Are butter knives that are serrated on only one side prohibited? If so, then CO has 150 prohibited items on each 777 flight and keeps many more in its President's Clubs for use by its customers.

I would appreciate someone looking at the SOP on this because sometimes they are looked at and said they are okay and other times confiscated (and I do mean confiscated as I was not given the opportunity to have them returned to me).

Hmm, you could probably substitute TSO's for "people in the lineup" and many would agree. :p

Sigh. I believe I explained what made me angry. Try re-reading my posts if you didn't catch it the first time through.

I included the part about the Altoids box because 1) I wanted to describe exactly what happened and 2) I didn't really understand what the Altoids thing was all about and it almost seemed at the time like he didn't believe I didn't alarm so tested the machine before making walk through a second time. Batmanuel gave me an explanation of what the guy was doing with the Altoids box and I appreciate that feedback.

But perhaps you're right, next time I'll either drive or take the train to Paris. :rolleyes:

Very true.

I read it twice the first time. I just read it again. Other than some some very Nancy Grace sounding language (being groped when you clearly weren't) there's nothing in there that should make anyone angry. You asked to face your bags. They accommodated this request. They found a female TSA person for you. You also fly a lot and had to know that being frisked was a possibility. I don't see anything that should make you so angry. Are you an angry person/control freak in general? I don't recall reading other posts where people were obsessed with personal items being in their control.

In terms of Paris, you can always try Paris, Michigan. You fly enough to know that being searched is a possibility and by going through security you give your consent to be searched. Should you not be willing to do this or any of the other many inconveniences that you experience during a flight, then maybe you shouldn't go on the trip.

A request to face one's bags should not be necessary. The checkpoint should be designed so that everyone faces their bags. Many are intimidated about making such a request.

Thank you.

In addition, even though I was "allowed" to change chairs to face the conveyer belt after my first request, my possessions were continuing to be transported down to the end of the belt and out of my sight until my third request when the third (young man) TSA person brought them back within my sight.

emphasis mine: some but not all. las is one where you get "held in the glass booth" for your maSSSSaged but you are facing the wrong way from your bags and said bags are left on the belt for you to retrieve them afterwards.

SSSS vs. keeping luggage in sight
 

Do you go along with it? I wouldn't. I'd say something like, "Sorry, but I can't go there. Both you and I know that I should not let my belongings leave my sight, and unless I go get them off the belt first, I won't be able to see them if I go where you've asked me to go. Would you like me to go somewhere else, or to go pick up my belongings before going where you asked?"

no i don't. i very politely (being serious ;)) ask to have my bags brought over so that they can be kept in my sight and not some 20 odd feet away and only once did i get attitude-all the other times another screener brought my bags over without issue