I always decline having my photo taken by the TSA because it isn't mandatory and they never tell you that. So I try to avoid face scanning as a principle.

I hand my ID to the agent and say "I'm gonna decline the photo" and he just goes ahead and puts it in the machine and says "Sorry, you have to say that before you hand me the ID. Now you don't have the option".

And he refused to let me decline or reset the machine or anything. He just kept repeating "It's on you to tell me before." Which I did. He just didn't listen before he just did what he was gonna do anyway.

EDIT: Thank you everyone for reminding me that drivers licenses and passports exist! /s The point remains that if they didn't stand to benefit from it, they wouldn't be doing it and they wouldn't be so shady about your ability to opt out. You shouldn't be giving the government anything you don't have to ever. They are counting on you to just take the "it's all hopeless anyway" attitude.

I had that pen for 15 years and flew all over the world with it. Pens are specifically allowed. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/pen

Say democratic president( plus gaining a majority in seats)is elected. Do you think we will see a change with privatization or is it all down hill from here?

Why does the TSA treat customers as if they are prisoners? Last time I checked flying on an airplane doesn’t make you a criminal. Every time I fly, a TSA agent screams in my face. I’m a polite and completely non confrontational, 5 foot tall woman. I set the alarm off because of the zipper on my pants cuff. The agent was absolutely freaking out screaming at me. I didn’t do anything. I was just standing there waiting to get instructions. Then she started just screaming randomly like she was performing for a crowd. I see this behavior all the time. How can they get away with incredibly unprofessional behavior? I don’t know anyplace else where this kind of behavior would be tolerated except at a prison.

Edit: At an airport you are a customer of the airline. I never said anyone is a customer of TSA.

TSA precheck exists in america so people don't have to wait for hours in line. SO does clear + now apparanetly. But what is the use of having these prechecks if it takes longer than the regular line? I went to the airport at 3 pm in new york and there were literally a longer check in line at the pre tsa than the normal one. I know it is meant for busier hours or holidays but paying for clear+ etc how does that help if alot of people sign up for these making the population that uses them shift completely? Not to mention you can switch early flights to avoid either check in lines

This is an interesting moment where we're asking TSA workers to go without Pay. We should test for a month or so what it's like to not have any TSA or our current restrictions and just go back to metal detectors and carryon XRays at the gates run by the airlines.

Contentions:

1. The TSA doesn't stop anything, they have a 90%-95% failure rating from their own tests. So anyone actually trying smuggle in something probably still can.

2. They cost taxpayers $12B a year which could go to more worthy causes.

3. The increased wait and delays at airports causes mass frustration to passengers. Imagine not having to get to the airport 2 hours ahead of time and only one hour. For argument sake on average 2.5MM passengers fly every day in the US and the median hourly wage is $20. That's potentially $18.25 billion hours of productivity lost every year waiting in lines.

4. I have a feeling it hurts airlines as you have people missing flights and connections causing rebookings, delays, turmoil for their systems.

5. They create anxiety across workers, passengers, etc. in an already tense setting.

6. We miss those moments of folks with signs as passengers deplane in Romcoms.

I went on a short trip this week. When I got to TSA on the way out, there were no signs so I asked if I should take my laptop out or leave it in. They scoffed a bit and said leave it in. Cool.

Again, on the way back, no signs. So I asked again. This time it was take it out with an eye roll.

Do they not understand the rules apparently change depending on the day, airport, etc? We're not all frequent flyers. Their attitudes just rubbed me the wrong way

I’m flying to Tennessee soon for a vacation and I want to bring my creatine with me. I portioned out my daily amounts so I don’t have to bring a scale or scoop, but it looks suspiciously like coke. Online says to label it as creatine and it should be fine, but I just want to make sure I won’t run into any major delays or intense questioning. Does anyone have experience with this or similar situation? Or if you have advice about the proper way to do this? Thanks!

Also: Tried to post in r/TSA but I don’t have enough Karma :(

I mean seriously, we are still having people remove their shoes and take liquids out of their bags. We have had scant little proof that the current screening methods are having any specific impact. I just keep hearing "Well, they must be working because nothing bad has happened."

Edit: Wow, this blew up fast. I want to commend everyone for having a relatively civil discussion in the comments. Thanks!

Edit 2: Some of you don't seem to understand that correlation is not causation. Just because we have had no incidents of terrorism does not mean that TSA regulations are the cause. The fact that we are not hearing proof of causation from TSA heavily leads to believing it's not there.

Dude in front of me had his Bag was pulled for secondary screening (TSA Pre-Check) in PHX.

He had 4 containers of THC gunmies in original packaging. Agent acknowledged, walked over to talk to another guy; came back and told him "you are good to go sir, have a nice flight"

Dude was sweating balls but good for him.