Military IDs and airport security

[skyward80]

At work the other day, a co-worker told me that I could use my military ID to get into the much shorter employee/aircrew security lines. Is this true? Do I have to be on official business or does this apply to personal travel as well? Do I need a copy of my orders?

Any info on this topic would be greatly appreciated. If you have concerns about discussing airport security on a public forum, please PM me.

Lata!
Skyward80

 

[Slim]

That's a new one!

I haven't seen any uniformed military allowed to bypass security lines anywhere. The only place I recall seeing any military personnel, in uniform, is in ATL and that's after I have cleared security. CHS is a place it could happen given it's a joint use airport. If it changes, or I see it actually happen, I'll send you a PM.

Fly safe!

 

[skyward80]

Slim:

I wasn't necessarily talking about uniformed personnel. My co-worker made it sound like I could get my boarding pass and go right to the aircrew security line--even if I was travelling for pleasure in my t-shirt and jeans. Somehow I doubt the validity of this, but I figure it's worth asking other people about.

Skyward80

 

[milplt]

Nope,

The only time a military ID helped me was when I was traveling on a gov't oneway ticket and got flagged for additional security (due to the one-way travel) - my ID and orders (ID alone was no good) allowed me to avoid the extra scrutiny (i.e I still did the normal process just like everyone else).

 

[LJDRVR]

I'm going out on a three day tommorow. I'll ask the TSA goobers and post the answer.

 

[sandman2122]

The answer you'll get is "No".

 

[MercuryPilot]

I don't think you'll get in the fast lane by showing your military ID at the security checkpoint.

I do think that showing your military ID at the ticket counter may help you avoid getting a boarding pass that identifies you for a random search at the checkpoint. Same goes for using your airline ID.

During our annual anti-terrorism training at my squadron it was recommended to avoid using your military ID at the airport so as to keep a low profile. You don't want to highlight yourself as a target or troublemaker for would-be terrorists.

Just some things to think about.

MP

 

[wms]

Try it. The worse that happens is they'll tell you to get in the other line. Most airports don't actually have a "crew line". They just let you cut to the front if you are in uniform.

PS. On a good note, if you are on active duty you can go in any Delta Crown Room. It's a relaxing place to hang out and they're glad to have you. You don't have to be in uniform, just show your ID. And on my plane, all beverages are complementary to military personnel.

 

[sgwabd]

Active duty and reserve ID card

The rule states that active duty personnel are not required to do the in depth security search. So if you are selected or pre-selected for a routine search, just show your military id card and you'll go right through. Reserve ID card sometimes works but the rule is for active duty only.

 

[CameronW]

The rule states that active duty personnel are not required to do the in depth security search. So if you are selected or pre-selected for a routine search, just show your military id card and you'll go right through. Reserve ID card sometimes works but the rule is for active duty only.

I've tried this a couple times and got the in-depth search anyhow. They told me I had to have my military ID and be on military travel orders.

 

[CameronW]

Try it. The worse that happens is they'll tell you to get in the other line. Most airports don't actually have a "crew line". They just let you cut to the front if you are in uniform.

PS. On a good note, if you are on active duty you can go in any Delta Crown Room. It's a relaxing place to hang out and they're glad to have you. You don't have to be in uniform, just show your ID. And on my plane, all beverages are complementary to military personnel.

Good man! How do I get on your plane?

 

[AArider]

The rule states that active duty personnel are not required to do the in depth security search. So if you are selected or pre-selected for a routine search, just show your military id card and you'll go right through. Reserve ID card sometimes works but the rule is for active duty only.

The "rule"? What rule is this - TSA, Military, FAA? I'd like to see this rule / regulation and have a copy with me when I travel. I've never seen or heard of this before and I fly at least 1xmonth for official military duty through DFW and PHL.

 

[T1bubba]

The "rule"? What rule is this - TSA, Military, FAA? I'd like to see this rule / regulation and have a copy with me when I travel. I've never seen or heard of this before and I fly at least 1xmonth for official military duty through DFW and PHL.

I believe it's TSA policy. There are signs in the selectee lines at BWI stating something to the effect of military personnel should have their ID's out when they get to the front of the line. You still get the standard screening though.

I've also been jumpseating in civies and had put my airline ID away when randomly selected for additional screening. I showed my airline ID and they said nevermind.

T1

 

[AArider]

I believe it's TSA policy. There are signs in the selectee lines at BWI stating something to the effect of military personnel should have their ID's out when they get to the front of the line. You still get the standard screening though.

I've also been jumpseating in civies and had put my airline ID away when randomly selected for additional screening. I showed my airline ID and they said nevermind.

T1

Intersting. I've never gone through additional screening before - maybe because when I check in at the AA counter I always show them the company ID (for Non-revenue travel) or the Mil ID (for govt. travel) - any my boarding pass shows "priority" on it?? I've never seen those signs at PHL or DFW, but I'll keep looking. Anything to keep those TSA folks from harassing me more than they already do.
Thanks.

AArider

 

[Thedude]

Yup, getting selected for additional screening happens all the time for crewmembers, luckily not as much as it used to. There are some security directives that you can get from your security dept that does some policy and procedure for TSA regarding crewmembers. I used to carry the pages with me when I j/s'ed just in case I was selected. It works wonders when you get the supervisor or GSC involved and have those little rules in black and white.

 

[HueyPilot]

My TSA experiences

Funny, being in the military actually won me more attention a couple years back.

I was travelling to DFW for the C-21 simulator course. I handed them my orders and ID along with my boarding pass, and of course they hand-searched my bag in the first screening checkpoint. Inside I had my C-21 -1 and checklist, and of course then came the questions "sir, why do you have airplane flight manuals in your bag"...it took their supervisor to finally cool them down and leave me alone.

In another story, we were going to fly out commercial to pick up a broken jet at DMA, and they tried to confiscate our KYK. Got them pretty excited when we refused to give it up. And yes, we again had TDY orders in hand along with our IDs. And again it took a senior TSA airport official to tell the TSA peons to let us through.

I find it amazing that our country would bestow upon a person who would otherwise flip burgers at McDonalds the authority to confiscate classified materials from a verified and legitimate military officer on an official trip. Here they were harrassing the very people trying to fight the war on terror while dozens of 20-something men passed behind us, any of whom could have been terrorists.

 

[av8instyle]

here's a few funnies-

I was traveling in country to do a week of alert. It just so happened that I took leave from the airline to do this and the tickets the military gave me were from my own airline. So I had an airline ID from my own company, a full fare ticket on my own airline courtesy of the US Government, a military ID, and set of orders to fly a fully armed F-16 over American turf. And none of this was a good enough reason to get out of the search at security and a secondary search at the gate.

My wife was traveling non-rev with my 2 boys (4 & 1 at the time) and trying to get them through SEATAC when one of the Thousands Standing Around (TSA) stopped her and frantically searched for 10 minutes for the pair of "scissors" my 4 year old was smuggling through security in his Bob the Builder drag bag. 10 minutes later (wife thouroughly exhausted from coralling the boys) a national crisis was averted when the Thousands concluded that Mr. Potato Head's Sunglasses were not a threat to national security. Whew!

I literally stopped one day walking by security and laughed at the scene in front of my face. Remember shortly after 9-11 when the Guard was helping with security at the airports? Well picture this: Security Forces Squadron member walks through security to start a shift. Detector activates. Screener asks on-duty military security member to spread 'em for a wanding (STS). Military member obliges. There he is, spread eagle, fully geared, arms out while being screened, and for some reason the M-16 he was holding kept making that darned wand go nuts. But you know what? I feel safer to this day that that screener never found an ounce of C4 on the poor guy. Yes this really happened. Yes I laughed just like you are.