Additional TSA security at the gate
 

I boarded a flight last night from TPA to MDW. They had about 7 or 8 TSA personnel at the gate. They required your ID along with your boarding pass to get on the flight. They also randomly pulled people out of line for a pat down. Anyone else experience anything like this?

I had this from MDW-PVD on Thursday.

Oh no! I sure hope they aren't starting this again. They use to regularly do this and stick it to Southwest passengers who loose their boarding spot.

Hol Lee Fuk, I flew TPA-ISP last night but thankfully did not encounter. Did they check bags too? In years past I've seen them take 1,2 and 3 in line right off the bat. Really screws up the benefit of boarding early. What are they trying to accomplish besides security theatre and overtime pay?

When they would do this at MDW or other airports, I'd wait away from the gate and would board the plane once they pulled the people out of line. It was always a few people from A16-20.

Every now and then I see the TSA people with their little cart at PHX roaming around the gates. Haven't seen a random gate search in a few years though.

How's Hol Lee Fuk doing these days, anyway? Is he back flying for Asiana? ;) :D

Last seen loading bags at ICN.

Poor channel 2.:(

TSA: "We know we miss a lot of stuff when you go through security so we'll just try to catch it at the gate."

I can see why they would do this, especially when they didn't catch the box cutter that I forgot was in my jacket the other day.

Sometimes it's random and sometimes it's meant to look random, but they are actually looking for someone or something specific.

The carrier, flights, and what the searches consist of can vary. Sometimes it is just 1-2 Officers doing random ID matches to BP's.

This happened to me in MCI going to DAL back in July. They had a small training class in the terminal with about 10-15 screeners. Interesting because there they don't use TSA...

I wonder what happens to the early boarders who get picked. Do they let everyone else go around them while they are being searched?

Oh ya, of course, it can be quite a screwing if stopped inside the jetway. Sometimes they'll do ID / BP checks while lining up which is mighty nice of them given WN's process.

But when they do this, to me, it's an admission that the screening process is a joke that hassles everyone honest unjustly...

they pulled out A38 (my companion) and like A 41
they checked my GF purse. It was painless but we did take a long time to board. They started the boarding process very early. The flight likely had 25 open seats on it too

Yes, they do. A-1, etc. suddenly becomes something of a Mid-B if he/she is lucky......

Wow. I didn't realize that you were connected to the TSA. I hope you can give us further insights into their ridiculous actions.

I wonder what they do with pre-boarders. Would people be allowed to go around them as well?

I'd like that too. It would certainly give added weight to the poster to whom you refer, who consistently exhibits evidence that he has never actually flown WN yet parachutes in here with information that is frequently inaccurate and often misleading to those who visit here.