Airport Security Staff Rude and Threatens Traveler

Hmmm, sounds like there ARE some serious problems there at John Wayne
Airport:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060724/ap_on_re_us/airport_security_breac
h_1

It is called "job security" if they can impress their employer that
they are doing a good job keeping the country safe they might even get
a raise! It's mostly born and bred Americans they treat this was. I
had a very bad experience with security boarding line at United once,
I being accused of having a knife in my backpak, which was a complete
lie, then the said I would have to leave my full backpak with them and
they would send it on, when arriving home the bag came in completely
empty. Many expensive things were missing, but after writing to United
my story, some months later I got a letter and a form to list all
that things that were "stolen" from me.
I was reimbursed
GOOD LUCK!.

what happened to you happenens ever day, in every major US airport, at
any given time.

why? because the TSA employs many people who are too incompetant or
mentally unstable to be police, they flunked out of any decent job in
authority, and probably could not even get a job at the Mall nights a
a security guard, they are power hungry mindless twits (IMHO). They
abuse the authority given to them, and in my opinion most of them are
just thugs with shiny badges that mean squat outside of the narrow 10
ft line they patrol.

First of all, as a United Employee (40 year flight attendant), I want
to apologize to you about your humiliating incident. I will let you
know, however, that security at John Wayne Airpport in Orange County
is about the worst I have encountered in the world. They are surly,
rude, and wholly incompetent. The info you received from the UAL
employee was probably correct, but security at John Wayne is so
unprofessional and in such disarray that they cannot stay focused on
correct procedures. Also, UAL does not hire or screen these people,
and in fact, UAL is at the mercy of their whim. I have been treated
like a terrorist trying to get through security at that airport, and
if you think you were humiliated, I have had to go through much the
same thing while in uniform, having my suitcase and it's contents
completely expposed to the public.(Much of what we carry is also
secure and is not to be viewed by the public). I have even inisted
that they change their laytex gloves after they have pawed through my
"stuff" before I would allow them to handle my injectible medication.
They are unreasonable in the extreme, can't think logically, or make a
proper decision. Since I am a "no go item" in that I MUST be on a
given working flight, all their threats are to no avail. I just let
them take their time and they have to pay UAL for any delays incurred
because of thier procedures. UAL provides the transportation for
crews to the airport from our layover hotels, so if we are held up at
security when we arrive on time to work our trips,they have to take
responsibility. UAL knows they are unreasonable at that airport and I
honestly think security deliberately contradicts United's directions
to passengers and turns the tables on them when they approach in any
given line. They even conficscated a company issued disc (.99 at
Sears) merely because it said "tool" on it, even though it had gone
through security. It fell on the floor and one of the guards picked
it up and read that word, so they would not give it back. This "tool"
is used to secure cart restraints that come loose in the galleys on
the airplane and is a vital instrument. It has four raised ridges at
the edge of the disc that functions as a screwdriver. Of course, it
was replaced as soon as I got to my home domicile. I suggest that you
write to the Department of Transportation and to Homeland Security,
TSA division, to properly address your complaint, and to secure a
written apology from security at John Wayne. Good luck to you.
LLS, ORDSW, United Airlines

With that outfit you could have been taken aside by the "Fashion
Police", maybe they just didn't like your choice of outfits.

You have to remember that it's very important to keep security tight
at Airports since 9/11. I can understand that you where confused, I'd
probably feel the same. He doesn't have the right to humilite you ans
talk to you like you're a child, but I beleive that the security at
the airport have to, as it's the rules, make everything as clear as
humanly possible when speaking to people. I can see that it didn't
work and their approach pissed you off, granted, but it's very
important that they deal with these things in this manner.

However, I know I will probably get flamed, but the Veitnam veteran
thing makes me angry. Yes, what you did was great and everyone
appreaciates that, you where very brave in your actions. But it
doesn't mewan that you're going to get any special treatment at the
airport. That's like a cancer patient walking into a store and
demanding a discount because they have cancer.
*rabbling: over.*

I travel a lot. Its part of my job. People hired by the TSA at the are
commonly morons. They are normally on a power trip, and were passed up
for a job manning the register at your local grocery store.

your comment: "The other guard, who turned out to be the supervisor,
started talking to my like I was a child, VERY condescending, like I
was retarded."

The supervisor is probably used to talking to his underlings like they
ARE retarded.

The government has probably contracted the TSA because they were the
lowest bidder. This alone should tell you how the are going to
perform.

The best part is that the TSA has no one to answer to and no
repercussions to their actions. I would be surprised if you got more
than a "sorry."

"I'm blond (out of a bottle)"

Trying to mask your true identity? That just happens to be one of the
top 10 things that put you on the watch list.

"tan pants"

100% of the 9/11 hijackers were wearing pants. I'm sure at least one
of them was wearing tan.

"tennis shoes"

And, what do you think the shoe bomber was wearing?

"the ox was small enough that I should be able to take it on board the
airplane."

Why in the world were you carrying an ox? A small one, you say. So
this wasn't Babe the Blue Ox, then. I don't know. If someone was
wandering through the airport with an ox, even a small one, I'd get
mighty nervous. And what moron says it's OK to bring an ox on an
airplane. I guess if it's small enough, you could hitch a tiny plow
to it and use it to make pretty lines in you snack mix.

"I told him he is more than welcome to take every goddamn thing out"

If all of my possession were g-d'ed, I might start wonder what I did
to annoy God so much that he'd damn all of my stuff. What did YOU
do?

"Some of the women my age appeared to be shocked and disgusted."

At the adult woman crying like a baby?

"Will I ever go back to California? NO!"

I just got off the phone with California. He wants to say he's sorry
for what he did to you. Next time, he'll do better. But sadly, we
know how it is with these states. They never learn from their
mistakes.

"Am I too stupid to navigate my way through a security check point?"

Well...

"One week prior to that, I got though the Denver checkpoint without a
problem."

So, in a two week period, you were in at least 2 airports and you
never bothered to read any of the signs?

"I am a Viet Nam era veteran"

And someone making you take off your shoes makes you cry? What in the
world did you do during 'Nam? Unless it was getting friendly patdowns
from other women, of course...

Didn't you basic training give you enough to be able to deal with
situations like this? To not cry?

"After this incident I got violently ill an also suffered an attack of
shingles which still persists."

Someone once used the word "g-d" on a web page I was reading and I got
so upset that I can no longer control my bladder.

What's the warm wet feeling going down my leg?

"Perhaps these people need some additional training on how to treat
people with respect and dignity."

Any intention of taking them class youself, hon?

"don't think I want anything else from these people as it won't erase
the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I still have as I write
this."

They found Mohammed Atta's diary. Apparently, the reason he joined Al
Queda was because there was confussion in the Riyaad airport once. It
so upset him that developed an eye infection (take a look at his
picture). Well, the eye drops his doctor prescribed were cold and he
didn't like it when those cold web drops would plop into his eye. The
stress gave him irritable bowel syndrome. Then, for reasons that
would be obvious for anyone who's actually had IBS and used toilet
paper in that region of the world... well, let's just say that sitting
down was unpleasant due to some sores that developed. Having to stand
more often than he'd like, he became tired. So, when he was
approached by bin Laden, he said, "sure, I'll be the world's most
significant murderer."

All because the airport was confusing and he didn't get a rubdown from
a nice woman security agent.

Yeah, I think we do need to watch out for people like you. Never know
when you'll want to fly a plane into a building.

Okay, I'm dubious on how you got into line at the wrong place, but I'm
going to give you the benefit of the doubt on that. I'm even, for the
moment, going to set aside the "violentlly ill" and the shingles part
of it.

Imagine this from the security screener's POV. They see a boarding
pass not marked at the right place. Their immediate concern is not
that you got into line at the wrong place, or someone didn't mark it
when they should. They see a breech in the security process. It is
their job to make sure that you are not a risk to anyone, Middle
Eastern ascent, or otherwise.

You were asked to remove your shoes. How exactly is it humiliating to
not put on your shoes? They are shoes. You were not asked to remove
your shirt, or pants, or underclothing. You did not have to go through
a body search. They had you remove your shoes and check your bag.

If that's enough stress to make you "violently ill" and give you a
case of shingles, then honey, you shouldn't be out on your own!!

Please print the following. This can be saved for future use on other
issues as well:

Dear [YOUR NAME HERE],
My name is Mr. Smith and I work for [ENTER OFFENDING COMPANY NAME
HERE], Inc.
We heard about your issue regarding [SEE ATTACHMENT A](Please attach
an explanation of your issue to this apology letter for reference, and
label it "Attachment A").
You are our very best customer and we feel so badly that you were
treated (Check One)
()Poorly
()Like Scum
()Kinda Poorly
()Like a Typical Duesche Bag Customer
()Like The Trailer Trash You Are
()The Same Way You Have Treated Our Staff
and we want to assure you that this will never again happen at our
company. We have fired [INSERT OFFENDING EMPLOYEE'S NAME] and have had
(Check One)
()His
()Her
first born son,[ENTER OFFENDING EMPLOYEE'S NAME], Jr.
taken away by the State of [ENTER NAME OF STATE BUSINESS RESIDES
IN].
We realize you spend upwards of (choose one)
()$1
()$10
()$100,000
()$18 in Food Stamps and Bottle Returns
with us every month and we would like to keep you happy.
We look forward to serving you in the future and continuing our fine
relationship.
Say "Hello" to [ENTER YOUR HUSBAND/WIFE'S NAME] for me, we really miss
(choose one)
() Him
() Her
lately.
Give me a call sometime, I look forward to doing[ENTER YOUR FAVORITE
HOBBY OR HOBBIES] with you soon.
Once again, I am truely sorry for the issue you had with our store,
(check one)
() Sincerely,
() All of My Best,
() Love,
() With Deepest Sympathy,

Mr. Smith

Incidentally, if you want to come off as a sweet and demure 48-year
old mother of four, use of terms such as "goddamn" preclude that.

I really need to stop drinking coffee as I read these. The tampon
comment had me almost ROFL.

"I am an average looking 48 year old woman."

What does the average 48-year-old woman look like again?

"I'm blond (out of a bottle), very light skinned"

Ahh, there's our answer. Well I have black hair and very dark skin.
So had I been the one pulled aside and treated rudely, I guess I could
have counted on you to applaud and hold my shoes.

And I love the way you termed it: "I don't look like Osama." Hon,
assigning a name doesn't smooth away the ugly. Say it like you mean
it: "I don't look Middle Eastern. And after all, aren't those the
people you should be harrassing, not good, white, US born and bred,
army vets like me?" (By the way, google a man by the name of Timothy
McVeigh when you have a chance, you'll find - surprise! - that he fits
that description to a T). And I love the motherhood reference thrown
in for effect. Mother of four no less! Why you're as American as apple
pie!

So very sorry that you had to experience life on the wrong side of the
skin color spectrum, dear. Perhaps a lighter shade of blonde will help
you avoid this in the future.

Ain't the Constitution a bitch?

You are so right, and you've put it extremely well. Terrorists come
in all shapes, sizes, genders, religious creeds, and nationalities.
So do average Americans.

Homicidal manicacs look just like everyone else.

I saw a news report on this very thing and yes after seeing what I saw
I do believe this woman. In fact, they even went as far as to inspect
a female in a more personal area if you get what I'm saying. Women
humiliated by force and intimidation with little regards for their
privates or privacy. It doesn't mix with new privacy laws either. If
someone needs to inspect inside body parts for bombs or drugs they
need to find a private place to do it, and handle with much more care.
It violates all our rights in this country.

How? If you are indeed 48 years old, you were most likely born in
1958. You turned 18, military age, in 1976. How could you have been
a "Viet Nam era veteran"?
You weren't even old enough to join the military during the "Viet Nam
era". The last American soldiers left in 1975(the ones who weren't
POW or MIA).

For God's sake, didn't you know a lot of middle-eastern terrorists
wear tan pants now. It's the new style over there, helps you blend in
out in the desert.

Tan pants, Geez. You might as well paint a target on your back.

I had one in Miami completely LIE to me about where my luggage was
going. I was making a connecting flight from Jamaica to Minneapolis
and there was a special, short line for my flight to get through
airport security after going through customs and had to recheck our
luggage. The employee told me directly to my face: "Go up this
escalator and your bags will be given to you up there." I thought
that was exceedingly helpful and over the top, but hey, I had never
been to the Miami airport before.

We went upstairs, nothing. It was just shops and restaurants. We
went back downstairs, found another employee (the woman was long
gone), told them what had happened, and his response was along the
lines of, "why would she tell you that? that doesn't make any sense."


Of course it doesn't. It didn't make sense to us but we believed
her.

Everything ended up being fine with our luggage, but who knows what
that woman really meant.

They're not always hiring the brightest bulbs for those jobs --
they're just hiring, period.

This should be directed towards the TSA not the airport or airline.
Though most of my experience with them has been pleasant, one nasty
experience really soured me. They are undertrained and have way too
much power to abuse.

When I flew last year from Houston to Nashville, at the Houston
airport there were large signs to remove video cameras which I did.
On the return trip there was no sign in Nashville so I did not. So we
were pulled aside and the camera was tested for explosives. It was a
pleasant experience with no probs.

In October of 2005 when flying with my 11 and 9 year old boys to a
funeral, the TSA personnel in Houston were horrid. Obviously I've
been placed on their watch list because of the Nashville incident
which I don't mind, but it was the way I was treated. Without warning
I was pulled from the line and separated from my children with no
reason given. All of our carry on luggage was left on a table where
it was not being watched. I asked if my children could stand beside
our stuff and was told no. My 9 year old began to cry and I asked if
I could comfort him and explain that mommy was just being extra
searched, wasn't that cool and the TSA person told me not to make his
day difficult. Another TSA person came over and said that I could
talk to them. My son ran to me and threw his arms around me and the
original person yanked him away from me and said that he would now
have to start all over and make us go through again.

I didn't quite understand since nothing had been done except to walk
through the metal detector and no additional searches had been done,
but he announced very loudly to the crowd that I had been
"contaminated" by my child so we must go through the metal detector
again so everybody must move back. Now both children are crying. It
was unbelievable. We were kept there nearly one hour, mostly me just
standing on a square and my children sitting about 30 feet away.
Finally the second TSA came over after about 45 minutes and she wanded
me and kept saying..."I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. Please don't cry.
Don't let him know he got to you. It was really hard not to cry.

In Asheville, I was thoroughly searched and wanded and there was no
problems. I don't mind being on their list, I'd rather they err on
the side of caution, but they have no reason to berate and make people
cry. I really believe that some of these guys get a power trip and
love to humiliate people.

"Some of the women my age appeared to be shocked and disgusted."

Are you sure it wasn't because of the way you were acting?

The thing that threw me off right away is saying that you "didn't look
like Osama." Do you realize how racist this statement is? Not all
terrorists have the same ethnicity or any other unimportant feature.
Terrorists can be anyone hence the reason they check everyone boarding
a plane.

You are the one that needs to learn how to treat people with respect
and dignity. It's a two way street.

I'm not sure what to make of this letter... it does sound like a
frustrating experience, but bad enough so that you "got violently ill
an also suffered an attack of shingles"? I think you're being just a
tad oversensitive here...

It's unfortunate that we live in times where such tight security is
needed at airports, but I for one would rather have them err on the
side of caution. There are plenty of dangerous people out there, and
they don't necessarily "look like Osama". I'm sorry if you were
treated rudely (although it doesn't sound to me like they got sharp
with you until you spouted off about your bag and inspecting your
tampons) but when it comes right down to it, they were doing their
jobs.

"Will I ever go back to California? NO! Will I fly United again?
Probably not."

Why are you more upset with the state of California than with the
airline? At least that's how this sentence reads.

I think you're blowing this way out of proportion.