No TSA at MCI
 

Yesterday I returned home from MCI. At the security were Firstline Security Personel. Not 1 TSA agent. Is there any other airports nationwide that doesn't use TSA. And why not?

This has been in the works for several years - privatizing the security function at selected airports on a "pilot" basis. Check out: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/tsa2602.htm from 2002, and http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0304/031504c1.htm from 2004.

SFO doesn't. They wear TSA uniforms but are a private contractor. I saw one of them on the BART a few weeks ago and either on her shirt or the bag she was carrying I seem to recall it named the company...

I believe SFO has TEAM SFO on their uniforms instead of TSA...

As this subject is best discussed in our Travel Safety/Security Forum, please follow it there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

MCI "security" is provided by a contractor called First Line, IRRC. This has been the case since Fall 2003 at least.
It really gives us the worst of both worlds, since the TSOs are much more arbitrary and make up their own rules much more frequently than the "real" TSA. Once, when I had reason to complain, First Line told me to complain to TSA, who told me to complain to First Line, and so on ad infinitum.

I knows some airports doesn't have federalization. I knows it was private companies where they are working at airports. I knows airports doesn't have federalized government included of SFO, MCI, and few small airports doesn't have it.

I remember that I saw privatized security companies were searching me at the international gates for bound to TLV. I remember they were searches my carryon and he wanded me before I am entrance into the gates. And no one allows to leave from gate areas due to security reason.

ROC security is provided by the private company MacNeil. ROC is not a small airport. There's one or two TSA higher level drones that walk around to ensure the "world class" security envisioned by TSA is achieved.:rolleyes: Once, in the early days of the war on liquids 2 of their screeners and a supervisor lined up to confiscate my solid deodorant. When I E-mailed in my complaint to the internet address on the MacNeil complaint form, I got an almost immediate response from their security manager, concurrence they were wrong, and an agreement to reimburse me for the wrongly confiscated item. Even though they idiotically blew the intial call, their response and concern to resolve the issue was miles beyond anything I've ever seen from TSA in any set of circumstances anywhere.

Can't line up with "worst of both worlds."

Could have fooled me. I don't really consider ROC that big.

MCI has TSA drones that stand behind the ID checkers every once-in-a-while. Same with SFO.

I haven't had issues with the MCI security agents. ROC told this dad that his daughter should have id b/c it'd be easier on him :rolleyes:. She looked around 15 or 16 but definitely under 18.

Covenant Security is the company that staffs Team SFO.

Why is that? Is that different privatized security companies? :confused: You meant no more ITS former private security companies at SFO anymore.

Don't know that it ever was.

Covenant does SFO and FSD (Sioux Falls, SD).

http://www.covenantsecurity.com/cas/?page=services

Got something a little more challenging?

Neither do I. But it's not a small airport, which was my point. It's > than median size of all US domestic airports. That OK?

Thanks! I didn't realized know that. It was separately from Federalized at SFO but, it was different companies where they are handled with CAS. I just found out where CAS are working at SFO, MCI, FSD or even smaller airports are not Federalized. I notice some security companies are working with CTX-9000 baggage screening system. This is their own responsibilities who work for Federal Government.

That explains why they don't have the "carry the BP through the WTMD" nonsense.