This has never happened to me in Heathrow... San Diego Airport: Im in line, I check to see if maybe Ive gotten a coveted pre-check boarding pass (meaning I dont have to take out my laptop, my gels, take off my shoes or jacket, etc.) No. Not this time. Oh, well. Im in line, and I finally get up to two guys in TSA uniforms with portable versions of those little wands that check for residue on electronics and palms. Guy #1 says he has to check the palms of my hands. Fine. Im always pleasant. I hold them out. Then we have to wait for results. Im cheerful, whatever. And turns out Im just fine. I walk NOT THREE STEPS and the second TSA guy says, I have to check your palms, miss. I say, I just had this done. He gets a little snippy and says, I HAVE TO DO THIS, MISS. Then as were waiting for the results, he says, Wait, where did you just have this done? And I point to the guy standing right next to him. He turns red and says, Oh. Well, now we have to wait for the results anyway. Fine. No problem Im still all smiles because I know my TSA manners. Then I get up to the podium and the TSA ID checker does her checks and scribbles and gives my ID and boarding pass back with Here and I am left to my own devices, no information on which line to join. I scope out the area, see that to my left, no one is taking off shoes, jackets, etc., and I know from already having checked that I dont have a pre-check authorization. So I move toward the right, where there are bins for my stuff and my shoes. A guard rushes up to me and shouts , IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE LEFT, IT MEANS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES. I try to explain that I know Im not pre-check, and she YELLS, WE DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES HERE. ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOU HURRY. Everything else to do with flying today was much nicer, but WHY do TSA agents behave like this? They dont in England or Ireland. Its so unpleasant, and its unnecessary.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 00:35:16 +0000