“I fly out of Monterey airport, a small airport, a lot and so I’ve gotten to know a number of the TSA employees. This morning, on my way to Miami [I’m writing this from LAX], the “gatekeeper” who asks for ID told the man in front of me, after looking at his ID, that he didn’t have to take off his shoes. When it came my turn, I asked her if I had heard correctly. She said, “Yes, as long as you were born in 1937 or earlier.” “I’m not there yet,” I said. Then I ended up behind him in the next line where you put your items on the conveyor belt. “Well,” I said to him, “I know something about your age.” He grinned and said, “Yes, it seems as if there’s a little common sense sneaking back in.” The TSA guy, whom I also recognized and who also probably recognized me, grinned and said, “Shhh, don’t mention the c-word.” We all laughed. A nice little moment.”
David Henderson, at Econlog.
When I recently flew into San Francisco airport, the queues were long but – and this might just be my being lucky – the guy who checked my passport and details was friendly, helpful and efficient. (He was ex-Air Force and did his military service near where I was brought up, a fact that he told me with great delight). Perhaps someone has told the TSA to improve.
I suspect that any improvement in the civility and common sense of the TSA is a temporary political ploy doomed to end Tuesday. The incompetence, arrogance, and frequently criminal conduct of TSA personnel is an irritant to the traveling public. A couple of weeks ago, they announced that they were getting rid of the whole body nude scanners. And you have heard very little in the last couple of months about the plans to extend screenings to bus and train stations, and to have random highway checkpoints.
The TSA is identified strongly with Obama and Napolitano. Once the election is over, either way, the velvet glove will come back off.
Subotai Bahadur
I think that SFO security is handled by a private firm, not the TSA. That explains the pleasant experience.