TSA Checkpoint D – Southwest Florida International Airport

I was in a very long security line at Terminal D at 9:20 AM on December 29, 2015. I was so hot that the sweat was literally dripping off my body. Because of this, I put my guitar down to avoid the extra heat that would be generated by holding it. Since the stanchions were set up so that we would pass the same point again and again, I left my guitar where it was as I moved ahead, always keeping my eye on it (it is, by far, my most valued and valuable possession.) I know that we aren’t supposed to leave baggage unattended, but I did have my eye on it, and I was never more than 20 feet away from it. (It was in the center of the loop, not at the end of it.) At one point, the TSA brought through an explosives detection dog. I watched as it sniffed every person and bag, including me and my guitar. When I looped back to the guitar, I picked it up, and immediately a TSA employee came up to me and loudly berated me: «WHY didn’t you answer me when I asked whose guitar this was?» I said «I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear you» but she continued «HOW is it that you didn’t HEAR me?» The gentleman in front of me said «I didn’t hear you either,» to which several of the other passengers around me said «WE HEARD you» and turned their bodies to encircle me with hostile and accusing stares. I was humiliated. To add insult to injury, the TSA person continued «YOU SCARED a lot of people.» I told her I think TSA is the one who does the scaring, but I regret saying that now, even though I still believe it to be true. The role that TSA plays in bringing fear to the traveling public is not the fault of this employee, as she was simply doing her job when she asked me to identify myself and when she had the dog brought in when I didn’t. However, I do NOT think she was doing her job when she incited the crowd against me, and when she accused me of purposely ignoring her, and when she asserted that I caused fear among the traveling public. What purpose did that serve? After going through security, I spoke to the TSA supervisor on duty, who continued to look down at his paperwork while he pretended to listen to me. He stayed perched at his high desk during our exchange, and his position high above me only served to intensify my feelings of humiliation and insignificance. I went to the ladies room, where I cried and where several women who had witnessed my berating said that they felt I was treated unfairly. I understand that the TSA’s primary purpose is security, and not customer service, but I think that this woman was way out of line. Does TSA train agents to berate passengers? I hope not. I think that the lesson here is for TSA in RSW to try to figure out a better way to get people’s attention while they are in the queue. (I’m not deaf, and I wasn’t wearing earbuds.) I did apologize and, believe me, I will never leave anything in the queue again, no matter how hot and tired I am. Still, every passenger who goes through the checkpoint is a human being, worthy of respect and dignity. I was given none of the former, and left with none of the latter.

I forgot I had a bottle of water in my purse which they found after searching my bag. They apologized that they had to throw it away. I apologized for forgetting it was in there. It was a pleasant exchange.

These TSA agents are unfriendly and rude. I know they have a boring job, but that is no excuse

I’ve been to TSA checkpoints around the nation, and as far as TSA checkpoints go, this is certainly one of them.

If everyone remembers, the TSA used to be regular security guards. The federal government took it over, and kept the same security guards. They just changed their uniforms and became federal employees. I spent over 20 years in law enforcement (County & State), and held many positions. When I was heading for retirement I applied for the TSA. I was told that I was not qualified because I did not have experience using a hand held scanner, body or x-​ray scanner. I had to laugh when I heard that the TSA has a 99% failure rate. Evidently, no one working there knows how to use them either.

TSA sucks. A bottle of water constitutes a hazard? Really? He could have offered to me to go and drink it outside of the checkpoint like the other girl did for my husband. He just took it and threw it in the trash. Also, our glade air freshener was confiscated and they almost took my husbands medicine away from him as well. Relax people. They treat people like criminals. If I had something to hide I wouldn’t step foot on a plane. That would be the last place that I would be.