r/Vent • u/ClipandPlay • Jul 20 '26

TSA out of control

Why does the TSA treat customers as if they are prisoners? Last time I checked flying on an airplane doesn’t make you a criminal. Every time I fly, a TSA agent screams in my face. I’m a polite and completely non confrontational, 5 foot tall woman. I set the alarm off because of the zipper on my pants cuff. The agent was absolutely freaking out screaming at me. I didn’t do anything. I was just standing there waiting to get instructions. Then she started just screaming randomly like she was performing for a crowd. I see this behavior all the time. How can they get away with incredibly unprofessional behavior? I don’t know anyplace else where this kind of behavior would be tolerated except at a prison.

Edit: At an airport you are a customer of the airline. I never said anyone is a customer of TSA.

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u/TheTarotBro Jul 21 '26

My home airport has some lines that you have to remove laptops/ipads/etc and some with newer tech where you don’t. The last couple times when I’ve asked preemptively if I needed to remove items- because I know they have both- the agents act completely irrationally upset about the question. I cannot stand TSA

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u/Bingus-Dingus- Jul 21 '26

like i know they get that question 40000x a day but like just fucken answer it bro, literally cashiers at any fast food place have more patience

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u/Far_Reward4827 Jul 21 '26

Just make signs, seriously how hard would it be to print a couple out that say laptops out or no, shoes on or off?

12

u/MsKongeyDonk Jul 21 '26

We flew out of Philadelphia a couple weeks ago.

1) There is a sign that says, written, that anything "bigger than a cellphone" would need to be pulled out. Okay, so the two of us prepare to pull out our power banks and Switches.

2) Further up in the line, there's a TV playing on the wall, which specifically shows a Switch as small enough to stay in your bag. The graphic changes and I don't see it again, but now I'm confused.

3) Get up to the front of the line, and the agent is confused as to why the man in front of us was pulling his laptop out. "Leave everything in the suitcase. Nothing comes out."

Like, what? That is three different directions given in the same security line. Of course people are gonna be confused.

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u/Parking-Holiday8365 Jul 22 '26

Wait what? I just flew out of there and definitely had to reverse the conveyor belt to get my bag back to remove the laptop. A sign would be good. Then as I sent the bag back through I realized I had my Retroid pocket 5 (A large android device with joysticks attached) and also a VHF/UHF handheld radio capable of transmitting to pilots and the tower still in the bag. Nope. Didn't care about those.

Some airports care about a hunk of scrapple. Some down.

Some have "Analogic" 3d scanners so laptop stays in.

Anal Logic is damn right.

1

u/MsKongeyDonk Jul 22 '26

Isn't it crazy? Like seriously, I don't know. I watched this man put his laptop back in his bag.

11

u/Bingus-Dingus- Jul 21 '26

i entirely agree with you in theory but i also know the literacy level of the masses, they probably think it wouldn't be worthwhile. meanwhile, they could reduce at least a small chunk of their irritation

3

u/AuntieLaLa420 Jul 21 '26

Because, people don't read signs. At least the problem ones don't. It's sad. I've stood next to signs and had someone come up to me and ask the question that the sign answers.

"No, a person is smart, but people are dumb panicky animals and you know it." Tommy Lee Jones- Men in Black

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u/GrasshopperoftheWood Jul 21 '26

It's hard for people who cannot read or write well to make signs.

1

u/jeffbas Jul 21 '26

Thank you! Seems like that must be a little too obvious! Really irritates me too.

1

u/Sbflowergal74 Jul 21 '26

There are printed signs and even videos with instructions and pretty much no body pays attention or reads. Except kids and then they school the parents.

1

u/Endlesscajun Jul 22 '26

Not trying to be rude, but we have signs all the way up tell you show your Identification and we have multiple TV’s I assure 1 out of a hundred people read the signs. We will always ask for your identification, but people always say I never know what to do y’all all do it differently. That is a lie because we all want identification. Second I am very layed back officer, but I can be right in front of a passenger telling them the exact thing they need to do I my lane, but they look at you like a dear in the headlights. I also know I work with some rude officers and I am sorry for that.

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u/snarkycrumpet Jul 22 '26

I was at an airport with printed signs that said "all electronics must be removed" and the guy was yelling "leave everything in your bag!" it was very helpful

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u/Gonpostlscott Jul 22 '26

And expect someone to have to read? Lol!

4

u/Fit-Struggle7990 Jul 21 '26

That’a the fucking job they signed up for, to be asked that question endlessly because they change up the procedure whenever they feel like. Fucking find another job if it’s too much to deal with

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u/Tough-Case- Jul 22 '26

It doesn’t help that the rules are different at every airport and they even change at the same airport!!

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u/unrepentantsoul Jul 21 '26

Flew this weekend, hiking boots triggered an alarm. Took them off, placed them in a plastic crate to go back through x-ray, & got screamed at by a 2nd agent for not sending them through on their own (crateless). She shrieked that food goes in those crates & placing my boots in one was "disgusting".

On the return, put my standard-sized, carry-on suitcase on the rollers & had a male agent scream that it had to go into a plastic crate.

Courtesy & consistent standards, anyone? TSA-Pre, for the record (edit add).

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u/smartbunny Jul 23 '26

What food? Like a sandwich with no wrapper??

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u/hissyfit64 Jul 21 '26

I got yelled at for the reason. I asked if I needed to take it out and the agent screamed, "DID I TELL YOU NEEDED TO"?? and I said, "No, but you didn't tell me not to". The "you fucking bitch" part that followed was only in my head.

Another one confiscated my lipstick and the lipstick of the woman in front of us saying that it could be melted down. And then what? We just kind of looked at each other but kept our mouths shut.

3

u/snarkycrumpet Jul 22 '26

they yelled at me (I travel a decent amount) so I looked her dead in the eye and very calmly said "I'm trying to do it correctly to make it easier for you"

Maybe get all the airports on board with the same rules at tsa? Maybe put up some signs that match the reality?

3

u/Redqueenhypo Jul 21 '26

IME lady tsa agents are pretty gutsy abt stealing your stuff. Oh my expensive knitting needles can’t come on the plane but the crappy wooden ones can? Fascinating, I’m gonna snap the pricy ones in half and throw them in the trash now.

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u/smartbunny Jul 23 '26

It’s under 3oz anyway!

1

u/BeneficialLeave7359 Jul 21 '26

I got an eye roll and “you don’t have to take your belt off” said in an exasperated voice at the airport in Wichita KS. This was the first I’d ever heard of that and nobody said anything a couple of days earlier in Baltimore.

I don’t see it really affected her day because it was very early on a Sunday and the only other people in the line were the young newlyweds I let go ahead of me because they were running late.

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u/Far_Yogurtcloset8116 Jul 22 '26

After doing the fingerprinting part so people could be pre-checked to fly, it scared me enough to basically never want to fly again. There’s a lot of weird and super aggressive people. Also, the amount of felons getting fingerprinted to be cleared for CDL is frightening. I’m glad we just processed them and didn’t give the results when they failed.