 7, 2008, 11:21 pm
#104
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 223
I don't get that either! Name tags, per our "strict" uniform policy, are supposed to be displayed on the upper right shirt pocket flap. If we do not display our name tags, we are "out of uniform" and subject to a write up. Also, we are required to display our airport identification too. Sadly enough, I guess every pax is gonna have to walk around with a note pad and quickly write down the screeners info before any interaction takes place! I.D. checker: "Can I see your BP, Sir?" You:"Yep, hang on, gotta write this down." Then you go to the Mag : "Sir, push your items into the machine and step thru." You: "Ooops, hang on, gotta write this down"...
Mar 8, 2008, 1:13 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 117
The situation was absurd with me sitting like an errant child while the agent scolded me. My feeble "I'm sorry," was met with an expression of utter disgust. In the agent's zeal to protect the skies from shifty eyed passengers with implausible stories about previously inspected Zip Locks, she missed my cuticle scissors.
