Tell your personal TSA horror story here...if you have one.

[MineralMan]

It had to have happened to you or a travel partner. No third-party stuff, please.

I don't have one. Every flight I have been on since 9/11 has been completely incident free. No extra security screenings. I'm a 64 year old guy with a long full beard, and I travel in blue jeans and work shirts. I carry a notebook computer in a briefcase, and always check a bag. I hate carrying crap in airports. Nobody's ever even slowed me down going through security.

Now, I did dislike it when they didn't allow Bic lighters, but allowed book matches. That was pretty annoying, since I had to buy a lighter at my destination. That's about it.

[Electric Monk]

1. Haven't flown since 1999

If I need to get somewhere I'll drive or take a train. I enjoy watching the countryside roll by. Flying is not a necessity.

[MineralMan]

7. So, you don't have a horror story, then. Never mind.

[Electric Monk]

43. I'm still allowed to say it's stupid to lock everyone in their seats for th last hour though, right?

/just checking

[MineralMan]

59. I have nothing to do with what's allowed here.

You wrote. I responded. That's the drill at DU.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

45. It was horrible for just a few seconds. That doesn't count. n/t

ON EDIT to add: The poor little old ladies at the airport being hassled, having the bottoms of their feet wiped for traces of jam or gunpowder... I thought that was horrible but that is third party, again it doesn't apply.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. I had to ditch my gourmet mustard 3.5 ounces or greater, I think it was

it was about 10 ounces, beautifully packaged and sealed in a jar. I've lived in this frigging country since I was born, don't have a record, no speeding tickets, don't beat my dog/cat and I have one of these....

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm

Still I understand that rules are rules and only the ones enforcing them are allowed to break them.

[MineralMan]

9. Goes in your checked bag. That's why I check bags. I can take

my toothpaste and shampoo and all that stuff with me. My faithful pocket knife goes in there, too. Someone gives me an expensive jar of mustard. I put it in a ziploc and pack it. Works great.

[Missy Vixen]

3. I watched a TSA agent completely lose his grip and verbally abuse a passenger in Dallas

two years ago. It happened three feet away from me -- is that close enough? She had the temerity to ask him where her gate might be located. I was afraid she was going to get Tasered. The guy was clearly out of control and looking for someone to unload on, and she was it that morning.

Five minutes later, I spent 20 minutes trying to get my CPAP machine through the TSA screener. It was swabbed three times, the guy asked for my boarding pass, my driver's license, and then I asked him if I could see a supervisor. It was amazing how fast my machine and I were through the line after that...

[bluestateguy]

4. Last year I got the full-over search

I didn't mind the pat down, but having the agent snoop through my briefcase and every single piece of paper in there was unnerving.

So now I do not travel with anything in my briefcase that would have to be awkwardly explained to a snoopy TSA agent. Large checks, medications, politically "controversial" documents, all go in my checked bags now.

[stray cat]

5. I've endured extra screening and pat downs - but always treated civily

and with respect

[tammywammy]

8. +1 same here n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I have two stories

Shortly after they banned liquids, I watched TSA agents treat an elderly woman so badly I wanted to scream. She was in tears, they had everything in her carry on bag dumped out and they were tossing liquids in the trash while the woman was standing there in her stocking feet crying. I'll never forget it. The concept of customer service seemed lost on those assholes. They never explained to her why she couldn't have the liquids and this was not long after they had banned them. So it was understandable that she wouldn't have known.

Another time, a young kid who was a TSA agent took my lighter and said "You can't have this". I said "Yes, I can have one lighter" and I pointed at the sign that was right next to him that said one lighter was okay. He said "Not if I say you can't have it" and he put it in his pocket. I could have complained or gotten on my plane. It was a 99 cent lighter so I just went on. But he was just an ass in a uniform so it pissed me off.

[bigwillq]

12. I would've raised hell

about the lighter. I don't fly, never want to. I don't need to go through the hassle. Lines, checkpoints, waiting hours sometimes to take off. Sorry, not for me. I totally would've caused a huge scene about the lighter.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Well I could have raised hell or gotten on my plane

I chose not to miss my flight.

[bigwillq]

17. I'm thinking that was the right move!!

:) But I so would've complained to somebody.

[joeunderdog]

64. Flew out of logan in November.

I got there just as a Statie was escorting a man out of the check-in area. He was dressed in shorts and cowboy boots (in Mass, no less). TSA had told him he had to take his boots off and he had vertically written FUCK on one leg and TSA on the other. Uh, oh. Didn't see what actually happened, but saw him leaving his plane behind.

[timeforpeace]

10. I fly about 20 times a year, usually international destinations after domestic stop. No problems.

And I really appreciate the increased security measures.

[MineralMan]

60. Thanks. I don't fly as much, but never have any problems.

[CoffeeCat]

11. I have two stories...

I flew out of Des Moines, Iowa to Washington, DC. I noticed that my ticket had an "SS" at the bottom, and I wondered
what that was all about. Turns out, I was flagged for an additional security check. This is what the security check
entailed. I was told to "step aside", while the other passengers remained lined up, single file--waiting to go through
security. I was escorted into an area in the middle--with security people and other people getting checked. So, this
was all visible to the people waiting in line. I had to remove my shoes. They were checked. A female security officer
came over and felt me up, from head to toe. She felt UNDER the under wire of my bra. I said, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe
you have to do this!" and she said, I know but we have to feel up under there to make sure nothing is hidden. I was
so embarrassed. She literally lifted my bra and had her hands in there! I was joking around, because that's what I
do when I feel embarrassed. I asked the security guard if we shouldn't at least go to dinner now, so I didn't feel cheap
and used. She was not amused.

Then, I was escorted to another security check where they proceeded to open my luggage. I had one carry on and one
that was going on the plane. They opened up both pieces and went through all of it. They pulled my clothes out of
my luggage and made sure nothing was in there. Then, they took a few pieces of my clothing and sent them though
some machine. I asked what they were doing with my underwear--yes, they were chemical testing my underwear--and
the man said they were checking for explosive residue and other chemicals.

It was a bizarre experience and I was embarrassed. I'm a middle-aged mom. I hardly think I'm a terrorist.

The second incident was less dramatic, but silly. Myself, my husband and our two girls (ages 7 and 8) were on our
way to Orlando to go to Disneyworld. We looked like typical tourists. When my carry on went through security, a
man told me to step aside. He was RUDE and THREATENING. Those TSA people looked at you like they wanted to kill
you. Anyway, he pulls me over and says, "What is THIS???". I looked puzzled, because he was holding a chocolate
Jello pudding cup. I packed them for the kids to eat on the plane. When he asked me what it was, I sooo wanted
to say, "Bill Cosby's favorite snack," but I refraianed and just said that it was for my kids. Surprisingly...he gave it back
to me.

Those are my stories. I wouldn't call them horror stories, but I file them away in "interesting stuff that has
happened to me". :)

[comrade snarky]

46. Always check your ticket for the infamous SSSSSS

That means your going to get pulled.

After one little trip to Egypt every single time I flew on a one way ticket, there were the S's. I can do the little search dance in my sleep. Never had an agent get nasty about it. After the first few times most of them found it funny that I knew the steps as well as they did. Some wouldn't smile if I'd been wearing clown shoes and picking up balloon animals from the conveyor belt.

I think Gary Larson put it best.

[Cleita]

13. I've only traveled a couple of times since the rules went into effect.

I thought the security was a joke, to tell the truth. I could have figured out several ways to game the system if I was so inclined. All they did on one flight was throw away a bottle of rather expensive moisturizer. It seems to me that a better way to screen passengers is when they buy tickets. Then you can look up their status if on any sort watch lists for terrorism activity or even criminal activity. Who gave this person a visa anyway without checking out who he was? On any flights less than ten hours or from foreign countries don't let them bring cosmetic and grooming stuff on board that can be bought at the destination. I know it's a hassle, but a whole new airport industry like a mini-mall of shops to sell toiletries and other forbidden things at the destinations that have been checked and screened to the passengers before they head to their hotels.

[HipChick]

14. I'm a Frequent Flyer..I fly a lot

so I already know what to expect when I get to the airport - lots of stories

but this one comes to mind

Flying to Dallas for a job interview, I enter TSA selected for secondary screening - the TSA person has a trainee with them - I have 2 laptops already out of my laptop bag - they put the chemical sniffer thing on both laptops and apparently pick up a reading - WTF? neither of my laptops have been out of my laptop bag all weekend..I tell them that their machine is wrong, and also they need to re-calibrate it :rofl: they then start taking EVERY single item out of my laptop bag and handbag one by one...other passengers are passing by,and giving me the sympathy look..I tell them, I'm going to miss my flight - they tell me, they don't care - keep in mind, with the trainee everything is pretty much being done twice - now same machine is picking high readings on anyone's laptop that is selected for SS - calling for TSA huddle around the machine - by now I'm pissed off as I am going to miss my flight - I simply and calmly asked them what they were doing if they can hurry up, as I will miss my flight - apparently questioning them construed belligerent behavior! - so after they finally stuffed items back into my back,all the while dropping items on the floor - 6 burly TSA escorted my 125lbs self out of the secured area..oh, I eventually got the job, the company was interested enough in me to look me up again later..thanks for nothing TSA

[walldude]

24. Yikes... I never have any problems like that.. I thought it was because

of my frequent flier status. Guess not. I've had only one secondary screening since 9/11 and it was fairly smooth. When you know what to expect it's usually pretty easy, and I usually carry on a guitar and my laptop, so I expect some issues but they never arise.

I guess we'll find out this week how much things have changed. Good luck tomorrow...

[TexasObserver]

25. They don't hire them because they're smart or competent.

When they hire mouth breathers at barely minimum wage, they get the kind of losers one would expect to take such a job - low on skills, high on the need for ego feed. These are people who would think being a mall cop is a step up, and it would be.

Giving people power to freely harrass others will result in abuse. That kind of behavior is more of a threat to US citizens than all the AQ related stuff combined. The police state creep that began under Bush in 2001 continues. And it is a complete waste of time from a security standpoint, as the latest incident just proved.

[dugaresa]

15. i had to endure a complete search of my bags, because i flew in and out the within 24 hrs

i arrived the night before a meeting and then left the next day after the meeting. i had been visiting a very high security government office.

all my bags and contents were spread out for sniffing/viewing but no problems and i packed it all up with the lady's assistance and was on my way to wait. also, i got patted down and they wanded me, however no one felt under my bra like one of the posters mentioned. that would have freaked me out. hell with my wonderbra they would have thought i was packing some sort of explosive in the gel packs! hahaha

my problem? the weather. the weather was so f*cked up that I ended up having to take a flight to another city where i spent the night and i missed one of my kid's events. that sucked more than anything.

[live love laugh]

69. Buying a one-way ticket also results in a full search. nt

[lib2DaBone]

18. tSA Goes Into Hyper-Kabuki Mode... Americans suffer....

Of COURSE the TSA has to try to justify their inflated salary.

Let's admit it..Homeland Security was a make work mindless WPA that George Bush came up with when he saw that the economy was tanking.

My niece just flew from Miami to Pittsburgh. She has two small twins.. 9 months.

The TSA Goons Confiscated her bottle bag.. opened all 4 baby formulas and smelled them.

Now, WTF? You tell me this security guard has nostrils sensitive enough to differentiate baby formula from bomb material? Give me a break.

In the mean time.. the lines were backed up.. kids were crying...people missed their flights.... its a TOTAL LOSE-LOSE.

The TSA Goons are also ripping apart on-board luggage.. laptops.. cell phones.

Out Government IS OUT OF CONTROL! WHy can't we shake this nightmare that George Bush created?

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. He stuck his nose in the baby formula?!

Gross.

[krabigirl]

36. Exactly...but it makes some people feel "safe." What an effing JOKE of epic proportions.

[GP6971]

19. Last year I was travelling to the east coast

for the Hoidays and the TSA screeners took my Veleveta cheese I had in my carry on. No big deal to me, but my sister-in-law was incensed!!!! I guess they thought I something "buried" in the blocks.

[HipChick]

20. Hey..they gotta eat too..

:rofl:

[billyclem]

22. No security point canes!

I can't walk without a cane and the only airport that I have been through that has their own metal free approved cane is the little podunk one I fly out of. I only fly 2-3 times a year now but I feel like a toddler when the TSA stick their arms through the detector for to grab to steady myself.

I did have one incident that was not a horror story but cracked me up to watch. My cane is made of a composite called dymondwood. A highly compressed, resin impregnated product that is very heavy. Went through the x-ray OK, but a TSA type was concerned about the weight and was convinced it was a sword cane and wanted it sent back through the x-ray. The others told him it was just a cane but he insisted Still not satisfied he tried to remove the handle. When nothing moved easily he started to wedge the handle in the framework of the track leaving the x-ray, time to stop the idiocy. I started to raise a fuss and the TSA x-ray people stopped him and gave me my cane. It was funny up to that point. I did not need a broken cane.

[Retrograde]

49. Madison, WI has them

Or at least it used to. The only notice my cane's ever gotten is when some TSA guy became fascinated with the fact it's adjustable. My peeve is that airports rarely have a place to sit so you can take off your shoes.

I fly six or more times a year and, on the whole, I find the TSA guys better than the random local security guys they used to have. I remember one who kept asking why I was flying to San Francisco (uh, I live there?) as if he couldn't conceive of any normal person wanting to go there.

OTOH, I've been in line behind some people that make me think TSA agents have some preternatural font of patience that the rest of us mortals lack. Two years ago I was directly behind one guy who when asked if he had any liquids would take one prescription bottle out of one pocket; when asked if that was all he'd pull another one out, and so on for ten minutes. Barely made my flight that time. I've had my bags hand-searched when they couldn't identify things (a filagreed metal hairclip confused them for quite some time), and have gotten the random patdowns, generally with an apology. Having been in a customer service position myself, I'm astonished that they don't go postal more often given some of the travellers I've encountered (just an expression: the post office people can be nice most of the time, too).

[hlthe2b]

23. I observed it personally--does that count? It damned well affected me.

I was directly behind as a very brusque TSA agent pulled an older (probably late 60s) and overweight woman out of line directly in front of me... She was loaded down with her carry-ons and a bit flustered and confused by the commotion. Apparently the under wire of her bra set off the detector as she squeezed through. Two TSA males came up and loudly demanded that she take off her cardigan, yelling commands to "get it off" and for her to "hurry up..." The woman was large breasted and you could tell she was reticent to take off her cardigan to expose only the shell top underneath... While there was a woman TSA agent a couple of agents away, the security lines were not unusually long, and they could easily have either called her over or let the woman go behind a screen, these two kept yelling at her to hurry up, grabbing her arm to pull her toward the front. As she struggled to get her sweater off with one agent yelling and the other grabbing at her arm, the connector to her bra caught and popped open. Her shell top drooped down-- exposing her breasts in front of these two agents and the entire line behind her. Her wail of embarrassed agony, followed by a release of tears, was met by snickering by the male agents.... It was so devastating and so unnecessary that the line behind fell silent in shared agony, while I and several other women wiped away tears of sympathy of our own.

I wanted nothing more in my life right then but to get involved and take on these asshole excuse for security officers, but was just as powerless as the woman to these arrogant bastards... Sadly, my flight was close to leaving and I couldn't even wait behind to try to comfort the woman. I have always hoped that some kind stranger was able to do so. That act of absolute and unnecessary cruelty is one I will never forget.

There may be some, especially younger males who don't see what the big deal is in terms of this woman's treatment. If so, I challenge them to think how they would feel seeing this happen to their mother--or their grandmother-- as they stood by powerless to intervene. I know there were some older men in line mumbling "what they'd like to do to these insolent kids," but like me, were unable to do anything.

[shadesofgray]

28. I rarely fly, but after reading this, I never will again!

[hlthe2b]

74. I'm hoping this was an isolated incident...

I've seen rudeness among TSA (especially on a few occasions in Atlanta) since but nothing like that episode... Sometimes air flight is the only practical way to go. I just hope that there will be major push back against attempts to criminalize us all and that common sense steps and civility will prevail.

[krabigirl]

34. :( :( I feel so sorry for that poor woman.

[seabeyond]

35. "met by snickering by the male agents". sick fucks. gal forced taking out nipple rings

FORCED... beyond humiliation and the males snickering in the background

SICK FUCKS

a job they get paid for the be perverted sick creeps with all the power

[TexasObserver]

26. Goose stepping with the TSA!

Does it surprise you that a supplicating elderly white man gets treated better than most?

[hlthe2b]

27. When they empowered TSA to oversee a "no-fly" list that we

are not allowed to see nor contest, the doors became wide open to abuse of every kind.

[krabigirl]

29. I don't have any. I was selected for special screening once, due to rop

my husband mistakenly booking a ticket in my maiden name (it was saved on Expedia that way). They were extremely polite, even though I was very nervous.

[krabigirl]

30. Wait, I do have one...had stuff stolen from checked baggage.

[pansypoo53219]

31. last time i flew it was april 03' to Amsterdam/denmark.

the amsterdam airport is HUUUUUUUUUUGE. my carryon(a complete jumble was hand searched and my checked bag had a sticker saying they lookded(probably because the vintage ceramics and glass shadows. maybe even the little hedgehog fridge magnets. i also went barefoot from WI. sort of throws security a bit.

[seabeyond]

32. i had top security guy stand in my face to intimidate. when not intimidated they chose 4 and 6 yr

old sons to play with.

when i finally got beyond that security dude and asked cop and tsa employee what was up with my kids, cop told me that she was protecting tsa employee from me. i laughed with little one, cause he was so afraid, and told him, look... they are afraid of little ole pacifist me. and told the lady, treat us like animals and we just might become.

home town, 6:30 in the morning, round trip tickets showing week in florida, 40ish... they knew damn well we werent a threat and played a fuckin game at the expense of my kids

another time i was pulled out. lady sat me down. told me to left leg, then walked over to another employee to "chat". i dared to lower leg and wait for her. she got pissed i was no longer following her instructions and held me there to slowing do her wanning. missed plane by sec....

it was all about attitude, nothing more

i stopped flying. i am just not nice enough (though not threatening, mean or even disrespectful) or not cowed enough

[Robb]

33. Ex-girlfriend as TSA agent.

I don't think I have to elaborate. I was treated fine, but for the whole experience you could tell there was a temptation to flip whatever switch would've sent me to Gitmo. :D

[seabeyond]

37. and when you are a female at the hands of males with ultimate power and ability to be creeps

maybe that trust factor wont be so great on your part.

there are stories upon stories of women paying to have perverted fuckers abuse them all in the name of keeping people safe.

[Thickasabrick]

38. They took my baby!!!

Kidding...couldn't resist. Apologies to those who don't remember the "They took my baby" thread.

[tammywammy]

39. LOL!

Thanks for the chuckle at the reminder. ;)

[hlthe2b]

41. The dingo's got my baby!

:evilgrin: Damn TSA dingos!

[Phentex]

57. Well, they DID try to take my five year old for separate screening...

and he's always been scared of large crowds and airport noise. I know it was random but I had to insist they ley me go with him especially with him clinging to me at the time. Some terrorist he would have been!

I've had lost luggage, duplicate boarding passes, hour waits on the tarmac, etc. I consider it the usual stuff of flying. For the most part, nothing too eventful occurs.

[hlthe2b]

61. I can't believe they were going to take your child without YOU!

That is just asking for trouble....I know what I would do to protect my 4-legged (doggy) girl... I can only imagine how protective I would be of a child!

[comrade snarky]

40. I've flown hundreds of times in the past 5 years

Used to fly at least twice a week for work.

I've never had a really bad experience. Some nice TSA agents, some less nice but nothing I'd consider a horror story. Once I had a gate agent being a real jerk to everyone waiting for information about a delayed flight but when I complained to the airline they gave me a credit.

I once saw a TSA agent get nasty with someone else in the security line. No extra screening, just a nasty tone. Annoying? You bet! Far from enough to keep me from flying though. Another time one took a screwdriver I'd forgotten was in my bag.


Oh! And this one time someone changed their baby on the tray table but that's another thread :evilgrin:

[CreekDog]

42. I always get extra screening and the ones doing the extra screening are generally fine

friendly and I have a lot of sympathy for the job they have to do in order to earn a living.

I've generally had okay experiences with the extra screening the past five years or so. In the few years after 9/11, it was a mixed bag though. I've been through the "SS" screening and the first time was pretty crappy actually because they thought my official ID was a joke and not real.

Also, I usually fly out of SFO and they don't use TSA, but a private contractor, or at least they did for a while --and I actually found the screening and the lines to be better here, certainly faster than elsewhere.

I'm not as impressed with the the encounters as you move through the lines --although it's likely the same people just rotating through that duty. The process is complicated enough (removing shoes, putting wallet in carry-on so it gets xrayed, putting laptop in separate bin, pulling the plastic bag of toiletries out of the carryon, etc.) while they bark out various directions is actually not as helpful as they think it is.

[Catshrink]

44. Why would they search my 85 year old dad in a wheelchair?

I never understood that. I've taken two roundtrips since 9/11, both in the past 6 years, and both without personal incidents with TSA. The were polite, effiencient, and painless for me. I understand that this isn't the case for everyone and consider myself fortunate to have had it so smooth. I don't plan on flying again anytime soon.

On edit: oops, make that 3 trips.

[comrade snarky]

53. There is a lot of space to hide things in a wheelchair

I doubt it's that they think an 85 year old man is very likely to take a plane however there could be weapons or explosives hidden around him or in the chair.

Searching chairs kind of makes sense to me.

[Skittles]

47. frequent flier, no problems with TSA

they've been courteous and efficient

[Texasgal]

48. My eight your old nephew was on the no fly list

:eyes:

Had to be questioned by TSA away from his parents AFTER they had already flown to NYC... this is when we were all LEAVING to come home!!! TSA is a joke.

[hlthe2b]

51. Maybe they thought he was the "young" Osama Bin Laden...

Upstream, the 85 year old wheel-chair bound father must have been confused with the "old" Osama. :crazy:

Functioning neuronal synapses do not seem to be a requirement for employment.

[cherokeeprogressive]

50. I fly 10+ times per year. No problems ever.

I arrive early, wear shorts and slaps, check everything I don't need during the time of the flight (like gourmet mustard or Velveeta Cheese) and fill my backpack with books, magazines, and snacks.

I sit in the terminal and do one of my favorite things: Watch people.

Flying is what you make of it. From what I've read in this thread, most show up at the airport with some kind if chip on their shoulder.

I love to fly.

[MineralMan]

62. I'm with you. Flying means I'm going somewhere interesting.

I never have any problems, and I'm not the typical looking guy. I do as you do, and never trip any alarms of any kind, apparently. Oh, I smile, too. That seems to work, at least a the airports I fly from and to.

[era veteran]

52. More training,stricter hiring policies, a transference of their culture from lax

practices to a more professional status. not so many mindless martinets.

[catnhatnh]

54. I was kind of disappointed...

after I flew to Orlando from Logan with no problems after some of the things I'd written on DU-I expected to be stripped stark naked at least! But that said, how fucking stupid was that procedure which left me inside a perimeter (I know this because I stopped for a drink) with a STEAKHOUSE serving NY strip steaks complete with a knife and then getting on my flight with no additional screening? All it told me was it's ALL kabuki and worthless.

[lunatica]

55. I flew in 2002. I was in my 50s and looked matronly

They pulled me aside to search more thoroughly and made me empty my back pack. It was probably the back pack that did it because that was what I used as a purse because I carry writing material and books wherever I go. The people in line looked at me a little weird but I had nothing so I was allowed to board the plane. I still had to take my shoes off in the next roadblock though, but so did everyone else.

[LWolf]

56. 1965. I was 5 years old.

My mother was having big trouble with my step father, so she put me on a flight back to my grandparents in Kansas City. Long before putting kids without custodial adults on planes was common. What can I say? It wasn't TSA's fault that my mom trusted the world to look out for me every time her life fell apart.

There was a storm in KC, and the plane couldn't land. It detoured and landed in Wichita about 11 pm. They put me on a bus to KC, where my grandparents were anxiously waiting. I finally arrived in the wee hours.

[MineralMan]

63. Uh, there was no TSA in 1965, you know....

[LWolf]

65. No Transportation Security Administration.

It was TWA, Trans World Airlines. ;)

The only other flying nightmare I've ever experienced was with United, but I blame the flight schedule over San Francisco Airport rather than the airline itself. When I was flying from L.A. to Eugene, OR several times a year, I never could get a flight that wasn't delayed or that didn't have problems. Every flight was a nightmare, and it always involved delays in San Francisco.

I've only flown once since we entered the 21st Century, 5 years ago. No problems.

So I don't really have enough experience flying under TSA to make a difference. :hi:

[donco6]

58. Lots of stories.

One time in Hawaii, coming through customs we had to travel down a really long escalator. Some dumbass TSA guy closed the doors at the bottom so no one could get in, but failed to turn off the escalator. So people are piling up and the bottom, then when they realized their error they tried to open the doors but couldn't because people were pressed so hard against them. Had to have people walk back up the escalator to open the doors.

I'm always getting screened multiple times. I've gotten good at taking out the laptop, taking off the shoes (always slip-ons), liquids in baggies, no more than 3 oz of anything, drink all that Coke before you get there, all the while knowing it's all utter bullshit, but you do it anyway. Then getting pulled out of the line, stand on the feet, spread your arms, wand wand, find nothing, put it all back together and try to catch up to everyone else. I've had all sorts of things taken away - beef jerkey in a sealed bag, a can of nuts, some expensive face cream in a tiny bottle (but it's less than 3 oz! IT'S NOT IN A PLASTIC BAGGIE! Grrr . . . ), various utensils before they clarified what could be carried on or not, lighters not matches, matches not lighers (before I stopped smoking altogether), a box of dominoes (?? no idea).

I've seen TSA agents just RAGGING on people for breaking some arcane rule. Lots of older women fall into this trap for some reason - easy victims? They've missed some paperwork from the counter, not knowing that you have to check EVERYTHING the counter agent gives you before you leave (I've been given other people's boarding passes). Missed a stamp saying they checked my passport, etc.

In Mexico, they check your bags by hand before you get to the counter. They then check them AGAIN by hand before you board. Then you get the third degree again when you arrive in US Customs. I had my bags searched and they left *all* the outer zippers open and my car keys fell out and I never saw them again. Luckily I keep a spare credit card key in my wallet and I was able to drive home.

And I won't even talk about the fucking parking Gestapo at Denver International. Assholes.

Flying is an utter nightmare anymore - and I fly a LOT.

[GaYellowDawg]

66. Got pulled for a random search.

I had to stand in the booth and get wanded and a patdown. It was a little embarrassing, but I smiled and was polite and cooperative, and they got through it quickly. I was traveling with a Filipino friend and he wasn't searched. He waited on me and I said as I was putting my shoes on, "you know when they search the white guy, it really was random." That actually drew a laugh from a couple of TSA people. During the patdown I thought about jokingly asking for a female employee to do it (I'm a man) but thought that would be sexist, tacky, and would probably get me a more extensive search.

[LeftyMom]

67. Let's see- overly friendly pat-downs, items missing from my bag after hand searches, items missing

when my plastic bin comes out of the xray...

[Stinky The Clown]

68. I had an old Ronson lighter confiscated

More or less like this one (mine was brown tortoise enameled)



I begged the guy and he let me keep it.

Flying out of Vancouver they took my sterling cigar cutter. To their credit, they mailed it to me!

I put all my shit in plastic bags in my carry on. I make certain I have no metal on me. I always the "experienced traveler" lane when it is available.

I used to get wanded all the time as a 'spot check' target. Then I shaved my head. I have not been wanded once since I did that.

[HipChick]

70. Dumballs confiscated

As result as a car accident, I have a slight weakness on my right side - so when travelling for biz, I take a pair of small 5lbs dumbells so I can exercise the muscle on that side - apparently a no-go for TSA -

[HopeHoops]

71. My daughter went to Europe 1 1/2 years ago - MAJOR security breach!

Of course she had to take off her shoes and everything went through scanners except for ONE thing. There's a big sign warning not to put undeveloped film through the X-Ray machine because it will ruin it. She handed her multi-pack of single-use cameras to the screener and he handed them around the X-Ray machine to another screener. Neither of them so much as looked at the package to see if it had been tampered with. It was easily large enough to warrant at least SOME interest.

[Bonobo]

72. It helps to be white and look like Santa Claus. nt

[blueworld]

73. they confiscated the snow globe my husband tried to bring me as a souvenier. Liquids. Sigh. n/t