Just About Had It!

[Frank Bama]

In know that there are many threads bad mouthing the TSA and the new security, but I just had to share this. Yesterday, I am in uniform going to work at my domicile, when the lady at Security asks for my boarding pass. I tell her I don't have one, and am flying not riding. She then explains to me that no one gets by without a boarding pass and that I have to go upstairs to the ticket counter and get one. I thought she was joking, but she wasn't. After arguing with her for about five minutes, a supervisor came by and explained the deal to her. I thought, surely I wasn't the first pilot who she has encountered. What is being told to these people that check ID's. When a uniformed crewmember can't even get through to fly his or her trip. What's next? Sorry, just had to vent.

 

[Midnight Mike]

I know several of the instructors that taught the TSA screeners, I will ask him what is taught during training,
but I seem to remember that they are to challenge everybody. There were reports some time ago of pilot
uniforms being stolen, I wonder if this is playing a factor in this.

Times like this require patience and tolerance, arguing will not work, you think what you went through was
a pain in the ass, listen to this one.

I was riding on Polar Air Cargo from ANC-KHV-TPE, got off the plane at TPE, I had an ID card and was listed
GENDEX List with the crew but was not in uniform, luckily the handler at TPE met us at the airplane and was
able to enter TPE with a litle bit of a hassle. They stamped my passport as entering TPE on a 24 hour visa, but
did not stamp my passport as leaving TPE! I then went on to HKG with the same crew and was stopped at HKG
and was challenged once again. I was still listed on the GENDEX but my passport showed entering TPE
and not leaving, the officials wanted to know that if I was listed with the crew why was I not in uniform. After
about 4 hours I was allowed to enter HKG without a stamp to my passport but was given some type of
visa to enter HKG. Exiting HKG was equally as difficult, passport was beginnging to look worse, all this
for a company business trip.......

Had I argued with these people, I would have been thrown in jail.

 

[350DRIVER]

Times like require patience and tolerance, arguing will not work

I agree... No one should be immune from having to go through security and given any kind of breaks. A little "patience" cannot hurt anyone-


3 5 0

 

[Flywrite]

I agree taht extra patience is required these days, but the situation Frank describes is not an example of the new security situation, it is an example of unacceptable ignorance on the part of the TSA employee.

 

[flyn96]

350 you obviously don't work for an aircarrier!

 

[canadflyau]

I had the same problem on Thurs jumpseating through MCI... They all but told me I was stupid for not having a boarding pass.. It was news to me! I have commuted through there at least 20 times.. this was a first

 

[eddie]

350- Read the post, no one has claimed that they want immunity from passing security. They just want to be able to go to work without standing in line for a boarding pass.

Please only comment on posts you understand.

 

[Wats]

Oh, the hell I don't want a pass. The universal access card is the one for me! I have been flying for 16 years. I have been finger printed a couple of times and I have been through 4 or 5 background checks. Just gimme the freakin' card!

 

[Wats]

And while we're at it I want my kindergarten variety safety scissors and my leatherman back too, thank you very much!