Security hassles

[flight-crew]

I just wanted to get some opinions from everyone on this board on how they deal with some of the currrent security practices, especially towards flight crews.

First and foremost, The Random Search. I've had this more than a few times while jumpseating. This sh!t pisses me off the most. Those idiots go through all your stuff in front of everyone. It's extremely embarrassing. And they always mess up the order of my stuff the way I packed it.... my clean clothes get unfolded, etc. Fortunatley one of my buds developed a system to beat it. Do not have the gate agent issue you a ticket - if you can, because it gets triggered off of the boarding ticket. Try to board with just the jumpseat form and your I.D., then after you've greeted the flight crew, ask the FA where to sit. Any other tips on avoiding this BS?

Going through security to jumpseat and the idiots say that you need a boarding ticket from the ticket counter. Of course, it seems that I have to "educate" those fools every time that you get the **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** jumpseat ticket at the gate. But they don't even know what a jumpseat form is or even how the process works.

Sometimes I have to travel with more than one bag. That's another fun one.

I was just wondering how you guys were dealing with these issues?

 

[d328pilot]

Wear a uniform. No ticket needed to get through security and you are exempt from bag limits... In fact, I dont travel anywhere without my uniform anymore.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Actually they lifted the ban on searching uniformed crew members. But that is only if the computer selects you, personell can't pull you out of line and search you as part of their random searches.

Now, if you want to help prevent the computer from selecting you, you have to do a few things. List yourself on a company work station (or have a gate agent from the airline you want to jump on list you) as far in advance as possible. I've heard you have to do it anywhere from 24 to 48 hours in advance, but I don't know what the true number is. Then check in as soon as you can, usually 45 min to an hour will do fine.


Lastly, if they search you, don't get such a negative attitude. You can't win the war against privacy by arguing with the lowest man on the pole. Screeners have no authority to change the rules. If you want to have the rules changed you'll have to go to the top (meaning the national government). Talk to your union or state representatives to address the problem.

Do know this, you can demand that the screener use rubber gloves when screening your baggage. You can also ask that the screener be discrete (most will be any way). If you are worried about people seeing your dirty undies, stand between your bags and the people, there is nothing stopping you from doing that.

 

[rumpletumbler]

I heard this morning that a lady had been browsing a magazine while waiting to board and had torn a page out intending to order the set of steak knives that she had been looking at. She was searched before boarding and the ad with the knives was confiscated. What a mindless zero! Can you imagine that it is even possible for someone to be that stupid?

RT

 

[SDdriver]

I usually get randomed ever single time I jumpseat. Of course I can't actually get the jumpseat cause I am an offliner, but i have found if you are nice to the security, they usually will help you out and not take forever and mess your stuff up. Hey it's life now and I have just grown to accept it, I mean I am still very happy I have the privilege to get a free ride anywhere I want. And byt the way thanks to all the guys who have given them.

P.S. It is basic psychology, if you are nice to someone first, it makes it much harder for them to be ugly to you. It is all about attitude.

Fly Safe!

 

[Flydaplane]

As stated earlier, the TSA has exempted flight crews from random searches at the boarding gate and at the checkpoint. Each airline can go above and beyond what TSA requires, so if Joe's flying service wants to random everyone, they can. Often the people that get the security directives, usually the airline's security coordinator, are not to concerned with the flight crew (they've got other things to worry about).

If you have a specific airline problem ask your jumpseat coordinator to talk to that airlines coordinator to work out the problem.

If you can't get through a checkpoint and you've got a valid pilot ID and uniform on, ask to talk to the GSC (Ground Security Coordinator from an airline, not a screening company employee). There should be one at each checkpoint that is still run by private companies.

 

[flight-crew]

Do you know where I can get a copy of the directive that states Flight Crews will no longer be random searched (harassed)?

 

[TurboS7]

I got searched the other day and the TSA guy at BWI said that I could now repack my own suitcase. They determined that they were waisting time packing pilot's suitcases as they could never get them right. Prior to TSA taking over security directives said that the person could not touch the case until it was repacked. WOW, an improvement.

 

[flight-crew]

Does Airtran issue you a ticket at the gate for jumpseating... or do you just take the jumpseat form to the Flight Crew and then have the F/A give you a seat?

 

[hmflyer]

I now wear my uniform whenever I jumpseat/nonrev. As far as random gate searches, some airlines such as CO seem to follow that directive about uniformed crew members. However others such as NW seem to take extra care to see that all nonrevs get searched, whether or not they are in uniform. Sometimes I think that they are trying to lessen the impact for revenue passengers, and in reality only serve to lessen the limited value of the random gate search.

 

[Chas]

The major airline I non rev on searches you if you list yourself S/A less than 24 hours before that flight I always know when I am gonna get it. The worst part is by the time you finally get on no overhead space

 

[XJAVRO]

The TSA changed it's mind a few months ago. Crew members in Uniform CAN be selected for random searches. In thier eyes we are no longer any diffrent than any other pax. This comes for a TSA Directive sitting in front of me. I get searched all the time when jumpseating, and I do think it is a waste of time, but I don't think we should be telling everyone on a public board how to get around it. This is something that should be talked about on the ALPA board.

 

[dondk]

I believe ALPA published a 8 page directive on the random searching of flight crew members. It includes what "may" be done and what YOU can do and NOT do (or say).

Basically what some others have already mentioned are the basic's...

I have non-rev'd and jumpseated on several airlines, generally in uniform and have never been randomed. Airways, Delta, NWA, Airtran, SWA are just a few.

I do know Airways has a policy if you are in uniform you are EXEMPT for random regardless of what the boarding pass states.

NWA to beat the random as a non-rev you must list more than 24 hours otherwise your guaranteed to get randomed.

Airtran, usually the gate agent get's me cleared before issuing a boarding pass and I go right on-board.

The "rule of thumb" is suppose to be anyone who purchases a ticket ( rev, non-rev) within 24 hours of a flight. Most airlines follow that rule of thumb but some go slightly beyond to what extent I do not know. I read or heard somewhere the other rule of thumb is a percentage of the passengers IF there are none under the time frame, up to 15% rings a bell, but I am not 100% sure.

 

[Flydaplane]

XJAVRO you must be looking at an old SD (Security Directive). The current one is numbered and ends with 10J. If you are still getting selected for a random search and you are in uniform with proper ID, the airline is going beyond what TSA requires. Some air carriers select their non-rev and commuting people on purpose. They'd rather piss off their own people traveling free than someone that paid for the flight.
To see a copy of the security directives ask your security coordinator. Sometimes GSC's (ground security coordinators) may have a copy also.
Watch your uniforms, flight bags, and ID's, they are still being stolen. (It wouldn't hurt to check multiple ID's of jumpseaters, maybe ask them who did their medical or when it expires)

 

[Acestick]

All you have to do is get to know some of the "rampers" or anyone else with access to the ramp of the airport. They can get you in and out with no problem, and they never search your bags or the cars that you ride in...

How else do you think flight attendants somehow manage to obtain the scissors needed to open boxes of food on the plane? Or even just their own nail files?

You just need to have a few people you know that can drive it on the airport for you and then run it up the jetbridge at the plane.

I've seen it done and I've done it myself...Its easier than it sounds

 

[NEDude]

At some airports you do need a jumpseat form to get through security even if you are in uniform. This is true at airports where there are different security locations for different gate areas. For instance in MCO my Continental ID will not get me to the Southwest gates because the Continental gates are on the other side of the airport and have a different security area.

 

[Anaconda]

like a lot of you i also non-rev/jump in uniform and it seems to make things a heck of a lot easier. i still get randomed on occasion at the gate. when i have asked why, was told that when the random checkpoint no longer has any people at it being searched they just take the next person. so, i try as much as possible to keep a close eye on how the search is going. if it looks like they are finishing a person up and i run the risk of being searched i act like i'm busy with my bag or something and let a couple of people through ahead of me. works every time.

i jump on swa a lot and list myself frequently less than 24hrs in advance and i've never been nabbed. however, an agent clued me in to the fact that i should always list myself for a round-trip whether i'm going on it or not. since i've applied this tactic i've never been flagged.