ATL security
 

Hi all,

Due to some issues with my NW ticket today on a flight from ATL to DTW, I found myself with the lovely SSSS on my boarding pass.

Knowing that I was in for a secondary screening, I cheerfully head to security ... go through the metal detector, my carry-on goes through the X-ray ... and NO additional security.

So here I am, putting my shoes back on and wondering what to do ... I strolled over to the central TSA counter, and asked whether I should have gotten additional screening. The friendly TSA officer say 'Yes' and 'You wouldn't get on your flight without going through it'. So he took me back to one of the lines, had me patted down, and go through the metal detector again and my bag was checked for explosives.

Overall, he was very friendly about it, and thanked me several times for coming to ask. He also asked me to point out the lane through which I came, saying, 'It's not that we suspect people like you, but it's all about the process being applied.'.

So I think some TSO is going to get a serious reminder about the 4S' on a boarding pass. For myself, it must have taken me about 5 extra minutes, but it was handled in a very friendly and professional manner by the TSA agent I contacted.

So, as a reminder to everyone ... if you've been marked for SSSS and the TSO's don't take care of it, remind them.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Actually, that's a good opportunity to instead remind the airlines that haraSSSSment is wrong.

I'd wait until the absolute minimum time to board and then present my boarding pass. The GA now has a decision. Summon the TSA to the gate to haraSSSS the passenger and possibly/probably take a delay or just on the passenger, as should always be the case.

HaraSSSSment is disgusting and the more we can do to inconvenience the airlines who do not stand up to the scum in the TSA responsible for this nonSSSSense, the sooner we will be well rid of it.

Serious question, no flame. The airline could summon a TSO to screen at the gate, but wouldn't the more likely case be the passenger would be sent back to the checkpoint? If this was the case and the passenger missed their flight would the airline be obligated to compensate them in some way? Would they automatically re-book them on a later flight? I know the TSA isn't going to help.

Portions of the post that previously appeared in this space have been deleted. I would provide you with a reason why, but doing so would likely be against the TOS.

It could easily get into a game of "I'm not to blame." The GA would say, sorry, you weren't properly screened and I can't let you on the flight. I have to keep up the stats for the flight. If you're not onboard, you don't go. It's not our fault the TSA messed up.

The TSA would rescreen you and send you back, but tell you that they don't compensate you for missing your flight and that you should have gotten to the airport with plenty of time for all contingencies.

In other words, yeah, you could have been hosed.

Mike

If this was Delta, they'd just send you back to security and you'd miss your flight for sure - they don't care. It's all for security :rolleyes:

Another airline might be willing to either summon the TSA to the gate, or even just ignore the fact your bp wasn't stamped to indicate you were appropriately groped.

I agree. That happened to me once with Air Canada. I had the dreaded 4S, I had all the additional screening and then headed to the gate. I got to the gate and my BP had not been signed off that they did the additional screening. As I was getting on the plane, the GA would not let me on because I wasn't signed off...sigh..... I had to go all the way back and fortunately the same people were there, idle at this time, they rechecked me, signed off and back to the gate I went. Of course, by this time, I missed my flight and had to rebook, but Air Canada was nice about it and didn't charge me for changing the flight. The same GA's were there and they did help me out with flights to get me on my way.
The only thing that frustrated me was that I was there 2 1/2 hours early for that flight....obviously not early enough...... LOL LOL Oh well.

But if you have to go through that extra security, make sure they have signed off on it!

Actually, I'd not be too keen on reminding the TSA they've missed something. More on this below.

More likely, the airline will simply let you board. I've had this happen on US tickets several times, without an issue. The first couple of times, I told the GA, "Uh, I was NOT a SSSSelectee on my original flight, so please remove it from this BP--I know you can do that." The GA responded, each time, with, "Don't worry--the GA working the flight will just ignore it." And, sure enough, every time they have.

I wouldn't say that's a guarantee, and DL is infamous for sending pax back to the checkpoint... but I also wouldn't be so quick to think the GA is going to either summon a TSO or send one back to the checkpoint.

Why not just go to the gate agent or customer service and request a new boarding pass? Say that the old one got mangled, coffee spilled on it, flushed down the toilet accidentally, etc. Not at all unusual to do so; I probably only board the flight with the same BP I used to clear TSA about a third of the time. (combination of upgrades, seat changes, that I tend to print multiple BPs from the online system in case I misplace one, etc.)

Will 1) the new BP have SSSS on it, and 2) even if it does will the GA require the pax to get rescreened?

If both (1) and (2), it would seem that any SSSS pax who has their seat changed post-TSA is pretty much hosed.

If the plane leaves without the passenger and the passenger presented him/herself at the appropriate time, then that passenger is IDB. The correct attitude for the passenger to have is: "I don't care what stupid "security" procedures were or were not followed. I did not evade security or you would have the police here. If this aircraft departs without me, I expect IDB compensation, which I'll take in cash, please."

This is exactly what happened to me once. I was one of the last boarding groups, too, so I had to literally run back across ORD to the checkpoint, explain what happened to the TSA, get patted down and swabbed, and run back to the gate - all the while lugging my rollaboard and laptop bag.

I would have declined to do that. It wasn't your fault that the TSA failed to haraSSSS you in the prescribed manner.

"On me or pay me - I don't care which you choose."

The last time I was re-routed in ATL from AA to DL the GA over-rode the haraSSSSment BP - I had explained to them beforehand it was a re-route and that it would be completely pointless for me to go through security again. Whether or not my explanation helped, the agent entered a code in the scanner to void the SSSS. Similar thing happened in IND, moving from DL to FL - they simply issued a new BP without the stigma of haraSSSSment.

i've also had a GA/CSR override it in a re-route, but with a pen and some scribbles

It's been a long time since I've been SSSS'ed. How the the GA's know if the extra screening was applied or not? Is there some special stamp or something TSA marks your BP with?