Flying Without a Wallet

There’s been a lot of speculation among security professionals regarding TSA’s policies, since so much of it is shrouded in secret. Last month, TSA announced a change of policy: passengers who “willfully refuse to provide identification at security checkpoint will be denied access… This new procedure will not affect passengers that may have misplaced, lost or otherwise do not have ID but are cooperative with officers.”

I was curious to learn more about the TSA’s new practices for ID-less travelers. As a security professional, I decided to research TSA’s latest security screening procedures. Below is a recounting of my experiment.

What Happened



I last saw my wallet on Monday, August 4, 2008 at the FedEx counter in Cambridge, where I dropped it into the envelope marked “Las Vegas, Nevada.” On Wednesday around 4PM, I arrived at Boston Logan airport without my wallet.

Without an ID, JetBlue’s All Services line was my only hope for checking bags. The long line moved interminably slowly. A JetBlue representative with long blonde hair moved down the line, talking to
each passenger.

more (interesting story!) . . . http://philosecurity.org/2008/08/10/flying-without-a-wallet

The last time I flew I was asked when I went through "security" if I had any liquids on me. I first said "no," then quickly remember I had my vial of insulin in with my meter. The TSA "officer" informed me I would have to place this in the bin. Well, there were a few minor distractions at this time but I passed through security--no problem. The thing was, I failed to place my insulin in the bin due to the distractions. I thought to myself, "Yeah, some security. Tell me to perform a required activity, then forget about following up on that directive while I pass through ignoring your instructions." What horseshit!

It's not "security," but the illusion of "security." And it's definitely about control over those of us who must take off our shoes to fly...

And another thing: Do folks who fly private jets have to pass through security? (i.e., the "Bushes" and "Cheneys" of the world). If not, why not? Are they above suspicion because of their station in life? So to avoid "security," what would stop the next group of terrorists of hiring a private jet (or jets) and flying them into tall buildings?

I have had certain items go through okay at one airport but not another. Last time I had a small bottle of hand lotion. KC didn't notice it but O'Hare took it away from me. And yes, it was less than 3 ounces.

I also had a TSA kid in DC take my lighter away. He took it out of my purse and said "You can't have this" I said "yes, I can have one lighter" and I pointed at the sign next to him that said passengers could have one lighter. He said "Not if I say you can't" and he put it in his pocket.

He said "Not if I say you can't" and he put it in his pocket.

I wonder how much of the "contraband" "confiscated" by these "keepers of security" wind up in glove compartments, home family-rooms, and private garages.

so I couldn't do anything about it. But, yeah, felt like theft to me.

of TSA folk referring to taking stuff off passengers like full bottles of unopened perfume, etcetera, as "Christmas every day".

I was amazed that the right-wing publishers of the Times let that article go through untouched, if you know what I mean...

Julie

TSA took my $45 Calibre butane lighter, stuck it in his pocket. He was very rude. Kept calling me "Pardner". He then threatened the lady behind me because she had a DVD player. I didn't want to argue and go to jail for $45. We are truly in the grips of the Bush Gestapo.

I refuse to let it go through checked luggage as I have had one instrument damaged this way. Anyway, I always have to remember to take my reed knife out of my saxophone case and place it in my checked luggage, as I'm certain the TSA folks will "confiscate" (steal) it. I've had it for 40 years: it is a very nice Italian-made knife and one I doubt I could replace today.

I'm afraid some time I'll forget to take it out of my saxophone case and put it in with my luggage until I'm going through security. Then it would be too late and I'd loose it...:(

We picked it up at that fascist Statue of Liberty...and she packed it in her carry-on (big mistake). On our departure a couple days later from Philly...she got stopped at security and was told there was no way it could go onboard and her only option was to mail it. She was then whisked to TSA Hell, bad hip and all (she had to walk across most of the airport)...where she couldn't find a container that the thing could fit in. She ended up leaving it...enough was enough. Fortunately, we flew American and they never leave on time (we had a 3 hour delay that afternoon)...so she was able to hobble back in plenty of time. How dare her for trying to sneak that weapon of mass snow aboard a plane!!!

The last time we flew, I had to make a last minute change on our flight...this somehow triggered the TSA nannies as we were detained at the gate before we could board and went through "additional" security (wanded down, carry-on checked)...then through the same procedure three days later on our return (even though no change was made to that ticket). That's enough for us...my wife is terrified that she's on the "watch list". If it isn't the TSA, it's the poor service of the airlines...we're taking passes on any travel for the near future.

Regarding private...to my knowledge (a good friend flies charters all the time), they have a different screaning process and operate out of a different location of the airport. In general, it's just a quick scan with a wand at check in.

Be assured the high rollers just walk on and off...as do "prefered customers" who can also get special "pre-screening" to avoid most the hassles.

ziploc bag they make us go through now? They never even LOOK at the ziploc bag or inquire about liquids anymore. It's all just BS.

I had a lipstick in my purse. No Ziploc bag. They never even looked at it.

I have to say that my experience with the TSA in San Francisco, though, was almost pleasant. They were polite, they were efficient, and they knew what a CPAP machine was. When I went to Dallas last summer for the same annual conference, the CPAP machine got wanded and swabbed three times, I was asked for my driver's license and boarding pass twice, and I was wondering if I was getting on the plane or not.

Julie

I see the same kind of dumb stuff happening when trucks are stopped "for inspection" before entering the tunnel I go thru everyday to go to work.

If the officers are already busy, they will let the next truck go thru.
They examine the biggest and the smallest "trucks", but Hummvees, Expeditions and Escalades go thru without a second look.

Why would I load a truck with explosives when I can get even more in an Escalade and not be stopped?

It reminds me of the saying "All Hat, No Cattle". It is all for show, and to use the budget that was alloted for security, so it will be alloted again next year.

the passengers, and not any sort of real security. It just forces us to conform, sheep-like, to whatever crap they do.

I'm made crazy by the idiotic liquid restrictions, which makes it impossible to carry on my normal complement of make-up and hair stuff and body lotions. Yeah, I'm rather high-maintenance, but I used to be able to carry all the stuff on board. No more. The idea that someone will pack some sort of explosives in a container cleverly disguised to look like expensive (or even cheap) shampoo is ludicrous. Same with the restrictions on not getting out of your seat the last half hour or so before your flight lands at DCA. Or no more than one person standing in the aisle waiting for the toilet to become available.

I get so sick of seeing elderly nuns and toddles who can barely walk being put through extra screening that it's all I can do not to comment out loud while standing in the security line. And I'm so sick of the smug comeback about "you never know".

At least I can now bring my embroidery scissors on board an airplane. Someone finally figured out that middle-aged ladies who embroidery aren't very likely to be terrorists. I say: Require EVERYONE to be doing some sort of needlework and we'd all be safer. For one thing, do you have any idea how much more lethal a good knitting needle can be than a tiny nail clipper? Or the fury of a woman whose arm has been jiggled while trying to complete a particularly tricky stitch of some kind? Hijackers wouldn't have a chance against her. Besides, if they'd been required to start crocheting a scarf at the outset, they'd be sufficiently invested in getting in finished that they'd behave.

I went to DC with her about 18 months ago. We noticed TSA in DC hassling a woman who was at least 80 and she was in tears. The lady in front of us looked back at us and rolled her eyes and made some rude comment about this stupid woman who should have known better than to bring liquids. I asked eye roller if she felt safer and she said "YES!" Then when I walked by her as I left the security area, she mumbled at me "BITCH!"

Fast forward - we are on the plane and my friend is lucky enough to be sitting next to eye roller. They talk and turns out eye roller is married to a man who was appointed to some high level position in DC by Bush. She was not allowed to move to DC and flies there on weekends to be with hubby. She was reading a book about how to keep your man sexually excited.

Still laugh about that. :rofl:

onto the plane inside a pen with the ink cartridge removed so I could crochet doilies during the flight. The flight attendants would comment on my lovely work and never make a fuss about the fact that I had a forbidden metal weapon.

that's how we flew with joints. They fit perfectly into ball point pens.

I giggled for a good five minuites at that last paragraph.

It's one thing to loose a cigarette lighter.... I heard that TSA is now taking new $2000 laptops. The "Newer" the computer is.. the quicker it gets "Examined" for security purposes.

After reading all these nightmare stories I'll keep my feet on the ground.