Airlines Playing 20 Questions

RyanB

RyanB

Super Administrator
Management Council Member
PoA Supporter
Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
16,524
Location
Chattanooga, TN
Display Name
Display name:
Ryan
Wrong title. Should be TSA/US Government instead of airline.


Understand the concern of people coming into the US, but I hope they (TSA) don't go all crazy with this on domestic flights. Not holding my breath though.
 
Last edited:
mscard88 said:
Understand the concern of people coming into the US, but I hope they (TSA) don't go all crazy with this on domestic flights. Not holding my breath though.
Click to expand...

I think there are some serious constitutional questions that need to be addressed if they are going to start interrogating people before domestic flights.
 
Shepherd said:
Hello. What is the purpose of your visit to the United States?
How long will you be staying?
Do you have 1 or 2 bombs in your baggage?
Have a nice flight.
Click to expand...
That's how it used to be. The new questioning includes joyous (and invasive) questions like:
Where did you stay when you were here?
How far was your hotel from the airport?
Who was your client/company?
Who was in your meetings?
Where were your meetings?
What did you discuss?
What is your home address and phone number?
Who is your employer?
How much are you paid?
How long have you worked for them?
Do you have a business card?
Who is your spouse?
What sights did you see here?
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Presents a real problem for folks that are traveling for a client and working under NDA or dealing with non-public information (like M&A or business deals) that will trigger an SEC violation. And really does little for airline security - the higher we make the barriers and the more difficult we make it to travel the more it appears that we don't want folks visiting international destinations.
 
PPC1052 said:
I think there are some serious constitutional questions that need to be addressed if they are going to start interrogating people before domestic flights.
Click to expand...
That doesn't stop them. I have seen them do questioning before - I got designated for the SSSS screening by TSA at a US airport because I declined to answer a couple of questions that would violate an NDA and possible result in an SEC violation. 40 minutes later, I was freed from the checkpoint.

At DCA one time, I saw the TSA searching a gentleman's wallet and asking him about each piece of paper and card in there. I see that as a potential 4th Amendment violation and highly invasive, but it was done anyway.

Domestically, they're requiring all electronics larger than a cell phone out of all bags, and each placed in an individual bin. The predictable result is much slower screening and longer lines. Article from one newspaper yesterday: http://www.richmond.com/business/ne...cle_f127a788-b356-53e4-811e-b42d5befba2d.html
 
Kind of similar to the questions that Customs asks, but prior to boarding instead of at entry into US?
 
This isn't that new per se.

I've had pre-screens when coming back from France, Turkey, and China before. They hand search carry ons as well.
 
Matthew said:
Kind of similar to the questions that Customs asks, but prior to boarding instead of at entry into US?
Click to expand...
More than that, and much more detailed. Although in a couple of countries the security folks are told to ask about agricultural and other matters, too.
 
wsuffa said:
That doesn't stop them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have seen some TSA agents asking questions of those waiting in line ranging from "small talk" to more pointed questions about where they are going and why.
 
PPC1052 said:
Yeah, I have seen some TSA agents asking questions of those waiting in line ranging from "small talk" to more pointed questions about where they are going and why.
Click to expand...
I even had one tell me point-blank that "constitutional rights do not apply at a checkpoint". I ended up having his supervisor correct him (though many of the supervisors are also bad).
 
Oh, and remember, if they keep someone off a flight, they've done their jobs. Even if the person represented no risk whatsoever.
 
wsuffa said:
That's how it used to be. The new questioning includes joyous (and invasive) questions like:
Where did you stay when you were here?
How far was your hotel from the airport?
Who was your client/company?
Who was in your meetings?
Where were your meetings?
What did you discuss?
What is your home address and phone number?
Who is your employer?
How much are you paid?
How long have you worked for them?
Do you have a business card?
Who is your spouse?
What sights did you see here?
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Presents a real problem for folks that are traveling for a client and working under NDA or dealing with non-public information (like M&A or business deals) that will trigger an SEC violation. And really does little for airline security - the higher we make the barriers and the more difficult we make it to travel the more it appears that we don't want folks visiting international destinations.
Click to expand...
Par for the course in Tel Aviv.
 
wsuffa said:
I even had one tell me point-blank that "constitutional rights do not apply at a checkpoint". I ended up having his supervisor correct him (though many of the supervisors are also bad).
Click to expand...
Cops are allowed to lie to you.
 
paflyer said:
Par for the course in Tel Aviv.
Click to expand...
Yes, but the Israelis are much more complex than that. There are folks within DHS (and some in political parties) that essentially worship the Israeli system & want to impose it on US flights. Time will tell.
 
wsuffa said:
Yes, but the Israelis are much more complex than that. There are folks within DHS (and some in political parties) that essentially worship the Israeli system & want to impose it on US flights. Time will tell.
Click to expand...
This is from personal experience. I used to get the third degree while my (business) travel companions skated.

I finally figured it out when I realized that my passport was so old I barely resembled my picture.

That, and my passport was chock full of entry/exit stamps from Malaysia and Indonesia.
 
Shepherd said:
Hello. What is the purpose of your visit to the United States?
How long will you be staying?
Do you have 1 or 2 bombs in your baggage?
Have a nice flight.
Click to expand...

"The odds against there being a bomb on a plane are a million to one, and against two bombs a million times a million to one. Next time you fly, cut the odds and take a bomb."
- Benny Hill
 
Bonchie said:
This isn't that new per se.

I've had pre-screens when coming back from France, Turkey, and China before. They hand search carry ons as well.
Click to expand...
A couple days ago I got the SSSS random screening at the gate when coming back from Amsterdam. They went over my carry-on with a fine toothed comb, swabbing almost everything for chemical residue, or whatever those swabs are supposed to detect. They didn't ask any questions, though.
 
Everskyward said:
A couple days ago I got the SSSS random screening at the gate when coming back from Amsterdam. They went over my carry-on with a fine toothed comb, swabbing almost everything for chemical residue, or whatever those swabs are supposed to detect. They didn't ask any questions, though.
Click to expand...
You were "practice." Training agents on your time.
 
SkyDog58 said:
I remember before the TSA got involved when the airlines just asked questions like:

Do you like gladiator movies?
Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

How times have changed!
Click to expand...

I thought that was the Captain?
 
paflyer said:
You were "practice." Training agents on your time.
Click to expand...
Each country seems to have its own procedures. In some countries in Africa they screen you and scan everything when entering the country, even when you have just gotten off an airplane where you have been screened prior to boarding. They also take a photo and fingerprints.
 
Everskyward said:
In some countries in Africa they screen you and scan everything when entering the country, even when you have just gotten off an airplane where you have been screened prior to boarding. They also take a photo and fingerprints.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'd really want to go there...
 
I've been to several countries where they take a finger print (singular). No ink. It's just scanned.

As far as the questions go, I typically try to keep my answers fairly generic. No reason to go into detail. In fact, I'm pretty much prohibited from going into detail. Haven't had any issues.

Last year I got the dreaded SSSS while traveling through Munich. My name was called at the gate. They took me to a secure area (a room fairly close to the gate), checked my bags, and then put me and the other SSSS folks in a special seating area closer to the gate and away from the soiled masses (actually past the point where they scan your boarding pass). We got to board before the Business Class folks. WIN!!! Kinda wish I could do the SSSS through Munich a bit more often.
 
Anymouse said:
I've been to several countries where they take a finger print (singular). No ink. It's just scanned.
Click to expand...
My traveling companions seemed to get less screening than me. They often only got asked for a thumbprint, or nothing. But it seemed as if I got all five fingers of each hand scanned each time through passport control.
 
Didn't we already do that, from like 1993 until 2012 ?
 
Anymouse said:
I've been to several countries where they take a finger print (singular). No ink. It's just scanned.

As far as the questions go, I typically try to keep my answers fairly generic. No reason to go into detail. In fact, I'm pretty much prohibited from going into detail. Haven't had any issues.

Last year I got the dreaded SSSS while traveling through Munich. My name was called at the gate. They took me to a secure area (a room fairly close to the gate), checked my bags, and then put me and the other SSSS folks in a special seating area closer to the gate and away from the soiled masses (actually past the point where they scan your boarding pass). We got to board before the Business Class folks. WIN!!! Kinda wish I could do the SSSS through Munich a bit more often.
Click to expand...
Beats the Group W bench.
 
At what domestic airport did you get questioned by TSA? I thought I'd had every screening they had to offer because I opt out of everything, and I get randomly selected for "additional" screening 8/10 tines I fly. I've even set off the bomb detectors and been caught with more than 3 ounces of liquid. The only questions I've ever been asked are, "Is this your bag?" "Did you pack it yourself?" and "Is there anything sharp in here?"

Curious what I'm missing out on.
 
Isnt there some way to alter your boarding pass so they skip the screening?!
 
Lindberg said:
At what domestic airport did you get questioned by TSA? I thought I'd had every screening they had to offer because I opt out of everything, and I get randomly selected for "additional" screening 8/10 tines I fly. I've even set off the bomb detectors and been caught with more than 3 ounces of liquid. The only questions I've ever been asked are, "Is this your bag?" "Did you pack it yourself?" and "Is there anything sharp in here?"

Curious what I'm missing out on.
Click to expand...

I've been "questioned" at several domestic airports. It's not really an interrogation, but more conversational. Ever notice a TSA guy talking to people while they're in line? Being friendly like? They're doing their job.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top