A nice experience at BOS

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May 26, 2009 | 3:05 pm
  #1  
I never thought I'd be writing this, but I have to compliment my hometown on our experience Friday afternoon.

We hit the B terminal checkpoint shortly before 4 pm with our two infant kids for their first domestic flight. We were pretty much prepared for the worst and had printed out all the rules and regs from the TSA's website regarding formula and what we could carry.

Instead, we were surprised at how helpful the TSOs were. They showed us the best way to fold up the strollers and get them through the metal detector, helped us with the car seats and made sure to get us through the WTMD before the kids started wailing. On the other side, one TSO helped us reassemble the gear while another one swabbed the formula bottle.

Anyway, I know it's against TOS to say anything nice about the TSA here , but I'm usually the first one to complain, so it's only fair. In any case, I did send in a compliment at TSA.gov.

Mike
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May 26, 2009 | 3:15 pm
  #2  
Maybe LoganTSO is providing a sterling example?
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May 26, 2009 | 3:27 pm
  #3  
Quote: I never thought I'd be writing this, but I have to compliment my hometown on our experience Friday afternoon.

We hit the B terminal checkpoint shortly before 4 pm with our two infant kids for their first domestic flight. We were pretty much prepared for the worst and had printed out all the rules and regs from the TSA's website regarding formula and what we could carry.

Instead, we were surprised at how helpful the TSOs were. They showed us the best way to fold up the strollers and get them through the metal detector, helped us with the car seats and made sure to get us through the WTMD before the kids started wailing. On the other side, one TSO helped us reassemble the gear while another one swabbed the formula bottle.

Anyway, I know it's against TOS to say anything nice about the TSA here , but I'm usually the first one to complain, so it's only fair. In any case, I did send in a compliment at TSA.gov.

Mike
I hope you got the screener's names so you can place a comment on the TSA site.
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May 26, 2009 | 3:31 pm
  #4  
I'm glad you had a good experience, but that was all the PR dressing ... it doesn't show TSA with an impact on "security" in any way, shape or form. I definitely have less issues with them these days, although the yelling that is occasionally encountered is still annoying. None of this means that the entire agency (and DHS as a whole) could use a total re-fit from the ground up.
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May 26, 2009 | 4:48 pm
  #5  
Quote: I'm glad you had a good experience, but that was all the PR dressing ... it doesn't show TSA with an impact on "security" in any way, shape or form. I definitely have less issues with them these days, although the yelling that is occasionally encountered is still annoying. None of this means that the entire agency (and DHS as a whole) could use a total re-fit from the ground up.
Even on a thread where someone tries to add a glimmer of postiveness to this forum there is still the same ranting. Your above text should be just posted in a sticky at the top of this forum so anyone who wants to read it (once) can do so. We get it. TSA = bad. DHS = bad. But this doesn't need to be brought up again and again and again when people are trying to make constructive comments, does it?
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May 26, 2009 | 5:29 pm
  #6  
Quote: Even on a thread where someone tries to add a glimmer of postiveness to this forum there is still the same ranting. Your above text should be just posted in a sticky at the top of this forum so anyone who wants to read it (once) can do so. We get it. TSA = bad. DHS = bad. But this doesn't need to be brought up again and again and again when people are trying to make constructive comments, does it?
Frankly she has it right. There are a few positives and remain a lot of negatives.

If you want, I can give you a diatribe about my last experience at Gatwick, wherein the entire security process made the TSA folks at several of the better US airports look like models of decorum and efficiency.
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May 26, 2009 | 10:31 pm
  #7  
Quote: Maybe LoganTSO is providing a sterling example?
You beat me to it^
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May 27, 2009 | 7:02 am
  #8  
Quote: I never thought I'd be writing this, but I have to compliment my hometown on our experience Friday afternoon.

We hit the B terminal checkpoint shortly before 4 pm with our two infant kids for their first domestic flight. We were pretty much prepared for the worst and had printed out all the rules and regs from the TSA's website regarding formula and what we could carry.

Instead, we were surprised at how helpful the TSOs were. They showed us the best way to fold up the strollers and get them through the metal detector, helped us with the car seats and made sure to get us through the WTMD before the kids started wailing. On the other side, one TSO helped us reassemble the gear while another one swabbed the formula bottle.

Anyway, I know it's against TOS to say anything nice about the TSA here , but I'm usually the first one to complain, so it's only fair. In any case, I did send in a compliment at TSA.gov.

Mike
Quote: Maybe LoganTSO is providing a sterling example?
Haha, I wish. But I'm over at A's checkpoint. Maybe it was my former Delta buddies over at American in B-North? Or did you fly US Airways over in B-South?

Anyways, I feel that BOS is one of the better TSA airports (management aside) because I feel we don't really treat passengers like crap much and I say we're pretty good at catching most prohibited items (and I don't just mean water).

But I strive to provide a sterling example and it's nice you're sending in a compliment. Maybe I'll get one next time... instead of a complaint accusing me of "molesting" a grandfather.
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May 27, 2009 | 9:24 am
  #9  
Quote: But I strive to provide a sterling example and it's nice you're sending in a compliment. Maybe I'll get one next time... instead of a complaint accusing me of "molesting" a grandfather.
They must have thought you were one of those "Group W bench" people in Alice's Restaurant.
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May 27, 2009 | 9:42 am
  #10  
Quote: Anyways, I feel that BOS is one of the better TSA airports (management aside) because I feel we don't really treat passengers like crap much and I say we're pretty good at catching most prohibited items (and I don't just mean water).
I grew up on the South Shore (Irish Riviera ) so I know that the locals are usually good, helpful people.
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May 27, 2009 | 12:48 pm
  #11  
Quote: I hope you got the screener's names so you can place a comment on the TSA site.
I didn't get the person's name, but I sent the TSA a note with the time, location and description of the person. The main person who helped us was a woman and I'm pretty sure she was the only one.

Quote: I'm glad you had a good experience, but that was all the PR dressing ... it doesn't show TSA with an impact on "security" in any way, shape or form. I definitely have less issues with them these days, although the yelling that is occasionally encountered is still annoying. None of this means that the entire agency (and DHS as a whole) could use a total re-fit from the ground up.
While I agree that there is a very long way to go, I spend more than my fair share of time maligning the TSA. It seems only fair that when somebody is helpful and treats us with respect, they are recognized.

BTW, on this particular flight, I was flying AA.

Interestingly, my Terminal A experiences have always been good. Usually I get the same woman there checking ID's: late 40's, short hair, tall, thin. I'm pretty sure that isn't Patrick.

Mike
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May 29, 2009 | 7:38 am
  #12  
Quote: Interestingly, my Terminal A experiences have always been good. Usually I get the same woman there checking ID's: late 40's, short hair, tall, thin. I'm pretty sure that isn't Patrick.
Not me.

Anyways. Update time.

Opened up my TSA email just now... and the latest message was from our Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening (AFSD-S) Rob Snyder quoting your post and thanking us and hoping we can keep the balance between security and customer service... that BOS will remain the best airport in the country.

I would quote it fully, but emails from him usually have a disclosure notice at the bottom noting they're confidential. So I'm not willing to push that boundary.
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May 29, 2009 | 12:11 pm
  #13  
Quote: Not me.

Anyways. Update time.

Opened up my TSA email just now... and the latest message was from our Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening (AFSD-S) Rob Snyder quoting your post and thanking us and hoping we can keep the balance between security and customer service... that BOS will remain the best airport in the country.

I would quote it fully, but emails from him usually have a disclosure notice at the bottom noting they're confidential. So I'm not willing to push that boundary.
Glad somebody got some recognition!

Mike
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May 29, 2009 | 12:18 pm
  #14  
Quote: Not me.

Anyways. Update time.

Opened up my TSA email just now... and the latest message was from our Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening (AFSD-S) Rob Snyder quoting your post and thanking us and hoping we can keep the balance between security and customer service... that BOS will remain the best airport in the country.

I would quote it fully, but emails from him usually have a disclosure notice at the bottom noting they're confidential. So I'm not willing to push that boundary.
nicely done ^^ and i'm sure mr. synder already knows, but if not and you get the chance, just let him know that we're not all that bad -just frustrated with a lot of the <insert your word here> that comes down dhs/tsa "corporate".
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