TSA "Selectee List"

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MiGalley

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My ticket from RIC to ORD had "SSSS" in the corners. Next thing I know, I'm told that I "have been selected for additional screening."

In front of everyone, including my wife who pased through security without a hitch, I'm being all-but stripped searched, while my carry-on, jacket, and lunch are being ransacked and EVERYTHING is swabbed for "explosives residue."

Huh?

Same thing happened four days later on the trip home, only MORE humiliatingly intrusive: "Empty your pockets and put EVERYTHING on the table, and you come over here with us"; "take your belt off, unsnap your pants, and roll the waistband outward"; "don't talk"; "do only what I tell you to do and do it only when I tell you to do it"; etc., etc., etc.) 15 long minutes later I am tucking in my shirt, putting on my belt, watch, and stuffing the contents of my pockets back into place, repacking my gear, while running for my gate.

My wife purchased my ticket online (via the airline's Website) with her credit card, a month prior to our flight. The TSA personnel told me the airline had singled me out; airline personnel said it was the TSA. Checking the TSA Website, it is obvious that not only did someone put me on "the list" but that I am basically screwed from here on out. According to the TSA:

PIV_Form.pdf


Anyone else been through this? I fly frequently (belong to all the FF programs). However, this is the first time this has ever happened to me; obviously, it will not be the last.

The irony is . . . I am a formerly tenured (still hold a current license) teacher turned CEO of an emergency preparedness consultancy, and have been vetted numerous times by both the State Police and the FBI. I also hold a valid CHP.

In fact, the addition of my permit to carry a concealed handgun is the only thing that has changed, in terms of my "background" information. I am wondering if this is why I am on "the list." Just a thought.

We all here the horror stories, but I never thought I would be one of the story tellers. Maybe I should just bite the bullet--so to speak--and change my name to Winston Smith?

And as for the code--SSSS--well (I am trying REALLY hard to not go there but. . . ), someone at TSA must have fat-fingered that one and hit the "S" key two times too many. Oops. Guess I went there after all.

Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous.

MiG
 
Never had to endure more than the "standard" search, but I can't stand it. Even with the high gas prices, I'm driving cross-country for vacation this year, while my wife flies. Otherwise the whole TSA encounter will ruin the entire trip.
 
Clarification

I work for TSA here in atlanta, and I would like to defend what we do. First, I would like to answer a question. Did you have a one way flight?,Did you have any connecting flights? Did you purchase your ticket last minute? Did you purchase your ticket with a corp credit card. Did your license expire? These are some of the things that make your a selectee. So before you go bashing TSA be aware of who you have on the board.:cuss:
 
Can you read?

adams020604 I work for TSA here in atlanta, and I would like to defend what we do. First, I would like to answer a question. Did you have a one way flight?,Did you have any connecting flights? Did you purchase your ticket last minute? Did you purchase your ticket with a corp credit card. Did your license expire? These are some of the things that make your a selectee. So before you go bashing TSA be aware of who you have on the board.
Click to expand...

Again...

Same thing happened four days later on the trip home, only MORE humiliatingly intrusive: "EVERYTHING on the table, and you come with us"; belt off," unsnap your pants and roll the waistband outward"; "don't talk"; "do only what I tell you to do and do it only when I tell you to do it"; etc., etc., etc.)

My wife purchased my ticket online (via AA's Website) with her credit card, a month prior to our flight. The TSA personnel told me the airline had singled me out; AA personnel said it was the TSA. Checking the TSA Website, it is obvious that not only did someone put me on "the list" but that I am basically screwed for here on out. According to the TSA:
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
"EVERYTHING on the table, and you come with us"; belt off," unsnap your pants and roll the waitband outward"; "don't talk"; "do only what I tell you to do and do it only when I tell you to do it"; etc., etc., etc.)
Click to expand...
This is why I don't fly anymore. I don't take kindly to glorified doormen or anybody else trying to order me around like a tin-plated tyrant. I'd tolerate it from a cop in most circumstances, but politeness and civility go a lot further than arrogance and attitude.
The irony is . . . I'm one of the good guys!
Click to expand...
Hmmm... so it is somehow more offensive when it happens to you instead of Joe Sixpack? :scrutiny:
adams020604 said:
So before you go bashing TSA be aware of who you have on the board.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you should give some thought to who's company you keep professionally.
 
Not to bash TSA, but as an Airline pilot I've just about had a snoot full of your poorly trained people, amazingly incompetent policy, lack of real security measures, ham handed searches, lack of respect for the public, the Airlines and everyone who works for a living.
I mean that in the kindest way, but your group isn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.


I can see the TSA love building already, I'd tell you what I really think, but this is a family site.
 
Heres the most I can tell you; There is a gov't program called CAPs. This program is used by delta,airtran, American Airlines, and more. This program designates anyone a selectee and they keep you in a database, so everytime you buy a ticket be it one way or someone buys the ticket you will end up being a selectee. A little more info; this came about after some people breached security at some of the nations largest airports. So what one quote says " Its the gov't way of keeping you safe"
 
Oh. For Jungle! As an airline pilot you know as well as I do, that as a person who works for the public; as hard as we work to keep the traveling public safe, why should we have to endure the same crap from pilots who are to fly the plane. I must admit I have met some pretty cool pilots along the way, but I have met some jackasses as well. So please understand where we come from, before you make your comments
 
I would like to defend what we do.
Click to expand...

And i'd like a brace of AR-15s, a hummer H-1 and a harrier jet.

The sad fact is that TSA folks are a part of the "system" that THINK they are making us safer.

We ARE aware your here. Everytime any of us try to get on an aircraft we are made even more aware, especially when you have our shoes in your hands and our pants unzipped.

Your part pf the reason the airlines are dying.

Your part of the reason I dont fly commercial.

You dont make me feel safer. You make me feel vulnerable, nervous, intimidated and or afraid.

Why? Because you take away my ability to do much of anything about anything i may encounter while in your oh so qualified hands.

And dont tell me it's for my safety, thats a really lame excuse and it's getting old.

I am more than qualified to look after myself. I dont need a low level government paid security guard with 18 hours of training to do that for me.

Thank you.

I'll go sit down now.
 
Let me get this straight.

The program keeps re-selecting the same individuals over and over again each time they fly, rather than randomly selecting new people?

That makes no sense whatsoever. At least randomly selecting new people you might eventually hit someone worthwhile.


As for the TSA types, as soon as you guys actually catch one of those fake explosive packages that the GAO and others keep sneaking thru your checkpoints, maybe I'll feel safer. In the mean time, all you do is humiliate passengers and prevent us from actually doing anything about it if we DO find ourselves on a plane with a terrorist that you didn't catch.

I think a mall somewhere is missing it's ninja.
 
You know BATFE is also a way the govt. keeps us "safe".


Quite frankly there isn't a passenger alive that will allow a plane to be hijacked ever again so the TSA is no longer needed and should therefore be disbanded.
 
Yeah, basically the caps program selects the same people over and over again. So everytime that person flies the computer catches his/her name and designates them with the selectee markings. Now some of you don't believe that we are properly trained,and that we are rude and unprofessional. But before you make those comments answer me this, how many of you actually come to the airport with piss poor attitudes, or feeling as public servants that we have to do whatever you tell us to do. Please take a step back and walk in the thousands of men and women that are well trained to protect you before you get on your flight and those flying over-seas after you get off the plane
 
The dull edge of the "Momeland Security" spear

"I work for TSA here in atlanta, and I would like to defend what we do."

Good. Start by explaining your failure to even read the post you ostensibly responded to. Here's a hint: Try the part about how the ticket was purchased a month in advance.

Then tell us how a system that keeps selecting the same people constitutes a deterrent to terrorism.

Then you can rationalize the pilfering from passenger's luggage, TSA's failure to prosecute same, and the practice of groping women, performing "searches" of them in stairwells, and filming said "searches."

Yeah, you're keeping us safe - from REAL freedom. :barf:
 
I work for TSA here in atlanta, and I would like to defend what we do. First, I would like to answer a question. Did you have a one way flight?,Did you have any connecting flights? Did you purchase your ticket last minute? Did you purchase your ticket with a corp credit card. Did your license expire? These are some of the things that make your a selectee. So before you go bashing TSA be aware of who you have on the board.
Click to expand...

So how many terrorists have yall stopped. :rolleyes:

IMO the TSA is just another big waste of government money. The next terrorists hijacking wont be stopped by the guys on the ground it will be by the people on the plane.
 
adams020604, Sorry you have met a few "jackass" pilots. I can tell English is not your first language so I want to make this completely clear-every TSA employee I have ever met was a jackass and I must have met thousands.
Thanks for your murky and incorrect summary of CAPS.
 
I am giving you guys the reasons why you are chosen for the additional screening, now the actions taken by some of the people in TSA aren't reflected on those of us who do their job with professionalism. There are alot of us here who like what we do, and everyday I have people feel as if I have to check them or their bag because the have prohibited items or they alarm the walk-through metal detector due to metal implants or metal in their pockets so if you guys could help by just assisting us by just going through the motions, the quicker you cooperate the quicker you get to were you need to be.
 
Jungle, excuse me for asking this question. How many TSA employees approached you in a rude manner? How many times have you been unprofessional?
 
Dud TSA is another crap JBT fed boondoggle agency as a matter of fact now that I think about I'm going to write my congressman to see if he can get your name changed to F-troop 2.


Just what we need more empowered fed employees.
 
Why do I even bother to defend TSA when people like you intend on down playing us? Especially, when we work to make a living.Secondly, how did this thread from answering the thread to bashing TSA?
 
Yeah, basically the caps program selects the same people over and over again. So everytime that person flies the computer catches his/her name and designates them with the selectee markings.
Click to expand...

Tell me this. HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL? The computer selects an 80 year old grandma in a wheelchair, and now every time grandma flies she will be searched????!!! If I get selected, I'll be searched every time I fly for the rest of my life????!!! Is this the Minority Report, where you KNOW someone is going to commit a crime, you just have to wait for it to happen???!!!


Why do I even bother to defend TSA when people like you intend on down playing us? Especially, when we work to make a living.
Click to expand...

With posts like the above, I'm not sure you ARE doing much to defend TSA. It looks worse now than before.

Secondly, how did this thread from answering the thread to bashing TSA?
Click to expand...

You opened your mouth, and things went downhill from there...
 
adams020604 Why do I even bother to defend TSA when people like you intend on down playing us? Especially, when we work to make a living.Secondly, how did this thread from answering the thread to bashing TSA?
Click to expand...

Because you are only semi literate and can't be bothered to actually read the post you responded to.

The TSA is indefensible.

Sheeesh if you really thought about it you could do a better job screening passengers by standing at the gate and passing out pork rinds. Anyone who doesn't eat one screen 'em some more.

If you are really from the government and want to help, go sit in the corner.
 
Ok, you know what this is pointless. For now on when you guys get on a plane, just remember all the crap your guys spewed here. Question and I'm gone. How many of you are ex-military or current members of the military. Some of you I can understand you frustrations, others I can barely understand.
 
Please the TSA was a feel good measure. All it is a waste of taxpayer money.


Todd Beamer and company already proved that American planes will not be used as cruise missiles again.


TSA is a look we (government) did something agency. It has already outlived it's usefulness.
 
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