I arrive at the Louisville airport TSA security check point. They let a few people in front of me through, then a family and when they got to me, they closed the non-X-Ray line and force me to enter the full body scan line. After that I find my bag being inspected by one of the rudest people in my entire life. He proceeds to go through my entire bag and even touch my toothbrush! He then runs my bag through the machine again, to end up going through a second smaller bag that was in my suitcase. As he seals up my suitcase, he says, “have a nice day.” I will never spend my money in Kentucky ever again. The TSA needs to quality background checks and educate their screeners.
By: Derek

I went to get a Global Entry card and had a few questions for the TSA agent that was handling my application.  Any question that I asked, she simply asked my to either go watch the video in the waiting room or go to the website.   Makes me wonder…do they know what they are doing.

I’ve seen some of these agents texting while working.   I wonder if these jobs require any completion of education. 

By: Polite Society

It’s funny when you find TSA agents that are trying to be nonchalant about the crap that they do – and they really don’t like to be called on it.

I was in San Antonio over the weekend, and got to the airport early.  I didn’t have any issues, per se, but it was funny that the TSA agents were tripping all over themselves to find a reason to stop and question me.  Why?  Because I have tattoos.

Texas seems to be pretty conservative, and I’d gotten a couple of stares when I was in town.  But about half a dozen TSA agents tried to circle me, all NOT looking at me, while checking out my tattoos.  My legs are covered in them.  They even tried to confer to see if they could do anything, based on the quiet talking and pointing that they were doing.

Hey, TSA.  GET A LIFE!

By: Walter

On April 18th, 2015 I had the misfortune of flying out of Ft Lauderdale Airport.  I was already TSA pre-screened and have NEVER had any problems going through security.  I proceeded as directed to the line for pre-screened passengers.  I put my bags on the conveyor and closed the latch on top of one so when the agents knocked it over the things inside would not fall out.  I then went on to walk through the metal delector.  The rude and obnoxious TSA agent then halted me loudly and said I had my ticket upside down.  I said oh I am sorry and turned it correctly when he then yelled at me to step aside immediately, I had been chosen for a random check.  I stepped aside and asked him what he meant, I was confused.  This guy was on a definite power trip.  He yelled at me again, then yelled at the other passengers trying to come through his detector, HALT, DO NOT PROCEED – it was crazy and he had a crazy look in his eyes, almost like he was going to hit me.  I was frightened.  Then he tells me again to step over there – pointing to an area I was supposed to stand in while he continued to let people through.  I told him my bags were on that conveyor and I was NOT leaving them unattended – my valuables and money were in them.  He said you can watch them from there, step aside maam, STEP ASIDE _ NOW.  This guy was really acting unpredictable and crazed. I did as told and never uttered another word.  After a few mnutes he yanked my bags from the conveyor, the girl behind told him they were clean and I was OK.  He then proceeded behind another counter, told me to turn face him and hold my hands out palms up.  He proceeded now to tell me he was going to swab my hands for toxic chemicals and materials.  I never talked again to him, I was afraid he might hit me or worse haul me off somewhere.  This guy was CRAZY.  I am very upset and feel violated by this horrible creature and feel the TSA folks are out of control, power tripping police wannabes who better get control of themselves.  The public should be terrified of these people, they have little education, no training and are given guns to actually shoot people.  They have no idea of proper decorum and know they can get away with whatever they do.  Ft Lauderdale is an awful airport and I will NEVER use it again.  To the TSA agent who pulled me aside I cetainly hope your superiors get word of what you are doing and how you are treating innocent retired people. 

By: Debra

Yesterday. February 6, 2015. I am returning home from a business conference in Austin. I am female, 55 year old college professor and dressed in jeans, boots, and carrying a backpack and purse. I a seasoned traveller. There is no line and I reach into my purse to pull out my little Baggie of liquids. That apparently set off this guy who yelled at me: MAAM! DO NOT remove anything from your purse! PUT YOUR CELL PHONE IN Your purse now! ” I begin to take my watch off out of habit and I guess this is a sign of true criminal behavior. Two agents are now yelling at me not to take my watch off and approaching me as if I am a threat. I keep my cool, say “yes sir” and ask aboutY shoes. NO! They say. I walk through and of course, my boots set off the alarm. They send me back through while barking commands to take my shoes off NOW! I have never been treated this way by anyone. Never. Why treat a woman traveling alone like this? It was insulting, disrespectful, and rude. Can these people not be trained in common decency? I would NEVER treat anyone this way!
By: Karen Jobe

JFK terminal 5

The 2 ladies were Coffew and Raftul or something like that. In August, I went through and saw them and everything was normal. WHY was everything normal? Because I went through security with a hat on and took it off when asked to. 

But what was different about my next trip I took a month ago. I was actually wearing my hijab or headscarf. It was a fun pretty scarf and didn’t scream TERRORIST. But to these dumb bitches it did. 

So anyways right when we walked in they were suspicious. We were AMERICANS being randomly checked because I looked like a terrorist. They searched me and went through every single paper, undergarment, cards, scarves,EVERYTHING!!! In front of me. 

The one lady kept asking me questions and tried to be friendly and I was giving her attitude and told her I would not want to talk to her because this is HARASSMENT! She said it’s not because they have been checking many people. I looked around me like she asked me to do and I saw nobody getting pulled aside or checked. Why? Because there were no known muslims going through security at that time. 

The male officers thought these 2 ladies were stupid for what they did because we looked like normal people to them. But these 2 white racists had to check us and probably felt stupid they found nothing. 

They asked me if I wanted to put my own things away and I said NO! Just the way you took my things out, you are going to put them back the way you found it. And when she walked away, I looked at her and said you only did this because I was wearing this on my head. And she walked away. 

But it’s okay! I will see these ladies again without my hijab and ask them if they remember me! This will be interesting. 

By: nella

The following is an exact copy of what complaint I filed online today witht he TSA.  My name is redacted.

TSA Incident Report by Passenger XXXX XXX

Filed By: XXXX XXX

Airport: Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Incident:    Lost Laptop – SEA Checkpoint #3 – 08/06/2014 – Between 3:30 and 4:30pm

I asked for an opt-out manual screening at the SEA airport checkpoint #3 around 4pm.   Before sending my bags through the X-Ray machine I asked for the opt-out from Agent-A (light brown skinned male, whose name and ID was refused to me by agent Greer).  Agent-A refused to act, stating that I needed to wait until I was at the x-ray machine before he could call for opt-out.

I placed my items in three totes.  First alone was my laptop.  Tote # 2 and 3 held my backpack and laptop bag.  As soon as I was as at the front of the x-ray machine, Agent-A called for male assist and asked me to step aside.  

I waited a very long time, as Agent-A called for assist at least 5 times.  No one responded, though I heard another agent in another lane call for male assist once, and never heard it again.  I grew concerned as I worried that my totes were sitting unattended on the other side.  I felt that Agent-A, was also concerned and he repeatedly called for male assist again.  

I asked about my belongings being unattended on the other side, then Agent A called at least 3 more times for male assist.  Agent-A tried to rectify the situation by asking another female agent to swap places with him, so he could perform the manual screening.

By the time we got the the other side of the x-ray machines only my last two totes were visible.  I was alarmed with my worst fear.  I asked Agent-A about my laptop tote.  He failed to react quickly, I assume he did not know what to do.  I told him to call a supervisor or ask others to start looking for it.  He asked for a supervisor many times.  No one responded for what seemed like two minutes.  My frustration level was growing as I assumed that it was stolen, and that time was an important factor to recovering the laptop.  

Finally Supervisor-B (Identified to me as Supervisor Bob Love by Supervisor Greer), showed up.  He acknowledged the problem, but did not act in a manner that would address the issue.  I was getting irate, and insisted that they look for it.  I suggested that maybe it was taken back to the other side of the XRay machines with the empty totes.  He stated that I needed to get pat down first before they could do anything.  I insisted that they look for my laptop while Agent-A conducts a pat down on me.  I think he went to do this.

Supervisor Greer (pregnant), who showed up during this discussion was a TOTAL NIGHTMARE.   It seemed like she did everything in her power NOT to acknowledge the problem, even going as far as stating that it was my fault for opting out!  She insisted upon looking through my bags to see if the laptop was in them before looking elsewhere.  Fearing no choice in the matter, I allowed her to do this.

I asked for a complaint form from Supervisor Greer, as she was not cooperating or addressing my concerns.  She was belligerent and argumentative with me, but finally brought to me a form.  I asked for her name and badge number of all involved so I would write this complaint.  She insisted upon me only having her identified as Supervisor Greer, and the other supervisor as Supervisor Bob Love.  I asked how I might refer to Agent A, but she refused and stated that I only needed to know her name.  I believe this to be a CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION.  I asked if she was wearing a badge.  I looked to her other side and found one.  I proceeded to transcribe her badge number off of her badge.  In what seems like an act of RETALIATION and INTIMIDATION, she asked for my ID and boarding pass.  She proceeded to copy my Arizona DL and boarding pass.  I am quite CONCERNED about what may have been done with this information, and if I have anything to fear from this.  She wrote all my info down on a piece of scratch paper.   Am I going to suffer identity theft?  She waited for me to give her my complaint card, asking me for it.  I told her that I did not trust her with it, and that I needed a blank form so that I could mail it in myself.

My traveling companion was seated just 10 feet away witnessed the entire discourse with Agent Greer.  

At no time was it stated to me that that any TSA Agents were looking for my laptop, and addressing my concern.  I understand about how mistakes can happen, but there is no excuse for this behaviour of Supervisor Greer to behave in a manner as this.  Supervisor GREER did not act to address my missing laptop, and she only stated that I could file a complaint or a claim.  Supervisor Greer is not suited to dealing with problem situations, or treating people with respect.  Her demeanor is exactly what gives the DHS-TSA such a bad reputation.  She should not be in a supervisory role.  It is only because of Supervisor Greer that I am writing this formal complaint.  I suggest that Agent Greer be sent through some training for how to deal reasonably with people and being effective with problem solving.  I believe if you review the audio/video you would see this also.

Agent-A acted in a very concerned and pro-active manner.  He thought outside-the-box and acted in a manner to address the anomalous situation.   I would like to commend upon him my regards, and suggest that he should be in supervisory position, instead of people like Agent Greer.  I believe it was Agent-A acting of his own initiative that finally recovered my laptop.

I fly often for work, I always opt out, and I have never had a bad experience with the TSA until now.  

Short List of Complaints:

• TSA lost my laptop, and would not attempt to look for it in a timely manner.  

• No one accepted responsibility for losing my laptop.

• Never stated they were sorry, or acted apologetically

• Greer stated it was my fault for opting out of the scanner machine

• Agent-A called for Male Assist more times than I can count

• Many agents were around but doing mostly nothing at all

• Greer took my identity information but did not state what will be done with it

• Forms I received stated that it expired 1/31/2012

Questions:

My Laptop was outside of my view for more than 10 minutes.  TSA agents stated they did not know where it was.  I would like to see any video that you have about what happened, and where my laptop was taken.  No explanation was given to me as to where my laptop was when I asked.  

How can I get infomration on exactly what happened to my laptop when it was missing, and what was done to it?

How can I gain access to all video/audio/documents/emails/electronic records related to this incident?

How can I know how my Arizona DL info was used by Supervisor Greer or other TSA employees?  

Am I on a no-fly list now?  

What power does Greer have to retaliate against me for filing this complaint?

By: S. R. 

I was visiting my parents in Charleston. SC and on my second to last night, broke my left foot on their staircase. (It was dark, thought I had one step go but sadly there were two.) Two days later I’m at Charleston airport with my three kids hobbling to security on crutches with a soft splint wrapped in bandages around my left foot and shin. They tell me I have to stand in the X-ray machine for “just 3 seconds”, I explain I am not able to bear any weight on my left foot at at all. So they wave me in anyhow and I’m thinking maybe they’ll let me stand with my crutches…no. As soon as I get in there more agents come over, take my crutches and give me a cane. Ok I think, a cane will help me bear the weight for “3 seconds” but then they tell me they are going to take the cane and I must put both arms above my head and balance on my good foot while my broken one hovers over the spot it should be resting on. “Just 3 seconds” I’m so nervous I’m going to fall and injure it more I was shaking like a leaf! And because I was shaking the image was no good and they told me I had to do it one more time, “just for 3 seconds!” Needless to say, that image didn’t work either. “We’re going to have to pat you down” they said. One of the agents felt bad, I could tell because I was on the verge of tears strattera weight loss. So she patted me down, told me about another visitor who injured themselves and missed a wedding, made small talk with me, and I did appreciate her efforts. But this mess with the X-ray body scan machine shouldn’t have happened to begin with…
By: Erin Boucher

This past summer my parents, grandmother, and I went overseas to visit Paris and London as a sort of graduation present to me. The entire trip had been a breeze, we had 0 encounters with rude locals, which was a pleasant surprise considering common stereotypes, and even less of an issue with the Parisian airport security (they all spoke several languages and seemed over the moon to have a chance to welcome Americans to Europe). Basically, the whole experience was a dream, even though towards the end of the trip we all began to feel homesick. 

Having finally landed in ATL after an 8 hour flight, we all went through customs and then back through a TSA checkpoint before we could enter the main part of the airport. Keep in mind that this is the international sector of the airport, and many of the people who had just landed with us had never been to the US before now. Having been on precheck when i left the country, i didn’t have to remove my shoes, so I was unsure whether i should remove them or not upon returning. To the TSA worker nearest to me I said “Excuse me, sorry, do I have to take off my shoes through here?” to which she rolled her eyes, shifted her attention away from me and yelled to the line “Everybody must take off their shoes and put them in a bin!”. Startled after two weeks of employees smiling and offering their help in any way I sort of mumbled a “Oh, thank you.” and took off my shoes, then walked through the metal detector. Seconds after the last of my family members had passed through the metal detector, the TSA worker walked back over to where she had been standing initially, near two of her co-workers, and loudly mocked me, saying “Pffft ‘Do I haveeeeee to take my shoesssss off'” in a whiny voice to which the other workers laughed and glanced over at us. 

I could hardly believe this grown woman was mocking me for asking a simple question, and I was actually convinced I had somehow misheard her until my grandmother walked up and said “Is she making fun of you?”, as bewildered as I was. 

Still stunned but more caring about just getting home, we mentioned it to the supervisor and left. I’m extremely glad that she was rude to me and not to one of the international travelers behind me, welcome to America, right? I’m horrified that people like this woman are given the responsibility to not only handle all domestic affairs, but be the welcome wagon to people visiting America, what a horrendous introduction to a country that has so much to offer!

By: Marissa

We we’re returning home to Seattle and we both had TSA Pre-check boarding passes.  The problem was I had a temporary drivers license along with a  wallet full of credit cards and other identification in my name.  This was the return flight and we both had TSA Pre-check on the earlier departure and everything was fine.  Not in Maui though.  

I can’t believe how hostile, rude, controlling and sloooooooooooowwwwww… the TSA agents were.  I was detained, we were detained almost 40 minutes while they searched me, searched my luggage, glared at me, threatened to detain me, you name it.  

The entire experience was bizarre, I can’t believe what a big deal they made of the termporary license, even after telling them that departing Seattle TSA  had no issue with the same documentation.

So disrespectful, hostile, and rude,  is who I would have to describe the TSA in Maui.  You can just feel the hostility and base level of training and accountability they feel towards the flying public.  I was shocked at how badly I was treated.

By: mark bjerke