Just when you thought relaxing at airline gates was safe... (liquids, airports)

[Snafu]

A couple weeks ago I was flying from Baltimore to Manchester, NH, and I had passed all the hoops and hurdles getting through security. I was relaxing with a cup of coffee (purchased at a cafe AFTER security), and a TSA person came over and (politely) asked if I had any liquids still in my cup. When I explained "yes" and said I had purchased it at the stand right nearby, he "requested" that I bring my coffee and follow him... I had no real choice... I asked what they were looking for, and I received no reply... no information, but you know the deal... you argue, you miss your flight... I ended up going to some cart with some other TSA yahoos there in uniform with a bottle with a clear liquid and some litmus strips... they had me take the lid off my coffee (I tried to just give them the coffee and walk away, but that got them a tad upset).

It ended up that they poured some liquid on the strip and waved it over the top of my coffee, looked at it, said thank you... and handed me back my coffee. I was NOT happy, and told them I no longer wanted the coffee - I was not drinking something they had messed with.. I was made to pick up my coffee, which I promptly threw in the trash next to them.

So, what was the deal? Has anyone else had this bizarre incident happen to them? If they have a problem with beverages AFTER security, shut the vendors down... I was given no explanation for their actions.

I truly loathe airline travel now, and just when you think you cannot be harassed and poked and prodded anymore, something like this happens. Does anyone know what bizarre things they are looking for now????

[supernerdgirl]

Thanks for reminding me of why I don't ever want to fly again.

I was thinking about flying to Tennessee during the first week of August, but this reminder helped sway the idea away, ha!

[Dd714]

Very strange. I hope that's not the start of a disturbing trend - random tests of people's articles, clothing, food AFTER security. I would have a serious issue with it.

[cflug]

Couple weeks ago at LaGuardia they had some TSA agents doing random checks of people as we were in line to board the plane...... seriously. They just rolled up a little portable cart and selected people at *random* out of the line......

[Samrai309]

I fly regularly between Jacksonville, FL and JFK and while I have not seen it lately, a few months ago I noticed the TSA strolling around the gate areas. I fly early flights so this was around 515-530am at Jax. They wander around and ask people if they mind having their bag screened again. They do it right in front of you. You do not get taken anywhere. I had a guy come up to me once.

TSA agent: Good morning sir.
Me: Good morning.
TSA agent: Is this your bag?
Me: Yes.
TSA Agent: Do you mind if I search your bag again as part of a random additional screening.
Me: Knock yourself out.

In chatting with the guy, he said that the random bag checks at the gate were something new they were starting in addition to normal security check points.

Another time, I was waiting to board the plane, the gate agent made their usual spiel of announcements, saying put your IDs away, all you need is your boarding pass, yada yada yada.....TSA shows up and asks everyone on line getting ready to hand their boarding pass to the gate agent to show their IDS and boarding passes. I mean, of all the times to do it...the kicker was that there was no coordination with the airline personnel who had no idea why they did this.

Your coffee story sucks. I am sorry but if that was me, I would not have thrown it away for them. I Would have left it and walked away. At that point you complied so there is nothing they can do. Some of these people are on a power trip. I have gotten into many an argument with them for being less than courteous when I am traveling. If you ever have enough time and are not rushing to get to your flight, always ask for a supervisor or airport police if they get out of character or overly aggressive. I have never had to do this but I have read plenty of stories of how some of these screeners are overzealous in their duties, going far beyond their required job description. I have experienced plenty of inconvenient and unncessary behavior on their part. One time I was real verbal with them because I was traveling with a pet and they were less than helpful in simple requests to make the security process a bit easier for me. Long story short, you need to take your pet out of the carrier to walk with them through the metal detector. No problem. I had a cat. She was stressed. I had my boarding pass in my pocket and they were giving me a hard time because it was not "in my hand" despite my request to walk through with the cat, place her in the carrier and show them the pass.....words were exchanged...complete a-holes and I let them know it....anyway....

Thanks for the story. I will have to look for this next time I travel. Its been a while since I traveled through baltimore. I did not see anything this past weekend when I flew. Probably due to all the crowds of travelers who rarely travel. They probably abandon these random practices to avoid confusion.

[j_k_k]

I just don't fly anymore unless I absolutely must. It's like a voluntary several-hour stay in a medium security prison, albeit perhaps with less individual liberty. The airline people are underpaid and it shows; the TSA people get ridiculous instructions; the seating is miserably cramped; there are little surcharges to ding you for this or that. If things go wrong, you can end up as I did, spending the night in the Salt Lake airport (the most Delta would do for us was give us a couple boxes of airline pretzels and waters and a bunch of airplane blankets) with virtually no amenities.

People wanted cheapcheapcheap fares, and they got them: "Just give me the lowest price, screw everything else." This is what it looks like: the Wal-Martization of the skies. What's worse, as lower class people have become more able to afford flight, the surroundings have grown progressively and defiantly trashier. I can't understand why anyone still wants to be a flight attendant, any more than I understand why anyone can still want to fly unless all the alternatives are impractical.

[Huckleberry3911948]

i can no longer carry art supplies, paint esp. its a drag.

[Samrai309]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

i can no longer carry art supplies, paint esp. its a drag.

As random as it sounds, I just recently had peanut butter taken away from me on Monday. I checked on the tsa website and assumed it was safe. Apparently it falls under the gel category.

[jlawrence01]

Since I cannot pass through the X-ray machines due to medical issues, I get the opportunity to be patted down EVERY time that I go through security and must remove EVERYTHING from my pockets. In other words, I get the full treatment EVERY time I fly at every airport.

Having said that, I find the TSA personnel to be completely professional and complete their work in under two minutes.

The TSA folks are in a no-win position. If they are careful and do an honest job, they are condemed for taking too long. (Try flying EL AL sometime.). If they are careless and allow something to occur, they will be the first to be condemned for not doing the job.

[Alaskan Mutt]

I fly out of Baltimore on a regular basis. Complaining to a TSA supervisor there is a total waste of time. It does not matter if you have a complaint, concern or want to tell them they are doing a wonderful job. They don't want to hear it. The TSA supervisors at most of the airports I fly out of will at least give me the time of day. But not Baltimore.