Jumpseat Screaning?
 

So, I just got a job as a part-time ticket counter and ramp agent for Great Lakes at an EAS outstation, just so I could do something while I'm furloughed. Today we had a Jumpseater show up to go back to work, and because he showed up less than 24 hours in advance, and is only going one-way, he tripped the process for extra security screaning.

I spoke up and said that this was bull, because he has a crewbadge, and should be exempt from the screening. My supervisor, who used to work for TSA ironically, said that a new policy only allows us to exempt Lakes pilots from this. So the poor guy had to check his bag, because he obviously had more than the liquids and gells would of allowed him to carry on. He also had to go through the additional security pat down at the checkpoint...by the way he was the only one on the flight.

Has anybody ever heard of something like this...or is it just me out in the middle of a corn field.

I had to do this at CWA jumpseating to DTW. They patted me down, and took all of my liquids. They found me through cass, and I was wearing my full uniform. At least the crew got a good laugh out of it...

Yeah same happend to me except TSA came to my gate and literally unpacked all of my personal items in front of everyone. TSA had my boxers out on the floor along with socks ect.... I had never felt so violated in my life. It was terrible.... Passengers were walking by wondering why TSA was doing it... I was in full uniform and had all my crew badges and passport out but they went ahead and made me feel like an a$$.

I hope you got every one of their names and numbers, took those and filed a formal complaint.

Technically, if you're in uniform, you're allowed your liquids in any quantity.

I'd remind them of that, and then if they still took my liquids, ask for a supervisor.

It's happened to me several times. What I do when I have the SSSS on my boarding pass, I just put the thing in my pocket and pass through with my crew badge. Most of the time I get through and get on the plane and go on. Once I was in Madison, in uniform, had the lovely SSSS on my pass so I did as usual and put it in my pocket. But I tried to board, that gate agent would not let me board. I told her that she can just let me on anyway but she wouldn't and got the TSA and they did their rediculous pat down of me in full uniform. I usually don't carry large liquids anyway, so that wasn't a problem, but it sure is a huge pain.

The real crime in this is why it happens. If what I've heard is correct, screening is random unless the ticket agent chooses who gets screened. If they put the quad S on your boarding pass, that's one less passenger that gets "inconvenienced". To me, that just makes passengers and us less safe. Random checks are important.

another thing, the whole point of the TSA is to avoid a hijacking. That's their entire job. When I go to work, don't I already have the plane hijacked?

So I typed out a long, extensive answer to all of this and then realized I might be disclosing some SSI so I deleted it. The short answer to the question is that gate agents don't have the authority to assign additional screening, and if they do, they can lose their job.

Small, branded, EAS airlines always issue WAY more additional screenings than mainline carriers due to networking differences between their computers. When TSA's new "Secure Flight" (TSA: Secure Flight Program) program takes effect, I think it will solve this problem.

Become an FFDO and this problem will never happen again. And, more importantly, you will do a service to your country.

Can't argue with that one, but don't become an FFDO just to get through security. There's a little more to it than that.