I was going through MEM beginning a month long TPAC trip. I had a few creams, jells in a one quart zip lock and another one quart zip locked clearly marked "medical items". Everything in it was under 3oz and it contained lens solution, eye drops, prescription nasal spray, extra contact lenses. The TSO looked at it and said that everything needed to be prescription and that I would have to have a special search of the bag. I told him that everything in it was on the TSA approved list for medical items. He asked if everything was prescription drugs. I said everything was on the approved TSA list for medical items. He said everything had to be prescription. And so it went through the X-Ray. Another TSO looked at it and said that it was OK. In fact she pointed out that an extra nasal spray that I had in my non medical baggie could have been with the medical items. She said she had to look at the "medical items" baggie because the TSO who had raised it as an issue was the supervisor. I guess I was lucky that the supervisor didn't look at the baggie because I probably would have lost all the stuff I needed for the plane.

Sounds like another highly trained TSO making up rules as they go.

This type of thing is my main complaint about TSA. There is no immediate way to question a decision made by a TSO. If you push the issue expect a rataliatory screening for questioning their A-Thor-A-TY or being accused of interferring with a screener. In your case you were lucky that someone else had a bit of common sense and made the right call. Had it gone the other way you would have had your items confiscated (confiscate is the right word since they are taken under duress).

I would file a complaint with the FSD of that airport and also with the Airport director. Name names or provide as much detail as possible. Sounds like a supervisor working way above their competency level.

As of earlier this year, the federal security director there is Donald L. Barker. I e-mailed the airport asking for contact info for airport director and FSD. I'll followup here if I get a response.

response received:

Did you miss the sign at the front of the line?

RULE #1: THE TSA SUPERVISOR IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

RULE #2: WHEN THE TSA SUPERVISOR IS WRONG, SEE RULE #1.

RULE #3: IF YOU A PAX IN THIS LINE WE ALREADY GOTCHA, SO IT DON'T MUCH MATTER. PAX = A PERSON OF INTEREST, DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

RULE #4: HAVE A NICE FLIGHT IF WE TELL YOU TO.

You forgot RULE 2.5

RULE 2.5: GO TO THE MANAGER IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE STSO.

And this request can always be refused.

What you seem to forget is that, while we may technically have certain rights, the reality is: at the checkpoint the STSO is god and king who can prevent us from getting to our destination.

This leaves us with two choices: passively cooperate as we would in any encounter with a thug or avoid the situation entirely.

Lumpy and I (when I can) choose the second alternative.