Jumpseating out of TUL not allowed?
 

This morning I was in the security line to get my ID checked for a ride home on CHQ, when I reached the podium the guy checking ID's informed me that my CREW badge was not sufficient and that I needed to show him my Driver License.

I showed him my Drivers License; he then wanted my boarding pass; we all know that when traveling on an express carrier in the CO system boarding passes are not issued until you arrive at the gate. I explained this to the guy who stated that I would not be getting through without a boarding pass, because all crew members must be in uniform to access security with their crew badge.

While I've never heard of this before I considered myself to be in the perfect uniform to perform my duties as an ACM, not official enough to be asked a lot of questions, yet professional enough to portray a good image should some accidental find out I was an employee.

Anyway I asked for a supervisor, who let me through and told me that this was an EXCEPTION, that he checked with his manager and that the rules do state crew members must be in uniform, what the heck??

I made the flight, and got home. In IAH I asked a TSA supervisor what he thought of the scenario; he said he was told not to ask questions if someone has a crew badge, they go through. I called the TSA number they were NO HELP, the guys list of resources included the TSA website. That was all, except that he did give me the number to the business office in TUL for TSA.

I'm a conformist, if the rules exist I will follow them. Considering when I arrived at the gate there was another jump seater who went through another line dressed the same as me without incident, I think there may be a lack of standardization.

Anyone else have a problem like this EVER?

Were their uniforms blue or white?

I have heard stories of requiring a boarding pass if jumpseating and YOUR CARRIER does not operate out of that airport. Meaning a SWA person jumpseating from MEM (SWA doesn't come in/out mem) they need a boarding pass. Have heard a few variations of this same scenario. Crewpass now!

I think its BS either way.

damn okies

It may be ridiculous, but this is another reason to ALWAYS travel in uniform.

TUL's TSA folks are the worst. Always up to something

They were still in white shirts, the supervisor eluded to the fact that the guy checking ID in my line was 'New' so he was following all of the rules. I searched all over the CFR's covering TSA, and it doesn't get as specific as who can clear security lines with what.

TUL TSA is the worst, it seems everytime I go through there the people at the front end have a new rule -- this one takes the cake for sure.

Wear your uniform. Go through security and give TSA their satisfaction. Then go to the restrooms and change into something else. Problem solved.

You did all the right steps in contacting the manager and calling the tsa number. However, TSA are morons plain and simple.

A boarding pass is NEVER EVER EVER required, no matter what airport (in the US). That being said, I always have issues no matter where I go. One day in LAX no problem, the next day I need a boarding pass. Repeat for SLC, SFO, DEN, I've had issues everywhere. The problem is each individual TSA operates however they see fit. They certainly don't have to answer to the pilot group. And if you quote or reference the AOSSP to them in any way, they can have you arrested. It's a lose-lose unfortunately however you look at it, so if I get hassled, I just play the Saturday Night Live TSA skit in my head a couple times, and it makes me feel better at least for a little bit.

From the way I understand it that is not all that uncommon of a situation. Each airport and TSA operation are somewhat of an independent entity. They have to follow general rules and practices but they can use measures outside of the norm (eg. no jumpseating without a boarding pass or uniform). Heard of the some of the same similar responses too such as "your airline doesn't operate here" thereby making you a non-operating crew member. In some cases these guys are just doing there jobs and all they know to look for is where is the boarding pass.

or TSA Gangsta's from Utube........... my fav

Then again it could be an Okie thing. I love living there and love the people. Just many that you run in to do not use common sense.

hahaha I am from the northeast and lived in Okiehoma for 3 years... what an experience that was.........

Ah yes, that one would probably work just as good, if not better. TSA Gangstaz....that's good stuff :D

Keep pursuing the matter with the higher ups at the TSA. I had a similar situation in which I almost got arrested. I called, e-mailed, and snail mailed the TSA "customer service" people and got a letter which I carry around in my bag from the director of the TSA at JFK which says something like any crew member is allowed through a security checkpoint with a valid air carrier ID badge. The only exception is if a terminal in strictly for international based carriers. Get a direct phone number to someone who has a little bit of power.

Can anyone get a copy of the TSA rules that show that boarding passes are not required for crew members whether in or out of uniform?

You know, these people are just trying to do their job. Problem is they suck at their jobs so badly. It drives me crazy how there's almost zero continuity from station to station.

Jumpseat Issue
 

Contact your Jumpseat Coordinator and try to give as much detailed information as possible. They have the means of getting the situation addressed.

Good luck,
flynfr8

I've never had a problem in TUL, and I live here. Either in or out of uniform.

Ha! ...and they want to start giving those TSA idiots a badge.

I was told by ANC TSA guy the other day that 'crew' ID is only acceptable if you are in uniform.

I wasn't in uniform and made the mistake of handing him my boarding pass and my airline ID... he requested my drivers license. Should've kept the boarding pass in my pocket. I hate to say it but I tend to agree with the 'just wear the uniform' school of thought. Then you get to field the 'where's the airport lost-and-found?' questions.

At some point somewhere in this country TSA is going to push a crew member over the edge. When that happens, a string of swear words that would make a sailor blush is going to emit from said crew members mouth. I can only hope I'm standing in line behind that guy when it happens.

I was commuting out of phx to fat thhis morning, got through security no problem, got to the gate and got my boarding pass, it had the dreaded ssss on it. the mesa gate agent said she cant take it off the boarding pass unless I was in "their system" I had to go back to security, where tsa opened all my bags, took all of my liquids - toothpaste, mouthwash, hair gel, water - and patted me down. I called for the supervisor.. to no avail... now im on a four day trip with no toiletries.... I was in FULL uniform.... Im still ****ed about this.. this is the first time ive had a gate agent refuse to take the ssss off the boarding pass, and the first time Ive had to go through secondary screening. tsa kept telling me that if I go down to the ticket counter I can have them take the ssss off the boarding pass, but the gate agent wouldnt have held the flight for me, and it was 20 min to departure. Im so frusterated with this system, and it needs to be changed.


CREWPASS NOW!

Yeah, I flew with a CA once where that happened to him while he was trying to commute out of DEN. He refused to let them take his stuff. Called CS and taken off the trip. I used to commute out of FAR. Same thing. Uniformed crew memebers HAD to have at least a departure card. I would list for the UAX flight and hit the kios on the way in. Small towns man...

not a good day for PHX today.

BTV tub stackers completely emptied my flight case and overnight bag and I was active crew. It's time to stop the power trip that is a tub stacker the badge is only going to make it worse.

Update
 

I called TSA in TUL @918-779-6400 and talked to the manager, his name is Chuck. He stated that the people at the front of the line were wrong in my case. He told me he would follow up with the people involved and that the rules state that an individual with a CREW badge may access security with no other rules attached except no liquids and gels...

I don't want to travel in uniform but it may come to that if the inconsistency keeps up.

Thanks for the advice.

I will have to go read the regs to be 100% sure, but IIRC your air carrier must serve the airport that you are trying to go security without a boarding pass. The TSA doesn't have to accept the crew I.D. if they don't want to. I have recurrent GSC in a few months, but if I am looking for some fun reading material on my next overnight I will thumb through the AOSSP and get the exact verbage.

What does "IIRC" mean?

TSA is so full of crap. words cannot express the way I feel about that worthless agency. I have come to this point of when I do commute, In uniform. I print out a boarding pass and keep it with me in the event that I get any hassle from some high school dropout on a powertrip. We all have had some issues with TSA, some of us worse then others. Because of this I try to be as prepared as possible in case I become a victim of TSA power-trips.
We all, as professionals need to be prepared for this every time we enter into the TSA "red-zone".
We do need CREW-PASS NOW!

The whole uniform thing is the utmost example of moronic government rule making. Who the heck cares about a uniform? We have FEDERALLY CLEARED ID's........but you have to play the stupid game unfortunately! I'd like to see us all do this for a month: arrive at the TSA line in blue pants and your pilot shirt with epaulets on and an undershirt. Then when you get through security you open up your bag right there and change shirts and continue on your way until they see how ridicuous it is to be in uniform.....the only thing that will get you in the cockpit is your CASS approved ID, not a white short with epaulets!!

This has ticked me off since day 1!

If I Remember Correctly

Quick story:

You're a TSA agent working terminal security access. A gentleman in uniform who is dressed like a pilot comes up to you. You check his ID, and yep, it's authentic. You ask him for a boarding pass anyway. The pilot, in uniform, produces a boarding pass.

Ok, what behavior was just reenforced in that story?

A. pilots who are properly badged should be given access to security, regardless of what they are wearing or whether their airline serves the terminal they are attempting to access

B. properly badged pilots, including those in full uniform, should produce a boarding pass when accessing security

--

Help make answer A standard, not B.

Thanks 'fdxbusdriver'.

This was the case for about 6 months but is no longer in effect. Change was 11/2007 I believe. Any crew badge, at any airport, no matter what.

crew badge and tsa
 

We had problems with tsa in MKE last February. Here is what we were told.....

Last night XXX and I followed up on this with Jim , our Principle Security Inspector (PSI). Jim works for the TSA and is the guy responsible for all security matters involving XXX. He's very good to work with.

Jim has told us several times that all crewmembers with valid badges can go through security at all domestic airports. It doesn't matter whether our airline serves the airport. It doesn't matter if you're in uniform.

He contacted MKE and confirmed that the ID-checkers at the security points were not using the proper procedure. They should be letting you through with your crew badge.

He said that if you are denied access to the sterile area at MKE (or any other airport) based on the absence of XXX service at that airport, you should ask to speak with either a supervisory TSO or a screening manager.

If they continue to give you a problem, tell them to consult the November 1, 2007 amendment to section 4.3.1.B.1 of the AOSSP. They should know what that is. I can't post the document here, because this isn't a secure web site.

In CLL I was DH in uniform and the TSA agent asked to see my boarding pass. I challenged him on it, but he still wanted to see it. There were a lot of people in line and I didn't want to slow it up so I just showed it to him. Figures that they also had their metal detector on a higher sensitivity.

I sent an email to tha tsa compalint dept... this is the reply

"Thank you for e-mail concerning the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) evaluation and implementation of a sterile area access system, as required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act).



TSA remains committed to developing a sterile area access system to provide crewmembers expedited access through the screening checkpoint to support the operational needs of crewmembers and consequently satisfy the requirements of the 9/11 Act. TSA has previously acknowledged that the Air Line Pilots Association's (ALPA) Crew Personnel Advanced Security System (CrewPASS) concept represents an excellent basis for a sterile area access system and agreed to evaluate this proposal.



The 9/11 Act requires TSA to examine the feasibility of instituting a sterile area access system and provide any recommendations in a report to Congress. On March 26, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security submitted a report to Congress on efforts to institute a sterile area access system in accordance with Section 1614 of the 9/11 Act. The report outlined TSA's progress with this initiative but also provided an opportunity to clarify the numerous challenges associated with instituting a sterile area access system such as CrewPASS. TSA has informed ALPA that these challenges must also be taken into consideration.



Given the complex nature of creating a nationwide sterile area access system, TSA intends to test the feasibility of any sterile area access system on a pilot basis at selected airports before instituting a system on a national level. Pilot testing will allow TSA to test concepts and adjust or enhance any system to make wider deployment feasible. While we cannot provide a detailed timeline at this point, TSA is developing a plan to test a sterile area access system at multiple airports during this calendar year. We are keeping ALPA and our other aviation security partners apprised of all developments associated with this effort.



We hope this information is helpful.





TSA Contact Center"

Did they have their "stinkin badges"!!!

Be careful, if you have liquids in bottles over 3.4 ozs when you do this. I believe they had a "sting" in MSP a year or two ago where they sat outside the crewroom snagging people who used the uniform to "smuggle" their toothpaste in. Not sure what the consequences of being caught were.

Don't know about you, but, my FOM has a section that outlines the appropriate clothing during a DH/JS. So, if they were running a sting on me. I can point out that the polo shirt is appropriate uniform/clothing to wear while on company business as specified per the FAA approved ops manual....so, I've just changed "uniforms" to one that will reduce confusion for the pax in regards to the operating crew.