It's been a sort of inside joke as of late that I NEVER get secondary TSA screening. Well I had an extra 3 hours when I was going home from ORD, and decided to see just how far I could take it. Yes, I understand I was holding the line up, I'm a jerk for that, etc... but there was very little line (I was taking off at a low traffic time) and a totally open line next to this particular line. Had more then say 1 person lined up behind me I would've stopped but here's how it went. I kept my laptop in its bag, a big bottle of shampoo in my carry-on, my wallet, keys, and belt on my person (I occasionally forget my belt, it always sets the scanner off). First, an official noticed that my laptop bag was unopened and there was no laptop in a tray. He questioned and I played stupid (this is a recurring theme) and took my laptop out. Score 1 for TSA. I still had tons of metal in my pockets. the detector went off, I took my belt off and put it on the belt. the buzzer went off a second time, again took my wallet out and put it on the belt. I'm sure at this point secondary is inevitable, and again (car keys still on me) I go through, this is 3 times, and the detector dings. I take my car keys out and play stupid "Shoot, I'm just a mess today, sorry about that!" and finally I'm through with no ding.

Instead of getting secondary screening, to my amazement I walk out and pick up my bag, laptop, belt, wallet, and car keys and head to my gate. I was amazed, what makes me so untouchable? In years of traveling I've been put through secondary twice, and both times they were doing it to almost everyone.

Any thoughts as to why I've never been pulled in the past 5 years? I've been on about 100 segments in those 5 years. Just luck or is there some other factor at play? Maybe the government is watching me !

Come visit me in Dubai. Book the ticket via London and Beirut on MEA and get a 24 hour stopover in Beirut to see the city (a really nice place!). While in the Gulf, we'll take a quick trip to see some great sights in Yemen and Oman. Then you can go back to the US, tell the cheery folks at immigration that you were visiting a friend, and you'll get secondary screening for life.

Come to think of it, I've had secondary immigration a couple times when I frequent a friends house in Toronto. Other times I've had the official check my passport and ask 1 or 2 simple questions (residence, length of visit) and nothing more. This was pre-nexus of course, I've yet to encounter anybody since I received my nexus card!

Allegedly, there's a new SOP in place that gives you unlimited tries through the WTMD to get a no-ding. If you get the no ding, no pat down.

Yup!

Had a guy go through FOUR times yesterday ... each time going back and divesting another item. Cellphone. Belt. Coins. On the fourth alarm -- after he had divested everything possible, as far I could tell, but still rang -- he said, "Do you think it might be the steel rod in my leg?"

How big was the bottle of shampoo?

Seems like that's the only thing that actually got through in the end since they called you on the laptop and you finally went thru the WTMD without a ding. Interesting study though. I'd like to see more try and report back.

it was BIG I bought it for the reason of getting caught. My girlfriend buys me that fancy shmancy shampoo that comes in the 8oz bottles but on my way to the airport I stopped and bought a 22oz bottle of (equivalent of) horse shampoo just to try and trip it off. I still have it... it was like 5 dollars.

Yeah, what else can I try? Should I pack my pocket with change and empty it one coin at a time? wear multiple metal bracelets and take them off one at a time? Funny thing is, if I travel with my father he'll get pulled every time. That started the inside joke.

^

I found it rather funny, but the people waiting in line behind him were ready to throttle the guy, I think!

"I'm a US citizen holding a valid US passport. I must decline to answer further questions untill I am in the presence of my lawyer."

So how is it that a watch will work through the detector but coins in the pocket won't?

I laugh whenever I hear the screeners talk about foil chewing gum wrappers.

damn skippy. I'd hate to start up a big conversation over how nice the Canadian agents are to me versus how mean the US agents are, especially since I nexused up and don't even have to think about it any more!

"Yes, that is a steel rod in my pocket AND I'm happy to see you!"

Mike

I received quite the grilling getting into Canada last week at YYZ ... arguably on par with some I've gotten into going back into the US as a citizen.

Getting into Korea at ICN was quick and painless ... guard didn't even say a word to me.

Oh, my DREAM trip DesertNomad! Didn't like Beirut so much so I'd skip that and replace it with Damascus. Liked it much more and still good enough to give the Immigration people fits.

and then on to sights yet unseen - Dubai, Yemem, Oman.....I imagine they'd be worth all the secondaries they could through at me.