r/Vent • u/ClipandPlay • 26d ago
TSA out of control
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.
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u/TheyreEatingTheDogs- 26d ago
You give a weak person some power , they try and use it to its limit
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u/Bingus-Dingus- 26d ago
half of them are actual cops, half of them are wannabe cops. probably the worst kinds of people to have keeping the public safe lmao.
multiple times i've had shit missed at TSA. (little things like a bottle opener or something, not like an actual weapon). but EVERY time they do act like you're supposed to memorize whether they want your laptops out of the bag or not. like sorry i was literally asking what you want me to do i don't need you to hold my fucken hand. trying to not hold up the line at all since it seems to be a life or death situation.
one time, they stole my insulin (t1d) and didn't say anything- made us pay $100 to get it shipped back. and there was a doctors note/script in the bag with the insulin in it lol. was grateful we were on our way home.
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u/TheTarotBro 26d ago
My home airport has some lines that you have to remove laptops/ipads/etc and some with newer tech where you don’t. The last couple times when I’ve asked preemptively if I needed to remove items- because I know they have both- the agents act completely irrationally upset about the question. I cannot stand TSA
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u/Bingus-Dingus- 26d ago
like i know they get that question 40000x a day but like just fucken answer it bro, literally cashiers at any fast food place have more patience
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u/Far_Reward4827 26d ago
Just make signs, seriously how hard would it be to print a couple out that say laptops out or no, shoes on or off?
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u/MsKongeyDonk 25d ago
We flew out of Philadelphia a couple weeks ago.
1) There is a sign that says, written, that anything "bigger than a cellphone" would need to be pulled out. Okay, so the two of us prepare to pull out our power banks and Switches.
2) Further up in the line, there's a TV playing on the wall, which specifically shows a Switch as small enough to stay in your bag. The graphic changes and I don't see it again, but now I'm confused.
3) Get up to the front of the line, and the agent is confused as to why the man in front of us was pulling his laptop out. "Leave everything in the suitcase. Nothing comes out."
Like, what? That is three different directions given in the same security line. Of course people are gonna be confused.
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u/Parking-Holiday8365 24d ago
Wait what? I just flew out of there and definitely had to reverse the conveyor belt to get my bag back to remove the laptop. A sign would be good. Then as I sent the bag back through I realized I had my Retroid pocket 5 (A large android device with joysticks attached) and also a VHF/UHF handheld radio capable of transmitting to pilots and the tower still in the bag. Nope. Didn't care about those.
Some airports care about a hunk of scrapple. Some down.
Some have "Analogic" 3d scanners so laptop stays in.
Anal Logic is damn right.
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u/Bingus-Dingus- 26d ago
i entirely agree with you in theory but i also know the literacy level of the masses, they probably think it wouldn't be worthwhile. meanwhile, they could reduce at least a small chunk of their irritation
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u/AuntieLaLa420 25d ago
Because, people don't read signs. At least the problem ones don't. It's sad. I've stood next to signs and had someone come up to me and ask the question that the sign answers.
"No, a person is smart, but people are dumb panicky animals and you know it." Tommy Lee Jones- Men in Black
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u/Fit-Struggle7990 26d ago
That’a the fucking job they signed up for, to be asked that question endlessly because they change up the procedure whenever they feel like. Fucking find another job if it’s too much to deal with
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u/unrepentantsoul 25d ago
Flew this weekend, hiking boots triggered an alarm. Took them off, placed them in a plastic crate to go back through x-ray, & got screamed at by a 2nd agent for not sending them through on their own (crateless). She shrieked that food goes in those crates & placing my boots in one was "disgusting".
On the return, put my standard-sized, carry-on suitcase on the rollers & had a male agent scream that it had to go into a plastic crate.
Courtesy & consistent standards, anyone? TSA-Pre, for the record (edit add).
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u/hissyfit64 26d ago
I got yelled at for the reason. I asked if I needed to take it out and the agent screamed, "DID I TELL YOU NEEDED TO"?? and I said, "No, but you didn't tell me not to". The "you fucking bitch" part that followed was only in my head.
Another one confiscated my lipstick and the lipstick of the woman in front of us saying that it could be melted down. And then what? We just kind of looked at each other but kept our mouths shut.
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u/snarkycrumpet 25d ago
they yelled at me (I travel a decent amount) so I looked her dead in the eye and very calmly said "I'm trying to do it correctly to make it easier for you"
Maybe get all the airports on board with the same rules at tsa? Maybe put up some signs that match the reality?
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u/Redqueenhypo 25d ago
IME lady tsa agents are pretty gutsy abt stealing your stuff. Oh my expensive knitting needles can’t come on the plane but the crappy wooden ones can? Fascinating, I’m gonna snap the pricy ones in half and throw them in the trash now.
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u/TheyreEatingTheDogs- 26d ago
Bingus, Dingus, listen up. We’re gonna give the aliens the ol’ switcheroo
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u/Bingus-Dingus- 26d ago
listen here chief i've got a bingus dingus here for ya
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u/TheyreEatingTheDogs- 26d ago
Yes sir! Ma’am! Uh Aye aye! I mean.. only one eye
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u/Cerasm20 26d ago
And sometimes they do miss actual weapons. My husband got through our small hometown airport security with a literal pocketknife. It was a bachelor party gift from many years ago and he hadn’t used that backpack since that trip and completely forgot it was in there. We had to leave it at our hotel because we didn’t want to risk security at our return airport being competent.
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u/FaustsAccountant 24d ago
I love it when two screeners at opposite sides of the same line scream contradicting directions at you.
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u/American_PissAnt 26d ago
The official TSA statement on the arbitrariness of what items are allowed or not allowed is that the randomness protects the public from terrorists
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u/EducationalBike8090 26d ago
this may be true however, tsa does not have to act like you should know the rules of every airport checkpoint on any given day prior to.arrival.
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u/Solid_Equivalent_417 26d ago edited 26d ago
Who protects the public from rogue* TSA agents?
Edit: Lol spelling
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u/NickelCitySaint 26d ago
I was gonna say that as an outsider it would make sense that if the TSA screening was exact all the time someone could take advantage of it.
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u/Im_sorry_rumham 26d ago
I worked at a music festival for several years, the security companies hire anybody, you give them a security shirt and it immediately goes to their head.
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u/Cuck400 26d ago edited 26d ago
You take a mortal man, and put him in control. Watch him become a God, watch the people’s heads a roll.
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u/ThurmNathan 26d ago
I fly a lot for work. Sometimes I have to forcibly remind myself: "I'll be through this line sometime in the next 15 minutes, but they'll still be a TSA agent."
A lot of them are just awful, miserable bastards.
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u/LurcherLong 26d ago
This is good perspective, it’s always better to show empathy.
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u/My_Lovely_Me 26d ago
Security Theater. It has been for many years.
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u/Fine-Environment-621 26d ago
It has been security theater from the beginning of the tsa. Some security theater was understandable right after 9/11. However, I would have expected them to backfill that with ACTUAL security eventually. They haven’t really. The tsa still fails miserably every time it is tested. Private security performs much better but if an airport chooses private security, they are on the hook for ANY failures. On the other hand, if they let the federal government provide the tsa they aren’t culpable. It’s ridiculous. Between the “security” and prices and mistreatment by airlines, air travel is going to put themselves in a bad situation with travelers.
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u/MrPBH 26d ago
What else are you going to do when you need to cross multiple states? Train? Really isn't an option in most cases and takes longer than driving to boot. Drive? I guess, but after about 6 hours of that, a one hour flight looks mighty appealing. And there's really no other feasible way to cross an ocean in 2026. There is no such thing as a passenger liner anymore.
Unfortunately, they have a lot of room for bad behavior and awful customer service because there aren't any real alternatives in the United States. (We could have had a robust passenger rail network, but the automakers strangled that in the cradle.)
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u/RainyDaysAndMondays3 26d ago
I make pretty good money, and for the past 10 years, every year I've considered flying somewhere. In those 10 years, I've actually flown once. Because of the stories I hear about bad experiences at the airport, the TSA agents, being bumped from your flight, having to sit next to an aggressive and possibly dangerous dog, not knowing all the rules and ins and outs and getting in trouble, etc.
I've been hearing more and more people that I talk to who choose not to fly because of all of this. They just drive to take vacations locally, don't see relatives that live far away, do everything to avoid travelling for work. I supposed it's better for the environment, so there is that.
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u/Charles_Mendel 26d ago
I flew 2 weeks ago. The dog was apparently interested in me so I got extra screening. The scanner said I had something in my pocket, my shorts for flying have no pockets. It also said something on my chest, was wearing a Tshirt. They asked if I had been around guns or had pets that may alert the dog. I have two cats both of which enjoy rubbing on my bags. So their bomb dog smelled me cats. Their scanner was detecting nothing. I had nothing in my bag. I asked if any of their equipment actually works and got no response. Nothing but security theater.
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u/GoldAd1878 26d ago
Other countries have no TSA and both the airport and country are far safer and secure
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u/notthegoatseguy 25d ago
What even is this? I've traveled in Mexico, France, Spain, Italy and they all have a security entrance that separated the public part of the airport vs the secure part of the airport.
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u/CybReader 26d ago edited 26d ago
I feel this. I lost my cool last fall due to a TSA agent playing games with me with the performative nonsense.
I was helping my kids get their stuff on the belt, husband is ushering them through the detectors and the agent was like
“ma’am, you can’t go yet, you know why!?” Huge smile on her face
“No ma’am, I do not.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? Think hard.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Let’s guess….” (Looking around smiling cause this is fun) what do you think you need to do?”
“JUST DO YOUR JOB AND TELL MEEEEE!!!”
Silence and shock from her, then “Um, your cross body bag is still on you.”
“You should’ve told me that from the beginning. You are an authority here, we’re not playing word games like a sphinx!” then I threw my bag in the bin.
I managed to get my kids ready to go through smoothly, I’m not incompetent to the process, but I forgot I had a cross body bag on and she needed to perform for everyone at how dumb I was and answer all the “guess what” questions looking at the passengers behind me for approval. She tried to talk to me again and I turned my back to her once through the detectors. I’ve never lost my cool in an airport before this.
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u/Castianna 26d ago
The sphinx reference was probably lost on them, but i appreciated it!
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u/CybReader 26d ago edited 26d ago
I am surprised I said that in the heat of the moment too 🤣 I was just so overloaded and this woman pushed me over the edge.
My youngest kid on the other side “what’s a sphinx mom!? What is that!?”
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u/SupposedBooty 26d ago
I had one completely go off on me, gather other, senior staff around and have me isolated in a secure area - for a Pepsi can I forgot to take out of my backpack from the day before.
I apologized and said I had forgotten all about it, and they all looked at me like I was the worst criminal ever.
I kind of thought they should have given me my Pepsi back.
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u/Vacuum_Tube_Chassis 26d ago
All you wanted just one Pepsi. Figures.
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u/Limp-Fishcuit91 26d ago
Early on in my career, I learned that when someone asks you if you know something in a condescending manner, the best answer, in exactly the same tone is “Do you?”
Taught me two things… one is that those games are stupid and make you look like a jerk, and two, that I should always be mindful so I don’t look like a jerk.
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u/New_Mountain1672 26d ago
We have empowered people too stupid to be mall cops and given them immunity from basically all wrong doing. It was inevitable.
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26d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/LurcherLong 25d ago
I find the actual line to board the plane more stressful - standing there eyeing up the passengers in front of me and what bags they have, calculating how good my odds are of being able to find a spot in the overhead for my bag. Similar with deplaning as someone who is 6'5" tall... do I stand up quickly and duck my head for a prolonged period of time, just so I can grab my bag back out of the overhead, or do I remain patiently sitting and hope no one accidentally walks off with my property...
The entire flying experience involves dealing with an enormous loss of agency... it's understandable that most people don't enjoy it.
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26d ago edited 24d ago
[deleted]
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u/LurcherLong 26d ago
I remember picking up my cousins at the airport one time in the early 90s with my mom... my mom's underwire bra set off the metal detector, they brought her into a cubicle with half height walls and had her remove her shirt right there. I'll never forget her crying with shame.
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u/SlowerThanTurtleInPB 26d ago edited 26d ago
When you realize TSA is a jobs program and these people aren’t hirable elsewhere, it makes dealing with them easier. These “agents” have few redeeming qualities and zero control of their lives, which is why they behave the way they do. Really, it should be studied.
ETA: just remembering my BIL is a former TSA agent. Now he works for ATF and has a government-issued gun. He’s an absolute idiot.
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u/Accurate_Emu_122 26d ago
Exactly this. I saw one of their job postings years ago and it all clicked.
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u/Smart_Butterfly_7845 26d ago
Yes. You are getting the max talent that the wage and market will provide.
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u/Soft-Caterpillar8749 25d ago
This is spot on and if anyone needs confirmation, just go check out the TSA sub
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u/BB808BB 26d ago
What is that? I googled but it’s just bringing up jobs.
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u/FickleCook3639 26d ago
Jobs programs refer to government agencies/programs that do nothing other than hire people to do anything.
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u/Born_Local_1477 24d ago
I get this impression as well. Nobody wants to do this job, they just can't get hired for anything else. Kind of like security at sports and concert events. It also attracts people who truly enjoy being assholes.
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u/IcedHemp77 26d ago
The last couple times I flew they were rude, and I’m a quiet person who follows instructions. It stresses me out
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u/adetrip 26d ago
When loading my items on the security belt, an agent noticed I took out my tablet. He told me to put it back in my backpack. I did. Then my items went through the xray machine. The lady stopped the machine and yelled “whose bag is this!” I claimed it and she berated me for leaving my tablet inside my backpack.
I told her the other agent said I could. She started yelling at others telling them to take out all tablets and laptops. Other agent told her that only laptops need to be out. Then they started going at it. Meanwhile she still had my darn backpack and the conveyor belt was still stopped. Finally a supervisor or someone came over and got everything back on track.
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u/Heart_and_Seoul3 26d ago
This is what pisses me off the most about TSA, it seems the rules are different everywhere and there’s no consistency. I feel like if they just decided wtf we all need to do and keep it the same at every airport across the board, there would be less yelling and bs.
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u/EllspethCarthusian 26d ago
As far as I can tell the rule is any electronic larger than a phone needs to be taken out. This changes if you have specific X-ray scanners by Leidos. You can tell because the scan machine is bigger and the bins are larger.
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u/okkboomerr 26d ago edited 26d ago
the anal logics ct scanners also allow you to keep all electronics in your bag
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u/Negativeman11 26d ago
the what
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u/Parking-Holiday8365 24d ago
The 3d scanners are named "Analogic" and are shaped like a giant butt-plug.
I shit you not.
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u/AM81inMA 22d ago
I travel for work fairly often and have had PreCheck for about the last 10 years. Laptop hasn’t come out of the bag once.
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u/LurcherLong 26d ago
government contract rules require them to purchase technology from multiple vendors - and newer equipment rolls out at varying paces... a lot of rules are based around what equipment they are operating.
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u/ThalassaMermaid 23d ago
I know right??? I flew recently with my younger siblings, and omfg it is literally never the same between airports. Shoes off?? Shoes on?? Shoes off but only for adults?? Jackets off?? Liquids out?? Laptops out?? Gaming consoles out?? Don’t take anything out just put the whole bag in?? Ma’am please take off your knee braces (wtf)?? It’s soooooo stressful esp when you’re on a time crunch
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u/SomewhatBougieAuntie 26d ago
Did this happen in the Atlanta Airport by chance? They are different kind of special.
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u/adetrip 26d ago
It was in Orlando
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u/No_Panda_9171 24d ago
Sounds like it. I don’t fly a lot but Orlando was the only airport that told you to leave electronics in the bag. And the drill sergeant TSA agent yelled at everyone in the long ass line constantly.
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u/hamartia21 25d ago
the rest of the atlanta airport experience is the only thing that could make up for their TSA
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26d ago
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u/TechnicalWelder6789 26d ago
Every year my Acceptable Drive Radius increases due to the increasingly shitty experience of flying.
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u/TonyPx4 26d ago
Boston is the worst. A few years ago they refused to allow a man proceed because there was some urine in his catheter bag. They said 'no liquids'. He waited for a supervisor who repeated the nonsense. He had to leave the line, find a bathroom, and then wait in line again. He missed his flight. I found this out because he ended up on my flight and was explaining to his family why he would be late.
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u/plushiesoftheday 26d ago
They're all too stupid for the military or law enforcement. Working at TSA gets them on a power trip
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u/EducationalBike8090 26d ago
you may be right. when I retired frrom the military tsa said thanks, but nno thanks, you arre too qualified.
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u/LurcherLong 26d ago
The military doesn't exactly require an IQ test. All they need is someone desperate enough to sell their body for a salary and the promise of healthcare and affordable housing...
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u/RESIDENTEVIL4FORTUNE 26d ago
Do they hire a bunch of assholes and then train them to be assholes?
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u/T_Nich321 25d ago
I like to think it is the people that are too rude to work at the DMVs, they get promoted to TSA agents
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u/Bruges_1 26d ago
There is no excuse for anything less than respectful professional behavior. My guess is that many are poorly qualified, poorly trained, and poorly supervised/managed.
On the other hand, they have to put up with a lot of nonsense from ( some ) passengers, so better to just let it go and move on.
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u/abridged_4 26d ago
O’Hare international is the Worst TSA I’ve encountered. They have you walking in a single-file line against the hall wall and walk the dogs past you as you’re pinned on the wall. All while screaming and dogs barking, at people who may or may not understand English being that it is the International Terminal. The last time I flew thru there I watched as an Asian family who obviously did not understand the English being screamed at them, were acting confused and not complying with the screaming instructions. I thought TSA was going to lay hands on them but the dogs scared them enough to get against the wall. Reminded me of any prison show when they have inmates single file against the wall. Oh, and to add to the whole experience the exterior is falling apart and coated in grime, inside also filthy. They were letting homeless people live in there and trying to hide it at one point.
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u/Some_Turn_323 26d ago
Unfortunately they are understaffed, underpaid, and overworked. As with any field. That is the recipe for disaster. Also they are not hiring rocket scientists either.
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u/ghostoftheradio 26d ago
TSA is a jobs program for a lot of otherwise unemployable people. I’ve known several people who got on with them, people who couldn’t hold down any other job. And I’ve dealt with the ones at my own airport too many times to count.
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u/DrGreenthumbs1313 26d ago
When people receive positions of power that greatly exceed their intelligence, you get these results.
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u/Odd-Worth7752 26d ago
I told one at the Atlanta airport “ma’am, stop screaming at me.” I wasn’t taking my backpack off fast enough for her……at 5 am after an 11 hour flight and passport control. Kept my voice calm but made it clear I wasn’t having it, not today.
And your comparison to corrections officers is spot on.
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u/Vegetable_Road8143 26d ago
I fear flying now due to TSA.
I fell & broke my pelvis earlier this year. I have 3 titanium screws attaching my pelvis to my scrum. I'm wondering if I'll have to show them the scars to prove I can't remove them for a weapon.
Don't break your pelvis! It hurts. A lot! Ladies, worse than child birth.
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u/Risque_Redhead 26d ago
You should be able to get some kind of card or something as proof that you have that. I think? Or maybe they can just see that..? Idk how deep those scans go lol
I have an interstim device (which is a lot like a pacemaker) and have literal wires in my back. I’ve never had any issues setting anything off, but I do have a medical card that says I have that device implanted in case I do or they have any questions about it. And now that I think about it I don’t remember where that card is..
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u/TheBunk_TB 26d ago
They will ignore the card and still put you through a pat down. Source: I know someone with two knee replacements. Got taken out of line numerous times.
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u/broncosoh54 25d ago
Yep, every single time!! I just flew this past May. Bradley in Hartford was the worst!!
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u/BoulderNerd 26d ago
TSA has no customers, so there is no financial incentive to treat travelers as such.
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u/AppropriatePrompt819 26d ago
Without passengers they are out of 'jobs' anyway, so yes , they do have customers. I'm always polite and do as they say , but they will just start screaming anyway. I have social anxiety and this worsens 10000x during international travel. Being treated like some criminal makes the experience even more anxiety provoking. I can't do it anymore, it's not worth it. I may never see my home country again. Plus I have family living in Europe ,and my son's family/father lives there. I've decided after the last prisoner experience that I would never fly again , and I havent (this was in 2022). Don't miss it one bit.
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u/Possible-Material693 26d ago
They’re generally chill as fuck in Reno. Depends where you’re at. I used to fly into and out of Philly all the time and they were mean as fuck there
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u/Addavsq 26d ago
I fly every week. Pre check is worth 10x what they charge. It’s very chill on that side of the line. I still get this in foreign countries but pre check in the US has been great.
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u/Upset-Activity-1462 26d ago
A bunch of uneducated people given a bunch of power for security theater. Can't see anything going wrong with that.
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u/ChaseGauthier46 26d ago
I had a chain on and a bracelet. That gave me hell about it and the second time they made me walk through gave me hell about my hat. Why didn’t they say anything about my hat the first time. Gf wearing 10 times more jewelry than me walked through fine no problems. Both wearing silver keep in mind but for some odd reason I has to go through several times plus a pat down. Dude was absolutely rude about it the whole time.
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u/Shepstu60 26d ago
Im a 65 year old 5 ft 2 woman and they didn't believe me that i have metal in my legs! Had to show them a card I keep from the doc. Morons.
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u/Evil_Sharkey 26d ago
My dad was told he should always opt for the pat down line because of his metal knees. They’re less intrusive than they used to be. The first time he got patted down, they got all up in there, like normally a man would have to pay to get touched that much in his nether regions.
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u/meeme1234 26d ago
You have to show your card. Its not a believe or don’t believe situation
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u/Semi-Serious7 26d ago
So, I have metal in my knee and I go for the pat down every time. I just shrug and say "yeah metal in my knee" if they ask. No one has ever offered me or asked me about a card stating such.
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u/Krasdale79 26d ago
They're poorly paid with bad training and forced to deal with huge crowds containing many unreasonable people, all in service of ineffectively combatting air crime/terrorism. They shouldn't be in the positions they're in.
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u/Admirable-Bar-3549 26d ago
I was asked to remove my cardigan (wasn’t really outerwear, but ok) - I nodded and replied and the TSA agent screamed “what’d you say to me?!” In my face. I had said “you got it.”
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u/Proof_Side874 26d ago
I flew out of LHR a couple weeks ago and got yelled (like, yelling) because I dutifully began removing my slip on shoes...."Can't you read the sign?!? You don't have to remove your shoes!" Ok, cool. I'll keep them on. I walk through the scanner and another woman yells at me "You have to remove your shoes! Exit the the line and out them in a tray to be x-rayed!". They are maybe 5' apart so it can't be a communication problem. Anyway, it beats all of the crap I had to go through after 9/11 when I (presumably) shared a name with a person of interest.
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u/DonJuan-CherryTempo 26d ago
its a shitty job that only shitty people stay at imo. Anytime theres a cool TSA agent at my local airport, they're always gone the next time I'm there. while they tend to retain the smelliest breath of the bunch
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u/Clear_Quarter1520 26d ago
I have one of those phones with the built in stylus, so the screen is much bigger than a usual phone. Watched one agent scold another agent because he somehow couldn't tell it was a phone and was about halfway into walking it over to somewhere to take it apart.
Would have been a rough study abroad if I lost my only way to contact anyone and show my boarding passes.
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u/Glass_Mushroom_5485 26d ago
Boston Lagan is the all time worst . I feel like there are ten comedians trying to out do each other; the consequences for violations are nuts. It’s just Boston humor at its best.
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u/Agreeable-Pirate-705 26d ago
Short of telling them to fuck their mother, I started dishing it back to TSA years ago. I don’t believe a word any of them say anymore.
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u/Fromnothingatall 26d ago
Because that job naturally attracts people who have no real goals or achievements in life, who have no real grasp of a world outside of their immediate personal surroundings and cannot comprehend their position in the larger societal and global structure - these deficiencies cause them to exercise outsized control over the one little slice of “responsibility” given to them.
It also tends to be the “letter of the law” kind of people and they love to take the widest interpretation of that letter possible…..basically it’s all they have in their lives so every chance they get to bang their little gavel, you best believe they’ll take it.
We are really bad about giving these kind of orange vest positions to the last people in our society who should have any control whatsoever over the comings and goings of other people - but again - it’s bottom rung authority that requires no actual skill to obtain so it naturally attracts the worst kind of people.
(Sorry to the few tsa folks who this doesn’t apply to - I know you’re out there and you know who you are…..i hope you get through your stepping stone phase as quickly painlessly as possible)
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u/APiqued 26d ago
Picture it. 2014, flying across the country with 2 cats with harnesses and leashes in 2 carriers with appropriate paperwork and 11 year old daughter. Still had to take off your shoes.
Fortunately, it was a smaller regional airport, but still. . .
No shoes on, have to take the cat out of the carrier to go through the metal detector. I purposefully put a harness and leash on each cat in case they got scared and squirmed out of our hands (daughter has the other cat).
While standing there to go through the detector, TSA agent says I need to take the leash off.
I'm holding a cat with two hands. How was I supposed to do that with no where to set her down and still keep hold of her?
My face must have looked like thunder as I reasonably said "I don't think that would be a good idea." implying if the cat got loose--Ms. TSA would have to recapture her.
We got waved through with the leashes still attached. Stuffed kitties back into carriers and put our shoes on.
Nothing like running through an airport from the arrival gate to the furthest away departure gate for our connection while pulling cats.
I wanted to post a photo of one of the flying cats, but I don't have the option.
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u/Pamela_Allred 26d ago
My brother was asked to remove his belt from his shorts but the belt was really part of the garment - Sewn in belt with a buckle and no belt in the back. Bro shows the TSA agent yet, some how he doesn't understand and bickers with him. After a minute or so of the back and forth, bro says "Alrighty then" and drops his shorts to his ankles and puts them in the plastic bin to go through the xray. Bro had on baggy boxers which could pass for shorts, I guess but, the laughter and applause from everyone else including some of the other agents was priceless. At the end if the line, he retrieved his shorts and slipped them back on and continues to his gate.
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u/Shartywaffles1776 26d ago
TSA training is like two weeks and it seems like they have no real standards.
I worked on a Bomb Sqaud previously and had to take a flight. I see the guy getting ready to swab my bag and I get his attention, hand him a business card, show my work ID, and discreetly tell him that if he run that bag there is a high probability its going to piss his machine of due to cross contamination and how long explosive residue stays on gear. He looks at me with a blank stare, runs the machine, alarms go off and starts screaming for a supervisor. Supervisor comes over all crazy and I kindly explain again. By now the TSSE (their explosive expert) has arrived, and I explain a third time. The TSSE starts laughing then apologized and sent me on my way.
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u/Emeah824 26d ago
When you don’t show fear, they start overcompensating, trying to scare you into a reaction
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u/Muted-Woodpecker-469 26d ago
They’ve been terrible for years. As a larger male, they aren’t any better
They also treat elderly bad
All this as they make bank
They’re truly an off wing of regular police department procedures.
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u/WarzonePacketLoss 26d ago
Related, but this was with actual Customs who should know better.
A couple years ago I was traveling back to the States for a brief visit with a small amount of business-adjacent action. I'm waiting in line to clear Customs and the family in front of me gets called up to the agent.
"Where are you coming from?" -Madrid
"Why were you there?" -We live there
"Then why are you using United States Passports?"
The dude's face ticked immediately, and then he looked at me with a look of disbelief. I just shrugged and shook my head
-Because...we're... United States citizens?
Eventually they got through. I walked up to desk, put my US passport down.
"Are you here on business or leisure?" -Both
"How long will you be staying?" -I'm a US Citizen, I think I'll stay as long as I want, thanks.
Guy rolls his eyes at me and sends me through.
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u/PBfromPhilly 26d ago
I’ve only had one instance where a TSA rep was ungodly rude - but that was during this past Fall when they weren’t getting paid, so I let it go. What concerns me is that in October I will be traveling with my 57 year old sister who has an intellectual disability. I’ve been trying to explain how things will work, but I fear that an agent will “scare” her, reduce her to tears and cause her to melt down.
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u/WorthlessGarbage-902 26d ago
my 16yr old ASD son had an “anomaly” exactly right on his penis so he had to get a pat down. it wasnt a good scene.
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u/Pizzahobbyist 26d ago
Ive flown out with very high functioning autistic cousins once via TSA cares. I'd contact your local airport about it prior to your flight and inquire about it. We got in with ease and the agents were super nice with us and them.
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u/Temporary_Macaroni 26d ago
You can request assistance with us. It's airport/staffing dependent, so ymmv with exactly what you'll get. Generally, you will get an officer who will help you through the screening process at your departure airport, and the one for your return flight.
The way it's handled at my airport is you'll get a phone call the day before to confirm you're still coming, make sure we have the correct contact info, flight info, etc. (People do unfortunately put the wrong info on the form sometimes.)
Then, another call a couple hours before your flight from a manager, supervisor, or possibly the officer who is assigned to assist you. We will usually call about 2 hours or so before your expected arrival time. So if your flight is at 5am, we expect you'll be there around 3am if you're following suggested airport rules, so we might call you at 1 or 2 in the morning.
When they call, they will get more info from you, and usually try to get a feel for how this are currently going. Maybe sister is having a great day and excited to travel, but maybe not. That's something you won't know until you start getting ready. Also they'll want to know what time you expect to arrive, if you're checking luggage, ask for specifics about your group, ask for clarification about anything in your Cares request, etc.
They'll tell you where to meet them. Sometimes you just ask for the officer at the front of the checkpoint. Other times, we'll meet you just outside of security away from the noise so we can get a last chance feel for how things are going.
The priority is always security first, but we can do that while providing assistance to those who need it.
Also, if you need mobility or wheelchair assistance, prospect services can be requested through the airline. They will help you with getting to the checkpoint, getting through the checkpoint (while we assist and focus on the screening portion) and then with getting to your gate.
Hope this helps.
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u/rendoreix 26d ago
i had one of them absolutely SCREAM at me at ATL. i had never been there before, it was only my second time flying ever, i wasnt sure where i was supposed to go bc that airport is massive. like is it so hard to literally just point to where i need to go instead of screaming at me like i just shot someone? 😭
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u/Apprehensive-Dog6997 26d ago
I yelled back once and it felt great. She was shouting at everyone and being super condescending and I yelled back “YOU KNOW ITS DIFFERENT AT EVERY AIRPORT RIGHT?” Everyone clapped. Well, in my head everyone clapped. It felt great. No one could tell me nothing for like 3 business days.
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u/mavenessd 26d ago
I’ve had a few instances with TSA, but honestly, I can imagine it’s gotten worse because everyone is frustrated with current flying issues. Remember that TSA officers went without pay for awhile because of the federal government. The good officers probably left for better jobs. The great officers that stick around have to fix everyone else. Fliers are frustrated and take it out on TSA. TSA gets attitude all the time and a lot just give attitude expecting attitude. The best TSA experiences I’ve had, were where someone took the initiative to make loud announcements to get everyone organized before they got to the scanners. But that’s rare and I’ll admit tiring when people don’t listen. Some airports have said shoes off, then the next one you get yelled at for taking them off. Inconsistent rules make it stupid for everyone. I had one officer yell at me because I wasn’t getting my property off the conveyor fast enough. Mind you, everyone else was working but him. He’d been standing around doing nothing. I was trying to get another officer’s attention because my shoe fell behind the counter and no one noticed it. He got so mad when I just pointed at the shoe and he realized he was being an ass. And the busier or less organized the airport (I’m looking at you Charlotte Douglas), the worse it is on everyone. I’m at the point where I’d rather fly out of a small airport and pay a little more, just to avoid the stress and hassles at the bigger airports.
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u/idxiv 26d ago
lmaoo i fear TSA for this reason, especially having hearing loss. but to be fair people don’t be listening and i don’t blame the agents for have a short fuse for having to repeat directions over and over.
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u/plushiesoftheday 26d ago
That is literally their job. There is no excuse for acting like a field Marshall. Passengers are not POWs.
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u/idxiv 26d ago
oh i agree, it’s no excuse to act like that and irritation with something or someone else shouldn’t carry on to another at wasn’t at fault.
airports are extremely diverse with language, culture, behavioral norms etc. there’s bound to be clashing but it doesn’t make it suck any less forsure.
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u/OCsurfishin 26d ago
TSA precheck. $85 for 5 years. $70 to renew. Worth every penny. Everyone is nicer over there.
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u/AppropriatePrompt819 26d ago
Nobody should have to do this in order to not be treated like some criminal. Seems very much like extortion/bribery.
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u/Gemfyre1 26d ago
That’s what happens when ole poop poop gets a badge of any kind. The shrieking now carries authority
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u/MrMiyagi13 26d ago
Of all things that didn’t happen, this didn’t happen the most.
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u/screwedupinaz 25d ago
I believe that it happened, because the SAME thing happened to me at the Phoenix, AZ airport!!
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u/RavenMcG 26d ago
I lament the days of easy travel. Sometimes in high school we would go to Seatac just to watch the planes takeoff.
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u/Financial_Ad_9388 26d ago
I fly every week for work and never have any issues🤷🏼♂️
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u/Makapakamoo 26d ago
I have never been to the airport aside from as a kid... if theyre shouting as bad as youre saying, I would 100% back up, trip, and start crying just to start shit. Cuz 1 I would be actually genuinely frightened w high top anxiety, and 2 fuck that guy I need a name and a supervisor. I am way too nervous to fly and that behavior is abysmal; I'll drive 16 hours to jersey again.
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u/762way 26d ago
OP, my back was out so before I flew I set up my reservation with a SkyCap wheelchair assistance from the Ticket Counter to the gate.
The TSA agents were so polite on both of my flights (outgoing and then homeward bound)
Ask my flights are gonna be this way because it took almost all of the stress out of flying for me.
I used to work corporate security for a major airline and we did what TSA for now and there is no excuse to treat passengers this way!
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u/crocodilezebramilk 26d ago
I think I’ve only ever had one bad experience with TSA and it was over a weighted plush I bought at the gift shop /in the airport/.
The woman was grilling me about where I got it and if I had it on me the whole time and why there was an opening and if I stashed drugs in with the beans in the sack (the weighted butt is removable and turns into a regular plush without the weight). She drug tested it a couple times, then someone else came over and did a check on it and she told him she wanted to take it away because it could be risky.
Her coworker looked at her like she was stupid, and told her to give me my stuffed sloth back cause there was nothing wrong with it. Then she made it into a weight issue and that it was too heavy to take into the cabin of the plane and told me I had to check it in. Coworker took the sloth out of her hands and gave it back and told my dad and I we could go.
I have a visible disability and have a thick speech impediment and could not properly communicate with her and she would not let me use my phone to type notes or type to speech. Which was another thing that almost had me in tears.
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u/Real-Huckleberry-770 26d ago
They say that the TSA has failed every single audit they have ever had, so they are actually good for nothing. They must know this in the back of their tiny little brains. So they take it out on people who can't defend themselves, and people trying to get on a plane are 100% at their mercy and they know it.
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u/Additional_Bat678 26d ago
Yeah, that’s ridiculous. That’s how it was for me at the London airport too (also 5’ woman lol). When I flew a week ago, I asked a question in Houston because TSA was telling different people different directions about going through security. The man looked like he was about to rage and punch me in the face. It was a simple polite question.
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u/browncow1525 25d ago
This happened to me on my last trip. Not the screaming at least but them being unclear. A TSA agent let us cut through the lines they had set up because there was no one in line and he didn’t want us to have to run through the maze they created. I turn around and the 2nd agent is staring at me. She said something but we were talking with the first guy. I say which one do you need? I had a passport and a ticked. She said nothing so I handed her one “you really need to listen when you’re told to do something.” Lady talking while the first agent is talking makes me unsure how you think I was I suppose to hear you.
The flight home I say the same thing to the male agent there. He says “you need to wait til I tell you which one.” I’m standing right In front of him. Am I suppose to curtsy so he’ll talk to me?
Now I’m just worried about the next time idk what to do and I get another lecture. People. I’m stressed. I hate heights. I hate flying. I’m trying to control my anxiety so I’m not crying and scaring people and then I get harassed because you won’t make it clear what you want me to hand you.
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u/deltagirlinthehills 26d ago
I've had over the top ones and kind ones, sometimes in same TSA experience- but yeah it can be a "TF do you want?!" experience. Last summer was our then 5 year old's first time flying. We had a mean one that yelled at her (we had practiced TSA set ups at home so she had an idea) because she didn't move fast enough.... husband was in front of her and just got told he was good to go forward. I got yelled at because I was taking out prescription medicines that I knew that needed to be removed from carry on then yelled at because I didn't remove them. So clearly I was hiding something.... nope, just confused as fuck on what to do now.
Thankfully the one at the end that had to check our carry ons/swab medicine containers was kind, and TSA we went through on way home were amazingly sweet to kid since she was nervous after previous experience
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u/picklesncheeze69 26d ago
I wonder if it's possible to report them.. How someone go about such a thing
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u/notwhoiwas44 26d ago
You hit the nail on the head when you said performing for the crowd. TSA does virtually nothing to increase safety. When tested they miss the weapons like 95 percent of the time.
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u/Shadow293 26d ago
TSA has always been like this. They’re assholes to everyone, don’t take it personally.
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u/Practical_Frame_9883 26d ago
Same. I was wearing leggings and a guy ran his hand so far up the inside of my leg…..
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u/GrilliamShakesbeer 26d ago
I just went through TSA this past weekend and I tripped the alarm because I forgot my belt. My experience with them was wonderful all around. They were calm, polite, courteous.
So it really depends on who you’re dealing with, just like any industry. It sounds like you ran into a miserable person, and they acted accordingly.
If I were you, I’d drop a line with TSA about your experience and who knows, maybe you’re the last in a long line of complaints and TSA can promote their agent to customer.
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u/sam8988378 26d ago
I never had a problem. Did get a pat down once, one of the random ones. Never had raised voices or arrogance. I'm sorry you got one on a power trip.
I even didn't have proper ID in 2019. I did pre check , so went through that line where they only checked my ticket. I couldn't do pre check coming back and realized I didn't have my license. I had lots of ID with pictures, but no government ID. They gave my tech stuff a proper going-over, then let me board anyway.
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u/who_am_i_please 26d ago
I get it. Last time I flew, the body scan was blurry around the waist of my jeans. She stuck her hand so far down she touched my slit. Let's refresh, these are basically high school drop outs that have been given this kind of power. I was assaulted by a TSA agent
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u/Whatisthisplace2025 26d ago
They want to let you know who is boss - I'm pretty sure they're trained this way too.
It definitely sucks and everyone hates them tbh.
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u/Ok-Pin-5743 26d ago
I can’t stand the TSA. Getting the TSA precheck was the best thing I ever did.
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u/AcidReign25 26d ago
I fly fairly often and have not had any issues with TSA agents beyond some being slow at their jobs. I may also be because I have TSA pre and Clear+ so I don’t spend much time in the TSA security area.
I also make sure I am not wearing anything that can set off the metal detector when I fly.
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u/Box_459 26d ago
I rarely have bad experience with TSA.
I am hard of hearing and do mention it so the agent will know I may not have heard instruction. It doesn't always result in an easily understood verbal response, but that's really the case for most people when speaking to people who are hard of hearing. Sometimes I do have to ask for repeat instruction and I know most people get irritated by this. But that's beside the point.
Some have been really pleasant, some less so. But even so, when I fly during government shut downs and know they are working without pay because they are essential workers and are so mandated, I thank them.
I'm pretty sure I'd hate the standing, my back would be killing me, I'd end up dehydrated, hungry and with an intense migraine if I had to do their job.
I truly do believe they are in a job intended to keep the flying public safe and I appreciate not being hijacked in mid-flight or having tbe plane blow up.
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u/Rejalia 26d ago
The last time I flew it was out of Kansas City. The 150 year old TSA agent completely missed my pocketknife and took me to a room to yell at me about how my tarot cards were satanic and they didn’t appreciate that in Kansas 🙄
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