TSA: “Well, I like them out.”

Posted in A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant, check it out, Security | 4 comments

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Photo by Bucky Turco | NY Daily News

I flew with Mike from UPGRD from Houston to Dallas on our way home from our awards, television and webisode escapade. While going through security, Mike told me that he had read on the TSA blog that netbooks and items just as small and thin as them no longer need to be removed from your carry on bags.

At first, I didn’t believe him. But a quick look at the blog proves that he is correct. Two seperate posts dating back to April of this year state:

“Electronic items smaller than the standard sized laptop should not need to be removed from your bag or their cases. It’s that simple.”

Source: http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/04/traveling-with-e-readers-netbooks-and.html

A post made earlier this month, reiterated the post from April, but further mentioned:

Keep in mind that even though you’ve done everything right, our officers are trained to look for anomalies and the need may arise to take a closer look at your gadget.

Source: http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/11/macbook-airs-along-with-many-other.html

The problem: TSA agent’s don’t seem to know that netbooks and smaller items do not need to be removed from your bags.

On my way into work for this past trip, while flying through Phoenix (my home airport), I took my Dell Inspiron Mini out of my bag and placed it into a bin. As I was pushing my bags through, another TSA agent helped to “guide” them in the X-Ray machine. I said to her: “so, I hear that these [pointing to my netbook] no longer have to come out of everyones bag. That’s a great thing.. It’ll speed up the lines.” She looked at me and responded with: “what are you talking about?”

I explained to her that TSA.gov’s blog explained how various items don’t need to be removed from luggage any longer and she cut me off with: “well.. I wish TSA.gov would consult with us first before posting on that blog. I like them out.. So I’ll make everyone take them out.”

Okay, what? So even knowing what the rule is, you’re going to disregard it and create your own rules? Yep. “In the end, it’s my decision.. and I want them out.”

So, this got me thinking: It’s no secret that “consistency” isn’t in the TSA’s vocabulary but under what grounds is she asking me to remove my computer (had I not done so already)? What “anomaly” would cause her to ask me to remove it? I’m a crew member, in uniform, going to work, like I do every week.. she see’s me there all the time.. nothing is out of the ordinary, except for the fact I know the rule she’s supposed to follow and .. well, she doesn’t.

Test 2: San Francisco. My bag went through, netbook inside.. no questions asked. When I asked the screener how long the rule had been in place to allow netbooks through still packed, he responded with: “a few months now.”

So, I’d like to say the following to the Transportation Security Administration:

World English Dictionary: consistency

— n , pl -encies , -ences

agreement or accordance with facts, form, or characteristics previously shown or stated.

agreement or harmony between parts of something complex

the state or quality of holding or sticking together and retaining shape

I plan on keeping my netbook in my bag, and traveling with a print out of the blog to show any agent who questions. I wonder how this will turn out.

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