Delurking for TSA story

[frlcb]

I know how much everyone loves a good TSA story on this board - I traveled out of Atlanta to DCA on Friday and was flying alone with my 4 year old son and 13 month old daughter. As I walked through holding her we beeped, so they made us go through 2 more times, slowly taking off more and more stuff. I tried to get her to walk through alone one time and she wouldn't and the woman immediately said we would both have to be patted down rather than me try to get her to follow me through.

I told her she was crazy if she thought I was going to let her pat down a 13 month old, she began to tell me that I was holding up everyone in line and too bad, meanwhile my 4 year old was standing by himself on the other side of the metal detector, and I started crying. We had to get a manager over to tell her to allow me to get my daughter to follow me through, people behind me were telling them that they couldn't pat down a baby, and we got her to walk through. I still had to be patted down but at least I stood my ground.

I would have left if they had insisted on the pat down for my daughter, the whole thing was insane.

[BlackSmoke]

What would they do if a toddler slapped the person doing the pat down? Because I know my daughter would not let a stranger put their hands on her.

[Deleted]

They tried swabbing down my then 4 year old last year, while I was in a wheel chair... He threw some punches and refused to open his hands to be swabbed.

[feedthecrocs]

Ugh that sounds stressful and unnecessary! Did you figure out what was setting off the alarm?

[downtoearth]

That does sound crazy - TSA is whack. Why couldn't they just use the wand on you holding DD to figure out what was causing the problem? Do they just not use the wand at all anymore? I saw someone set it off (last fall) and they used a wand first before going straight to a pat-down.

[frlcb]

May 21, 2012 14:05:08 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

And I thought the policy was that they were expressly forbidden from "patting down" children under 12.

Did this change, or is your story just the typical, "We don't even know the rules that we're supposed to be enforcing" TSA story?

I don't know because there were several TSA employees who came over, after I started crying (I know, so lame but it was stressful) and saying there was no way I would let them touch my 13 month old and they all said that it was protocol, and only after a supervisor came did they let me try to get her to walk through again, which worked.

And I have no idea why I beeped, all I can think is my bra, except I was wearing the same one on Sunday in DC and didn't beep. But I had no other metal on. It was weird.

She would have freaked if they had taken her to pat her down. It would not have happened.

[Deleted]

Kudos to you for not letting her guilt you with that "you're holding everyone up" bullshit, and to your fellow passengers for supporting you.

I fly out if Atl too, so I'll keep my guard up. Thanks for posting.

[ringstrue]

I'm sorry! That really blows. I get so flustered in those situations I'd probably cry too.

We are flying soon. Should I be printing out some TSA protocol for the trip in case they insist on patting DD down?

[frlcb]

May 21, 2012 14:21:02 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

May 21, 2012 14:17:26 GMT -5 sunmoonstars said:

Kudos to you for not letting her guilt you with that "you're holding everyone up" bullshit, and to your fellow passengers for supporting you.

I fly out if Atl too, so I'll keep my guard up. Thanks for posting.

For real. I would have been like, "No. You're holding everyone up with your stupid security theater and your inability to know what your own fucking protocols are."

I'm like 90% sure they are not supposed to touch the babies. And not even because it would be traumatizing to the kids and is a stupid way to actually "catch" terrorists - it's a liability thing.

When she said that to me I was like are you serious? I said I get held up in line ALL the time and I didn't care, they could move to another line. The woman behind me kept apologizing to me that they were doing this to me.

I am so interested in whether or not they even could have patted her down, because they were insistent they were going to have to.

[Deleted]

The whole idea of going through an airport with a 4 year old and 13 month old is stressing me out, much less getting stopped by security to boot.

[pixy0stix]

According to their site, kids can be subjected to a "modified patdown."

www.tsa.gov/travelers/pat_downs.shtm

I'm sorry this happened to you.

[druidp]

May 21, 2012 14:20:10 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

We are flying soon. Should I be printing out some TSA protocol for the trip in case they insist on patting DD down?

I swear we've seen stories on here where you can be holding a print-out of their website under their nose, and they'll claim the policies flux and are updated all the time.

Such.bullshit. Poorly trained and mismanaged federal agents who are treating American citizens like they're guilty until proven innocent. You can pat down my baby when you pry her from my cold, dead, non-terrorist fingers, fuckers.

(I HATE the TSA. And I hope they are reading this.)

[pixy0stix]

May 21, 2012 14:27:44 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

A "modified pat down." Well, that's as clear as mud.

I agree. It's just something thrown in there to give their actions some weight.

I absolutely, positively do not agree with any of this security theatre.

[meshaliuknits]

May 21, 2012 14:30:18 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

May 21, 2012 14:27:44 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

A "modified pat down." Well, that's as clear as mud.

I agree. It's just something thrown in there to give their actions some weight.

I absolutely, positively do not agree with any of this security theatre.

I have a hazy memory of "modified pat down" meaning they don't touch your junk. Something like that.

[eightangryreindeer]

Ugh, I'm so sorry that happened to you and good job for standing your ground, even if it did end in tears you stood up for yourself and your baby girl.

[frlcb]

We were going to my brothers wedding and in my head when this was going on all I could think is I hope he won't be mad when we don't come because I will leave this airport before I give them my daughter, but then I was worried because they wouldn't let me son walk back through the metal detector and wanted him to stay on the other side.

[druidp]

I remember warning my mom that, while we'd try our best to comply and get through TSA without incident, if anyone went for a pat-down on either kid, she might as well write us off for landing in Houston since both DH & I would likely be incarcerated. We avoid flying as much as humanly possible, the smallest reason not being that we don't want to wind up being arrested.

[charminglife]

I cant believe they tried to guilt trip you for holding up the line. ALL THEY DO is delay people! what assholes.

[iammalcolmx]

I am sorry that happened. I am happy the other passengers tried to stand up for you.

[miesl]

I was expecting to have issues when I flew out of MSP a few weeks ago... Breastmilk, and pump (but no baby) plus my DH's medical equipment (The VEST machine and a nebulizer compressor).

MSP's TSA agents were awesome. We were seriously through security in <5 minutes. I had picked a gate with metal detectors and not scanners, since not all checkpoints at MSP have them. No problems with the milk or equipment.

FCA (Kalispell, MT) on the other hand was a nightmare. Tiny, tiny airport (3 whole gates!) and they have a scanner. No option other than a freedom grope, and I wasn't going to go there since I figured we'd have other issues to deal with. We did. My hair (two braids) scanned as a threat and my head got the pat down.

DH's medical equipment scared the crap out of the TSA agents. It went through the x-ray scanner twice. Then it was gingerly carried to the bomb-scan station, where they asked us if it would hurt them to open. It was wiped down and passed. Then they put it through the xray scanner again. They released it to us then, but the agent was seriously giving it the side eye and holding it like it was dangerous (the bag weighs 20+ lbs and is unwieldy, so that is an accomplishment). I was afraid they weren't going to let us have it back. We had both a doctor's letter and an info sheet from the manufacturer with us.

Government efficiency - Kalsipell, 3 gates, only serves little planes. Has a scanner. MSP, eleventy billion gates... only has a few scanners. Win!

[downtoearth]

May 21, 2012 15:05:14 GMT -5 miesl said:

I was expecting to have issues when I flew out of MSP a few weeks ago... Breastmilk, and pump (but no baby) plus my DH's medical equipment (The VEST machine and a nebulizer compressor).

MSP's TSA agents were awesome. We were seriously through security in <5 minutes. I had picked a gate with metal detectors and not scanners, since not all checkpoints at MSP have them. No problems with the milk or equipment.

FCA (Kalispell, MT) on the other hand was a nightmare. Tiny, tiny airport (3 whole gates!) and they have a scanner. No option other than a freedom grope, and I wasn't going to go there since I figured we'd have other issues to deal with. We did. My hair (two braids) scanned as a threat and my head got the pat down.

DH's medical equipment scared the crap out of the TSA agents. It went through the x-ray scanner twice. Then it was gingerly carried to the bomb-scan station, where they asked us if it would hurt them to open. It was wiped down and passed. Then they put it through the xray scanner again. They released it to us then, but the agent was seriously giving it the side eye and holding it like it was dangerous (the bag weighs 20+ lbs and is unwieldy, so that is an accomplishment). I was afraid they weren't going to let us have it back. We had both a doctor's letter and an info sheet from the manufacturer with us.

Government efficiency - Kalsipell, 3 gates, only serves little planes. Has a scanner. MSP, eleventy billion gates... only has a few scanners. Win!

I live in MT and I agree - the TSA agents here are friendly, but using very different equipment. When I flew last year from one small airport, they open you luggage in clear view of the waiting area to wipe any suspicious stuff - so if your underwear is in the open mesh of your carry-on type suitcase, everyone can see it.

It's crazy b/c it's actually faster, but more annoying to go through small airport security than say DIA or LAX.

[Deleted]

I think I'd be beyond livid if any TSA agent tried the freedom pat on my kiddo. I'm so sorry that happened to you but hooray for all those passengers having your back. I think a lot of Americans are sick of the insanity of this security theater.

H and I are planning on flying to SF this fall and we've been debating whether or not to take the babe. Between all the toddler airplane horror stories and the TSA toddler horror stories, I'm thinking this should be an adults-only getaway.

[basilosaurus]

Ooooh, I would have been livid, and I would have been one of those in line standing up for you. As much as I'm not a kid lover, I'd gladly take any delay to stand up for, you know, not groping an infant.

I know it shouldn't, but it surprised me, again, how wonderful security is outside of the US. I flew out of Heathrow last week, and I set off the metal detectors. I got a very friendly wand complete with them joking about how I'm a security threat b/c my socks don't match, so they probably shouldn't let me through. It took 20 seconds, and no vulva had to be touched. Can you imagine TSA doing that?

I hate those guys. I hate our country for its security theater. I'm certainly not as well traveled as mxolisi, but I manage to get around, and by far the worst attitudes and treatment is in the States. Hell, I had an issue leaving Korea b/c on entry the guy apparently didn't stamp my passport, so at passport control I had to be taken to a private room, questioned, etc, about why I was leaving when I hadn't actually entered (on paper), and they kept apologizing for taking my time. Can you imagine if that had been here?

[redheadbaker]

Stories like these make me tempted to tell my mom not to include us in the planning of an extended family vacation (most likely a cruise) in 2014, as that would include flying to Florida with 2.5-year-old to board the ship.

[frlcb]

May 21, 2012 16:55:38 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Ooooh, I would have been livid, and I would have been one of those in line standing up for you. As much as I'm not a kid lover, I'd gladly take any delay to stand up for, you know, not groping an infant.

I know it shouldn't, but it surprised me, again, how wonderful security is outside of the US. I flew out of Heathrow last week, and I set off the metal detectors. I got a very friendly wand complete with them joking about how I'm a security threat b/c my socks don't match, so they probably shouldn't let me through. It took 20 seconds, and no vulva had to be touched. Can you imagine TSA doing that?

We actually fly to the UK pretty often, my dh is from there, and we have never had a problem with security at Heathrow, with us or the kids. It is definitely better.

It sucks because we do travel a lot, and this is the first time I have had this happen, but now I am paranoid about flying alone with them again!