Im going to wear my spandex unitard next time. Honestly, am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous, and maybe, just maybe, we need to reign in these TSA agents, and stop making air travel such a tortuous nightmare?
I get patted down all the time. I opt out of the body scanner. Yes you can do that. With that said, not one terrorist has been caught in the entire history of doing these checks. There is therefore infinitely more chance you die from a plane crash than from the terrorist acts. But I don't see us running to the plane and checking it out ourselves either. Apparently we are ok with an infinitely bigger chance to die in a a crash as opposed to a hijacking. Yet, despite this knowledge, we continue to let them harass us. Imagine the amount of time we spend combined as a collective in the qeue for the scanner, undoing our belts, shoes, emptying pockets, undoing jackets, taking laptops out of bags, etc. All to still have an infinitely bigger chance to die in a crash. Food for thought.
I remember when full body scanners were first being tested at Heathrow... the line for security was stupidly long (like 45 minutes), but I saw that they were selecting "random" individuals from the line, putting them through the full body scanner and then escorting them to the front of the line. So I stared over at the people doing the selection until one of them looked over at me, I immediately broke eye contact and turned my head away from them. Wouldn't you know, I got "randomly" selected and bypassed a big chunk of queue.
I got stopped in Africa. They pulled out my tuning fork. What is this? I said, it’s a tuning fork. I am a choir leader. Show us what you do. I struck the tuning fork, and sang the pitch back. They looked at me very very suspicious, and said, keep it stowed in your bag.
I got stopped in Kenya and was asked why I was carrying weapons in my luggage. I suppose in Kenya small stones are weapons. Or maybe they just wanted a bribe.
Here's the joke. In twenty years of existence, TSA hasn't caught a single terrorist. On the other hand, more than 200 TSA agents have been found guilty of stealing passengers' property.
@@TheFansOfFiction200 thefts vs 0 terrorists caught isn’t shockingly small it’s overwhelmingly large. The amount of time is irrelevant as he’s comparing two things encompassing the same volume of time. Statistically speaking it would be a failure.
The real interesting point of data would be: how many terrorists successfully slipped through tsa? (I guess 0, but don't have any data). Catching 0 when there is actually 0 to catch shows a great deterrent effect.
I'm stopped 80% of the time. I'm male and travel alone. Other than that, I looked bored, unstressed, and am dorky and middle aged. When I'm searched, I'm STILL bored and unbothered because it happens so often. Apparently this is all very suspicious.
Be glad they don't seize your computer and accuse you of nasty deeds. I know of a middle-aged dorky unmarried guy from a forum on Thailand who was considering retirement in Thailand. He went there for a month with his computer. When he re-entered the US he apparently fit a profile and was detained for hours by US Immigration. They said no one takes a computer on vacation. In fact, many people do. They kept it and searched it but found nothing. They were looking for child *****. He was so freaked out because of the way he was obviously profiled.
I have the same experience. They love to grab my nuts pretty much every time I'm in an airport (which is several times a year for work). I've also had my laptop taken apart and they didn't even have the decency to put it back together. All I can think is maybe I made a list at some point because of my pro libertarian/ anti government views
I've traveled back and forth to meet a friend for a trip to Disneyland a few years in a row. I got patted down all but 2 times. I have no clue why. I'm not anxious about flying. I did have baggy clothes once, I had lost some weight hadn't new clothes yet. Another time was for my hair (I have a lot of fluffy hair). I had a tissue in pocket once. Another time I had boot-leg pants, another time my sock got bunched around my ankle. Other times I don't know why. I travel alone though, maybe that looks "wrong" I don't know.
Had an agent ask "oh what's this in your pocket" like he found some hidden item, it was a guitar pick I forgot was in my pocket and he felt like a moron.
I flew around 1962, I was 10, and the experience was incredible. I kid you not, had lobster tail on china with heavy cutlery on a linen tablecloth on the pull down - and this was coach. Back then every seat was 1st class. Then I flew a bunch in the 70's. So nice. If I volunteered off and got a free ticket, I sold them. I could also walk up to the 1st ticket counter of any airline, show my ticket and ask if there was an earlier flight I could get on. Usually they (airtline A) would take my ticket (airline B) and give me boarding passes for that flight (airline C). I'm 71 now and about 5 years ago I just quit flying. Thankyou TSA for making flying unbearable.
@@deansapp4635 I have an old Popular Science circa 1960 where they predicted highway speeds would be 100mph or more in the fast lane (obviously thinking of the AutoBahn which impressed Eisenhower so much, he initiated the Interstate Highway System. ....so much for progress.)
I'm an old guy who remembers when the flying experience was part of the joy of vacation. Now it's, get past the airport experience so I can start the vacation.
I like to watch old 50's movies where guys walked up a ramp to the plane right after hopping from a cab and quickly buying a ticket. All all the flight attendants were young, very pretty and greeted them friendly and with a nice smile.
My high school age son said, “Look at those guys. They look suspicious.” They pulled my son aside and went through his stuff. I still tease him about that..
The Gestapo-like attitude of a lot of TSA employees is what makes it such an unpleasant experience. It's obvious some of them clearly enjoy antagonizing you and purposely make a normal situation unnecessarily tense. A few would make great prison guards.
My daughter from the time she was 5 until she hit her early 20s was constantly selected for ‘special screening.’ Her name seems to have been in some database so that when she went thru a line they constantly told her (sometimes looking embarrassed they had to pat down an 8 yr old) she needed this. I did a google name search to try and see if I could figure out why. There was an IRA terrorist that had her name back in the 1980s. That’s the best I could figure out. Whatever it was, it wasn’t random. She was pulled out of line at least 75% of the time she flew. It seems to have finally stopped the last few years but it went on for at least 15 years.
In case your adult daughter is still being stopped, the "redress number," another commenter mentioned, is accessed through the Dept of Homeland Security's "Travel Redress Inquiry Program." www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip
Shortly after 9/11 I was rushing to make my flight home out of LAX. At the hand lugage scanner, suddenly everything went silent. I was asked if i had packed my bag, where i just travelled from. I answered. Then the police officer said "You have no idea what is in your bag, do you?" They showed me the scan of my bag. You see, i had used my carryon bag as an impromtu tool box and i had forgotten to move the 18" pipe wrench from the bottom into my checked luggage. I was given instructions not to open my carry-on during the flight.
Security is a theater. About 10 years ago, my wife and I were traveling to the Northeast the day before a major snowstorm was supposed to hit there. Instead of taking off belts and shoes, and going through the body scanner, everyone was processed through the metal detector. WHY? Oh, because they wanted to move passengers through security faster? Is "security" somehow different because there is a snowstorm?
Was stopped for pat-downs a number of time before I figured out that the my Wrangler-brand jeans, which have metal rivets that reinforce the pockets, were triggering the metal detector. Needless to say, I no longer wear them when traveling by air and have not been subjected to a pat-down since.
One day, flying out of San Antonio, a angent told me that I could NOT take my EMPTY large jug, so I was not going to give it to him and took off the top, put it into my pocket, and tossed the plastic, empty, jug. He instantly got the Sour Grapes face.
I've just come back from overseas. 6 airports and a pat down at every airport. A full knee replacement 18 months ago. 😏 Even before that I'd still manage to get get the attention at many airports. I'm just an overweight grandma. 👵🏼 I got no room to be hiding any contraband. 😂
It seems like the people often pulled out of line are senior citizens. It seems to me that they choose people less likely to put up a fuss. I've never seen a young person pulled out of line. I guess senior citizens fit the profile, huh?
Thats why I always chose to travel on trains in europe/japan/whatever country that has train network. If you include the TSA time, travel to airport time, luggage checkin, etc., 2 hour flight often gets beaten by 2 hours of train.
I travel a lot for work, and the one that always gets me searched is ammonium nitrate residue on boots and bags. I spend a lot of time at mine sites, so my bags and books end up getting dust from the blasting on it. It always sets off their sensors. The other bad one is moving drill core samples. They are dense foot long, 2 inches across cylinders of rock that look very suspicious under their X-ray machine.
Yes it really drives me nuts how they often pick old people.. it's like really? I think they just need to scan so many a day so they pick the ones that won't cause problems. It's annoying to see.
I used to travel a lot when I was in the military and ALWAYS got flagged. I later learned its likely because they have to screen so many people per day, and a white military male is the least likely to complain of discrimination, and if I did it would never go anywhere, thus making me a freebee for TSA.
in addition to large amounts of cash, be careful of carrying currency from multiple countries…this earned me a very thorough and intense extra screening on returning from a work trip where i had been to five different countries and had currency from each of them
@@jewelmarkessthat‘s 2 currencies, which is reasonable, presuming they are of your home country and the place you visited. Having 5 currencies is a little more suspicious unless you‘ve obviously been backpacking or something.
I've flown from Pearson International Airport to China 4-5 times in the last 6 years. The only time I wasn't pulled aside was on a midnight flight where security checks were minimal. It's the same thing everytime. They have me open my aluminum carry on, power on my laptop, swab my suitcase and backpack (sometimes also my jacket), then send me on my merry way through the priority lane. The agents were professional and friendly, and I basically get to skip the line. My aluminum suitcase was also swabbed in Shanghai -- the agent didn't even pull me aside, they swabbed the outside of my carry on when I was in line without a word. It's like they were trying a fulfill a quota and simply picked the shiniest suitcase in line (mine has hand-polished parts).
The TSA is simply Security Theater. It is doing nothing to deter the bad guys. They figured out a long time ago that are other easier ways to access vulnerabilities. The TSA isn’t necessary other than to give Grandma a pat down and a feel up.
You know, you say the TSA does nothing because the "bad guys" can find a "better way" but I can guarantee you if the TSA weren't around, the better way would be on commercial transport with civilians involved. Would you rather drug smugglers get in a shootout with police in the terminal or get caught by ICE at the border? TSA ensures these conflicts happen as far away from civilian transport as often as possible. As for terrorism and hijacking, I've heard of basically zero non-domestic terrorism and zero hijackings since 2001. Plenty of examples before then. The results speak for themselves. My conclusion? Suck it up, buddy. They're working to protect you.
I have Global entry, am a 71 year old woman that doesn’t wear baggy clothes and follows all the carry on rules, never complains or makes jokes, never sets off any alarms, yet gets a “random” additional scan about 75% of the time. No idea why. Just lucky I guess. 0:03
I know when I visited Turkey once while in Europe, I was flagged for extra scans that year, and maybe into next year as well. Something to keep in mind.
😂 It happens to me a lot. Female, around 70, flying solo to Montevideo, Uruguay, through Buenos Aires? ⏰⏰⏰⏰ Flying to Bali with my daughter? ⏰⏰⏰⏰ My upcoming trip is to Thailand for a month. Solo, female, 74. ⏰⏰⏰ Once I got checked twice on two different legs of my flight. 😅😅😅
TSA/Customs-Border Protection/Department of Homeland Security should have to comply with the Reasonable Articulable Suspicion standards as any other law enforcement agency. The Patriot Act as it stands is a significant infringement on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the citizenry. In the law's current form, it's way over the top in the presumption of guilt.
I didn''t get pulled aside for this, just an extra check by a TSA drug dog... I was walking in the line to the first TSA agent and passed an agent with a drug dog. I smiled and nodded (as if to say hello) to the agent. The agent changed positions so he was in front of me again to allow the dog to sniff me again as I walked by.
For me it often seems like they pick the obvious innocent just to meet some quota. For example my 70+ year old parents are searched regularly. Often by TSA agents with, let's say problematic, background. While they leave me, late 30s big white guy, alone. I'm definitely no security risk myself but compared to my parents I would consider myself the more obvious one to be searched.
My most horrible TSA airport experience was at the John Wayne airport in LA; bear in mind that I was about 20 years old, and it was my first time flying since post-9/11. Back when film was still a thing but most people were switching to digital, I had bought a really expensive film camera and had accidentally bought the type of film that couldn’t go through the X-ray machine during my trip. I told the TSA agent this, and they called a code. Next thing I know there were several agents in PPE, slowly opening the camera bag, slowly examining the contents, all while giving me dirty looks like I had just committed a crime. They two agents were talking to each other, but when I would explain something they were discussing, like my secondary lens I was carrying was for wide-angle shots, they would tell me to keep my mouth shut. Needless to say when I got home, I went out and bought myself a cheap-ass digital camera, and have no plans to ever go back to John Wayne airport again.
I always ask what their procedures are. They say it’s the same at every TSA checkpoint. I say it’s not some do and some do not ask for the laptop question. They deny it is different.
It's different at every airport. I was at one airport and saw all the "sheeple" taking their shoes off. There was no sign posted, so I left mine on and walked right through.
Had a TSA agent in Philly go through my bag because she didn't realize that GOLF BALLS are in sleeves of three. Then when she pulled them out, they all had to be swabbed for bomb components because she didn't know that they came in colors other than white...
I always used to wear long, flowy skirts until my TSA housemate told me that I kept getting flagged because of my “voluminous clothing.” He said he’d once caught two women with full size bottles of water in their sarees.
They’re like strange dogs. Don’t talk to them and don’t make eye contact. You may be able to pat them on the head and give them a pat on the head though.
Yup. I had a connecting flight back to the US, and I was at the layover in Quebec. I was new to flying alone, and I innocently asked a TSA agent at the very start of the line if I was in the correct place. He looked at my ticket, told me I was, and then told me I needed to go get a more "intensive search," so I went on a DIFFERENT line in which they strip searched me, questioned me, and took everything out of my carry-ons after first scanning. My first flight was delayed already, and after the incredibly long "interrogation," I had maybe 6 or 7 minutes to catch my flight before takeoff. I completely sprinted, and thankfully made it just in time. Keeping my mouth shut from now on!
I enjoy getting TSA folks in conversation as I always request a hand pat down. Once they are certain I am not a problem, and as a former cop, no problem at all. For most people, I cringe that they are forced to endure this nonsense.
I often dress wrong for the season because even in the winter I'll be wearing shorts and a tank top.....basically show maximum skin to minimize area subject to a pat down.
Careful with that. I had a friend who was refused boarding because she wasn't dressed "appropriately" for flying. They made her go buy longer shorts at an airport store
If I tried to fly, the x-ray machines would make so much noise it could be heard around the world. I have a 7-inch rod and 12 to 15 pins and screws in my right tibia. Sorry I can't leave my right leg at home. 😂
Whenever they search my bag. Is this your bag?, yes. Did you pack it?, yes. Did you have care and control of it at all times?, no. What?, no. I haven't seen it since I checked it in with the airline 2,3,4....hrs ago. I never put anything valuble in there, it just gets stolen. Open it so we can both see.
Before 9-11 I was returning from Germany and was taken to a partitioned area where they had my carry on bag with 4 large cylinders , wires and an electronic device. It was a Walkman and 4 bottles of German beer.
Former airline vice president - Persistent TSA intrusion and paranoia have made flying so miserable I refuse to fly commercial anymore, and what is most striking is I can most often fly for free! No thanks! I grew up in the 1960s, and as far as I care, thanks to the US government, flying is no longer an experience I desire to continue.
I’ve been stopped for my clothes before. I usually fly in leggings, and I’m short so they kind of bunch up at the bottoms sometimes. I got stopped because the extra material at my ankles was suspicious. After I got patted down she said “oh, you’re just short”
they've pulled me aside multiple times for a search when I literally only had my ticket. phone and wallet on me. no baggage, no carry on. not stop overs. and all tickets were return tickets, I was wearing tight jeans and a t-shirt
I once opted out of the body scanner because i was annoyed with TSA standing around talking than dealing with the huge line. Ended up waiting 10+ min to be pat down.. The lesson learned, not complying is the punishment.
I once forgot to put my eyedrops in a clear bag and TSA found it, saw it was clearly a sealed with plastic still on it bottle of eye drops next to a contact lens case, then looked me straight in the eye and said "im counting this as medicine" and put it back.rare they do anything like that but being in my mid teens and a very articulate and clean short girl probably helped too. I am the most non threatening looking person ive ever seen. (To clarify this was well over a decade ago.)
Being white and old is a red flag, because you are picked out to indicate there is no profiling. Happens to me all the time at Do exotic Sydney. I was told that I was travelling ‘light’ by a wand waver, after Zi had checked in my bag, but I was just carrying a mobile telephone. The flight was from Sydney to Canberra-35 mins. He went so far as to approach me before I had even finished collecting my stuff, ‘when you’ve finished here, come and see me!’. No please or thanks. Sydney Do estic (Virgin) . Don’t know who these ignorant people are, but their attitude is appalling.
Well, I'm white and 67 years old and I've never been picked out. I live in rural Alaska so I've flown more in the last 7 years than most people will in their lifetime. Nor have I heard of any people my age being targeted. You sound like an entitled old man whining about his white privilege.
I agree with this. I get pulled out of line a lot, even tho I comply with all the rules. One time, the TSA said, what do you have in your pockets? I said, I don’t have pockets, these are leggings, no belt, no metal, not baggy, I wore them so I wouldn’t get pulled out of line again.
I have a tsa pre approved pass, 30 minute search of my tsa approved wheelchair by 2 agents and full body search of me metal knee, back pins, Destination my mom's house same last name. Happens multiply times.
Yep, particularly when packed in plastic bags. Apparently it looks like plastic explosives. Packing roasted pumpkin seeds as in-air snack in a ziplock bag has gotten my bag searched twice now. Next time I'll double-bag them at home, then put them into the bin. That way TSA won't waste time looking through my dirty laundry. 😂
Just traveled a few days ago, went through TSA in like less than a minute lol I was kinda like... that's it? You don't wanna like.... check... slower? or.. better? lol This was at LAX at like 5:30 AM right when TSA opened up for the day.
Being an elderly lady...when traveling...I carry my cash in large bills, in a little pouch snuggled down my blouse between "the sisters" and safety pinned on each side. Yes, it always triggers the metal thingie...they take me aside...I show them..they get a good laugh and I am ok to go. Traveling is risky, purse stolen, misplace it, etc. This way I am secure. Just use credit card everywhere ? Nope...
There were one time while i was going through the regular carry-on x-ray check. I had emptied most of the contents from my backpack into a tray, but after it had been checked, i was advised for future flights to take toothpaste out of my toiletries bag. Not exactly something as severe as the examples listed in this video, but other than that, im fairly certain i`ve never been stopped for a thorough check in any airport.
This video was very informative and I also like how you go into describing the criticisms of the TSA. In addition to being inconsistent, pulling people aside for ‘suspicious behaviour’ creeps into ableism territory. Many people who have autism or ADHD act in a way that TSA may find to be suspicious. There’s also the whole can of worms that is extra scrutiny of those who are non white and transgender people.
My husband wears a suit and tie when he travels and he is disabled veteran and people on the airplane have asked him if he is a marshal which is funny to me because he walks with a cane 🦯 😂
Try going through in a wheelchair or motorized scooter. I have TSA pre check, and have had a fairly high US govt security clearance, and I still get patted down. No big deal for me, it takes a minute or two. The only time I had a bag search was during CV when I had packed one of button pushing devices to avoid touching key buttons, ATMs etc. Couldn’t blame TSA, it looked a lot like brass knuckles on the scanner.The TSA officers and I got a good laugh on that one.
Back in the day of 'real' boarding cards, I found that working for Uncle Sam was a surefire way to get SSSS (Special Security Screening Selected) stamped on it.
@@davidchilds9590same here. Retired AF, current civil service employee with a clearance, and love flying as an FAA licensed private pilot. I joined TSA Precheck and EVERY SINGLE TIME I’m selected for “random” extra screening. I’m quiet and respectful, dress in business casual to travel, know and follow all the rules, but still I’m “randomly” selected Every Time from the precheck line. Could never get an agent to tell me why. I finally got tired of the harassment (there’s no other word for it) and having to re-pack my ENTIRE roll-aboard after they’ve pulled everything out, every time. I told my boss I’m done flying. If I can’t drive there I’ll dial in remotely to the meeting. I’ve had it with TSA and their thugs. I could go into more stories, including being hassled while traveling in uniform… I REALLY wish I could get an explanation why a retired military, Uncle Sam employed, FAA licensed pilot with a security clearance is such a threat to the TSA.
Don't use hand lotion with glycerin the day of the flight. Apparently, it's all over your phone, camera, computer, etc. Found that out on a recent trip!
I have a condition called lipolymphedema, which is an adipose tissue disorder, that causes painful swelling in legs, arms and elsewhere. It also appears that the fat swelling turns up looking like contriband on their xray machines. I not only have to turn in my forearm crutch for their wooden cane, go through the whole body scanner, then usually must have a pat down... I guess because I might be smuggling stuff in my legs. I must wear compression to help with the pain and because flying and sitting might cause blood clots. I've been asked to unwrap my legs or take the compression off so they could check. The best one though, because of the swelling in my torso, I had a female agent pull my pants and underwear away from my waistband, so they could look down my pants. In front of everyone. I so love flying anymore ...
I was pulled aside in Albany, NY to have my hands swabbed. I am a pretty plain looking white guy. They told me it was to check for residue that is found on the hands of people working with explosives. I guess someone that looks like me was spotted working with Al Quaeda. I saw a petite woman that looked in her 70s being made to empty her carry on bag, and empty out her make up bag. I kept my mouth shut. I do not feel any safer with TSA, and I think any well trained terrorist would easily find a way to outsmart them.
My young handicapped daughter could not do the thing spinning around and the air blowing. she flipped out, and I tried to step forward and intervene and they threatened me. Finally, a lady came up to me and asked if it would help if her younger sister went in with her and they hugged? I said give it. a go. She was a great thinker that lady.
My grown daughter always sees the world through a funny lens. After this TSA guy patted her down, as she was walking away, she told him, “aww, that was disappointing. I was hoping for something more thorough.” He cracked up.
Most airports don't even ask that we remove the liquids from our bags. It's been years since I've removed them when going through the lines. Also, I now pull my license and cash out and hold them in hand when going through the device. I never leave them in the bins anymore. Too many TSA agents have sticky fingers.
Just reinstated liquids inspection at Heathrow last week - they already had new scanners installed, so is likely threat level dependent and can and should expect it but enjoy the convenience when not implemented.
The TSA may never have caught a single terrorist, but no terrorist has blown up or high jacked a plane since these measures have been put in place. So for people to point out the lack of catching a terrorist, I would say the system is working.
For that coffee thing - they tested it on Mythbusters, it doesn't actually mask anything. But smugglers keep trying it, hence why it is still suspicious
On one trip, TSA pulled me aside on both departure and return trips. Both times, they didn't even pat me down, they just had me sit down and pull down my SOCKS. All I can figure is that when I went through the scanner, the dry, slightly-flaky skin on my legs had somehow appeared as a powder. Hurrying to get dressed for the flights, I hadn't put lotion on my legs. Go figure.
I travel to the US every couple of years to see family and see NHL/NBA games. Let's just say souvenir hockey pucks in my carry on get TSA going. By the last couple of stops my bag will always get pulled aside. I haven't had any horror stories. Been patted down a couple of times after exiting the scanner. Had SSSS once but with all the one way flights I do I'm surprised I have only gotten it once. Had the random checked baggage check a couple of times. The agents have never been rude to me. You get into a TSA routine so you can get your stuff in the bins and through the scanner as fast as you can.
Try to get a 9 ounce bottle of liquid through security? No way! But separate that same bottle of liquid into 3 3 ounce bottles! Go right ahead! Government logic is spectacular.
I also love that they toss the rejected liquid containers into a trash can -- all into one trash can, no matter what the liquid might be. Without knowing how those various liquids might interact... unintentionally or intentionally.
I got an extra conversation in iceland after going to the hot springs and fueling up my rental car before leaving. The residues from the lagoon and diesel made the swab machine very angry
I flew out of Newark to meet my sister in South Carolina and despite traveling with two laptops (one for work, other personal), I was told to take nothing out of my bag and simply place it on the belt. It was the quickest I ever went through TSA. I don't remember where I read it, but I do remember reading about some sort of new scanners. So, at least now the security theatre is perhaps getting faster.
Funny story. I'm a photographer and journalist and I keep my cameras in a carro on. I tell the TSA people exactly who I am and what I do and that they need to pull me aside to insect my equipment. I then show them every little item, pull lenses from cameras to show them they are cameras, etc.; then, being the wise ass I am, point out all the things they missed and should have looked at. For instance, the ink from a common Bic ballpoint pen written on paper will show up as nitro cellulose if your perspiration gets to the paper. That's because most jell inks are nitro cellulose based. Understand that TSA people at airports are not chemists and do not have a chemistry background, and therefore are overly suspicious as they are trained to be so. These, for the most part, are just people doing their jobs. It is also to be noted that being completely cooperative or over cooperative will throw up a red flag. And if ypu point out something they missed that they should have looked at more carefully, they will generally wonder who the hell are you. Lol!
Usually they don’t let you touch your stuff as the rifle through it. Surprised they let you show them your camera equipment instead of just handling it!
THIS! When I had a heavier duty laptop, working only WITH photographers, I had an agent at LAX inquire about it and how a hinge was slightly loose (dropped it on the ground once or twice) when asked about the purpose of the trip, I said it was for a photo shoot, the older TSA agent turned fan girl and proceeded to ask me creepy questions, and nothing related to security, and told me he was so glad to have stopped me…super professional! 😂😂😂
My wife is a classical flute player and sometimes travels with her flute. They have taken that thing out and started messing with it being all ham handed and shit. It's a $14,000 instrument and she warned them that it's very expensive and delicate. Fortunately they put it back before doing something stupid, which they definitely were about to do.
Two times I was body searched. Found out that the Shapewear I was wearing had an elastic band around the bottom of the shorts. The shorts didn’t image clearly and the TSA questioned my choice of undies. 😂I won’t be wearing these to the airport again.
TSA exists for the perception of security. We are all supposed to feel safer because of this perception. Are we safer? Probably not, but bad people seem to have moved on to other methods of mayhem.
As someone who is always pulled aside for extra pat downs at a minimum. Yes, I am early to the airport to give time for the extra TSA time. I always find the reason other get the same treatment interesting.
I would definitely recommend avoiding all the behaviors described in this video, especially if you don’t want to be hassled by any security agency or law enforcement. Common sense people!!!
This is why I have TSA Pre. However, I was stopped for a search in my bag when they saw 4 boxes of dried peas in there. You would have thought the peas were the new thing in explosives!
TSA is a joke. I have tsa pre check and the girl pulled my carryon bag aside for no reason. Only to hold me up. She was pushing all bags to be checked. Unbelievable. Also she wanted me to lift my suitcase up on the belt but I wasn’t able to with my back issue and needed my husband to lift for me and was given a rude face from her.
Exactly, different rules with AP top. Agent was a real douche to me after I APOLOGIZED for not taking iPad out and said I didn’t know because on last flight I didn’t have to. Then he switches voice to Elmer Fudd, saying I guess we’re just dumb here and proceeded to violently dump out my bag onto counter. And they know we just have to take it or risk further screening. Most agents are nice but he was clearly power tripping.
I sent my out of state daughter home with several blocks of her favorite cheese, wrapped in foil. She was stopped by TSA and her bag searched. I guess the 8 Oz blocks of foil wrapped cheese looked like blocks of something else more illegal. Oops ...sorry about that!
It'd be really easy to make it look like a laptop can power on with something like a raspberry pi that is hooked up to behave like a normal laptop but the rest of the space... hmmm- no doubt if I thought of this off the top of my head it's already being done.
I feel like the best ways to get through TSA is to be polite and compliant but not overly polite or seeming to be pandering. Essentially being respectful and not making a big deal out of being checked out goes a long way to not being treated like a threat. Granted this only works if the TSA agent is actually doing their job and isn't on a power trip or taking advantage of the system.
It has been many years since I last got on an airplane. The last time I did so was for a trip to Florida, with a connecting flight in Atlanta on the way there and back. I was randomly selected for a carry-on bag check when boarding the plane all four times.
Apparently candles are also suspicious. At the Zurich airport and JFK this May my carryon bag was flagged and my two small candles from a winery in France were removed and examined.
Here is another hint: don’t grow dry and transport chili powder. I did this to bring a jar of special chili spice to a buddy in Salt Lake. After twenty minutes of extra scan and search the TSA agent supervisor told me I should package the spice so they could use it to calibrate their sniffer machines. 😂
Lol! I always get excited when I get to travel/fly! It makes me even more chatty than I already am! That must be why I was pulled aside for extra screening in four of my last five trips! 😆
TSA is 100% performative security. I went shooting at my range for a few hours before going to the airport. I had visibly smudged jeans from emptying my revolver rounds into my lap over and over. TSA swabbed me as they always do and passed me right on to my gate. I had so much gunpowder on me it was visible from 20 yards away. Absurdity.
TSA Mistakes to Avoid: ruclips.net/video/0-aG_3O0TKk/видео.html
You forgot to explicitly mention that most of the checks that TSA does--like making you remove your shoes--is just security theater. 😒😆
@@ropro9817that can be true but it's also because someone had tried in the past to sneak explosive using a shoe.
Im going to wear my spandex unitard next time. Honestly, am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous, and maybe, just maybe, we need to reign in these TSA agents, and stop making air travel such a tortuous nightmare?
I get patted down all the time. I opt out of the body scanner.
Yes you can do that.
With that said, not one terrorist has been caught in the entire history of doing these checks. There is therefore infinitely more chance you die from a plane crash than from the terrorist acts. But I don't see us running to the plane and checking it out ourselves either. Apparently we are ok with an infinitely bigger chance to die in a a crash as opposed to a hijacking.
Yet, despite this knowledge, we continue to let them harass us. Imagine the amount of time we spend combined as a collective in the qeue for the scanner, undoing our belts, shoes, emptying pockets, undoing jackets, taking laptops out of bags, etc. All to still have an infinitely bigger chance to die in a crash.
Food for thought.
TSA is security theater and a victim of bad writing and poor directing.
I remember when full body scanners were first being tested at Heathrow... the line for security was stupidly long (like 45 minutes), but I saw that they were selecting "random" individuals from the line, putting them through the full body scanner and then escorting them to the front of the line. So I stared over at the people doing the selection until one of them looked over at me, I immediately broke eye contact and turned my head away from them. Wouldn't you know, I got "randomly" selected and bypassed a big chunk of queue.
Honestly genius
Incredible
I got stopped in Africa. They pulled out my tuning fork. What is this? I said, it’s a tuning fork. I am a choir leader. Show us what you do. I struck the tuning fork, and sang the pitch back.
They looked at me very very suspicious, and said, keep it stowed in your bag.
I got stopped in Kenya and was asked why I was carrying weapons in my luggage. I suppose in Kenya small stones are weapons.
Or maybe they just wanted a bribe.
@@andrewallen9993 Probably a bribe, I'd imagine. I doubt Kenya has changed much since I was there in '82, though I was in the military at the time.
@@andrewallen9993 Definitely a bribe.
Here's the joke. In twenty years of existence, TSA hasn't caught a single terrorist. On the other hand, more than 200 TSA agents have been found guilty of stealing passengers' property.
200 found guilty is just a drop in the bucket compared to the true total
200 in 20 years is shockingly small for _any_ profession, considering the number of agents. Statistically, that would be a success.
@@TheFansOfFiction200 thefts vs 0 terrorists caught isn’t shockingly small it’s overwhelmingly large. The amount of time is irrelevant as he’s comparing two things encompassing the same volume of time. Statistically speaking it would be a failure.
The real interesting point of data would be: how many terrorists successfully slipped through tsa? (I guess 0, but don't have any data).
Catching 0 when there is actually 0 to catch shows a great deterrent effect.
Why didn't you include drug or contraband smugglers? Tons are getting caught per year
I'm stopped 80% of the time. I'm male and travel alone. Other than that, I looked bored, unstressed, and am dorky and middle aged. When I'm searched, I'm STILL bored and unbothered because it happens so often. Apparently this is all very suspicious.
Be glad they don't seize your computer and accuse you of nasty deeds. I know of a middle-aged dorky unmarried guy from a forum on Thailand who was considering retirement in Thailand. He went there for a month with his computer. When he re-entered the US he apparently fit a profile and was detained for hours by US Immigration. They said no one takes a computer on vacation. In fact, many people do. They kept it and searched it but found nothing. They were looking for child *****. He was so freaked out because of the way he was obviously profiled.
I have the same experience. They love to grab my nuts pretty much every time I'm in an airport (which is several times a year for work). I've also had my laptop taken apart and they didn't even have the decency to put it back together. All I can think is maybe I made a list at some point because of my pro libertarian/ anti government views
I'm stopped 100% of the time. Joint replacements cause red flags. I quit flying 10 years ago.
I've traveled back and forth to meet a friend for a trip to Disneyland a few years in a row. I got patted down all but 2 times. I have no clue why. I'm not anxious about flying. I did have baggy clothes once, I had lost some weight hadn't new clothes yet. Another time was for my hair (I have a lot of fluffy hair). I had a tissue in pocket once. Another time I had boot-leg pants, another time my sock got bunched around my ankle. Other times I don't know why. I travel alone though, maybe that looks "wrong" I don't know.
Had an agent ask "oh what's this in your pocket" like he found some hidden item, it was a guitar pick I forgot was in my pocket and he felt like a moron.
I flew around 1962, I was 10, and the experience was incredible. I kid you not, had lobster tail on china with heavy cutlery on a linen tablecloth on the pull down - and this was coach. Back then every seat was 1st class. Then I flew a bunch in the 70's. So nice. If I volunteered off and got a free ticket, I sold them. I could also walk up to the 1st ticket counter of any airline, show my ticket and ask if there was an earlier flight I could get on. Usually they (airtline A) would take my ticket (airline B) and give me boarding passes for that flight (airline C). I'm 71 now and about 5 years ago I just quit flying. Thankyou TSA for making flying unbearable.
Pan Am 🥰
@@mayc8674 Possibly I seem to remember "blue" - or it could have been TWA maybe?
@@NoferTrunions Pan Am had blue lettering while TWA had orange and cobalt in the 70"s. But been so long that maybe one or the other.
i quit flying as well. i use to love it, not anymore
@@deansapp4635 I have an old Popular Science circa 1960 where they predicted highway speeds would be 100mph or more in the fast lane (obviously thinking of the AutoBahn which impressed Eisenhower so much, he initiated the Interstate Highway System. ....so much for progress.)
It's security theatre. Not actual security.
Also, terrible theatre as well.
@@CraigWiseman terrible theater with lots of drama.
If it was real security they would also be at the train station and the bus station.
You are 100% correct.
FBI has over an 80% success rate smuggling weapons on board when they audit TSA
My husband always seems to get pulled aside. One agent finally told him it's because his travel day "dad jeans" are a little too baggy. LOL.
Those body scanners are really sensitive. So it'll alarm on baggy clothing, not all the time but don't be surprised when it does.
*If he switches to wearing knot huggers, he'd be profiled for having an unusually small package*
@@brandoncrouch6073 Get TSA precheck. Then you don't need to go through a body scanner, only a metal detector.
@@jewelmarkess True..unless you get a random alarm. Then it changes things a bit.
@@brandoncrouch6073 True
Flying has become really tedious; as my daughter saus; "The worst thing about travelling is travelling!" A great quote
Actually, the worse thing about traveling is other people.
Especially people who are TSA agents.
Travel comes from the greek word travail.
the worse thing about traveling is TSA agents.
I fart when they’re patting me down. That usually moves the process along faster.
Hmmm. So definitely have fajita's the day before...
*notes down*
@@Flyingdutchy33NOOOO! Cause I just know I’ll be sitting next to you 😂😂😂😂😂
Time to eat a carton of hard boiled eggs every time i fly
I have farting issues so I'll keep this in mind!
I'm an old guy who remembers when the flying experience was part of the joy of vacation. Now it's, get past the airport experience so I can start the vacation.
Absolutely! This is (part of) why we need better train service.
I like to watch old 50's movies where guys walked up a ramp to the plane right after hopping from a cab and quickly buying a ticket. All all the flight attendants were young, very pretty and greeted them friendly and with a nice smile.
I know, right⁉️
People behaved and dressed decently.
@@genevarailfan3909 trains are so cool
My high school age son said, “Look at those guys. They look suspicious.” They pulled my son aside and went through his stuff. I still tease him about that..
That was interrupting for sure
A person forgot to say good morning to the TSA so they put a red X on their ticket which means they’re going to search their anus.
So you let thugs shake your son down, then mocked him for it?
@@user-zu5do6ri6rYes. It was a valuable lesson.
Father of the year right here /s
The Gestapo-like attitude of a lot of TSA employees is what makes it such an unpleasant experience. It's obvious some of them clearly enjoy antagonizing you and purposely make a normal situation unnecessarily tense. A few would make great prison guards.
One of their training modules is "Passive/Aggressive...How to excel"
so its not only me.....
Their parents were probably GESTAPO 1940 prison guards and it is in TSA DNA
Those are the types of prison guards who cause inmates to riot. Honestly they would do best being unemployed.
@@chiarac3833 More like in therapy but I get it
Add on top of all this; TSA agents are basically fast food worker rejects.
i have to agree
Arrogant, rude, no social skills and drunk with the little bit of authority given to them
@@leinster22I have a similar view however it is not quite so positive.
I think you're being rude to fast food workers by saying that.
My daughter from the time she was 5 until she hit her early 20s was constantly selected for ‘special screening.’ Her name seems to have been in some database so that when she went thru a line they constantly told her (sometimes looking embarrassed they had to pat down an 8 yr old) she needed this.
I did a google name search to try and see if I could figure out why. There was an IRA terrorist that had her name back in the 1980s. That’s the best I could figure out. Whatever it was, it wasn’t random. She was pulled out of line at least 75% of the time she flew. It seems to have finally stopped the last few years but it went on for at least 15 years.
You can get a redress number if you have a name that is the same as a criminal.
@@suzannewhitaker3507 Thanks for that info. I looked into that and gleaned more info for the original commenter.
In case your adult daughter is still being stopped, the "redress number," another commenter mentioned, is accessed through the Dept of Homeland Security's "Travel Redress Inquiry Program." www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip
Shortly after 9/11 I was rushing to make my flight home out of LAX. At the hand lugage scanner, suddenly everything went silent. I was asked if i had packed my bag, where i just travelled from. I answered. Then the police officer said "You have no idea what is in your bag, do you?" They showed me the scan of my bag. You see, i had used my carryon bag as an impromtu tool box and i had forgotten to move the 18" pipe wrench from the bottom into my checked luggage.
I was given instructions not to open my carry-on during the flight.
Security is a theater. About 10 years ago, my wife and I were traveling to the Northeast the day before a major snowstorm was supposed to hit there. Instead of taking off belts and shoes, and going through the body scanner, everyone was processed through the metal detector. WHY? Oh, because they wanted to move passengers through security faster? Is "security" somehow different because there is a snowstorm?
It's all a game and the taxpayers aren't allowed to know the rules.
No. Its not that bad.. they try.. But y'all scream about rights and BS..
@@darthlaurelu 12?
Depends... Some airports when they have the dogs the screening process changes temporarily.
I didn't even know belts had to be taken off. I left mine on and no i e said anything even after the body scanner
Was stopped for pat-downs a number of time before I figured out that the my Wrangler-brand jeans, which have metal rivets that reinforce the pockets, were triggering the metal detector. Needless to say, I no longer wear them when traveling by air and have not been subjected to a pat-down since.
Depends on the device sensitivity but metal elite credit cards can set off scanners.
metal rivets? how about a metal knee replacement joint?
One day, flying out of San Antonio, a angent told me that I could NOT take my EMPTY large jug, so I was not going to give it to him and took off the top, put it into my pocket, and tossed the plastic, empty, jug. He instantly got the Sour Grapes face.
I've just come back from overseas. 6 airports and a pat down at every airport. A full knee replacement 18 months ago. 😏 Even before that I'd still manage to get get the attention at many airports. I'm just an overweight grandma. 👵🏼 I got no room to be hiding any contraband. 😂
i was worried they'd flag my incontinence pad, but turned out no problem!
It seems like the people often pulled out of line are senior citizens. It seems to me that they choose people less likely to put up a fuss. I've never seen a young person pulled out of line. I guess senior citizens fit the profile, huh?
I think Your thumbnail picture is smokin hot. 😉👍👍👍
@@sambowz9077 hehe 😃
@@PhotoTrekr I like to think it's coz I look like a young drug runner than an oldie hehe 😆
Thats why I always chose to travel on trains in europe/japan/whatever country that has train network. If you include the TSA time, travel to airport time, luggage checkin, etc., 2 hour flight often gets beaten by 2 hours of train.
If they pay me down, they gotta buy me dinner and some flowers.
I will try to remember to moan gently during my next pat down 😅
I am the opposite. I don't want my balls x-rayed so when possible I opt for the grope.
My wife hates it when I flirt with the young male TSA agents, make eye contact with any other agents watching, and bite my lip while gasping.
“I’ll have what she’s having” - Meg Ryan. 😂
Dream on!
I travel a lot for work, and the one that always gets me searched is ammonium nitrate residue on boots and bags.
I spend a lot of time at mine sites, so my bags and books end up getting dust from the blasting on it. It always sets off their sensors.
The other bad one is moving drill core samples. They are dense foot long, 2 inches across cylinders of rock that look very suspicious under their X-ray machine.
Pro tip: carrots look suspicious on X-rays. If you like carrots as much as I do, take them out of your carry on and set them in the bin.
😂
Yes it really drives me nuts how they often pick old people.. it's like really? I think they just need to scan so many a day so they pick the ones that won't cause problems. It's annoying to see.
Unfortunately, TSA hires the most qualified people in the world who are clueless. Unfortunately, many find it funny to harass people for no reason.
I used to travel a lot when I was in the military and ALWAYS got flagged. I later learned its likely because they have to screen so many people per day, and a white military male is the least likely to complain of discrimination, and if I did it would never go anywhere, thus making me a freebee for TSA.
Another reason why law enforcement should not have quotas. I guess caucasian males have to start raising hell more.
in addition to large amounts of cash, be careful of carrying currency from multiple countries…this earned me a very thorough and intense extra screening on returning from a work trip where i had been to five different countries and had currency from each of them
How many countries? I had no issues carrying about 1100 euro and a couple hundred dollars last trip. I have Global Entry, not sure it matters.
@@jewelmarkessthat‘s 2 currencies, which is reasonable, presuming they are of your home country and the place you visited. Having 5 currencies is a little more suspicious unless you‘ve obviously been backpacking or something.
@@Bisley1 Good point, thank you, I was starting to get concerned before my next trip.
@@Bisley1 I usually have ron, huf, eur, chf. But always went by car, so no problem ever.
@@Bisley1 What exactly is "suspicious" about 5 currencies?
I've flown from Pearson International Airport to China 4-5 times in the last 6 years. The only time I wasn't pulled aside was on a midnight flight where security checks were minimal.
It's the same thing everytime. They have me open my aluminum carry on, power on my laptop, swab my suitcase and backpack (sometimes also my jacket), then send me on my merry way through the priority lane. The agents were professional and friendly, and I basically get to skip the line. My aluminum suitcase was also swabbed in Shanghai -- the agent didn't even pull me aside, they swabbed the outside of my carry on when I was in line without a word. It's like they were trying a fulfill a quota and simply picked the shiniest suitcase in line (mine has hand-polished parts).
"Security Theater"
The TSA is simply Security Theater. It is doing nothing to deter the bad guys. They figured out a long time ago that are other easier ways to access vulnerabilities. The TSA isn’t necessary other than to give Grandma a pat down and a feel up.
They are there to teach us to comply and ask permission. Soon to be in checkpoints on the roads.
You know, you say the TSA does nothing because the "bad guys" can find a "better way" but I can guarantee you if the TSA weren't around, the better way would be on commercial transport with civilians involved. Would you rather drug smugglers get in a shootout with police in the terminal or get caught by ICE at the border? TSA ensures these conflicts happen as far away from civilian transport as often as possible. As for terrorism and hijacking, I've heard of basically zero non-domestic terrorism and zero hijackings since 2001. Plenty of examples before then. The results speak for themselves. My conclusion? Suck it up, buddy. They're working to protect you.
I have Global entry, am a 71 year old woman that doesn’t wear baggy clothes and follows all the carry on rules, never complains or makes jokes, never sets off any alarms, yet gets a “random” additional scan about 75% of the time. No idea why. Just lucky I guess. 0:03
Might be as a way to prove they aren't profiling people.
TSA announced that its random occurrence. Unless the airport is very busy.
Me too!!!! I'm 70.
I know when I visited Turkey once while in Europe, I was flagged for extra scans that year, and maybe into next year as well. Something to keep in mind.
😂 It happens to me a lot. Female, around 70, flying solo to Montevideo, Uruguay, through Buenos Aires? ⏰⏰⏰⏰ Flying to Bali with my daughter? ⏰⏰⏰⏰ My upcoming trip is to Thailand for a month. Solo, female, 74. ⏰⏰⏰ Once I got checked twice on two different legs of my flight. 😅😅😅
TSA/Customs-Border Protection/Department of Homeland Security should have to comply with the Reasonable Articulable Suspicion standards as any other law enforcement agency. The Patriot Act as it stands is a significant infringement on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the citizenry. In the law's current form, it's way over the top in the presumption of guilt.
Especially with the secret fiza search warrants. Act needs to be repealed.
hell will freeze over before any part of the patriot act is repealed
My experiences with TSA convinced me that it's a jobs program for the otherwise unemployable. Stupid and authoritative : a bad combination
I didn''t get pulled aside for this, just an extra check by a TSA drug dog... I was walking in the line to the first TSA agent and passed an agent with a drug dog. I smiled and nodded (as if to say hello) to the agent. The agent changed positions so he was in front of me again to allow the dog to sniff me again as I walked by.
We were sitting in the Miami airport and a very nice looking lady walking through the terminal was flagged by a dog. Two agents took her off.
It’s not a drug dog 🤣they don’t search for drugs like that the airport has been the new mule for ten plus years
Just ignore the dog and agent completely and then they won’t come over unless you really have something to sniff. It’s a working dog an agent
Likely an explosives dog not a drug dog.
Hope you learnt your lesson, never initiate conversation or smile at them.
For me it often seems like they pick the obvious innocent just to meet some quota. For example my 70+ year old parents are searched regularly. Often by TSA agents with, let's say problematic, background. While they leave me, late 30s big white guy, alone. I'm definitely no security risk myself but compared to my parents I would consider myself the more obvious one to be searched.
My most horrible TSA airport experience was at the John Wayne airport in LA; bear in mind that I was about 20 years old, and it was my first time flying since post-9/11. Back when film was still a thing but most people were switching to digital, I had bought a really expensive film camera and had accidentally bought the type of film that couldn’t go through the X-ray machine during my trip. I told the TSA agent this, and they called a code. Next thing I know there were several agents in PPE, slowly opening the camera bag, slowly examining the contents, all while giving me dirty looks like I had just committed a crime. They two agents were talking to each other, but when I would explain something they were discussing, like my secondary lens I was carrying was for wide-angle shots, they would tell me to keep my mouth shut. Needless to say when I got home, I went out and bought myself a cheap-ass digital camera, and have no plans to ever go back to John Wayne airport again.
I always ask what their procedures are. They say it’s the same at every TSA checkpoint. I say it’s not some do and some do not ask for the laptop question.
They deny it is different.
It is definitely different from one airport to the next
Not traveeld that much in the states only done about 8 different airports and yes i had 3 different procedures.
The agents have never worked at a different airport so they wouldn’t know.
100%
It's different at every airport. I was at one airport and saw all the "sheeple" taking their shoes off. There was no sign posted, so I left mine on and walked right through.
Had a TSA agent in Philly go through my bag because she didn't realize that GOLF BALLS are in sleeves of three. Then when she pulled them out, they all had to be swabbed for bomb components because she didn't know that they came in colors other than white...
thaaaat's Philly
I always used to wear long, flowy skirts until my TSA housemate told me that I kept getting flagged because of my “voluminous clothing.” He said he’d once caught two women with full size bottles of water in their sarees.
Never talk to the TSA employees. Just asking a question can get you searched.
They’re like strange dogs. Don’t talk to them and don’t make eye contact. You may be able to pat them on the head and give them a pat on the head though.
Yup.
I had a connecting flight back to the US, and I was at the layover in Quebec. I was new to flying alone, and I innocently asked a TSA agent at the very start of the line if I was in the correct place.
He looked at my ticket, told me I was, and then told me I needed to go get a more "intensive search," so I went on a DIFFERENT line in which they strip searched me, questioned me, and took everything out of my carry-ons after first scanning.
My first flight was delayed already, and after the incredibly long "interrogation," I had maybe 6 or 7 minutes to catch my flight before takeoff.
I completely sprinted, and thankfully made it just in time.
Keeping my mouth shut from now on!
I enjoy getting TSA folks in conversation as I always request a hand pat down. Once they are certain I am not a problem, and as a former cop, no problem at all. For most people, I cringe that they are forced to endure this nonsense.
@@alexp3752 so you have no problem with searches with no reasonable suspicion or probable cause?
I often dress wrong for the season because even in the winter I'll be wearing shorts and a tank top.....basically show maximum skin to minimize area subject to a pat down.
Careful with that. I had a friend who was refused boarding because she wasn't dressed "appropriately" for flying. They made her go buy longer shorts at an airport store
If I tried to fly, the x-ray machines would make so much noise it could be heard around the world. I have a 7-inch rod and 12 to 15 pins and screws in my right tibia. Sorry I can't leave my right leg at home. 😂
Whenever they search my bag. Is this your bag?, yes. Did you pack it?, yes. Did you have care and control of it at all times?, no. What?, no. I haven't seen it since I checked it in with the airline 2,3,4....hrs ago. I never put anything valuble in there, it just gets stolen. Open it so we can both see.
Before 9-11 I was returning from Germany and was taken to a partitioned area where they had my carry on bag with 4 large cylinders , wires and an electronic device. It was a Walkman and 4 bottles of German beer.
This is a major reason why I don’t fly.
What are the other reasons?
Quite the worldly person 🤣
Former airline vice president - Persistent TSA intrusion and paranoia have made flying so miserable I refuse to fly commercial anymore, and what is most striking is I can most often fly for free! No thanks! I grew up in the 1960s, and as far as I care, thanks to the US government, flying is no longer an experience I desire to continue.
I only fly when is a matter of life and death
Your refusal to fly isn't going to change the tsa's behavior.
I’ve been stopped for my clothes before. I usually fly in leggings, and I’m short so they kind of bunch up at the bottoms sometimes. I got stopped because the extra material at my ankles was suspicious. After I got patted down she said “oh, you’re just short”
It's also important to note that several things on the checklist are also autism behaviors.
I have noticed that the TSA tends to select solo travelers for the "enhanced" screenings over anyone else.
How do they know who is a "solo" traveler?
they've pulled me aside multiple times for a search when I literally only had my ticket. phone and wallet on me. no baggage, no carry on. not stop overs. and all tickets were return tickets, I was wearing tight jeans and a t-shirt
TSA agents need to learn that cargo shorts have random zippers in random places and don’t have to be specially searched.
I once opted out of the body scanner because i was annoyed with TSA standing around talking than dealing with the huge line. Ended up waiting 10+ min to be pat down..
The lesson learned, not complying is the punishment.
I ALWAYS opt out of the body scanner.
I have Pre check now, so it's usually not a problem.
I once forgot to put my eyedrops in a clear bag and TSA found it, saw it was clearly a sealed with plastic still on it bottle of eye drops next to a contact lens case, then looked me straight in the eye and said "im counting this as medicine" and put it back.rare they do anything like that but being in my mid teens and a very articulate and clean short girl probably helped too. I am the most non threatening looking person ive ever seen. (To clarify this was well over a decade ago.)
"Being overly chatty with your TSA agent is suspicious"
Except in Milwaukee. There the TSA is chatty with everyone!
Being white and old is a red flag, because you are picked out to indicate there is no profiling. Happens to me all the time at Do exotic Sydney. I was told that I was travelling ‘light’ by a wand waver, after Zi had checked in my bag, but I was just carrying a mobile telephone. The flight was from Sydney to Canberra-35 mins. He went so far as to approach me before I had even finished collecting my stuff, ‘when you’ve finished here, come and see me!’. No please or thanks. Sydney Do estic (Virgin) . Don’t know who these ignorant people are, but their attitude is appalling.
Well, I'm white and 67 years old and I've never been picked out. I live in rural Alaska so I've flown more in the last 7 years than most people will in their lifetime. Nor have I heard of any people my age being targeted. You sound like an entitled old man whining about his white privilege.
That is utterly ridiculous.
No it is not@@alphooey
I agree with this. I get pulled out of line a lot, even tho I comply with all the rules. One time, the TSA said, what do you have in your pockets? I said, I don’t have pockets, these are leggings, no belt, no metal, not baggy, I wore them so I wouldn’t get pulled out of line again.
Maybe that's my problem; old and white. Probably the woke reverse racists trying to look fair.
I have a tsa pre approved pass, 30 minute search of my tsa approved wheelchair by 2 agents and full body search of me metal knee, back pins, Destination my mom's house same last name. Happens multiply times.
One big problem is if there was no TSA theater then there would be a group of people that would complain.
1000%
yeah, but fuck ‘em
I always get groped returning from my sister’s farm. She sends me home with 2 dozen eggs just laid that morning, and TSA definitely doesn’t approve.
My homemade granola got a thorough inspection recently 😊 The agent was really nice, but told me food always looks suspicious!
Yep, particularly when packed in plastic bags. Apparently it looks like plastic explosives. Packing roasted pumpkin seeds as in-air snack in a ziplock bag has gotten my bag searched twice now. Next time I'll double-bag them at home, then put them into the bin. That way TSA won't waste time looking through my dirty laundry. 😂
Just traveled a few days ago, went through TSA in like less than a minute lol I was kinda like... that's it? You don't wanna like.... check... slower? or.. better? lol This was at LAX at like 5:30 AM right when TSA opened up for the day.
My friend once accidentally brought a butter knife in their luggage. Ever since then, she's had her stuff searched by TSA.
Being an elderly lady...when traveling...I carry my cash in large bills, in a little pouch snuggled down my blouse between "the sisters" and safety pinned on each side. Yes, it always triggers the metal thingie...they take me aside...I show them..they get a good laugh and I am ok to go. Traveling is risky, purse stolen, misplace it, etc. This way I am secure. Just use credit card everywhere ? Nope...
it's all kabuki theater. When they miss 90% + of the test items, they are a joke.
There were one time while i was going through the regular carry-on x-ray check. I had emptied most of the contents from my backpack into a tray, but after it had been checked, i was advised for future flights to take toothpaste out of my toiletries bag.
Not exactly something as severe as the examples listed in this video, but other than that, im fairly certain i`ve never been stopped for a thorough check in any airport.
This video was very informative and I also like how you go into describing the criticisms of the TSA. In addition to being inconsistent, pulling people aside for ‘suspicious behaviour’ creeps into ableism territory. Many people who have autism or ADHD act in a way that TSA may find to be suspicious. There’s also the whole can of worms that is extra scrutiny of those who are non white and transgender people.
My husband wears a suit and tie when he travels and he is disabled veteran and people on the airplane have asked him if he is a marshal which is funny to me because he walks with a cane 🦯 😂
I had some coffee whitener packets in my suitcase. Never again, as the foil wrappers made them think I was smuggling narcotics.
Try going through in a wheelchair or motorized scooter. I have TSA pre check, and have had a fairly high US govt security clearance, and I still get patted down. No big deal for me, it takes a minute or two. The only time I had a bag search was during CV when I had packed one of button pushing devices to avoid touching key buttons, ATMs etc. Couldn’t blame TSA, it looked a lot like brass knuckles on the scanner.The TSA officers and I got a good laugh on that one.
Back in the day of 'real' boarding cards, I found that working for Uncle Sam was a surefire way to get SSSS (Special Security Screening Selected) stamped on it.
The Federal Employee ID cards at that time had a chip with all the security info on it. Certainly more info than a driver’s license.
@@davidchilds9590same here. Retired AF, current civil service employee with a clearance, and love flying as an FAA licensed private pilot. I joined TSA Precheck and EVERY SINGLE TIME I’m selected for “random” extra screening. I’m quiet and respectful, dress in business casual to travel, know and follow all the rules, but still I’m “randomly” selected Every Time from the precheck line. Could never get an agent to tell me why.
I finally got tired of the harassment (there’s no other word for it) and having to re-pack my ENTIRE roll-aboard after they’ve pulled everything out, every time. I told my boss I’m done flying. If I can’t drive there I’ll dial in remotely to the meeting. I’ve had it with TSA and their thugs. I could go into more stories, including being hassled while traveling in uniform…
I REALLY wish I could get an explanation why a retired military, Uncle Sam employed, FAA licensed pilot with a security clearance is such a threat to the TSA.
Don't use hand lotion with glycerin the day of the flight. Apparently, it's all over your phone, camera, computer, etc. Found that out on a recent trip!
I have a condition called lipolymphedema, which is an adipose tissue disorder, that causes painful swelling in legs, arms and elsewhere. It also appears that the fat swelling turns up looking like contriband on their xray machines. I not only have to turn in my forearm crutch for their wooden cane, go through the whole body scanner, then usually must have a pat down... I guess because I might be smuggling stuff in my legs. I must wear compression to help with the pain and because flying and sitting might cause blood clots. I've been asked to unwrap my legs or take the compression off so they could check. The best one though, because of the swelling in my torso, I had a female agent pull my pants and underwear away from my waistband, so they could look down my pants. In front of everyone. I so love flying anymore ...
I was pulled aside in Albany, NY to have my hands swabbed. I am a pretty plain looking white guy. They told me it was to check for residue that is found on the hands of people working with explosives. I guess someone that looks like me was spotted working with Al Quaeda. I saw a petite woman that looked in her 70s being made to empty her carry on bag, and empty out her make up bag. I kept my mouth shut. I do not feel any safer with TSA, and I think any well trained terrorist would easily find a way to outsmart them.
My young handicapped daughter could not do the thing spinning around and the air blowing. she flipped out, and I tried to step forward and intervene and they threatened me. Finally, a lady came up to me and asked if it would help if her younger sister went in with her and they hugged? I said give it. a go. She was a great thinker that lady.
My grown daughter always sees the world through a funny lens. After this TSA guy patted her down, as she was walking away, she told him, “aww, that was disappointing. I was hoping for something more thorough.” He cracked up.
Most airports don't even ask that we remove the liquids from our bags. It's been years since I've removed them when going through the lines. Also, I now pull my license and cash out and hold them in hand when going through the device. I never leave them in the bins anymore. Too many TSA agents have sticky fingers.
Just reinstated liquids inspection at Heathrow last week - they already had new scanners installed, so is likely threat level dependent and can and should expect it but enjoy the convenience when not implemented.
I wonder if it depends on the country.
Same. I had them in a Ziplock, but didnt remove from carry-on last week. Nothing said.
The TSA may never have caught a single terrorist, but no terrorist has blown up or high jacked a plane since these measures have been put in place. So for people to point out the lack of catching a terrorist, I would say the system is working.
For that coffee thing - they tested it on Mythbusters, it doesn't actually mask anything. But smugglers keep trying it, hence why it is still suspicious
On one trip, TSA pulled me aside on both departure and return trips. Both times, they didn't even pat me down, they just had me sit down and pull down my SOCKS. All I can figure is that when I went through the scanner, the dry, slightly-flaky skin on my legs had somehow appeared as a powder. Hurrying to get dressed for the flights, I hadn't put lotion on my legs. Go figure.
I usually wear my pajamas, but only when flying domestically.
I travel to the US every couple of years to see family and see NHL/NBA games. Let's just say souvenir hockey pucks in my carry on get TSA going. By the last couple of stops my bag will always get pulled aside.
I haven't had any horror stories. Been patted down a couple of times after exiting the scanner. Had SSSS once but with all the one way flights I do I'm surprised I have only gotten it once. Had the random checked baggage check a couple of times.
The agents have never been rude to me. You get into a TSA routine so you can get your stuff in the bins and through the scanner as fast as you can.
Try to get a 9 ounce bottle of liquid through security? No way! But separate that same bottle of liquid into 3 3 ounce bottles! Go right ahead!
Government logic is spectacular.
I just want to bring a regular tube of toothpaste on the plane and not buy a special travel size that I don't need.
I also love that they toss the rejected liquid containers into a trash can -- all into one trash can, no matter what the liquid might be. Without knowing how those various liquids might interact... unintentionally or intentionally.
I got an extra conversation in iceland after going to the hot springs and fueling up my rental car before leaving. The residues from the lagoon and diesel made the swab machine very angry
I flew out of Newark to meet my sister in South Carolina and despite traveling with two laptops (one for work, other personal), I was told to take nothing out of my bag and simply place it on the belt. It was the quickest I ever went through TSA. I don't remember where I read it, but I do remember reading about some sort of new scanners. So, at least now the security theatre is perhaps getting faster.
Funny story. I'm a photographer and journalist and I keep my cameras in a carro on. I tell the TSA people exactly who I am and what I do and that they need to pull me aside to insect my equipment. I then show them every little item, pull lenses from cameras to show them they are cameras, etc.; then, being the wise ass I am, point out all the things they missed and should have looked at. For instance, the ink from a common Bic ballpoint pen written on paper will show up as nitro cellulose if your perspiration gets to the paper. That's because most jell inks are nitro cellulose based. Understand that TSA people at airports are not chemists and do not have a chemistry background, and therefore are overly suspicious as they are trained to be so. These, for the most part, are just people doing their jobs. It is also to be noted that being completely cooperative or over cooperative will throw up a red flag. And if ypu point out something they missed that they should have looked at more carefully, they will generally wonder who the hell are you. Lol!
@dangilmore9724, I’m so cooperative that I request pat downs. I always say, “Be very thorough”, and wink at them. TSA loves me.
@brawndothethirstmutilator9848 yes, being too cooperative is suspicious. 🤣
Usually they don’t let you touch your stuff as the rifle through it. Surprised they let you show them your camera equipment instead of just handling it!
THIS! When I had a heavier duty laptop, working only WITH photographers, I had an agent at LAX inquire about it and how a hinge was slightly loose (dropped it on the ground once or twice) when asked about the purpose of the trip, I said it was for a photo shoot, the older TSA agent turned fan girl and proceeded to ask me creepy questions, and nothing related to security, and told me he was so glad to have stopped me…super professional! 😂😂😂
My wife is a classical flute player and sometimes travels with her flute. They have taken that thing out and started messing with it being all ham handed and shit. It's a $14,000 instrument and she warned them that it's very expensive and delicate. Fortunately they put it back before doing something stupid, which they definitely were about to do.
Two times I was body searched. Found out that the Shapewear I was wearing had an elastic band around the bottom of the shorts. The shorts didn’t image clearly and the TSA questioned my choice of undies. 😂I won’t be wearing these to the airport again.
Yes, we all know how dangerous underwear is. Nosey numbskulls!
TSA exists for the perception of security. We are all supposed to feel safer because of this perception. Are we safer? Probably not, but bad people seem to have moved on to other methods of mayhem.
As someone who is always pulled aside for extra pat downs at a minimum. Yes, I am early to the airport to give time for the extra TSA time. I always find the reason other get the same treatment interesting.
I would definitely recommend avoiding all the behaviors described in this video, especially if you don’t want to be hassled by any security agency or law enforcement. Common sense people!!!
The way I see it: if they pull you aside take it seriously, answer all the questions and behave yourself.
How's that boot taste?
Some people make things difficult for themselves because they carry a chip on their shoulder.
depends how you are treated....
Yeah, just go with the flow!
@ARedMotorcycle wow you are a rebel! Cooperation is for sheep, right!?
If they just wouldn’t lie and say that I’ve been selected “randomly.”
This is why I have TSA Pre. However, I was stopped for a search in my bag when they saw 4 boxes of dried peas in there. You would have thought the peas were the new thing in explosives!
TSA is a joke. I have tsa pre check and the girl pulled my carryon bag aside for no reason. Only to hold me up. She was pushing all bags to be checked. Unbelievable. Also she wanted me to lift my suitcase up on the belt but I wasn’t able to with my back issue and needed my husband to lift for me and was given a rude face from her.
Exactly, different rules with AP top. Agent was a real douche to me after I APOLOGIZED for not taking iPad out and said I didn’t know because on last flight I didn’t have to. Then he switches voice to Elmer Fudd, saying I guess we’re just dumb here and proceeded to violently dump out my bag onto counter. And they know we just have to take it or risk further screening. Most agents are nice but he was clearly power tripping.
I sent my out of state daughter home with several blocks of her favorite cheese, wrapped in foil. She was stopped by TSA and her bag searched. I guess the 8 Oz blocks of foil wrapped cheese looked like blocks of something else more illegal. Oops ...sorry about that!
It'd be really easy to make it look like a laptop can power on with something like a raspberry pi that is hooked up to behave like a normal laptop but the rest of the space... hmmm- no doubt if I thought of this off the top of my head it's already being done.
I feel like the best ways to get through TSA is to be polite and compliant but not overly polite or seeming to be pandering. Essentially being respectful and not making a big deal out of being checked out goes a long way to not being treated like a threat.
Granted this only works if the TSA agent is actually doing their job and isn't on a power trip or taking advantage of the system.
Hows them boots taste
@@Rustyknife1 Better than your mother.
@@Byvenic 🥱
@@Rustyknife1 😴
@@Rustyknife1 Lolz. What a pussy. Gave up so quick
It has been many years since I last got on an airplane. The last time I did so was for a trip to Florida, with a connecting flight in Atlanta on the way there and back. I was randomly selected for a carry-on bag check when boarding the plane all four times.
A candle in my carry on is a ticket to bag check and opening the candle box and wrapping. Just found out the hard way. Check it!
Apparently candles are also suspicious. At the Zurich airport and JFK this May my carryon bag was flagged and my two small candles from a winery in France were removed and examined.
Yes I've had that happen too - in the U.S.
Here is another hint: don’t grow dry and transport chili powder. I did this to bring a jar of special chili spice to a buddy in Salt Lake. After twenty minutes of extra scan and search the TSA agent supervisor told me I should package the spice so they could use it to calibrate their sniffer machines. 😂
Lol! I always get excited when I get to travel/fly! It makes me even more chatty than I already am! That must be why I was pulled aside for extra screening in four of my last five trips! 😆
TSA is 100% performative security. I went shooting at my range for a few hours before going to the airport. I had visibly smudged jeans from emptying my revolver rounds into my lap over and over. TSA swabbed me as they always do and passed me right on to my gate. I had so much gunpowder on me it was visible from 20 yards away. Absurdity.