TSA Experiences

[aishah]

recently i've had several so-so experiences in the kansas city airport, and pretty good experiences in miami (again) and atlanta. just got through security in atlanta and they gave me my cane back before i even had to go through the metal detector, and didn't force me to do the full-body scanner. on the downside, i had to stand in an enormously long line which was really painful (sometimes they allow me to go in the shorter line so i don't have to stand) - but it's my own fault, i should have just gotten a wheelchair.

my bag did get searched a couple of times in kansas city and miami - i think it's because i have a beaded worry pouch necklace with an arrowhead attached to it, it might have showed up as a sharp object on the scanner or something. they didn't confiscate anything, but it was pretty inconvenient.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by aishah

recently i've had several so-so experiences in the kansas city airport, and pretty good experiences in miami (again) and atlanta. just got through security in atlanta and they gave me my cane back before i even had to go through the metal detector, and didn't force me to do the full-body scanner. on the downside, i had to stand in an enormously long line which was really painful (sometimes they allow me to go in the shorter line so i don't have to stand) - but it's my own fault, i should have just gotten a wheelchair.

my bag did get searched a couple of times in kansas city and miami - i think it's because i have a beaded worry pouch necklace with an arrowhead attached to it, it might have showed up as a sharp object on the scanner or something. they didn't confiscate anything, but it was pretty inconvenient.

Do you feel safer going through these procedures? Would you not fly if these procedures were not in place?

[aishah]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Do you feel safer going through these procedures? Would you not fly if these procedures were not in place?

i thought i might have answered these questions in my earlier posts in this thread, but maybe i didn't. personally, the security practices of tsa don't make me feel safe - they often make me feel explicitly unsafe, actually, because i've been exposed to different kinds of discrimination by tsa due to being disabled and muslim. (i have similar mistrustful feelings towards tsa agents as towards police, though perhaps not as strong.) i worry more about feeling unsafe around tsa agents than i do around fellow passengers, to be honest. even if i were seriously concerned about being harmed by another passenger, i don't believe the current security practices are very effective to prevent that from happening.

as long as i can physically withstand the security and boarding processes, i would fly no matter what security procedures are in place because i need to for work. although it can be painful and aggravating to travel this way, it's nowhere near as painful and aggravating (not to mention time-consuming) as the alternative methods of travel.

not to mention aside from security practices and some of the hardship i go through trying to board/de-plane as a disabled person, i actually really enjoy flying and spending time in airports.

when i say "so-so" or "good" experiences with tsa, i mean that i got through the security checkpoint with a minimum of discrimination and aggravation/pain/suffering. (i.e. i made it through without getting patted down multiple times or in intrusive ways, having my mobility aids and luggage taken from me, or being questioned.) not that i actually think the policies or procedures were terribly good or effective.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by aishah

i thought i might have answered these questions in my earlier posts in this thread, but maybe i didn't. personally, the security practices of tsa don't make me feel safe - they often make me feel explicitly unsafe, actually, because i've been exposed to different kinds of discrimination by tsa due to being disabled and muslim. (i have similar mistrustful feelings towards tsa agents as towards police, though perhaps not as strong.) i worry more about feeling unsafe around tsa agents than i do around fellow passengers, to be honest. even if i were seriously concerned about being harmed by another passenger, i don't believe the current security practices are very effective to prevent that from happening.

as long as i can physically withstand the security and boarding processes, i would fly no matter what security procedures are in place because i need to for work. although it can be painful and aggravating to travel this way, it's nowhere near as painful and aggravating (not to mention time-consuming) as the alternative methods of travel.

not to mention aside from security practices and some of the hardship i go through trying to board/de-plane as a disabled person, i actually really enjoy flying and spending time in airports.

when i say "so-so" or "good" experiences with tsa, i mean that i got through the security checkpoint with a minimum of discrimination and aggravation/pain/suffering. (i.e. i made it through without getting patted down multiple times or in intrusive ways, having my mobility aids and luggage taken from me, or being questioned.) not that i actually think the policies or procedures were terribly good or effective.

Thank you, aishah. You did previously reply to similar questions. I was asking about your more recent travels and should have been more specific.

[aishah]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Thank you, aishah. You did previously reply to similar questions. I was asking about your more recent travels and should have been more specific.

i think they're really interesting questions, though! i never stopped to wonder before how many people would refuse to fly if tsa weren't doing this or changed their practices. i wouldn't, but it makes me wonder if others would.

[Andrea]

Elderly Man Arrested at JFK for Hiding Knife in Walker

Good catch... or is it? First, if the picture is the actual walker/butter knife, it isn't actually hidden. Second, and more important, the TSA website indicates butter knives are the exception to the no knife rule http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120503/jamaica/elderly-man-arrested-at-jfk-for-hiding-knife-walker

[Scuba]

I have to get on a plane or two this coming Saturday...I loathe the checkpoints. I'm bringing one backpack and a carry on...some clothes and my laptop. Never a dull moment when they look at my name and then look at me

[Andrea]

TSA’s $1 billion program to ‘read’ fliers’ expressions comes under fire after failing to catch any bad guys

http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/05/27/052712-news-tsa-behavior-detection-1-3/

[Toughy]

Originally Posted by Andrea

TSA’s $1 billion program to ‘read’ fliers’ expressions comes under fire after failing to catch any bad guys

http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/05/27/052712-news-tsa-behavior-detection-1-3/

Why oh why don't we just go talk to the Israeli folks and do what they do????

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Toughy

Why oh why don't we just go talk to the Israeli folks and do what they do????

Follow the money!

[Andrea]

5 Things The TSA Doesn't Want You To See (VIDEO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-elliott/5-things-the-tsa-doesnt-want-video_b_1551218.html

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Toughy

Why oh why don't we just go talk to the Israeli folks and do what they do????

Among other things Israeli airport security involves stringent racial profiling, something that didnt fly (pun intended) here.