TSA @ departure gate

Just saw a group of TSA congregating @ T7. Have they resumed doing gate checks?

 

When did they stop doing gate checks?

 

Does a departure check imply that they can't do their job right the first time? Something to add to my list of one-liners for security. Some of them aren't so pointed. I actually got a pretty good laugh from the screeners at BWI last week.

 

Why did they ever start?????

Listened to Jesse Ventura on the Radio the other day. His suit against the TSA was dropped by the Federal Court because the court said they really did not have jurisdiction???

He also said that, "If I were a terrorist, and wanted to do the most damage to people, I would just have a suicide bomber stand in the TSA Line and detonate there." That would take out probably hundreds of people and security would not have any preparations.

Gotta love the TSA and the theater they provide.

 

That's the logical answer, but logic and TSA are mutually exclusive terms.

 

I hadn't seen a gate check for nearly a year so this was a shock seeing people lined up to board and TSA at the gate.

 

I've seen it quite often in recent years. I always wonder if those "surplus resources" wouldn't be more useful if they staffed an additional metal detector/bag xray to reduce waiting in line.

 

Do you think anyone made that recommendation to the TSA?

 

You could argue that the TSA is creating the security risk in the first place by requiring these high-profile, public, and politically-charged situations, like the queues, that make ideal terrorist targets.

 

Off to catch the flt to GNV. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

Of course, you could also blame Walmart or Target for creating security risks outside their stores by having crowds assemble before their midnight shopping extravaganza on Black Friday There are lots of places where people assemble. Let's not give the TSA more ideas for areas they need to control.

 

Yes, people should buy their children the much-desired Playmobil Security Check Point set online.

 

T7 at JFK? Seen them there a few times recently. Not sure who they pulled off, but the guy doing the search had already given me a massage, so I don't think he was going to pat me down again.

 

I've seen the gate security at ORD on flights to IAD, LAX and EWR. don't know if they conduct more "Random" gate security checks on higher risk routes?

 

I have witnessed them doing an LAX-Carlsbad flight (which is 20 minutes long).

 

I was heading home to ATL from SFO I believe, and they were just checking IDs again at the gate. Seemed silly to me. Just more "theater" to make me feel "safe".

 

I had 2 gate checks in October -- one on a LAX-JFK redeye, the other on a late-night SLC-BUR flight.

At LAX, I used my Skymiles card to board the flight and the machine spit out a receipt. I showed my driver's license and Skymiles card but they didn't want the receipt which was actually my new boarding pass

 

I had them on an LAX-SGU flight that had about 7 passengers. 2 TSA agents spent an hour waiting until the 7 of us boarded. I asked them if I was required to produce ID since I am not required at the screening point (you get a thorough search and pat down.) They couldn't answer me. The GA agent nicely asked me to just show the ID so should get the flight out, so I complied. But I still can't imagine what purpose it serves to have 2 TSA agents spend an hour to check the IDs of passengers boarding a 29-seat propeller flight with 7 passengers going to an airport that has no connecting service.

 

The kicker on the gate checks is that they sometimes show up WELL before boarding, even 30 minutes before. Thus, many times, they'll be sitting there doing nothing (I know....) before starting the harassment.

 

LGA (Central Terminal) today. But the CO agent said they would only be checking ID, so have them ready.

 

IAD today. 8 doing gate gropes for a half full CR2. Some folks have too much time on their hands.

 

Does anyone evaluate whether this check does anything to improve aviation security? It seems fairly pointless, especially since you know ahead of time that they will be checking.

 

The only one I've been involved with was IAH-SAN last year. Plane went MX while taxiing to the runway (engine wouldn't start). We deplaned, waited for about an hour and a half, and then were sent to another gate where there was a plane waiting for us - we had to wait another 30 minutes for TSA to show up . TSA did the ID and boarding pass check but looked ready to gate grope.

I could see why they would ID check given the circumstances, but hopefully I don't see too many more of those.

 

I don't.

 

They also appear do be doing nothing as passengers are boarding. While the GA said to pull out the IDs for TSA to check, the assumption was that they would check all the passenger IDs.

Instead, most of the passengers were allowed to just walk by the agents.

More "random" security theater.