The TSA

[ajaxfetish]

I'm not really a fan of the TSA, but then that's a topic for the backroom. With the Christmas truce in place, I'm glad to have something positive to say about them. Starting our family's holiday travels this year in the Indianapolis airport, I had the best experience going through airport security I've had since the TSA's creation. The several staff members who worked with us were all helpful, friendly, and personable, and made the process as painless as they could. With our stroller, carseat, baby, and various baby-care items, including jars of baby food over 3 ounces, we probably gave them a lot more hassle than most travelers, but they made me feel like a person rather than a number, and I'm grateful for it. I don't know if it was an overflow of holiday spirit, a change in recruitment or training, or if we just got lucky and ended up with their best employees. Anyway, even though I think the TSA as an organization is unnecessary and a major inconvenience, these employees showed class, and I wanted to recognize that.

Thanks for making our Christmas trip brighter,

Ajax

[Ibrahim]

The very first time I ever flew on an airplane in uniform (right after Basic training) I got selected for the random strip search at the Vegas Airport.

So, basically, the TSA hates freedom.

well, they do technically violate the 4th amendment (so of course they do), but again, it's a topic for the backroom.

[Major Robert Dump]

I have always had to take off my boots in uniform. I expressed discontent about this once and the guy said something to the effect of "what about your boy McVeigh?" to which he then had an O5 and a SGM yelling at him telling him McVeigh wasn't "our boy" and he wasn't in uniform. This was when I was a scrub, and the TSA wasn't nearly as fascistic.....

Of course, in his defense, a couple of years later there would be that incident in Ft Hood.....

We also did a stop once as a small group last year coming in from Afghanistan where we had to change planes. We had long since turned in weapons, but I still had a holster. Let me tell you about all hell breaking loose when he asked and I told him that 20 hours earlier I was in a combat zone. The supervisor scolded me for not taking it off, and I pointed out that I had no bag (hence the beard and the smell) and no where to put it, and I wasn't going to throw it away because I planned on using it again when I went back to war 3 months later. Why I didn't have a bag is an entirely different story, but as you may know, not having luggage is a red flag as well. It eventually sorted itself out when they tired of my smart ass answers and I casually informed them the whole incident had been recorded. We should have never had to go back through TSA anyway as we were just changing planes. It was like they targeted us precisely because we were military

I havent been on a commercial flight in well over a year now, but I hear they are killing the boot thing.

They need to stop with this quota, by-the-numbers crap and use the system used by Israel, but I will stop there cuz this is the front room.

Ajax you are just lucky your baby wasn't carrying a holster.....

[Rhyfelwyr]

Well I flew for the first time in years a few weeks ago, on a UK domestic flight. I was amazed how simple it was after I heard all the hype about security, hardly any more difficult than jumping on a train.

[Tuuvi]

I've been lucky enough to not have any problems with the TSA. Last summer when I went to Alaska the one of the ladies at the x-ray was really grouchy and she snapped at me because I did something wrong but that's the worst I've ever had.

Well I flew for the first time in years a few weeks ago, on a UK domestic flight. I was amazed how simple it was after I heard all the hype about security, hardly any more difficult than jumping on a train.

Sorry this is OT but I'm curious how long does it take to drive from one end of the UK to the other?

[Ironside]

Sorry this is OT but I'm curious how long does it take to drive from one end of the UK to the other?

Google maps says going from Aberdeen to Plymoth is about 10,5 hours. To the really north of Scotland, about 14 hours.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Sorry this is OT but I'm curious how long does it take to drive from one end of the UK to the other?

Not sure, but Glasgow-Belfast doesn't really work by car.

[scottishranger]

I'm not really a fan of the TSA, but then that's a topic for the backroom. With the Christmas truce in place, I'm glad to have something positive to say about them. Starting our family's holiday travels this year in the Indianapolis airport, I had the best experience going through airport security I've had since the TSA's creation. The several staff members who worked with us were all helpful, friendly, and personable, and made the process as painless as they could. With our stroller, carseat, baby, and various baby-care items, including jars of baby food over 3 ounces, we probably gave them a lot more hassle than most travelers, but they made me feel like a person rather than a number, and I'm grateful for it. I don't know if it was an overflow of holiday spirit, a change in recruitment or training, or if we just got lucky and ended up with their best employees. Anyway, even though I think the TSA as an organization is unnecessary and a major inconvenience, these employees showed class, and I wanted to recognize that.

Thanks for making our Christmas trip brighter,

Ajax

As a fellow resident of Indy I think we have one of the cleanest and friendliest larger airports around. I have never had a problem going through TSA. Glad its not just me haha!