At least I don't feel singled out anymore

[sunflower]

Randomly, last August, when ex-bf and I were flying home from FL (the disaster trip with the tropical storm where it rained the whole time), at the airport, TSA comes over to the gate, sets up a table and is poised for screening. I had not seen that in years. Get up to get on...I'm selected and so is he!! I think people were scared of us, why 2 people traveling together were pulled out. But they checked our stuff and let us on and I assume they continued to check passengers after that point.

At least now I have warning.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29757224/

NEW YORK - The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday it is screening more passengers at airport gates, but not because of any specific threat.

Gate screening — which can involve anything from identification checks to hand-wand metal detectors — was implemented after Sept. 11 as an additional layer of security. It all but disappeared in 2003, when the TSA began screening all checked bags.

Although the TSA follows a "risk-based approach" when adding security measures, TSA spokeswoman Lara Uselding told the Associated Press that the move to restore random gate checks developed "as the agency evolved," not because of a specific threat. The TSA collects intelligence from the FBI as well as state, local and national government agencies when forming new procedures.

The gate checks for passengers follow the establishment of an employee security program in 2007, which included random screenings. The checks aim to prevent weapons or other contraband being passed from an employee to a passenger before boarding, among other risks.

"Gate screening is particularly effective at addressing insider threats and serves as a random and unpredictable security layer that, like all TSA's security measures, was developed using a risk-based approach," Uselding said. "In support of TSA's overall security strategy, the frequency of gate screening has increased and may occur unannounced at gate areas anytime."

Uselding said letters were sent to airlines last week informing them of the security change, although the new gate screening procedures have been in place for a couple of months. She would not say how many passengers or employees have been randomly stopped at gates, or how that figure has changed in recent years.

Because passengers at a certain gate are screened does not mean there is a specific threat to a particular plane, Uselding said.

She said signs at gates inform passengers that screening may occur. Uselding acknowledged that some passengers may see additional screening after a comprehensive search at a security checkpoint as unnecessary or annoying.

"Everything we do here at TSA is for a reason, it's not made to make travelers' lives a hassle," she said.

But airline industry consultant Mike Boyd of Boyd Group International Inc. says that gate screening will do just that — and won't improve security. It’s A Snap!

"This doesn't do anything to fix anything. Random security screening doesn't work. Security needs to be focused — terrorists are focused," he said. "All this does is make it harder for airlines to do business, and wastes the time of customers."

He also criticized the TSA for a recent gate-screening incident involving a high-profile politician.

Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon met with a top official from the Transportation Security Administration Tuesday after he complained about being singled out for gate screening at Portland International Airport.

DeFazio, a longtime member of the House Transportation aviation subcommittee, told the Associated Press Tuesday that the TSA is "off track" in its random gate screening policy.

[littlebeast13]

One of the more interesting stories of my BAM trip 8 years ago was when my Dad got held up at the gate because he kept tripping the metal detector and they coulddn't figure out why. I stood there bemused on the other side of the gate as they did everything but strip search him for about 10 minutes until they finally found that he had a coin stuck deep down in one of his pockets. They were not about to let him through until he cleared the metal detector without it going off...

This was Newark Airport, the same airport that 8 months later allowed one of the groups of terrorists through with all kinds of crude instruments of death.....

It's sad to think that our airports have turned into fortresses. When my plane landed back home, the pilot saw my two nephews waiting for me out there and took them on the plane for a tour, just as me and my sisters got once by a kind pilot while we were waiting for my grandma's plane to take off when we were kids.... but those days are gone....

lb13

[ghostjmf]

I watched them patting down a non-threatening-looking woman in a blousy overshirt before my last flight, the 6:15am version of it that wound up not taking off because of a mechanical problem. Then they came over to pat down me. Also wearing a blousy overshirt. I did not protest, because protesting gets you to miss your flight & then some. I have been told on previous flights just "take off that overshirt; you are wearing too many layers". I kind of prefer that to the pat-down. I am not going to stop wearing blousy overshirts to the airport, though, at least not in summer, when I can't wear long-sleeve t-shirts or I'll die of heat prostration. The blousy overshirt over short-sleeve t-shirt is for cosmetic reasons. This recent trip wasn't in summer, but it was from Jacksonville, FL, where the temp was in the 70s during the day.

When I finally got on the plane, I was seated next to person having a conversation in Arabic over their cell-phone. Which of course is in no way illegal. They had not gotten a pat-down. They were wearing a business suit, not a blousy-overshirt top.

[Bob Juch]

One of the more interesting stories of my BAM trip 8 years ago was when my Dad got held up at the gate because he kept tripping the metal detector and they coulddn't figure out why. I stood there bemused on the other side of the gate as they did everything but strip search him for about 10 minutes until they finally found that he had a coin stuck deep down in one of his pockets. They were not about to let him through until he cleared the metal detector without it going off...

This was Newark Airport, the same airport that 8 months later allowed one of the groups of terrorists through with all kinds of crude instruments of death.....

It's sad to think that our airports have turned into fortresses. When my plane landed back home, the pilot saw my two nephews waiting for me out there and took them on the plane for a tour, just as me and my sisters got once by a kind pilot while we were waiting for my grandma's plane to take off when we were kids.... but those days are gone....

lb13

When I flew from Philly to San Jose for my first BAM audition, I tripped the metal detector due to a dime I left in a pocket. While I was there, I noticed someone put a Bug Gulp-sized soda on a table next to the metal detector, walk through it, and then pick it up. I pointed out to the security people that there could have been a gun in the container; they didn't seem to care. This was before 9/11.

[Estonut]

I went to Toronto for a business conference a few years after 9/11. While there, I visited the CN tower. That was the first time/place that I had ever gone through the metal-detector-looking contraptions that puff air at you and then (I guess) recover some of it and test it for explosives and/or chemicals.

Three days later, I was at the airport to head home. In my carry-on bag, I had a bag of potato chips that was left over from a sandwich lunch. I also had a lead-lined bag that I used BITD to transport film while I was flying (and still used film). The x-ray-viewing security guy asked about the opaque pouch. I pulled out the lead-lined bag and asked if he wanted me to open it. He said no, he was interested in something in the other end of my carry-on. I showed him the chips, and he said that I could proceed. The lead-lined bag was probably from 8 x 10 photo paper, so it could have contained a gun or grenade, or anything like that.

I was amazed that post-9/11 security was tighter at the CN Tower than at the airport.

[geoffil]

I sat next to a man that was eventually removed from a flight. He wanted to use his upgrade coupon to sit in first class. He saw an empty seat and asked very nicely to the flight attendant if he could move. She said no, the only way to get the seat was if we went back to the gate and the gate person approved it. We were 9th in line to take off for Washington, DC from Chicago on United. So we turn around, go back to the gate and 2 marshalls grab him and take him off the plane. I don't know why they removed him, because he wasn't really rude.

[ghostjmf]

My favorite airport story is very pre-9/11:

However, it isn't pre-hijacking.

We're talking carry-on luggage here.

Something set off the metal detector. My brother pointed to his research paper, full of sections paper-clipped together. The airport agents were sceptical that paperclips had "that much power". Upon further examination, my brother was discovered to have a pair of scissors with him, the better to cut the string with which he was planning to tie up packages (or whatever).

The airline agents left the paperclips, but took away the scissors, put them in a little box, put the little box somewhere on the plane & we got it back at the end of the flight. I remember it sailing down the luggage belt, smallest thing on there.

While the paper-clips/scissors fate was being discussed, I got to see other people go through inspection. One of them had a briefcase with what looked like wads & wads of money in it, tied up neatly bank-style, & under that layer what looked like pieces of a rifle. This person showed the airport agents (this was pre official security agency days) some kind of ID, & was let right through to the plane, complete with rifle parts. I certainly hope that ID was US military, US federal agent, something like that.

[Rexer25]

I have 2 responses that fit in this thread...what am I doing? I'll make two posts to tell y'all.

The less humorous one...Mrs. Rexer's stroke occurred the Thanksgiving after 9/11. We were flying from Lubbock to Dallas to get her checked into Baylor Rehab. Flying Southwest Airlines, and at the time, passengers were "randomly" assigned to get special screening. My wife could walk, and her appearance was normal, but she couldn't even tell you her name. We had one-way tickets, and our only luggage was her "Personal Items" bag from the Lubbock hospital. I wasn't too worried at the time, because I thought they would screen the lucky passengers one at a time. Then I found out they had 2 "stations" for screening, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to help Mrs. Rexer, and she would be hustled away by security. Fortunately, the 2 stations were at either end of an 8-ft table, and I could help her.

[tlynn78]

I was worried that I wouldn't be able to help Mrs. Rexer, and she would be hustled away by security. Fortunately, the 2 stations were at either end of an 8-ft table, and I could help her.

I feel your pain, Rexer. When I (air) travel with hub, i just hold my breath through security, and hope he doesn't pipe up with something the screeners will find less-than-amusing. He fancies himself quite the comedian, at times.

t.

[tanstaafl2]

Randomly, last August, when ex-bf and I were flying home from FL (the disaster trip with the tropical storm where it rained the whole time), at the airport, TSA comes over to the gate, sets up a table and is poised for screening. I had not seen that in years. Get up to get on...I'm selected and so is he!! I think people were scared of us, why 2 people traveling together were pulled out. But they checked our stuff and let us on and I assume they continued to check passengers after that point.

At least now I have warning.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29757224/

NEW YORK - The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday it is screening more passengers at airport gates, but not because of any specific threat.

Gate screening — which can involve anything from identification checks to hand-wand metal detectors — was implemented after Sept. 11 as an additional layer of security. It all but disappeared in 2003, when the TSA began screening all checked bags.

Although the TSA follows a "risk-based approach" when adding security measures, TSA spokeswoman Lara Uselding told the Associated Press that the move to restore random gate checks developed "as the agency evolved," not because of a specific threat. The TSA collects intelligence from the FBI as well as state, local and national government agencies when forming new procedures.

The gate checks for passengers follow the establishment of an employee security program in 2007, which included random screenings. The checks aim to prevent weapons or other contraband being passed from an employee to a passenger before boarding, among other risks.

"Gate screening is particularly effective at addressing insider threats and serves as a random and unpredictable security layer that, like all TSA's security measures, was developed using a risk-based approach," Uselding said. "In support of TSA's overall security strategy, the frequency of gate screening has increased and may occur unannounced at gate areas anytime."

Uselding said letters were sent to airlines last week informing them of the security change, although the new gate screening procedures have been in place for a couple of months. She would not say how many passengers or employees have been randomly stopped at gates, or how that figure has changed in recent years.

Because passengers at a certain gate are screened does not mean there is a specific threat to a particular plane, Uselding said.

She said signs at gates inform passengers that screening may occur. Uselding acknowledged that some passengers may see additional screening after a comprehensive search at a security checkpoint as unnecessary or annoying.

"Everything we do here at TSA is for a reason, it's not made to make travelers' lives a hassle," she said.

But airline industry consultant Mike Boyd of Boyd Group International Inc. says that gate screening will do just that — and won't improve security. It’s A Snap!

"This doesn't do anything to fix anything. Random security screening doesn't work. Security needs to be focused — terrorists are focused," he said. "All this does is make it harder for airlines to do business, and wastes the time of customers."

He also criticized the TSA for a recent gate-screening incident involving a high-profile politician.

Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon met with a top official from the Transportation Security Administration Tuesday after he complained about being singled out for gate screening at Portland International Airport.

DeFazio, a longtime member of the House Transportation aviation subcommittee, told the Associated Press Tuesday that the TSA is "off track" in its random gate screening policy.

I had the gate screening experience for the first time in some years when boarding the plane in Johannesburg to return to the States last fall. Kind of caught me by surprise as I thought they had finally given up on that particular bit of nonsense. Didn't see it going on in the Atlanta Airport on the way out to Africa nor did it occur when we flew out to Hawaii for the holidays. It is always a pain for me as I tend to pack my carry on baggage as tightly as possible to maximize room for the assorted camera and video gear I often carry and I can never get it back together again in a timely manner after they have been rummaging through it.