The TSA in America Sucks

[TotallyOz]

I understand the need for screening of all bags and I do appreciate the extra precaution that is made to make airlines safe for travelers. In this day and age, it is of utmost importance to insure passenger safety and with the recent scare with the bombs that were bound for USA in International carriers, I appreciate even more the added security.

 

That being said, the TSA is a often worthless shit heads! They go through bags and leave bottles that were closed opened and they don't put things back where they were. I cannot count the number of times that I have had something spill or break as a direct result of TSA doing something stupid. I can't figure out if they do this on purpose or if it is pure stupidity. I always put my breakables in a hard case cosmetics bag so there should NEVER be an issue. However, they feel that have to open all the bottles and check them. I am fine with this IF they put back where they were. Often times they don't. In a recent flight, they had a bottle of Eros that was large and inside a cosmetics bag. They unwrapped the bottle and opened it and didn't properly close it. They then couldn't fit it back in the cosmetics bag so they left it in the main compartment of the suitcase. This then ruined not only my clothes but a 500 USD man bag.

 

If this was the first time something stupid like this happened, I'd forgive it and move on. But, it keeps happening time and time again.

 

I also have TSA approved locks and lock all my bags. Over 50 percent of the time, they open them and leave them open and do not relock them. What good does it do to lock something if once you turn it into the airlines, the TSA opens it and leaves it unlocked 10 minutes later?

[firecat69]

I understand the need for screening of all bags and I do appreciate the extra precaution that is made to make airlines safe for travelers. In this day and age, it is of utmost importance to insure passenger safety and with the recent scare with the bombs that were bound for USA in International carriers, I appreciate even more the added security.

 

That being said, the TSA is a often worthless shit heads! They go through bags and leave bottles that were closed opened and they don't put things back where they were. I cannot count the number of times that I have had something spill or break as a direct result of TSA doing something stupid. I can't figure out if they do this on purpose or if it is pure stupidity. I always put my breakables in a hard case cosmetics bag so there should NEVER be an issue. However, they feel that have to open all the bottles and check them. I am fine with this IF they put back where they were. Often times they don't. In a recent flight, they had a bottle of Eros that was large and inside a cosmetics bag. They unwrapped the bottle and opened it and didn't properly close it. They then couldn't fit it back in the cosmetics bag so they left it in the main compartment of the suitcase. This then ruined not only my clothes but a 500 USD man bag.

 

If this was the first time something stupid like this happened, I'd forgive it and move on. But, it keeps happening time and time again.

 

I also have TSA approved locks and lock all my bags. Over 50 percent of the time, they open them and leave them open and do not relock them. What good does it do to lock something if once you turn it into the airlines, the TSA opens it and leaves it unlocked 10 minutes later?

 

They suck at most major airports especially DTW but I find them quite professional at medium size airports such as Providence.

 

The question is who is worse, them or the idiots at Customs and Immigration. No contest in Detroit, Customs and Immigration wins hands down~~~

[kokopelli]

 

The question is who is worse, them or the idiots at Customs and Immigration. No contest in Detroit, Customs and Immigration wins hands down~~~

 

You may want to enroll in the GOES (Global Entry) program which allows you to skip the line at Immigration on arrival in the USA by scanning your passport and fingerprints at a kiosk. Cost is $100/5 years. Can enroll on-line but have to go to a major airport to finalize the enrollment with photo and fingerprints which takes max of 1/2 hour. The on-line application is awkward but within 2 or 3 weeks you are ready to go. You still may be screened by Customs on entry into US. Have not tried it yet but I am enrolled. Others have had good success.

[Guest MonkeySee]

Sounds like a good program. I wonder if they have kiosks at all the international airports? Well worth $100, if they do.

[kokopelli]

Sounds like a good program. I wonder if they have kiosks at all the international airports? Well worth $100, if they do.

 

All major international entry airports in the USA. There would not likely be kiosks in smaller airports that would have arrivals from Canada or perhaps close by island nations.

[Guest]

Having been to the USA once, I'm quite glad I do not need to encounter their immigration services more frequently.

 

In the interests of international balance, of course Heathrow is not exactly perfect. One of the popes aides described it as like arriving in a third world country, although I would say that's slightly unfair to third world countries.

[Guest beachlover]

They go through bags and leave bottles that were closed opened and they don't put things back where they were. I cannot count the number of times that I have had something spill or break as a direct result of TSA doing something stupid

Wow, that really really sucks! I guess this makes a baggage forwarding service quite appealing huh?

 

Got to admit, the entry process is a BIG turn off for people thinking about visiting the States. I don't get why they don't get their shit together and rectify these kind of complaints. I mean really, this, along with the rude customs/immigration officers is the sort of thing you would expect to have to tolerate flying into a third-world country, not the US.

 

The US tourism industry is struggling so much they've proposed taxing tourists to pay for a campaign to bring more tourists!

 

I can't figure out if they do this on purpose or if it is pure stupidity....

 

...If this was the first time something stupid like this happened, I'd forgive it and move on. But, it keeps happening time and time again.

It might be because they just have no incentive to be more careful. There's absolutely no benefit to them to take better care. There's no accountability. You have no recourse when stuff is broken or left unlocked.

 

Not to mention, the dopes working these jobs are probably the lowest of workers earning $10/hr or something crap and too dumb to find a better paying job.

 

I also have TSA approved locks and lock all my bags. Over 50 percent of the time, they open them and leave them open and do not relock them. What good does it do to lock something if once you turn it into the airlines, the TSA opens it and leaves it unlocked 10 minutes later?

That's really unacceptable. Aside from leaving you vulnerable to theft, unlocked bags also leaves you open to having drugs and other illegal items placed in your baggage.

[Guest]

It might be because they just have no incentive to be more careful. There's absolutely no benefit to them to take better care. There's no accountability. You have no recourse when stuff is broken or left unlocked.

Not to mention, the dopes working these jobs are probably the lowest of workers earning $10/hr or something crap and too dumb to find a better paying job.

 

There certainly will be many other countries where the luggage handlers get paid a lot less and do a much better job.

This sounds more like crap management and MAYBE an over unionised workforce who need a good boot up the rear.

Airports tend to suffer from such things, as the day they go on strike, everything grinds to a halt immediately.

[Bob]

Not to mention, the dopes working these jobs are probably the lowest of workers earning $10/hr or something crap and too dumb to find a better paying job.

 

Hardly the case. Have you ever been to the US or ever had any experience at all with the TSA?

 

GT and some others actually have a history with the TSA handlers and I can understand his frustration (but, presuming GT is complaining about the TSA going through and altering things in carry-on luggage, I'm puzzled why he doesn't fix whatever the problem is once he's past the TSA lines). For checked luggage, I don't believe TSA is much involved with screening any of that except at some major airports.

 

Other than the occasional long wait to get through the screening, I've actually never had a problem with the TSA handlers. It's my understanding that the occasional under-staffing is actually the fault of the airlines (who, as we've seen over the years, are generally attempting to make the flying experience a little more miserable). There are times, too, that the process is frustrated by simply stupid people who are attempting to take totally inappropriate items through screening, attempting to take more luggage through screening that I take on the entire flight, can't read a sign telling you to take off your shoes (and/or are too stupid to notice what everybody else around them is doing), etc.

[Guest]

For checked luggage, I don't believe TSA is much involved with screening any of that except at some major airports.

 

No, I am referring to checked luggage. TSA must check all checked luggage in all airports. If you go to a small airport, they will often do it right in front of you and you can watch them as they go through it. If you go to a larger airport, they will check AFTER you give your luggage to your airline and it goes on the belt to TSA agents to randomly scan. They do this at every airport in the USA and they do check your checked in baggage. They are required by law to leave you an inspection sheet. They do this most of the time but not all the time. l have attached the form they leave here.

 

As a side note, they have taken things from my bag before and it was never returned. I say they, as who would take my PSP game console and leave more valuable items. I have much more trust in airline agents than I do TSA. IMHO, they are renegades.

TSA Baggage Inspection.pdf

[Bob]

I know that happens, GT, in the major airports (such as LAX, DTW, etc.) but the smaller airports don't quite work that way. It's the airline guys in the smaller airports (although perhaps they're certified by the TSA and/or part of their salary comes that way). In my hometown, the guys who shove the suitcases through the expensive inspection machines work for the airline (I know, a couple of them are friends of mine).

 

Thanks for attaching the TSA notice. I've actually never seen one in spite of having gone through the TSA process hundreds of times. While I know all the checked stuff goes through the machines, I wonder what percentage is actually opened and physically inspected. To my knowledge, my suitcase has never been opened (but I've never locked it).

[Guest]

I often fly out of airports that have only 2 flights per day. One in the AM and one in the PM. They have 3 paid TSA agents. Talking to them, it is the law for them to check all checked baggage. Since they are smaller airports, they can do this manually. If there is no screening machine, it must be done manually for EVERY bag. The larger airports have the screening machines and if your baggage has liquids, electronics, cords, etc. they often check them. On the most recent trip to Thailand with 5 bags, all 5 were checked and the sheets attached. I left from DFW. I get there hours early to ensure the TSA has time to inspect my bags as I do carry printers, electric shavers, etc. I put all those things in one bag. However, all my bags are normally checked. It is not a list based check. It is supposed to be random. It may be that my bags are large (all 69 pounds) and locked and pretty to look at. It may also be that I just get unlucky 99 percent of the time I travel. It may also be that the TSA is a large bureaucratic agency with too much time on its hands.

[Bob]

It may be that my bags are large (all 69 pounds) and locked

 

Damn, what the heck are you taking with you, the kitchen sink? My suitcase is bigger than most and I unfortunately tend to overload it but it usually always is no more than 50 pounds (but, yea, I always have to pay the overweight fees on Air Asia as they allow about 12 ounces or some such dinky weight).

 

My little dinky hometown (16,000 people) airport has two of the machines and they tell me that, while every checked item goes through the machine, they only physically open up less 1% of all screened items. In LAX, I've actually watched them shove all the checked luggage through the machines and I've only seen them set aside a rare suitcase to be physically inspected. I'd guess they physically inspect less than 1% too (in reality, there simply isn't enough manpower or time to do much more than that anyway).

[Guest]

My little dinky hometown (16,000 people) airport has two of the machines and they tell me that, while every checked item goes through the machine, they only physically open up less 1% of all screened items. In LAX, I've actually watched them shove all the checked luggage through the machines and I've only seen them set aside a rare suitcase to be physically inspected. I'd guess they physically inspect less than 1% too (in reality, there simply isn't enough manpower or time to do much more than that anyway).

 

I don't dispute your numbers at all. I do think they are inaccurate. Once you see them go through that big machine they are then set on the belt and can then be reinspected by TSA agents who take them off the belt. How do I know this? I watch my bags go through that at LAX many times and they do not get a paper that it was screened. I watch the process and then I go check through my own screening. When I get to my destination, I open the bags and they have the sheet inside them. So, from the screening machine to the destination, someone from TSA took the bags and checked them.

 

I am beginning to think that maybe they have TSA agents on the plane in the luggage area checking bags. If this is the case, I'd like to apply for that job if I can just wait get off at the next exotic destination.

[firecat69]

I don't dispute your numbers at all. I do think they are inaccurate. Once you see them go through that big machine they are then set on the belt and can then be reinspected by TSA agents who take them off the belt. How do I know this? I watch my bags go through that at LAX many times and they do not get a paper that it was screened. I watch the process and then I go check through my own screening. When I get to my destination, I open the bags and they have the sheet inside them. So, from the screening machine to the destination, someone from TSA took the bags and checked them.

 

I am beginning to think that maybe they have TSA agents on the plane in the luggage area checking bags. If this is the case, I'd like to apply for that job if I can just wait get off at the next exotic destination.

 

TSA are idiots and an overblown bureaucracy which provide no protection even if you assume they are looking at their screens. Since 9/1 I have been on hundreds of flights . I have never used their required clear bags for liquids etc. I have also had liquids above the allowed minimum numerous times although only a little bigger. I have never been stopped . My suitcase has never been opened not even once. They have no idea what they are doing . They are there strictly to make the masses think that flying is safe. Which of course it is!!! But not because of these idiots, but because there are thousands of flights a day and even if something bad happens on one flight the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor. You have more chance of dying crossing the road. A statistical fact!!!!!

 

The only flights I ever got on where I was 100% sure there would be no terrorists or bombs are flights out of Israel. The other flights I take I am 99% sure things will be OK. There are many people getting rich off of these companies that provide people to TSA and screening devices etc etc etc. It's all about money plain and simple.

 

If it wasn't then how come we find out 9 years after 9/11 that packages that are mailed never get scanned even though they are on our passenger planes all the time? Ridiculous!!!!!

[Bob]

Understand the frustration but your overblowing it just a bit. I've seen a lot of people get caught with liquids over the limit as well as an unbelievable host of stupid items. Have you ever seen the refuse barrels they sometimes have with hundreds of liquid bottles, knives, numchucks, and god knows what?

 

It's easy to claim they're all idiots and doing nothing useful. I don't happen to believe that's accurate or fair at all. The vast majority have been courteous as hell to me and no hassle (other than the sometimes wait in long lines...like at LAX) whatsoever.

[firecat69]

Understand the frustration but your overblowing it just a bit. I've seen a lot of people get caught with liquids over the limit as well as an unbelievable host of stupid items. Have you ever seen the refuse barrels they sometimes have with hundreds of liquid bottles, knives, numchucks, and god knows what?

 

It's easy to claim they're all idiots and doing nothing useful. I don't happen to believe that's accurate or fair at all. The vast majority have been courteous as hell to me and no hassle (other than the sometimes wait in long lines...like at LAX) whatsoever.

 

I don't dispute that lots of them are courteous. Many are not especially at Detroit and LosAngeles. They are just useless. Those barrels you talk about are before screening and people voluntarily display they have the wrong things and place them in the barrel.

 

As I said hundreds of flights never looked or found out that I had no clear bags and liquids over the limit. You find me any barrels after the screening and take a picture. I have been in 40 airports in the USA the last 9 years and I have never seen one because there are none.

 

That doesn't mean that once in awhile something electric looks suspicious and they ask to look in the bag and discover some liquid or nail clippers but it is a rare occurrence!!!!!

 

They are ill trained and poor caliber . If they were put through training like the Israel inspectors and took their job seriously I might respect them.

 

Don't forget most of them are the same types that let all the terrorists on board 9/11. They just have better uniforms now!!!!

[Guest Soi10Tom]

I have been a member of the GOES program for several years now. After the online application is accepted you go to a major airport.(I went to LAX) where a US Customs and Boarder Protection Agent conduct an interview. (not the fucking idiots from TSA) The interview is quite casual and I think they are looking for any bullshit or cover up. They ask if I had a Thai Wife; I said no that I was gay and had a Thai/US Citizen BF. They ask about driving in Thailand and then ask how much the Thai police want to let you go after a stop...I said about 100 baht, and he laughed. (The CBP guys know the game don't BS them and you will be fine.) He then showed me how to use the computer that reads the passport when I return to the US. The interview lasted about 5 to ten minutes another 5 minutes to get the computer down and I was on my way home. I have since gotten a new passport. It took less than 5 minutes to update their computers when I took CBP the new passport. This is a great program!!!! And very few people know about it!!! Let's keep it our little secret (<)

 

I have used it often. No immigration lines or interview. After the computer reads your passport and you answer several questions it spits out a card with with a big black X on it. I then pick up my bags and walk out handing the card to the Customs Agent. They have never said anything to me except, "Have a nice day."

 

As for the fucking idiots from TSA opening the bags and just throwing breakable things back in the bag: yes the fucking idiots do it...I think just because they don't give a shit and/or have the brain capacity of a frog. I once arrived in BKK to find a note in my largest suitcase that said the bag had been randomly opened for inspection and a bottle of wine that I had packed inside a motorcycle helmet had been tossed into the middle of my clothes. Thanks be to Buddha, it did not break!!!

[firecat69]

I have been a member of the GOES program for several years now. After the online application is accepted you go to a major airport.(I went to LAX) where a US Customs and Boarder Protection Agent conduct an interview. (not the fucking idiots from TSA) The interview is quite casual and I think they are looking for any bullshit or cover up. They ask if I had a Thai Wife; I said no that I was gay and had a Thai/US Citizen BF. They ask about driving in Thailand and then ask how much the Thai police want to let you go after a stop...I said about 100 baht, and he laughed. (The CBP guys know the game don't BS them and you will be fine.) He then showed me how to use the computer that reads the passport when I return to the US. The interview lasted about 5 to ten minutes another 5 minutes to get the computer down and I was on my way home. I have since gotten a new passport. It took less than 5 minutes to update their computers when I took CBP the new passport. This is a great program!!!! And very few people know about it!!! Let's keep it our little secret (<)

 

I have used it often. No immigration lines or interview. After the computer reads your passport and you answer several questions it spits out a card with with a big black X on it. I then pick up my bags and walk out handing the card to the Customs Agent. They have never said anything to me except, "Have a nice day."

 

As for the fucking idiots from TSA opening the bags and just throwing breakable things back in the bag: yes the fucking idiots do it...I think just because they don't give a shit and/or have the brain capacity of a frog. I once arrived in BKK to find a note in my largest suitcase that said the bag had been randomly opened for inspection and a bottle of wine that I had packed inside a motorcycle helmet had been tossed into the middle of my clothes. Thanks be to Buddha, it did not break!!!

 

 

Goes I guess would be great if you can get it. I wasted $100 applying. 3 weeks they told me denied. They give you no reason and if you want to find out you have to go to the Freedom of Information Route. Why bother their decision has been made.

 

I have never been arrested . I have travelled all over the world. Never been accused of anything from Customs. Etc Etc Etc

 

Far as I am concerned they just ripped me off of $100. I known people who have it and I am happy for them but don't even begin to think that you will be sure to get it.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

The only direct dealings I have had with TSA is at LAX when I was wearing a new pair of shoes for the first time. I had to remove them for then to put them through a scanner. When they gave them back to me there was a large deep scratch across the toe of one shoe. I told them about it and after a lot of haggling they gave me a form to fill out and mail. I had to get photos and send them along with the receipt from when I bought the shoes. I did that and got many promises that "the check is in the mail". After 2 years of bullshit with them and waiting for payment I finally gave up.