How Come I Didn't Get a Security Check?
 

Recently flew from a TSA-managed airport (in an American territory, but not a US state) and was surprised that I wasn't required to go through any kind of security check (no x-ray, metal detector, nothing). The inbound flight went through security provided by that country's government.

Is this normal or did someone mess up?

FWIW, the flight was a regularly-scheduled commercial air service, however it was a small plane (Dash 6) and had maybe 13 passengers on board (with no door between pax and cockpit).

Sean, consider yourself lucky:D

Small planes are not required to have TSA screening. There are flights in Alaska from ANC to smaller outposts that do not have any screening at all. Just a walk from the waiting area to the plane. An upstart was trying to sell PDX-SEA commuter flights with a similar appeal.

After clearing immigration and customs at IAH on Monday I walked up to the TSA screening and didn't have to show any ID to get through. That was a new one for me.

as a slight aside IAH doesn't make you show boarding passes at the metal detector either. Which is nice when one uses the PDS boarding pass.

Ciao,
FH

I'm surprised about the no-check for small planes as we were routinely checked before boarding a B1900 which I would think is the same size or smaller. Perhaps it was just some kind of economic stimulus thing to give jobs to 5-10 people who otherwise wouldn't have had them... :confused:

Oh well, I figure the plane was safe from hijack since it was full of well-built Samoans. :p

Part of it depends on where you are going, too. If they intend to deplane inside a screened area then they have to screen you before you fly. I believe Montana (or N. Dakota) was annoyed that their smaller airports didn't have TSA staff so passengers would land at the regional airport from their EAS flights and then have to be bussed out to the front entrance (land-side) to pass back through security and into the terminal.

The screening threshold is 60 seats or 95K pounds for the aircraft.