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TSA protects nation against dangerous sippy cup

June 16, 2007

If you believe that the Transportation Security Administration is our last line of defense against terrorist hijackers, this story will make you proud. If you think the TSA is just another useless government agency charged with enforcing a pointless ban on liquids and gels, it’s more likely to make your blood boil.

On June 11, Monica Emmerson and her toddler were flying from Washington to Reno, Nev., when she was stopped by a TSA agent because there was water in her son’s sippy cup. The cup was seized by the agent.

What happens next is detailed in this blog posting and article.

Emmerson claims that she “accidentally” spilled the water in her son’s cup, was threatened with arrest, and missed her flight. TSA’s response was to release the video and report of the incident, which shows that the spill wasn’t an accident but supports her claim that she was harassed (it shows an officer tugging on Emmerson’s shoulder at one point).

I’ve reviewed Emmerson’s account and the TSA version of events, and as someone who mediates disputes every day, I think there’s plenty of blame to go around. Emmerson acted as if the agents should cut her some slack because she was traveling with a young child and is a former Secret Service agent. And the TSA agents behaved like control freaks.

Both parties deserve a spanking from Miss Manners. (Now that’s something I know a lot of guys would pay good money to see …)

The loser is the TSA. Not for releasing the video and report — it had the right to defend itself — or even for enforcing its rules. No, the TSA loses because it is tasked with confiscating liquids and gels that obviously pose no credible threat to aviation security. That’s a decision the frontline TSA agents didn’t make; rather, it’s something their overzealous superiors made them do.

It’s time for the TSA to drop its silly ban on liquids and gels. Right now.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

66 comments

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  • lara654

    I saw the video, and the police were the ones with Ms. Emmerson after she spilled the water. The TSA guy directed traffic away from the water and went back to the post by the wall. If Ms. Emmerson had just followed the rules in the first place and not tried to get around rules by flashing her badge, she would have been fine.

  • biff

    Blame on both sides! She lost her cool after the TSA agent ripped the sippy cup out of her toddlers hands, who wouldn’t have lost there cool? I’ve seen TSA rip engagement rings off of peoples hands. One time in Jacksonville, Fla, I actually caught them taking pictures with my camera! They just pulled it out of my bag and started taking pictures. It was digital so I made them delete them, that was only a few months after 9/11.
    TSA is a joke, they should get a lesson from Israel’s El AL airlines, they do security for real, but avoid the security kick. I think Monica should sue TSA, they need to be dissolved we are no safer today then we were pre-9/11. Why, because we refuse to profile, instead we abuse little children.

  • Mr Bad Example

    I just went through the Gestapo checkpoint in Grand Rapids MI, what a very cool experience.

    Seems the X-ray caught “A small Bottle” Now I knew what it was. A small bottle of La Chouffe Coffee Liquer I’d forgotten about as it had been in there for several weeks and been transported through no less than 10 checkpoints with out detection.

    When confronted I shrugged, stating I’d “No Idea” what it could be since the only time the bag was out of my site is when I checked with the TSA in Chicago 3 weeks prior.

    So they proceeded to rifle my things for 10 mi9nutes before they found the “Prohibited Item”. This is where it gets good. I tell the guy “you’ve had this bag through your checkpoints 10 times and you finally found it, I thought it was stolen”. Then he inquires if I travel alot and I respond “130 times a year on avg” and he goes into his spiel about Don’t I feel “safer?” Looked him right in the Eye and told him I thought his entire agency was a fraud, joke and waste of the citizens money. He asked why? I said “you just proved it with the bottle, it took you 10 times to find it.” Needless to say he was NOT amused.

  • Enough already

    Less than 600 more days and we will be rid of the “fear monger” in the White House. Since 9/11 this country has been run on fear. He has spent billions of taxpayer money to make us feel “safer”.

    I travel the airlines EVERY week. I leave my cosmetics and toiletry bag at the customer, so I don’t have to put stuff in plastic bags to pass thru what TSA calls “security”.

    Put your computer here, your shoes there, your 1 gallon plastic bag in with your shoes, don’t forget to remove your belt, jewelry, and anything else metal. Special screening for the folks in wheelchairs, and special wanding for my 90 year old father who wears suspenders. Where will it stop. Do YOU feel safer. I sure don’t.

    When there is proper security in the tarmac area and in the cargo area, maybe I wouldn’t complain so much.

    What has our “civilized” world become?? Can we really solve the problem with our TSA? How about security at train stations, subway stations, car rental agencies….will it ever stop. The answer is “YES” in less than 600 days!!!

  • –Tired of this

    I too travel often (at least 26 weeks a year). I do not believe TSA contributes anything to safety. I’m a Federal employee, so many thing I should be in favor of these employees. Too often I see them joking around, carrying on personal conversations, while the security line is hundreds long. Often times only a few of the available security lanes are open, while more than enough TSA employees are standing around not actually working. This isn’t just one airport, it’s virtually everywhere I go. I don’t mind the “security ” inconsistencies from airport to airport (that’s probably a good thing, but the CONSISTENT lack of employee performance is intolerable.

  • Douglas Beatty- Hilo, Hawaii

    I agree 100 percent. The TSA is a “feel good” joke.

  • Douglsa S

    You’re right about W. Not only for the fearmongering but just about everything else. He is certifiably the
    WORST president in the country’s history. It’s one thing after another. The sooner he goes, the better, and the sooner his successor will be able to start to mend fences with our allies overseas. W has in one way or another alienated just about all of them. What an
    embarrassment!

  • Tired of Travelers Bitching

    I’ve had it up to my neck with frequent travelers and travel writers who think they are experts on EVERYTHING to include security and safety. Everything the TSA and Law Enforcement does is wrong! Give me a break.

    Don’t get me started about jerks who ramble on about the President in a travel related forum.

    If people complain about the TSA, anything resembling Israel’s El AL airlines, will not fly. Excuse the pun. :)

  • Enough already

    Dear “Tired of Travelers Bitching”,

    Have you flown lately?? Aside from the problems with “so-called” airport security, have you sat around for hours while your plane was delayed, fully packed, dirty beyond belief, and no services (food or drink) offered?

    You certainly are vocal about us frequent flyers complaining and the awful state of the airline industry. What are your “positive” suggestions to fix this mess? (without government assistance)

  • Roland Van Essen

    Yes, it seems that TSA is “all Bad,” except, If any of you complainers can eyeball and identify a bottle of nitric acid without opening the bottle, then apply to work with TSA. Nitric acid, for those who don’t remember their high school chemistry, is a major component of several explosives, and looks just like water. I will agree with those who named the El Al, I will definitely agree. That is what we need.

    United Premier Executive member

  • Roland

    Roland,

    There are scanning machines AVAILABLE TODAY which can differentiate water from nitric acid and from alchol. TSA just has not put in a requisition for them. Translation: a politician has not been paid off yet.

    So, Mr. United Premier Executive member, can a “terrorist” use nitric acid on a train, subway, or other public convenience? Can a “terrorist” destroy our water and food supply? Can a “terrorist” spray bullets indescriminently?? Can we protect ourselves from all of that and other crazy ideas…..be reasonable now!!!

    You and I know the answer is a a resounding NO. So why are the airlines to tightly scrutinized? Do you realize that we are still in a code “orange” and have been all winter and spring?

    Airline travel is a nightmare both before and after getting on the planes. I totally understand that mother’s frustration and the frustration of the TSA for having to enforce such stupid rules.

    I continue to ask: “where and when will this all stop?” My answer is – in less than 600 days, when someone with “reason” takes over the White House.”

  • Ed Kummel

    I don’t get it…
    Granted, I don’t fly a bazillion times a year, but I usually get 4-5 flights a year to various parts of the US (I just came back from a week in Redmond WA yesterday) And I don’t have any problems what-so-ever with the TSA…
    Sure, once in Las Vegas, I lost a Swiss Army knife I had for over 10 years…but that was my own stupidity. I forgot it was in my carryon.
    I follow the rules folks, and the rules are quite clearly defined. There are really no grey areas and none of the rules are up for interpretation.
    Sure, I think it sucks that the “shoe bomber” forced us to all take off our shoes…but now when I fly, I use slip-ons…they are more comfortable to wear and the go on and off easily. I’ve been stopped many times and pulled aside for additonal testing, but mainly because I’m a gadget freak and my carry-ons are usually jammed with electronic toys, chargers, cables and batteries…so I do get stopped…but I learned from my earlier mistakes and leave the cables and spare batteries in my checked luggage…
    Look…the United States is the most hated country in the world…and as such, we have enemies who have no regard for their own safety and wellbeing as was witnessed by events on 9/11.
    The events on that day stunned everyone not for the actuall act they committed, but that they thought up the act in the first place. Most “normal” people would never consider doing what they did on that day…
    My fear is what other “thing” will they do that no one ever considered? Taking a few precautions is a small price to pay…
    And while I agree that most times it’s a hassle, I believe that in much the same way a police car sitting at the corner causes motorists to slow down, even if it’s empty, the TSA agent will cause most terrorist wanna-bees to rethink their attempted attack against our airways.
    Ed

  • Another UA Premier Exec

    Another aviation security novice pointing to El Al Israeli Airlines as the Gods of Aviation Security. If we (US) only had 34 airplanes to protect, and it didn’t matter if our airline lost millions of dollars every year, we could have “El Al” style security, too. Can you imagine catching a flight from Louisville to Chicago, and having to undergo an extensive interview process? I travel 20-24 times a year, I know the rules, and I’ve NEVER had a problem. Most of the reports of TSA abuse are pure exaggeration, hysteria, and lies. Quit drinking the kool-aid and think for yourself.

  • Brooks Hurd

    While it is true that El Al is not a large airline compared to UA, AA, or DL; the comment from “Another” is a red herring. While it is true that Israeli security (which is not part of El Al, but a government agency like TSA) only provide security for El Al departing from outside Isreal, they provide security for every departure of every airline which departs from the State of Isreal. They also provided security for domestic flights and all border crossings into Jordan and Egypt.

    After 18 trips into and out of Isreal and 3.8M total air travel, I can make the following personal observations comparing Israeli security and TSA:
    1. Every one of the Israeli security people who I personally met (hundreds) was highly proffesional and, IMHO, above average in intelligence. Some of the TSA people who I have met (thousands) are quite professional, but this can hardly be said for all as this story points out. After watching TSA agents consistently missusing analytical swabs (which will give false positives), it is hard to conclude that the TSA is above average in intelligence.
    2. Every Israeli security agent I met was courteous. I have found some TSA agents who are courteous.
    3. If Israeli security takes you to one of their rooms in the airport for a more thorough search and they find nothing, they escort you to the front of the line to help you make your flight. They take you to the ticket counter ahead of everyone and then they take you to the front of the outgoing immigration line. Does the TSA care if their enhanced srutiny causes you to miss your flight?
    4. Israeli security clearly understand that it is people not objects that are terrorists. The TSA is obsessed with objects which is why they fail to pick up new terrorist schemes until after they happen.

    There are many other comparisons that I could make, but I think that is enough.

    Gold on AA, DL and BR.

  • Back to the story

    I agree that the security at US airports is lax on good days, disgusting on bad. Try flying internationally through Schipol in Amsterdam sometime to see what good screening looks like (although, like their US counterparts, they barely seemed to pay attention to the x-ray scan of carry on items).

    But that’s not the point of this report. Yes, the TSA were ridiculous in overreacting. But as a former Secret Service agent — or anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock for the past year — she should have known better. You cannot carry any liquid over 3 ounces — whether that makes sense or not. Follow the rules! If she’d emptied the stupid cup before going through security, none of this would have happened.

  • Timothy ( former TSA Officer ) and Rebekah ( current TSA Officer )

    Since I have been a TSA Officer I have been through the changes and been through the training. The reasons we have the changes is because terrorist have tried these things. Proven fact. Take off your shoes…… Richard Reid…. Liquids Ramsy Yusef…. These policy and proceders are here in the intrim until we get our machines which cost millions of dollars…. Then you will have a post about why the TSA is spending so much money. Sorry if it inconviences you to fly. Maybe you should drive if you do not like the rules. We could be like ISreal if you would want to be shot for mouthing off at a security officer or threatening one like what happens daily with the TSO’s. They stand by while people like you hit them with the shoes or dump water on the ground for them to fall in having no respect for their job or that they are here to keep you safe and the TSO’s put up with verbal abuse not from the once in a while flyers but from you all the frequent flyers. Please it is your choice to fly not the TSA’s choice for you to fly. Follow the rules they have been in place for five and a half years. Get over it. Or would you like to be hijacked again on American soil? The choice again is yours to make. Without anyone screening passengers then terrorists would be able to get through. So quit bitching and start to help out. Have your liquids in a baggy, labtops out and shoes off. Very simple. I do it everytime I fly. It is routine. I would rather not have a sip of water for the 30 seconds it takes to get screened then to be the person on a flight that is blown up by Terrorists with liquid explosives. After you get through the checkpoint there are many eateries to get coffee, water, juice and anything eles your heart desires. Get there early and you will have time. If we were perdictable than the terrorists would be able to find away to pass through undetected. That is why there is so many changes and inconsistancies.

  • Rebekah ( current TSA Officer )

    Oh yeah and if all of you negative travelers think you know it all, why don’t you try to apply for work with the TSA and see what we see and really see what’s behind the scenes. You don’t know about all the plots that have been foiled. The press tells you what you want to hear because congress has been over run with individuals who would rather cut funding for our troops and raise our gas taxes for profit. Oh and if you think security is so bad why don’t you just take a bus or a train because believe me, the less people like you that we have coming through our security checkpoints the better. For those of you who listen to the advisements on things like policy and how early you should come to the airport when flying out, thank you. It’s passengers like you that make my day so much better. I love my job and regardless of what anyone thinks of the TSA, I love keeping people as safe as I can. The good out weighs the bad and whenever I have a jerkoff passenger, I just remember that and I proceed to help the next person and think to myself how miserable that person must have been.

  • nick werle

    Those TSA posters must have stoke in or realtives in those airline concessions that cost $20 for a BAGEL!

    Rules? one can strap gel filled bladders of cold nitroG under their cloths and never get caught!

    a group of suicide bombers can attempt several airports with bomb in luggage and can afford for 1 or 2 to get caught! scine luggage is not all screened!

    morons

  • JB

    You pretty much all make me laugh. I do travel quite a bit and go through the same crap everyone else has to go through. Big deal…you are out of your standard of “norm” because you have to take the change out of your pockets, and use smaller bottles. Do you really think a new president will change all of that. Be happy wth what you have….you can fly…you can drive…you can do things that mose cant. You have health insurance and access to the internet(if you are reading this) I am just one of millions(just like you) that have been blessed with the fact that I live in a country that has so much. You are complaining because it isnt a perfect system. Can the terrorists still get stuff through security…probably….but you can get car jacked too when driving. Not by a terrorist…but by another human that has all the same rights you do. I have been to a lot of different countries and have seen all of the different security measures taken. I have seen waiting areas cleared out by Bulgarian security charge into a waiting area with machine guns and clear the area because an old man left his briefcase in a moment of senality. Did I lose any sleep over it…no …but i did get to laugh at all of thos that did nothing but talk about it the whole trip back to the US. OMG people…grow up and enjoy life…it isnt the terrorists that will get you…it is the heart attack you will have from the stress you carry around.

  • Alan

    OK, current and former TSA officers Rebecca and Timothy.

    Sorry for the long comment…

    No one disputes that you have an easy job, but you reap what you saw. If you had more lines open, you would have less angry people. No one minds taking their shoes off, throwing away liquids, etc, we mind that we have to stand in line sometimes up to two hours to get through, so if it does take 30 seconds to be screened, we should all be able to get through without waiting more than 5-10 minutes. With all the lines you created, terrorist doesn’t even need to get on board a plane to succeed, he just has to come to the TSA checkpoint, and probably inflict more casualties than on the plane. We may not need ElAl type security, but definately military trained personell. Most TSA agents work for what 10-12/hour, and don’t take their job seriously. You can see that from their postures at the checkpoint. Basic, non-ivasive interview questions would suffice like “where did you stay?” “did you have fun?”, “stayed with family?” “oh yeah, where does your family live?” “when did you leave for the airport?” “how long did it take you to get to the airport?” , etc. These questions are asked while checking you in, looking at your passport, etc. These are friendly questions, tweaked based on where the person is coming from. Example, if I worked as a TSA agent at JFK, two guys I am questioning in a “friendly” manner tell me that they left Manhattan at 4PM and arrived at JFK in 25 minutes later would be suspicious, and they would be flagged for further screening. Trust me, half the job would be won. I was flagged for additional security screening, and I happened to have a brand new cell phone not yet available in the city I was visiting. Needless to say, TSA agents were more fascinated with my phone, rather than my bag. Explain that to me

  • Cris

    I am sorry but TSA is a joke…the people that work these most of them have no sense of purpose, some of them speak bad English even and they look more like a terrorist than me. Yes I was born abroad, but I learned the language. What airport security needs are spies (dressed as civilians eavesdropping), military trained curteous officers, an elite sort of guard force that the country can be proud of. Half of the time I hear TSA people relaxed joking around, cracking wise ass jokes, not amusing at all. I am not saying all of them are like that, there are exceptions to everything; however its what I have seen in most of my US travels. Granted I have never been searched or bothered because I follows the rules, but they should act more professional, they would have more cooperation from peoople.

    As for Israeli security, it would be unrealistic to have in the U.S. better would be to have a hardcore police like under Pinochet’s Chile, over there in the 80′s no b.s. happened at the airport, police was everywhere.

  • Ron Smith

    I herd that there is a new airlines starting up called nudist airlines! Will TSA agents be checking ass holes for liquids and gels? — Don’t forget possibility of gas bombs?

    Ron

  • Erin

    While I don’t fly 20+ times a year for my job, I am a college student who has to fly 3 or 4 times a year (and these are round-trip, so I’m really flying 6 or 8 times). I do think the 3-oz-bottles-in-a-quart-sized-ziploc requirement is going a bit overboard. HOWEVER, while these requirements are still in place, travelers must still follow the rules. It would save a lot of time at the checkpoint if people didn’t knowingly try to get around the rules by hiding bottles or picking fights with TSA agents (which I have seen many times).

    Also, having said that, if you believe you might have some kind of extenuating circumstance while traveling, it has been my personal experience that the TSA agents can actually be pretty accommodating. I once had to bring a pet fish on a plane with me (hey, I am in college…it’s the only pet I could have!), so I called the airport beforehand to find out if there was some way to bring my larger-than-3-oz bottle onto the plane. They were actually very polite and told me to go to a certain checkpoint when I got there, and there would be someone expecting me who would “hand inspect” the bottle and the water inside.

    There are so many horror stories out there and people complaining about how rude it was that the TSA confiscated something they knew they weren’t allowed to have in the first place, but I have never experienced any horrors flying because I take the extra 5 minutes to make sure I haven’t packed anything in my bag that might cause problems. And if I think I might encounter some problems (as with my fish), I try to remedy that beforehand.

  • Former Honolulu TSA Checkpoint Supervisor

    Reading this page just makes my blood boil. Five years ago I was excited to be part of a new agency charged with the protection of our nation’s skys, and its passengers. Little did I know that I would be responsible for babysitting 18 screeners, and four so called ‘lead transportation security screeners’, that didn’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. Half the time my male screeners were ogling the female passengers, even to go as far as rudely staring at obviously underage girls in the company of their parents. My female screeners were more concerned with what fashions the passengers had in their bags. And of course everyone thought they would ‘earn’ a promotion within their first three weeks so the Federal Security Director in charge of TSA Honolulu couldn’t even walk by the checkpoint without at least one third of my screeners leaving their posts to run over and kiss his ass, and brag about the number of fingernail clippers they took away that day. Well, I left and now work for the U.S. Army as a GS-13 in a security field. The caliber of people, soldiers and DA civilians, are leagues above those I left behind at the TSA.

    It will be a good day when more screeners are caught stealing on video and they are fired. It will be a good day when the back logged agency conducting security background checks catches up and discovers no less than on half of TSA screeners aren’t eligible for a clearance..and are fired. And it will be a good day when we can once again fly and our biggest worry be what movie is playing onboard instead of worrying if the screener ahead of us is having a bad day and plans to take it out on us.

  • Josh

    After reading the article and the incident report and viewing the security tape I can’t help but wonder what those security agents were thinking. I understand the need for additional security after 9/11; clearly things were way too lax, but after seeing this coupled with my own experiences I think things have gone way too far. I remember returning on leave from Afghanistan, about a year before all the additional stupidity from TSA, and seeing a lot of people disgruntled with the way security was. At the time I didn’t care because I was used to a lot more thorough screenings in theater. On the way back to Afghanistan I ran into one of those TSA experiences. I walked into the airport with my official travel voucher, orders, and both civilian and military ID in-hand, went through the ticket counter no problem. The TSA agents, or whatever they are called, stopped me at the gate and asked to see my identification and the usual stuff. I figured “Cool I got a lot of time to catch my flight back to that hell-hole, no big deal.” I dumped the boots, belt and every metal item I could think of. Something beeped on the initial x-ray scan. I rechecked my pockets and walked back through again. Beep. “Sir, will you please step over here.” I was wanded and “checked” in other words patted down. Now I could almost understand some shmoe getting this treatment, almost, but a uniformed soldier with proper orders, government travel documents, military ID card, dog tags… the list runs on. The other passengers understood my clear frustration with what was going on and joked that “It seems we need to be protected from our big, bad soldiers.” We, the travelers, got a good laugh, but for some odd reason the TSA agent seemed a little put off. Could it be that instead of protecting US citizens from our enemies he rather enjoyed his job of harassing everyone he had authority over?

    Kind of a joke really because I highly doubt that some overweight unarmed security guard is really going to stop a highly trained operation oriented fighter, like say a terrorist, who has planned his action out carefully.

  • R

    Every time I go through an airport security check point, I am just waiting for the guy from Candid Camera to jump out and tell me it’s all a big joke. I was recently one of the “criminals” who brought a weapon AKA bottled water through security. I had already flown that day from an international location and no one had found my prohibited bottle of water untl my fourth stop. I wasn’t trying to hide it, I had bought it in the morning and put it in my bag and completely forgotten about it until the oh-so-friendly Atlanta airport security employee ripped it out of my bag, scolded me and treated me like a terrorist for my super scary bottle of water. one word: REDICULOUS

  • International Flyer

    A commenter named JB above wrote “Bulgarian security charge into a waiting area with machine guns and clear the area because an old man left his briefcase in a moment of senality.” Well Bulgaria has only one international airport, that’s in Sofia. Two years ago, at 6am, I went through the metal detecter with coins in my pocket. As the alarm went off I pated my pants pocket. The officer heard the jingle of coins and just motioned his hand for me to come on through and get my stuff. He, by the way, was leaning back in his chair and had his feet up on the x-ray monitor. It seems some countries up their security only due to peer pressure from other countries.

    When I fly, i only fly international. And when I fly with my fiance (Gergana Kirilova, an obviously foreign name) our stow-away luggage is ALWAYS randomly searched by American TSA, 6 times out of 6. When I fly alone TSA has never searched my luggage. Americans really fear foreigners that aren’t from western Europe.

    Also, I’ve arrived home in Omaha Nebraska 3 times, and 3 times my luggage has been lost. Am I just the unlucky one to have those kind of odds?

    But the TSA officers above are right. Everything is done for a reason. I don’t feel safer, but that’s because I don’t know how many times a terrorist act was stoped before and after 9/11. Does anyone dare try to smuggle nitro glycerine onboard? Has a gun or any obvious weapon, like a spear, been conficated? The simple presence and practices of the TSA keep the population in check.

    I think TSA should have made that woman drink from her toddler’s sippy cup. If it was glycerine, they would have stopped a terrorist and saved the lives of a hundred people… if not, she would have been refreshed with water.

  • matt

    I use to be a security agent (not the low paid contracted people) for a reputable airline. I remember 9.11, and all the new security measures. It became a really tough job. We use to confescate everything, and even I would look at an item and say ‘are you kidding me?’ One of my favorite searches was unloading 100 lbs of frozen salmon out of a fishermans box right in front of him and then saying, ‘well, it all looks good.’ Then it would take me a long time to fit it back in the way he had it.

    My point is, I worked security and during those years I flew about twice a month for about 5 years. I just learned to do what big brother said and take my belt off when he asked (that just sounds kinky, sorry). I tried to fight it, but then realized I wasn’t going to win and had better things to do. I think the system is overzealous, but fighting it never helped. I just learned to streamline the process, but at the same time it did bug me because I felt the American people were being harrassed. Even when I was doing security I felt bad for the travelers. Where I draw the line, is when they ask me to take more than my belt off :)

    Cheers everybody, try to enjoy yourselves even though you’re legitimately pissed.

    matt

  • Don

    Just like it was said after 9/11, “We want people to get back to their normal lives”. Yet day in day out we are reminded about how much danger we are in due to terrorism. Mind you it’s one thing to be more alert of what is happening around you. But, to have it pointed out day in and day out that. Reminded of just how dangerous our airlines are because someone has tried to smuggle a 3.5-ounce tube of toothpaste, when clearly they have exceeded the 3-ounce limit. OH THE HORROR!

    Honestly I do think the TSA is a waste, fraud and abuse due to the poor implementation of how they screen. Not to mention large lines of people waiting to get through the 3 out of 10 lines set up for screening people. All while several TSA employee’s sit to the side and shoot the S**T, and watch the line of people grow. It’s one thing to being thorough, but a security nazi to the likes of Seinfields Soup kitchen Nazi episode is just ridiculous

    Thank god I don’t have to travel much for work.

  • Stephanie

    it is really a no win situation either way…

    1. if tsa stays…
    - no on is happy, everyone will continue to complain about policies and procedures. regardless of the fact that no planes have been hijacked since tsa was put into the airports.

    2. if tsa goes…
    -then the responsibility is on those who fly…

    it seems that everyone wants what they want and how they want it. TSA does have some random rules…but i’m sure they were not pulled out of some politicians ass. there is a reason somewher, unfortunetely everyone in the US feels they deserve an explanation in detail for EVERYTHING and it just doesnt work that way.

    this is what i think the solution should be….
    their should be two kind of flights. flight A would be a flight of screened passengers (using tsa methods) and flight B would consist of no screening of the passengers. i think in the end people would rather fly with the tsa screened flights. so just shut up already!

    also take it easy on those tsa peeps, they’re just doing their jobs. if you have serious issues dont take it out on them…take it up with congress.

    the other thing is that no matter how many rules there are of course there are loop holes and of course someone can figure out a way to strap nitroG to their chest and get through, does that mean we shouldnt even try to make rules to avoid that? c’mon think logically here

    also a person made a comment how we should be able to profile passengers…ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? i’m sure that would go over real well…you guys are already complaining about discarding your nike’s can you imagine getting pulled aside b/c you are being profiled???

    the whole thing is just making a mountain out of a mole hill

  • Mary

    Security is definitely an issue and should be addressed, but I honestly believe that airports across our nation our addressing it poorly. I recently flew from Tuscon, AZ to Atlanta, GA. As per normal I had to toss my water bottle. Once home, I found it pretty amazing when I was unpacking that TSA did not catch a bag of syringes I use for a medical condition. I completely forgot to dispose of them before leaving. Several were used and several more still had liquid in them. So much for our thorough security.

  • former AA pilot

    I had heard about this but I never followed up at all but now after running into it again I have to comment. The video shows that yes Ms. Emmerson was acting childish by dumping the water out on the floor, but it also shows that Reagan National has a lack of cleaners and that the TSA guy likes moving a sign around, and then being anal about the clean up. Other than that the TSA guys were useless. They wasted 30 minutes of their time, used man power, and for what? A clean-up on Isle 4? And have you ever tried cleaning a tiled floor that has been professionally waxed with paper towel? It will take half a roll just to get it dry from an 8oz spill. The security in airports is crazy, even for flight crew. You don’t see this kind of security near any major subway where people can commit a murder on camera and get away with it. And how many hijackings have happened over the past 10 years? Let me help you a little. Between 1992 and 2000 there was ZERO. Do you think the security in place now would have stopped the events on 9/11? I don’t.

  • former AA pilot

    Oh, I forgot to mention the fourth amendment, I’m told it doesn’t apply to air travel.

  • Diana

    I’m sure all passengers realize that these measures are meant for our safety, but that still doesn’t make us feel better when we miss a plane because we’re still stuck in the line waiting to pass thru security or it doesn’t help with the fact that someone has to throw away an expensive perfume they received as a gift because they forgot to take it out of their carry-on luggage. We all think we’re so smart because we’re up to date about the 3 oz regulations or because we managed to remember a stupid zip lock baggie but what about that one time where you forget and you lose a valuable item? You won’t be so smug then will you?
    All these measures do is just make me realize that the terrorists are winning, because little by little we are losing our rights. We are losing our freedoms. How much more are we going to put up with because we’ve been told its for our safety and protection?

  • A.G.

    Again, current and former TSA officers Rebecca and Timothy…

    You are correct: rules are there to be obeyed and if it’s the law, there should be no comment. I’m not just a frequent flyer, I do the flying and needless to say I deal with TSA on a daily basis. The frustration you read in all the comments does not pertain to the rules, even though some of them are childish and really do not accomplish anything but making travelers angry and uncomfortable. The anger is directed towards your fellow employees and towards the way your department trains you. Or maybe it’s not the department’s fault. Maybe the training is adequate but the issue at hand is the fact that there are more rotten apples in your Homeland Security than good. Every company has bad elements but in general they are fewer than the good ones. It seems that in yours, the ratio is 90% bad, 10% good if we are lucky. You can not deny the fact that most TSA agents show up to work just to collect a paycheck, most act like they just graduated West Point when in fact, if they graduated high school is a miracle. And believe me, this does make a difference because any kind of education will teach you morals, will help you understand how to treat people and what is proper and what is necessary to do. You do not hassle a 90 year old gentleman and escort him in handcuffs because he forgot to declare a 2 inch Swiss Army knife… Heck, if not for him fighting at Iwo Jima or landing in Dunkirk, you would probably speak German or Japanese now.
    Also, how do you guys explain the way people get hired to work for TSA? What are the requirements? I understand that TSA may not be the one pulling the trigger when an incident happens but, give me a break… Some of your agents are not fit to deal with a 10 year old. A teenager can run circles around some of your agents and even an older person can take some of your agents down.
    I am sure you are part of the 10% good TSA agents, otherwise you would not be part of this debate and would have not taken offense in what people complained about. If I am correct, then do something about. Educate your Command, make these complains heard, direct your supervisors towards this web-page and see if you can make this issue dissapear. Try to hire educated people, make them understand that they deal with humans and not objects, train them to be courteous despite the fact that some passengers are animals. Make them understand that when they come to work, there is no time for personal conversations, buddy-buddy relations, internet browsing (oh yes, your agents do this right next to the 1/2 mile long line, and they don’t even try to hide it). Take them to the nice manners school and teach them to drop the attitude. If you do this, maybe you will see the frustration diminish since it will not dissapear forever.

  • E.P.

    Lets just all be thankful that Richard Reid’s bomb was in his shoe and not his underwear. Or airplane trips would be even more painful.

    -ep

  • M.A.J.

    Please please please do not make comments about “bombs in underwear”. Someone from the TSA is sure to read that and get another brilliant idea of what needs to be inspected! Traveling by air can sure be a pain in the a**, but let’s just leave that as a figurative comment and not an actual, physical fact!

  • chick

    I do my best to follow all the regulations. I also try to be pleasant to the TSA agents. I have my boarding pass and ID ready to show them and wear slip on shoes so I don’t hold up the line behind me.

    People take their cues from others around them, particularly from those in authority. It stands to reason that, if TSA agents were consistently respectful and courteous, the passengers clearing security would be calmer, as well.

    Sometimes, someone has to be the adult in a situation. Since the TSA agents have the authority and the badge, then they are charged with the responsibility of being the adult. Their job is to get passengers cleared through security, and helping them abide by the regulations. They are public servants, in other words. Adults are respectful and courteous, and keep their heads in tense situations. They do not begin screaming, “I’ll have you arrested!” whenever someone questions them. This is how bullies on the playground behave.

    TSA agents who are adults need to insist on adult behavior from their co-workers. Peer pressure can have positive results.

    I’ll comply with the restrictions to the best of my ability, and I’ll cooperate fully with the security agents. I’ll smile and be pleasant to them. I’ll be an adult about it. HOWEVER, they need to return the favor by remembering their manners and realizing they are not all-knowing and all-powerful. A little more courtesy on both sides would go a long way.

  • A. A.

    To TSA and Roland (UA)
    If there is not yet an effective way to differentiate water from nitric acid, or any other chemical for that matter; the solution is so SO SO SIMPLE: We say it’s water, then have TSA ‘Make us take a zip’. Is that really perfume??: ‘spray it on you’. Lipstick? ‘Put it on your lips, and run your tongue over it.’ … oh well on your lower lip, don’t make a TSA moron think is sexual harassment.
    Why can they just simply use common sense ?? !! ??

  • A. A.

    Hey EP : I almost missed a flight for asking about placement of explosives (please read further down)

    STUPID TSA regulations:

    I am a frequent traveler, and am so fed up with these silly regulations !!
    LIGHTERS : now they are allowed on flights; not because they became safe all of the sudden, simply because TSA has a problem with the price of disposing off them.
    WATER: hope they allow that soon … to fight against the lighters. Hahaha ….
    SHOES: This goes back to when that idiot tried to light up his shoe-bomb. ‘Take off your shoes’ was the order. My question: When was the last time you disinfected this carpet?? No way I’ll take off my shoes. ‘Then we have to wand you’ – Fine, wand me!.
    As I was being wanded (is that a word?) I dared asking the TSA agent: What if that guy would had put the pack of explosives on his bulky part (pointing right under my belt), Would you make us drop our pants, and walk butt-naked through the magnetometer??. I thought it was a legit question. They didn’t think so. I was scolded by a supervisor; I kept asking the same question, hoping someone would ‘think’ …nah, expecting too much. After 3 levels of higher rank, one came and threaten to take me in for questioning … I decided I rather fly that be a smart-ass.
    Now honestly … Don’t you think my question was a valid one?
    Adriana A.

  • Howard Schultz

    TSA would help themselves a lot by just standardizing procedures. I travel regularly between two major airports. At one, TSA tells you to put your shoes in a tray. At the other, TSA glares at you at makes you take your shoes out of a tray if you have used one. If TSA can not get something that simple right, why would any one that TSA is making flying safer.

  • Roger

    TSA should be run more like Customs. There are no wait times to be considered, airlines and passengers will not be able to dictate policy, incidents like the “sippy cup accident” would throw idiots in jail or, at the very least, hand out hefty federal fines to morons that feel they are entitled to fly and not adhere to policy. Policy would be stricter and much mless lenient.

    I like to drive 200mph at night on the empty freeway. Should I be surprised if I get pulled over for not following the law, even if it’s completely safe. Of course I should be if I take take the idot passenger mentality along with me on the ride.

    Passengers need to learn to be passengers. The airline needs to fix their broken system. Security should be run like security.

  • DC

    All I’d like to see is a bit of common sense…Like in the case of my buddy who had his toothpaste confiscated because it was in a **shock and horror, cue ominious music** SANDWICH SIZED ziplock baggie instead of a Quart baggie. GET REAL!

  • about to fly

    I have not flown since 1995. I have heard various news reports on the current standards and rules as to what to expect at the airport, but that has been over the past year or two and I no longer know what exactly the rules are. I booked a flight for November and after reading this thread, I’m wondering if it will be worth the hassle. I’m sure the rules are posted at the airport, but by the time we get there, it will be too late. I’d like to know where we can find these rules, before we get to the airport, and exactly how we’re supposed to determine how much 3 ounces is if we don’t have a small scale at home (I know you can buy little travel size containers where it is clearly marked, but I’m hoping to put my shampoo in an empty container from home). I’m wondering if there are any other rules that aren’t common sense (not saying they don’t make sense, saying that they aren’t something one would think of without being told), like taking your shoes off. For frequent travelers, this is all just business as usual, but for me, this would all come as a surprise. Heck, at this point, I can’t even figure out where to find the information as to how early I should be there for a domestic flight, so where am I supposed to find the rules?

  • Pat

    I too try to follow the rules whenever my husband and I fly. However, I believe the tsa is overzealous.

    My 65 year old husband had a total knee replacement. He has a card from the manufacturer of the knee which states his name, date of birth, and date of surgery. It has a color picture of what the titanium knee looks like, and a list of the components. From this surgery, my husband has a scar approximately 12 inches long. Weather permitting, he wears shorts when we fly so that it is apparent he had surgery. Unfortunately, every time since the surgery, the TSA has treated him like a criminal. They very rudely pull him out of line, and when I try to accompany him, I am either searched too, or told that I can’t go near him! One of his friends (65 too)that has 2 carotid artery stents was stripped searched!

    Additionally, we had a 2 inch mustache scissor confiscated (my husband forgot it was in his travel kit), but were allowed to keep our 4 inch corkscrew!

    Perhaps hiring personnel with better training is the answer.

  • Lynnie

    > … security clearly understand that it is people not objects that are terrorists. The TSA is obsessed with objects which is why they fail to pick up new terrorist schemes until after they happen.

    This sums it all up.
    Have a TSA agent or two, uniformed or not, trained in face reading and body language standing back watching people and as someone else said about asking casual questions, that’s half the problem solved. Customs and border agents do it, Immigration does it, policemen can do it, most other places in the world do it, hire some intelligent, more mature TSA agents and let’s do it too.

  • I will be blunt

    What amazes me more then anything is that our government continues to allow muslims in our country like they’re our best friends! Amazing!

  • screwtheliberals

    Lynnie – How do you know they don’t already have people watching you? Look around the airport next time you go. When I was in the Army, I used to get stuck frequently picking up people from the airport. There was a couple of guys I used to see over and over again. Always looked like they were waiting for a flight, killing time reading, waiting for a passenger or bag down in luggage. Didn’t take me long to figure out they weren’t passengers or waiting for someone. And video cameras everywhere! Now they are so small they are hard to detect, but there are plenty big old ones obvious in many airports. Do you think they are there for looks?

    Any all you whiners out there, I agree with Roger. You’re too stupid to follow the rules, you think it’s ok to take out your frustration on the screener who doesn’t write the rules they have to enforce, you think it’s funny to leave pocket knives, water bottles, etc… in your bag and back up the line so the rest of us trying to get through have to wait because of you – you get fined, not just your stupid can of AXE getting thrown away. I’ll bet if you paid a hefty fine for your asinine behavior or continuous whining, you’d get it right the next time.

    And I agree with the TSA screeners who commented above – don’t like the rules, don’t fly – drive instead. I prefer not to be blown up in flight or have a nutcase use me as a bottle rocket. If it takes putting up with a few inconveniences, so be it.

  • Jose Lopez

    In December of 2006 I asked to go to the TSA baggage site at Tampa International Airport as I was traveling with a very delicate $80,000.00 piece of computer equipment that I feared would be negatively affected by the x-rays used. I very politely asked that they do a hand check (with swabbs, eyes…etc) and the TSA agent started to scream and curse at me in very vulgar terms. When I told him that I was not going to tolerate this type of treatment and that I wanted to see his supervisor he turned around and fled. A supervisor (a man named Mr. Humble) came to me and said he would not give me the agents name as he had so many problems in his personal life that it affected his job and another complaint would get him fired. This Mr. Humble then took my equipment and checked it and there was no problem. I was dissuaded from calling the TSA to complain as I have no faith or confidence in any of them. These people by and large aren’t qualified to clean toilets let alone deal with the public.

  • Tom (of Madison)

    Nitric acid is NOT “just like water” — it is a whole lot more like wine (i.e., nitric acid has “legs” when swirled around for example unless it is highly diluted and therefore not as dangerous).

    If that gives us all any clue about what TSA does (and does NOT know)… well, lets just say that Travellers Standing Around is a really apt description of what TSA stands for. It is, indeed, a joke of monumental proportions.

    (I’m still astonished that after 6 years anyone would have ever thought that government would do a superior job at providing security. Or even an adequate job.)

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