Looking for experiences with TSA

[Doheny]

Go to the TSA website and sign up to be a "Trusted Traveler". Once you're listed as a TT, you'll show up, board first, and no luggage checks.

[mossy]

Go to the TSA website and sign up to be a "Trusted Traveler". Once you're listed as a TT, you'll show up, board first, and no luggage checks.

nope. you are completely wrong. you are not listed as a "trusted traveler" you are listed as the program you selected (pre-check, global entry, nexus, sentri). you get expedited screening through the checkpoint, but all checked baggage receives the same standard screening as a regular passenger. i used to be a dual function TSO (certified on checkpoint and checked baggage screening) before becoming a LEO. I worked international checkpoints and international/domestic baggage rooms. everything that goes under the plane is screened. anything the x-ray cant see through or presents properties of explosives gets kicked down for inspection.

even flight crew bags get inspected ALL THE TIME. I remember back during the TP shortages we would find flight crew bags full of stolen hotel toilet paper. this other time I was called up to do oversize, and there are 3 airline employees escorting this bike case. ones on a phone giving updates. looked over the tag to make sure its not a known/suspected terrorist, its clear just a flight crew tag so I'm like whatever lets do this so i can get back to my lunch. do my thing, throw the case down the belt. look up at one of the airline employees and ask what's up. turns out the bike belonged to the captain and he refused to take off until he knew it made it on.

[caliprep]

They could literally care less if hes a retired PD, matter of fact, the only LEO they are concerned with are Federal LEO's who are able to fly armed..

[General]

A machine picks the bags to be searched.

[dC0m]

Probably off-roster and unserialized knives...

[ojisan]

I used to travel often for business.
If you check in early, your bag is more likely to be searched because they have the time.
At smaller rural airports, they may be bored with nothing else to do besides snoop through luggage.

[mossy]

I used to travel often for business.
If you check in early, your bag is more likely to be searched because they have the time.
At smaller rural airports, they may be bored with nothing else to do besides snoop through luggage.

not true at all...... we were never on a time limit to search bags that needed checking, if the bags cant be checked they wont be making the flight. if we were getting slammed, other screeners could be pulled from bag rooms that were dead and there were other mitigation procedures that could be done. but bottom line is the bag don't get on the flight till we cleared it, if we couldn't, it didn't. and no baggage screener wants to search through your sh*t. there is nothing more magical than sitting in a dead room and being paid to do nothing except calibrate machines and BS with your team. we NEVER went looking to do extra work. the room could get slammed at any time, being dual function i could get pulled to a checkpoint and have to deal with passengers, and its not super exciting to search bags.

[ojisan]

You have your experiences and I have mine.

[mossy]

You have your experiences and I have mine.

You were a passenger, I was a dual function TSO. Your "experience" is buying a plane ticket and going for a ride. Mine is doing the job you are talking about.

We don't even choose the bags that get checked. If the machine don't like something it kicks the bag down to us and a belt system brings it to someone's assigned table then we pull up a picture of what it doesn't like on our computer.

[-hanko]

I was incorrect.

TSA Pre-Check allows you a quick search prior to boarding. Last time I went though it was take off my coat, put my carry on bag on the rollers and pick it up at the end. You end up on the short line v. everybody else. Applying took 15 minutes at a Staples store, results arrived in the mail a week later. Once you give your pre-check number to an airline, other airlines pick it up and it's marked on your ticket.

[-hanko]

nope. you are completely wrong. you are not listed as a "trusted traveler" you are listed as the program you selected (pre-check, global entry, nexus, sentri). you get expedited screening through the checkpoint, but all checked baggage receives the same standard screening as a regular passenger.

Correct, I was wrong. I applied for trusted travel in January of this year...thinking I'd be approved before going to Europe at the start of this month. That never happened, even with an Idaho Senator pleading my case.

Wife and I arrived at SEATAC on the way back after Europe. We were last off the plane and taking our time as we had a 4 hour layover. When we got to the customs window, we both said there was nothing to declare. The customs cop asked us if we had some time and talked about trusted traveler. We both agreed to sign up through him, and we both received the TT cards in the mail about a week later. He did say that TT's may have unscheduled routine open-the-bag checks.

[Tango_Down]

This happens when they X-Ray his bag and see something inside of value they want to steal.
Once I had my first pocket knife stolen from TSA I started hiding it in my bag. They can see it in the X-ray but can't find it when they search for it and eventually just leave me a note they examined my bag. It happens EVERY time I pack a pocket knife.
TSA agents will steal anything that fits in their pocket, medicine bottle, knife, money. By the time you get your bag and see the notice inside hours have gone by and that thieving TSA agent is likely already home enjoying his new Spyderco.

https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/convicted-tsa-officer-reveals-secrets-thefts-airports/story?id=17339513

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have had repeated run-ins with TSA, due entirely to the XL can of Aqua-Net I travel with to maintain my Up-Do.