Originally Posted by
deltajuliet
On a totally separate note, TSA has been handling things very differently at different airports. I try to commute out of uniform for comfort and to avoid questions from passengers, but then TSA gives me problems about my labelled crew bag and the liquid/gel toiletries therein, even after showing them my crew badge. Other times, even in uniform, they hassle me about a laptop in my suitcase and say even crew members need to take it out.
It seems different everywhere I go. I've looked but can't find any definitive publications specific to crew members. Anyone know anything official I could whip out and show to them, or do crew members have no official guidelines? I've emailed the TSA, and while I expect an unhelpful cookie cutter response that's still pending.
Scanning a few old threads, I've found that you can throw November 1, 2007 Amendment to section 4.3.1.b.1 of the AOSSP at them, but I have no idea if it's been revised since or what it actually says.
1) TSA Pre-Check locations: if you're in uniform, you don't need to take out your laptop or take off your shoes (if they don't set off the metal detector). However, many airports such as DCA will not let you cut the line b/c the special business travelers who paid for pre-check want to feel special and not have pilots cut in front of them
2) Non Pre-Check locations: if you're in uniform, you still need to take out your laptop. iPads aren't considered laptops.
3) If you're not in uniform, many locations will hassle you about liquids, gels, keeping your shoes on, and even food. Some might even try to have you walk through the x-ray scanner instead of the metal detector. When you take off your uniform, you are essentially now a regular passenger in their eyes. The only difference being that you have a crew badge instead of a boarding pass & photo ID like the rest of the passengers.
There are lots of airports who don't care about liquids, gels, laptops, shoes if you have a crew badge. The level of enforcement varies.
Just do like everyone else does and get a light jacket/fleece jacket/hoodie, and get KCM. It will make your life much easier.