TSOs argue about rules
May 30, 2008 | 10:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SDF
Programs: Delta PM, IC Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,195
TSOs argue about rules
Tuesday at SDF, I had a brand new Wii in my carry on. I was under the impression that only gaming systems with a screen had to be removed. The TSO operating the monitor said I was wrong, and that it had to be rescanned. Another TSO standing there disagreed and said that I was correct in my belief. The two stood there and argued for literally five minutes, backing up the line. One rescanned the Wii while the other went to get the handbook. I never did get an official answer on which one was correct. Anyone have a link to an official answer?
May 30, 2008 | 10:42 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: (insert city name here) hotel
Programs: AA - ExPlat 1MM Marriott - Platinum, Hertz - Presidents Circle
Posts: 483
Tuesday at SDF, I had a brand new Wii in my carry on. I was under the impression that only gaming systems with a screen had to be removed. The TSO operating the monitor said I was wrong, and that it had to be rescanned. Another TSO standing there disagreed and said that I was correct in my belief. The two stood there and argued for literally five minutes, backing up the line. One rescanned the Wii while the other went to get the handbook. I never did get an official answer on which one was correct. Anyone have a link to an official answer?
May 30, 2008 | 10:57 am
#3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: Nothing - I'm useless!
Posts: 2,441
TSA website says the large physical console has to come out, and that's what i was told at both the DEN and TPA checkpoints when asking.
I went through DEN with it tossed in a bin like my laptop - I left every other bit of wii in my roller bag in the original box still packed up and they didn't stop it, question it, or anything. The TSO who watched me unload (I was the only person in security at the same) even commented on the wii.
I went through DEN with it tossed in a bin like my laptop - I left every other bit of wii in my roller bag in the original box still packed up and they didn't stop it, question it, or anything. The TSO who watched me unload (I was the only person in security at the same) even commented on the wii.
May 30, 2008 | 11:01 am
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: Nothing - I'm useless!
Posts: 2,441
Also, a tip.. If the Wii and your shoes can fit in the same bin without sitting on top of each other, they can go through together. The TSO at DEN told me to do that when i had like 5 bins of stuff (wii, laptop, laptopcase, jacket/neckpillow, shoes) to help consolidate.
May 30, 2008 | 11:13 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,034
Shoes in the bins are disgusting. I prefer my jacket not to rub up against where people stepped in dog crap, spit, or to extinguish a cigarette.
May 30, 2008 | 11:16 am
#6
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: Nothing - I'm useless!
Posts: 2,441
May 30, 2008 | 1:07 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SJC
Posts: 5,694
May 30, 2008 | 1:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 117
If the TSO running the x-ray wants the Wii revomved from the bag then it should be removed from the bag and rerun through the x-ray.
Here is the official word from TSA.gov
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm
Here is the official word from TSA.gov
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm
May 30, 2008 | 1:50 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SDF
Programs: Delta PM, IC Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,195
If the TSO running the x-ray wants the Wii revomved from the bag then it should be removed from the bag and rerun through the x-ray.
Here is the official word from TSA.gov
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm
Here is the official word from TSA.gov
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm
May 30, 2008 | 3:00 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Sunshine State
Programs: Deltaworst Peon Level, TSA "Layer 21 Club", NW WP RIP
Posts: 11,372
"Q. Does your lighter need to be in a baggie since it contains liquid?
A. No. TSA's common-sense approach harmonizes with worldwide standards for lighters."
What is striking about this quote?
a. There is a TSA approved exception to the freedom baggie liquid rule
b. Someone at TSA put "TSA" and "common-sense" in the same sentence
c. all of the above? ^
May 30, 2008 | 4:33 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
Programs: Former UA 1K, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 5,487
TSOs working near the WTMD should be required work in bare or sock-covered feet to demonstrate that it's safe. They should not force thousands of passengers to do what they're not willing to do. After a year of having TSOs go shoeless, compare their rate of athlete's foot, warts, staph, etc. with the pre-shoeless rate.
Oh, so you say that would be a violation of workplace safety laws? I wonder why.
May 30, 2008 | 5:00 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 232
Yea, it would need to come out of the bag. If the PS3 has to come out, so does the Wii . Where did you hear that about consoles without screens not going out of bags? (I'm just curious if it was TSO's, another passenger, because some TSO ignored someone elses, or you yourself thought that.)
. Where did you hear that about consoles without screens not going out of bags? (I'm just curious if it was TSO's, another passenger, because some TSO ignored someone elses, or you yourself thought that.)
May 30, 2008 | 5:14 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Arizona
Programs: *wood Gold, Marriott Gold, DL Silver, Hilton Silver, F9 Ascent
Posts: 2,419
Shoe-less feet on the floor are disgusting. I prefer my feet, socks or no socks, not be where people have stepped with dog crap covered shoes and left athlete's foot fungus, MRSA bacteria, wart-causing HPV, etc. Compared to this, the issue of jackets in bins that previously held dirty shoes is trivial.
I always thought the Wii was considered a full-sized console?
May 30, 2008 | 5:18 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: I work for the TSA
Posts: 848
TSOs working near the WTMD should be required work in bare or sock-covered feet to demonstrate that it's safe. They should not force thousands of passengers to do what they're not willing to do.
May 30, 2008 | 5:44 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: Nothing - I'm useless!
Posts: 2,441
I got one recently and was quite surprised at how little it is. It fits in the front pocket of my laptop bag which i can only really fit CD/DVD cases and some paperwork into.