TSA PreCheck "Random" Extra Screening?
#46
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
PS: The TSA line was much shorter than two weeks ago. No more regular line diversions?
#47
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
I've only seen this at JFK. All of the other airports interpret a "random" beep as an indication for a hand swab.
The swab is so incredibly fast that it doesn't bug me too much.
Being "randomized" to a millimeter wave scanner is a problem. It makes PreCheck rather pointless.
The swab is so incredibly fast that it doesn't bug me too much.
Being "randomized" to a millimeter wave scanner is a problem. It makes PreCheck rather pointless.
#48
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 579
At ABQ, I received the random beep at a WTMD in the precheck line and was told to empty my pockets and go through the body scanner. I opted out and received a pat-down. I have read reports of this happening at PDX as well.
I asked the TSO giving the pat-down why this did not result in a hand swab ad he told me that this was the new procedure. He told me that it should be the new procedure for everywhere now. I feel like this procedure is a bait and switch for the people who paid 85 dollars to avoid the body scanners then being told that they have to go through them sometimes.
My issue with people setting off the WTMD not being given another chance is that sometimes, the TSO yells at people that they need to keep their belt, shoes, etc. on. At one instance that I encountered, a concern was raised about a belt potentially setting off the WTMD and the TSO told the passenger to try to go through and see if it did at first. I could see there being cases where the TSO tells people to leave belts on which set off the WTMD and result in the passenger being sent through the body scanner.
I asked the TSO giving the pat-down why this did not result in a hand swab ad he told me that this was the new procedure. He told me that it should be the new procedure for everywhere now. I feel like this procedure is a bait and switch for the people who paid 85 dollars to avoid the body scanners then being told that they have to go through them sometimes.
My issue with people setting off the WTMD not being given another chance is that sometimes, the TSO yells at people that they need to keep their belt, shoes, etc. on. At one instance that I encountered, a concern was raised about a belt potentially setting off the WTMD and the TSO told the passenger to try to go through and see if it did at first. I could see there being cases where the TSO tells people to leave belts on which set off the WTMD and result in the passenger being sent through the body scanner.
#49
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
This is disheartening. The hand swab was so non-invasive. The scanner is prone to false alarms, takes longer, and requires the humiliating "I'm under arrest" stance. Considering that even Kleenex leads to a frisking, it really is something one must make every effort to avoid.
On one day, I got the "random" on three separate checkpoints. But it was a benign interference, and I joked with the TSA about buying lottery tickets.
I would not have such a good sense of humor if this is the "new" procedure.
One will have to be careful to avoid being in line behind crew members. Even when not on duty, they are exempt from random beeps. So it's almost a guarantee if there are half a dozen or so crew members in the line.
But the TSA varies its "new procedures" quite a bit. Perhaps they'll rethink this one too.
On one day, I got the "random" on three separate checkpoints. But it was a benign interference, and I joked with the TSA about buying lottery tickets.
I would not have such a good sense of humor if this is the "new" procedure.
One will have to be careful to avoid being in line behind crew members. Even when not on duty, they are exempt from random beeps. So it's almost a guarantee if there are half a dozen or so crew members in the line.
But the TSA varies its "new procedures" quite a bit. Perhaps they'll rethink this one too.
#50
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
The swab is so incredibly fast that it doesn't bug me too much.
Being "randomized" to a millimeter wave scanner is a problem. It makes PreCheck rather pointless.
#52
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
Oh, I definitely got it for Kleenex... not a package of Kleenex, one piece of Kleenex, in my left pocket. That was at Cleveland/Hopkins. I got frisked and admonished for not emptying my pockets as instructed.
It's one of the joys of PreCheck. With the rare exception, it's a silent procedure. No yelling, no rules. It took all of the dread out of the experience.
But now that relief has been taken away.
It's one of the joys of PreCheck. With the rare exception, it's a silent procedure. No yelling, no rules. It took all of the dread out of the experience.
But now that relief has been taken away.
#53
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: US
Programs: DL GE
Posts: 1,654
#54
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,012
Ugh. And I saw this yesterday at BOS; lady went through after being admonished not to remove her shoes, alarmed, and they sent her over to the nude-o-scan because of the shoes alarming. (The WTMD agent even said, "Her shoes alarmed.")
I wondered what the deal was... now I know.
I hope that the "RANDOM" alarms still mean just a hand swab? As I get those fairly regularly. I'm used to walking through, no beep, and about a second later, the WTMD beeps and they do the hand swab.
This as locations roll out new & improved ETD swab machines to boot! (Wonder who and how much profited from that?!)
I have been yelled at for having a dime in my pocket. I've been patted down for a necklace and a watch. I've also been fussed at by the TSA for having a contact lens case in my pocket.
Also, I'm not exactly thrilled to be able to have my wallet at the WTMD, then be sent to the nude-o-scope and required to remove my wallet. I'm separated from my carry-ons, and now my wallet. Not good.
I wondered what the deal was... now I know.
I hope that the "RANDOM" alarms still mean just a hand swab? As I get those fairly regularly. I'm used to walking through, no beep, and about a second later, the WTMD beeps and they do the hand swab.
This as locations roll out new & improved ETD swab machines to boot! (Wonder who and how much profited from that?!)
Also, I'm not exactly thrilled to be able to have my wallet at the WTMD, then be sent to the nude-o-scope and required to remove my wallet. I'm separated from my carry-ons, and now my wallet. Not good.
#56
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
Just went through JFK T8. 4 TDCs, with 2 feeding 1 checkpoint lane. Precheck had random people sent in as they approached the normal line. Random ETD swabbing in the precheck line.
The normal line was backing up because of the MMW. The precheck lane was backing up because people kept trying to take things out of their bags (like the PA loop said to) and weren't moving up towards the WTMD.
Only 2 lanes open this morning. Enough TSOs to man 5.
The normal line was backing up because of the MMW. The precheck lane was backing up because people kept trying to take things out of their bags (like the PA loop said to) and weren't moving up towards the WTMD.
Only 2 lanes open this morning. Enough TSOs to man 5.
#57
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
#58
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
Here in Seattle, the PreCheck WTMDs are clearly calibrated at a much more sensitive level. I have a pair of timberlands with not the slightest identifiable bit of metal, but they set off the PreCheck WTMD. So I now carry "PreCheck Shoes." It's better than being barefoot. I wear running shoes now.
At Cleveland a few weeks ago, the smurf said to the guy in front of me, "It is your footwear, sir." Who uses the word "footwear?"
But at least in Seattle and Cleveland they just had people take off their shoes and have them x-rayed (because that's a magical way of finding terrorists.) The use of the Millimeter Wave Machine seems particularly counterproductive if only the shoes alarmed. Wouldn't one want to investigate only the shoes if nothing else alarmed?
Oh wait, I'm applying logic again. Darn!
At Cleveland a few weeks ago, the smurf said to the guy in front of me, "It is your footwear, sir." Who uses the word "footwear?"
But at least in Seattle and Cleveland they just had people take off their shoes and have them x-rayed (because that's a magical way of finding terrorists.) The use of the Millimeter Wave Machine seems particularly counterproductive if only the shoes alarmed. Wouldn't one want to investigate only the shoes if nothing else alarmed?
Oh wait, I'm applying logic again. Darn!
#59
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 579
In Terminal 3 of ORD on Sunday, it appeared that one of the TSOs was touching buttons and/or making some adjustment at the top of the precheck WTMD. Does anyone know what they were doing? I did not think that this was a good sign and was happy to have someone else go through the WTMD before me, thinking that perhaps it meant that a random beep was going to come shortly afterward. The person in front of me went through with no issue so I went through and also had no problem. The person after me got the random beep and was sent through the body scanner. They also called for a male assist for him and while I am not sure what happened, my guess is that he probably had something in his pocket that alerted the body scanner that one is supposed to be able to keep in one's pocket while going through precheck.
I was wondering about whether the adjustment at the top of the WTMD perhaps changes the frequency of the random beep?
Himeno, when you mentioned that there were random hand swabs in the precheck line, do you mean that people with the random beep received hand swabs or was this separate?
I was wondering about whether the adjustment at the top of the WTMD perhaps changes the frequency of the random beep?
Himeno, when you mentioned that there were random hand swabs in the precheck line, do you mean that people with the random beep received hand swabs or was this separate?