I posted this yesterday on my company forum. Thought I should share with APC.

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Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.....it did.

Earlier today in chicago I approached the security checkpoint in terminal 3 because I was going to commute home on American. I showed my crew badge to the TSA rep and was informed that I could not enter! Immediately, I politely disagreed with her and simply said, "yes I can." I was then asked to step aside as other crew members and employees walked by and she called for her manager (you know that TSA person with the "3 bars"). Stunned as I was by this baffoonery I inquired as to why I am not allowed to used this checkpoint. Her response..."I am only allowed to let crew members of American, American Eagle, and Delta to use this check point." My jaw hit the floor. I profess my disbelief in her theory, but to no advantage because I quickly remember that she is only a "1 bar" TSA person. Finally the manager arrives. I say "hi, I am a SkyWest crew member (present my badge) and I am going to commute home on an american flight. Your associate here would not let me pass through because I am not an american, eagle, or delta pilot." He tells me that unfortunately that is true. He then askes "do you have a bording pass?" I tilt my head and look at him funny (kinda like a dog does) and say, "no, but I have a crew badge." He says, "well if you go get a bording pass I can let you through." Now I have about 20 min before the flight departs. I explain this to him, but it does not help my cause. I didn't even bother trying to explain to him that the ticket counter would probably tell me to go list for the jumpseat at the gate.

Now, I didn't want to act like a jackass today. All I wanted to do was to commute home. But this situation hit my jackass button. I say, "DO YOU KNOW HOW ABSOLUTELY REDICULOUS THIS IS?" He is apologizing profusly to me and goes on to tell me that this is a rule that went into effect the day before made up by people way above him, but he has to enforce it. I ask, "are they doing this at all the check points?" He said he wasn't sure because he was only in charge of that checkpoint, but they should be. I informed him of the absurdity in this one last time and that I would probably miss my commute because of it. All he could offer was an apology.

So I had to speed walk over to terminal 2, and enter through the security checkpoint that most of us in chicago use. I show my badge and everything works like it is suppose to. I ended up making that flight with less than 5 min to spare.

Has anyone else had this problem at O'hare? Or anywhere else?