My crimes are apparently being autistic in public and subsequently looking overwhelmed (airports are sensory HELL), flying while racially ambiguous, and I don’t even know. TSA are the biggest terrorists in this country.

Back on point. Some agents are better than others. Some are worse. Some are a lot worse. On balance, I find that I am mostly treated very courteously, and things seem to be getting better with time. I think that it is very clear that I have done this procedure quite often and maybe I am getting better too. When seated, I can allow my shoes [and appliance] to go through X-Ray and I always offer this. It is almost never accepted. After a quick scan with the wand and a rather quick pat-down followed by a wipe down and test of my shoes and appliance, I am on my way. I would say that it takes an extra eight minutes to run me through. I have learned to allow for this and it seems a small price to pay, IF it contibutes to everyone’s safety.

BTW, on my last trip, the swab indicated the presence of something it didn’t like and all sorts of alarms went off. Everybody was pretty calm and they pulled me aside, took the swab to another machine where all was well. They sent me on my way while an agent re-calibrated the first machine.

I wouldn’t want the TSA agent’s job. I have accumulated over 5 million miles in various frequent flier programs, and frankly as best as I can tell, the veteran fliers handle things so much better than those who fly less. It is the same way with delays, lost luggage, and other disappointments of air travel.

Flying is a vastly different experience than it used to be. Some things are good, many are bad, some very bad. There is terrorism, and there are vastly lower coach fares. There are skimpy or no meals and meals you must pay for. There are absurdly small seats and pitch. Thing you used to get for free now cost and some are gone forever. Welcome to the future.

Traveling used to be fun…

The Feds got everyone used to this abuse of power in the name of security, Maybe next they can confiscate all of our weapons, kinda like Germany did in the 1930′s.

But hey it’s only a little extra time.

However, sometimes I can’t help but be amused by these airport antics. I try not to argue or show resentment because I know what the consequences will be. Some of my experiences with security:

Heathrow – asked for my camera to be hand inspected. Outright refusal. Got approval to finish shooting the film. Pointed it at a blank wall and clicked. My hand was hit by the agent and I almost dropped the camera in shock. Was told to point it at the floor.

Detroit – my boots had a metal shank that set off something. Was told to remove them and they were taken away. Was shunted to another area where another agent told me to “spread ‘em.” Was confused and it took me a few seconds to realize what she was talking about. Then she told me that she would possibly have to touch me in “private” places. Prepared myself to hit her if she got out of line. Thank goodness she didn’t.

Orlando – travelling with my 15-year-old grandson, he was told to remove his running shoes. I asked if I needed to remove mine (loafers). She looked at them and said no, but they were on the “cusp.”

Toronto – unopened bottle of water I was holding was confiscated and a supervisor had to be called to decide whether my shoe polish should go the same way. I was allowed to keep it.

Toronto – a father accompanied by his family argued with the agents over something that they wanted to take away from his son. He refused to back down. The entire family was removed from the line by a supervisor and taken away. Don’t know if they ever made their flight.

Toronto – on our last trip, when my husband was asked to empty his pockets, he brought out a pocket knife. I was appalled. Sure he knew better but had forgotten that he had it. It was seized and thankfully, he was not rebuked.

Lisbon – had to remove all outer clothing, and purse, laptop and hand luggage had to be opened. Even our walking canes were inspected. Since there was only one lane open, we held up the queue for several minutes while we put everything back together and made sure all was accounted for.

The ticket I received had the dreaded “SSSS” designation. Did I receive this because I approached the business class counter while having an economy class ticket? Or was this because I did not arrive with luggage and thus looked suspicious? If a good portion of travelers experience similar treatment after approaching an airline counter out of their class, would airline counter representatives be complicit in the game to use secondary screening to punish passengers?

Nice deflection from the truth. Do the Metal Detectors at the screening checkpoints detect explosives? The answer would be NO.

Once you admit that your agency is window dressing for Ma & Pa Kettle take their 2.2 kids to Disney World feel secure, then you are on the right path.

It’s a mojor league joke, a violation of our civil liberties and serves no valid purpose except to employ law enforcement wannabes who can’t pass the psych evaluations for “real” Law Enforcements Officers

I didn’t even read all the comments… but I did notice the very last one. Some x-ray machines CAN detect explosives… the ones for checked baggage do. Additionally, you can tell from the x-ray image if the shoe has been altered and if there are components in there for bombs. People can also hide other things in their shoes. If the shoes look suspicious then they are tested further… which includes testing for, ahem, explosives.

Everyone complains about the liquid rules. Everyone knows these regulations by now, so don’t complain when we have to throw away your $90 bottle of cologne. You knew the limit, so you should have put it in your checked bag. Many of you think the limits are silly. However, if the ban on liquids was fully lifted, then the screening process would take even longer. We would probably be required to test at least a portion of liquids… which would take FOREVER. Also, with the addition of liquids in bags, it will cause more bags to be searched. I cannot fully explain my logic, as I cannot tell you certain things about our training, but just trust me on that one.

I understand that some of the TSA officers seem/are rude to passengers. Please understand how many people they have to deal with everyday. Some people are just plain dumb and cannot follow simple directions. Others don’t understand English. Others will give the TSO a hard time because they don’t like the protocol. We deal with rude people every day. Understand that the TSOs do not make the rules. Many of us do not agree with every single one of the procedures. We do the best that we can with what we are given and what we are told to do. The TSA is still a fairly new government agency and is working towards making the screening process easier for all involved. To be honest… some of the screeners are just rude people, but you will find rude cashiers, rude police officers, rude bankers… you name it.

Fact is none of us should be subjected to any of their nonsense. My uncle landed on Normandy in ’44 to prevent all of us from having to endure the abuse of power by the TSA.

Those who would trade a little liberty or a little security deserve neither.

TSA is rude by definition. It’s always rude to suspend civil liberties under the guise of security. Even though they speak nicely, by their mere existance they are an afront to every value that this country was founded upon and that is the ultimate rudeness.

Oh and did I mention Kip Hawley is a moron! X-rays can’t detect explosives. Ponder that as you remove your shoes next time you travel.