Comments on: “Get the gloves out” ticket agent orders TSA agents http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/ The travel troubleshooter. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:06:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jake http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-18080 Jake Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:53:04 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-18080 Before anyone comments to what I said, I realized I left a few things out. I do realize that TSA and the no fly list has nothing to do with the Philippines, but I am a US Citizen therefore I was placed on the list here when the one way ticket back from Manila to the US was purchased and once placed on the list here I was for lack of better words forwarded to the Philippine gvt as someone to watch. Before anyone comments to what I said, I realized I left a few things out. I do realize that TSA and the no fly list has nothing to do with the Philippines, but I am a US Citizen therefore I was placed on the list here when the one way ticket back from Manila to the US was purchased and once placed on the list here I was for lack of better words forwarded to the Philippine gvt as someone to watch.

]]> By: Jake http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-18079 Jake Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:48:01 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-18079 I was put on the list last year when I was sent over seas for 6 months with the company I worked for. When they flew me over I was sent on a one way ticket from the US to the Philippines and I was fine, but when I tried to return I was stopped by sec in Manila had all my luggage searched, I was stripped searched and after two hours I was able to get in line to check in (again) I was then put through 7 more searches which everyone had to go through, but once I arrived in Hong Kong, I was greated my police as soon as I stepped off the plain. Again searched and questioned. They had no sence of humor at all either. I was yet again questioned (not serrched this time) when I was about to board my flight in detroit which was my final connector. The best part of all was the head agint in charge of questioning me in Detroit was actually someone I had grown up with and he helped get everything cleared up. I have flown many times since then and not had a problem at all. I was put on the list last year when I was sent over seas for 6 months with the company I worked for. When they flew me over I was sent on a one way ticket from the US to the Philippines and I was fine, but when I tried to return I was stopped by sec in Manila had all my luggage searched, I was stripped searched and after two hours I was able to get in line to check in (again) I was then put through 7 more searches which everyone had to go through, but once I arrived in Hong Kong, I was greated my police as soon as I stepped off the plain. Again searched and questioned. They had no sence of humor at all either. I was yet again questioned (not serrched this time) when I was about to board my flight in detroit which was my final connector. The best part of all was the head agint in charge of questioning me in Detroit was actually someone I had grown up with and he helped get everything cleared up. I have flown many times since then and not had a problem at all.

]]> By: Anon http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-15119 Anon Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:28:40 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-15119 "SSSS" Quad S, Selectee, what ever yo wanna call it is not necessarily random and does not have anything to do with the "no-fly list." You get this special mark for a variety of reasons.Most commonly is when the computer dosen't know enough about you, to fix this, join the airline's frequent flier program and supply your (correct) Frequent Flier number every time to avoid the secondary screening. Also, a small percentage of travelers will be randomly selected by the computer. A fixed list of names is not how you get the SSSS and it would be terribly ineffective given that most people share a common first and last name, much more than you would think. “SSSS” Quad S, Selectee, what ever yo wanna call it is not necessarily random and does not have anything to do with the “no-fly list.” You get this special mark for a variety of reasons.Most commonly is when the computer dosen’t know enough about you, to fix this, join the airline’s frequent flier program and supply your (correct) Frequent Flier number every time to avoid the secondary screening. Also, a small percentage of travelers will be randomly selected by the computer. A fixed list of names is not how you get the SSSS and it would be terribly ineffective given that most people share a common first and last name, much more than you would think.

]]> By: Denise http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-14349 Denise Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:59:56 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-14349 I worked for TSA for 2 years.....extra screening is not random.....there are several things that will trigger the screening and they have been stated. Last minute purchase, using cash..etc. If you are on the Watch list that will be dealt with at the ticket counter, before you get to TSA screening. I was once on the watchlist...I booked on line, but wasn't able to select seats and I had to check in at the ticket counter. When I arrived it is when I found out I was on the list and had to show ID and answer additional questions...this was after I left TSA and had a security clearence. I was delayed but in the end did not get any additional screening. I worked for TSA for 2 years…..extra screening is not random…..there are several things that will trigger the screening and they have been stated. Last minute purchase, using cash..etc. If you are on the Watch list that will be dealt with at the ticket counter, before you get to TSA screening.

I was once on the watchlist…I booked on line, but wasn’t able to select seats and I had to check in at the ticket counter. When I arrived it is when I found out I was on the list and had to show ID and answer additional questions…this was after I left TSA and had a security clearence. I was delayed but in the end did not get any additional screening.

]]> By: Rick http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-14339 Rick Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:38:22 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-14339 It's not completely random, the rules are discoverable, and the whole thing is almost completely worthless becasue: - Ground crew, even those with access to the aircraft, don't go through screening. - IDs (provided by the traveler) are checked against a piece of paper (also provided by the traveler). The piece of paper isn't checked to see if it's valid until you get to the gate, and the ID is only checked to see if it looks genuine. There is no way for TSA to determine that the piece of paper, or the ID, presented by the traveler is actually valid. - The search for (fictional) dangerous liquids has the TSA so preoccupied confiscating makeup and toothpaste that they are more likely to miss things that are actually dangerous. Like maybe the stuff in the uninspected lunchbox carried by that guy, over there, who cleans the airplanes. Example - while lighters were prohibited items, I regularly carried three or four of them through screening. Airport 'security' is purely theatrics. It's a case of politicians saying 'We must do something. This is something, therefore we must do it.'. It's not a reasoned and reasonable approach. As for the randomness - I used to get selected for screening about 80% of the time. I joined a FF program. Now I don't get selected. It’s not completely random, the rules are discoverable, and the whole thing is almost completely worthless becasue:

- Ground crew, even those with access to the aircraft, don’t go through screening.

- IDs (provided by the traveler) are checked against a piece of paper (also provided by the traveler). The piece of paper isn’t checked to see if it’s valid until you get to the gate, and the ID is only checked to see if it looks genuine. There is no way for TSA to determine that the piece of paper, or the ID, presented by the traveler is actually valid.

- The search for (fictional) dangerous liquids has the TSA so preoccupied confiscating makeup and toothpaste that they are more likely to miss things that are actually dangerous. Like maybe the stuff in the uninspected lunchbox carried by that guy, over there, who cleans the airplanes. Example – while lighters were prohibited items, I regularly carried three or four of them through screening.

Airport ’security’ is purely theatrics. It’s a case of politicians saying ‘We must do something. This is something, therefore we must do it.’. It’s not a reasoned and reasonable approach.

As for the randomness – I used to get selected for screening about 80% of the time. I joined a FF program. Now I don’t get selected.

]]> By: Mike http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-14334 Mike Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:21:21 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-14334 Geoff, if it was truly random, you would think that I would have been picked more than once in the past 6 years. I fly 70-100K miles per year, but almost all on two airlines. No SSSSSS since early 2002. Geoff, if it was truly random, you would think that I would have been picked more than once in the past 6 years. I fly 70-100K miles per year, but almost all on two airlines. No SSSSSS since early 2002.

]]> By: HI Innkeeper http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-14332 HI Innkeeper Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:14:24 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-14332 As a frequent traveller, the only time the SSSS has ever appeared on my boarding pass was because we missed a connecting flight and were transferred to another airline to complete the trip. That is hardly a random occurence. And if the news reports are accurate, the 9/11 hijackers had round trip first class tickets purchased using frequent flyer miles weeks in advance. The only time I've seen a terrorist buy a last minute ticket using cash was in the original Airport movie. As a frequent traveller, the only time the SSSS has ever appeared on my boarding pass was because we missed a connecting flight and were transferred to another airline to complete the trip. That is hardly a random occurence.

And if the news reports are accurate, the 9/11 hijackers had round trip first class tickets purchased using frequent flyer miles weeks in advance. The only time I’ve seen a terrorist buy a last minute ticket using cash was in the original Airport movie.

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-14330 Cynthia Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:02:19 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-14330 I have a very difficult time believing these comments were written on this boarding pass. If you look closely, you can see the tape line along the departure and arrival city area. Looking at the ticket, it is a reprint. That flight was also delayed an hour out of Portland going to Las vegas and the ticket agent would not have done that to cause the passenger extra attention, thus missing his flight. I have a very difficult time believing these comments were written on this boarding pass. If you look closely, you can see the tape line along the departure and arrival city area. Looking at the ticket, it is a reprint. That flight was also delayed an hour out of Portland going to Las vegas and the ticket agent would not have done that to cause the passenger extra attention, thus missing his flight.

]]> By: Dee http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-14304 Dee Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:08:01 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-14304 I got the extra search once because I forgot my drivers license. I did get through security faster. I was a little worried about what the extra security check would be like, but it really wasn't that big of a deal. I got the extra search once because I forgot my drivers license. I did get through security faster. I was a little worried about what the extra security check would be like, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal.

]]> By: Geoff M http://www.elliott.org/blog/get-out-the-gloves-ticket-agent-orders-tsa-agents/comment-page-1/#comment-14300 Geoff M Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:45:36 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5185#comment-14300 SSSS is a random mark put on the tickets by the computer. I have them on 3 out of 10 of my tickets. If the counter person issueing the pass has any suspisions, you will never get the boarding pass. I t can be there when you check in with electronic check-in, you use curbside, or the human being issues it. It is not to be over-written or ACLU will get involved in one second. The watch list is totally different. It takes a lot to get on or off that list, but being in the airline industry, that SSSS is RANDOM. Southwest would not have the stupidity of putting that info as shown on the boarding pass. They are known for their cutesy actions, but that would violate every human right that is in the airline industry and that person would be dismissed and the airline would have some tough explaining to TSA. SSSS is a random mark put on the tickets by the computer. I have them on 3 out of 10 of my tickets. If the counter person issueing the pass has any suspisions, you will never get the boarding pass. I t can be there when you check in with electronic check-in, you use curbside, or the human being issues it. It is not to be over-written or ACLU will get involved in one second. The watch list is totally different. It takes a lot to get on or off that list, but being in the airline industry, that SSSS is RANDOM. Southwest would not have the stupidity of putting that info as shown on the boarding pass. They are known for their cutesy actions, but that would violate every human right that is in the airline industry and that person would be dismissed and the airline would have some tough explaining to TSA.

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