A Tale of Two Checkpoints
 

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times . . .

I've been commuting, more or less, between SFO and SNA, as we relocate to Newport Beach. This process has included flying with a fair amount of my music recording equipment in my carryon. I had no trouble until last night. In my rollaboard was an 8-track mulitrack recorder and about a dozen 8" reel-to-reel tapes. In my computer bag was another dozen tapes. I was flying Virgin America (more about that in another thread -- suffice to say, I won't fly Virgin ever again).

The worst of times.

I cleared security at Concourse A, International. When I got to the WTMD I told the TSO (who is contract, as are all the TSOs at SFO) that I had about 2 dozen recording tapes that I need hand-checked. He seemed completely flummoxed by the request and got his supervisor. I repeated (politely) my request to the supervisor. The supervisor said, "We can hand check them but they have to go through the x-ray." I told him I would not put them through, as they were irreplaceable and represented about a decade of my work from the 1980s. He said, "It's safe to put it through." I said, "No, it is not. The x-ray has a motorized conveyor belt, motors emit EMF, these are old tapes that have probably already picked up a lot of hiss just from background magnetism, and I won't risk them by putting them through. I'd like them hand inspected, please." He said, "Well, then you won't fly today." I said, "Please call the FSD." He looked surprised when I said this and said, "Just a minute." Another
TSO came over and said, "What's the problem?" I said, "I'm sorry -- are you the FSD? Because I'd like to see the FSD." The TSO said, "I'm a supervisor, the FSD isn't here." (Really?) I explained to him that I wanted the tapes hand inspected. He said, "No -- everything has to go through the x-ray. If you don't want them x-rayed, you're not flying." I said, "Fine, I won't fly. What's your name? And what's the name of the FSD?" He said, "Why do you want that?" I replied, "Because you're not following SOP and if I can't fly, I'm going to complain."

At this point, this guy got really angry (and, note, that I never raised my voice, always was polite and, needless to say, never used obscenities or anything like that). I think this was an intimidation tactic. He yelled, "Don't tell me about the SOP. I know the SOP backwards and forwards. Don't threaten me with the SOP. You're threatening me!" This is a verbatim quote. I said, "Do you think I'm threatening you?" He said, "Yes, I do." I said, "In that case, please call over a police officer." He said something like, "Don't think I won't do it." I said, "I'm sorry, you don't understand. I want a police officer. Now!" He said, "Then you'll have to wait over there," pointing to outside the security area. I said, "I'm not moving. Call a police officer. We'll both speak to him."

At this point, yet another senior TSO came over and introduced himself as a "supervisor." He asked what was the problem. I told him, "That TSO claims I threatened him. I want a police officer called right now, and I want the tapes pulled." This TSO said, "Well, wait a second -- what's the problem?" I explained what transpired and he quickly ordered a TSO to perform a hand inspection of my tapes. The TSO who performed the inspection, as well as a few others who were interested in what was going on, where all polite, friendly and helpful. When the inspection of my tapes was over, I went back to the second supervisor and told him, "Tell your colleague, attitude is everything. I'm more than happy to work with you if you work with me. I will not put up with petty intimidation."

The best of times.

After all of that, I wound up not flying on Virgin last night -- I'll write a separate post about that later. Cut to this morning -- United premium checkpoint. I get to the WTMD and tell the TSO, "I have about 2 dozen audio tapes that I can't put through the x-ray -- I'd like a hand inspection." The TSO said, "No problem, sir. Please meet me on the other side of the checkpoint." I cleared the rest of my carry-ons, met her on the other side and she promptly and efficiently hand-checked all my tapes and wished me a pleasant flight.

So ends this parable of TSA excess. Even among the subcontractors, there are good TSOs, who do their job efficiently and pleasantly, and then there are the petty martinets -- the hall monitors of the airport who delight in making life miserable for everyone. All I can say, STAND YOUR GROUND! Know your rights and don't let some little Napoleon of a TSO play, "Police State for a Day."

well done my friend, very well done ^^^. never "blew/lost yoru cool, stood firm yet remained polite & professional and you are 100% spot on when it comes to attitude...it IS everything (which obviously the 2nd supe had but the "1st supe" needs to go back to attitude 'n customer service school")

now, one question....
you asked for the fsd (^) and you got a supe
the supe was a putz :td:
another supe comes over
2nd supe solves the issue ^
were you able to notice if 2nd supe "outranked" the 1st supe?

All I could tell was that the second supe was older and far, far more polite.

In retrospect, it was actually pretty funny. The supe clearly expected me to back down when he pulled his, "I'm angry because you're threatening me routine." The last thing he expected was that I'd call his bluff and insist that a police officer be summoned, even to the point of refusing to move away from the WTMD to wait for one (I, of course, let the pax behind me go around while this whole incident transpired). I've always said that the best thing about being a lawyer is that no one f___'s with me because I know the law.

Any chance you saw their rank strips on their shoulders? 1=regular TSO, 2=lead, 3=supervisor.

Very curious to hear why VX didn't work for you.

Me too.. please link to that post here in case I miss it.

I'll try to write about Virgin a little later today.

Incidentally, there was a strip search machine at Concourse A at SFO International. One-by-one, the sheep marched through. There were NO signs visible explaining what it was.

PV Blogger Bob said if he received any reports of improper Strip Search machine signage that he would get it fixed.

Of course he claims there are no problems with the signage also.

Please let him know.

I hope you have sent a letter to the FSD.

Hey, I just got home this morning. Give me a chance. :)

I think it freaks some of these guys out when they hear PAX use terms like FSD. Bad sheeple, always knowing more than they should! :D

As an aside, you should eventually transfer those tapes to digital media. (Which I’ve been telling myself the same thing now for 5 years :rolleyes:)

Strictly speaking, they were right the first time. Tapes, audio or video, are supposed to be x-rayed. There's actually language in the SOP that requires them to be x-rayed.

And, strictly speaking, if you refuse to have them x-rayed, your only option is to turn around and take them back with you.

The person in the first story likely agreed to your request for a hand check just to shut you up, and the person in the second likely didn't know any better.

Granted, there is a list of things that you can request to have hand-inspected. Still camera film, medications, x-rays (like, the medical kind). And of course, there are some things that have to be hand-inspected, such as... a fish in a bowl of water. :D

Perhaps. If that's SOP then it is just further proof to me that the SOP is beyond ridiculous.

I would think that reel to reel tapes, having no external boxy case, could easily be hand inspected.

Of course it would need to be a 3.4oz bowl of water in a ziploc baggie...

Hmm.. how do you take a goldfish through security? Drain bowl, fish in baggie with some water, then fill up the bowl the other side and transfer the fish back?