TSA Checkpoint E – Miami International Airport

After my bags went through the X-​ray, one of my bags was selected for additional screening. I had brought a duffle bag and back pack. The back pack, which I was using to carry my laptop and travel sized liquids, was the bag that was selected. Once at the end of the conveyor, I had my duffle bag and two trays, one of which contained my bags of liquids including some glass bottles, and the other my extremely large $ 4K work engineering laptop. Once I realized that they were holding my bag, I looked over to the bag screening table to see if it was open so that I could transfer my belongings from the conveyor to the table. It was not, so I consolidated the bags of liquids into the tray with my laptop, returned the empty tray, and patiently waited for my turn to have my bag checked. At this point, Officer Pait approached me and in a very condescending and rude tone said «you need to pick up your belongings». Having never been approached by a TSA offer with that tone or instruction, I was a combination of caught off guard and confused. I didn’t really understand what she expected me to do, especially because it was physically impossible for me to pick up my duffle bag, laptop, and two bags of liquids without risking dropping something. She repeateded herself, so I picked up the items in the tray, at which point she snatched the tray away from under me. I put my laptop with my two bags of liquids in fragile glass bottles back down on the end of the conveyor. Again, I was commanded to pick up my belongings, this time with the specification that they be removed from the conveyor. I explained that I would be happy to comply as soon as a space on the bag screening table cleared. Officer Pait insisted that I comply immediately but was unable to direct me anywhere where I could place my belongings while waiting. After I asked her where she would like me to place my belongings, she replied «I don’t care, they just can’t be here. Can’t you just hold them?». At this point, her tone was becoming increasingly aggressive and condescending. I was doing the same exact thing I have done any other time I flew and one of my bags was chosen for additional screening, but yet Officer Pait continued to harass me for not either attempting to hold all my items in my arms or place them on the floor until the bag screening table finally cleared. Once clear, I immediately began transferring my belongings to the table. While doing so, Officer Pait commented that I was holding up the line, so I asked her if she couldn’t see that I was trying to move my belongings and why she was still speaking to me about the matter when I was in the process of complying. Apparently I upset her and her reply was «you have a horrible attitude, I’m the one checking your bag!». From that point, it must have been ten minutes before Officer Pait was done screening my bag. For the first few minutes, she wasn’t even at the table. She seemed to be consulting with the X-​ray examiner about what was in my bag. After that, she proceeded to remove every item from my bag and check it. She even took some items from my bag and left the table to consult with other officers about them. At that point, it was 20 minutes prior to the departure of my flight and the gate attendants came looking for me. They asked Officer Pait if she could release me and her reply was that I was being belligerent and would need to wait. They told her they were going to have to leave me behind then to close the doors and finalize boarding and Officer Pait replied «ok» with a smile. She kept me for an additional few minutes while slowly checking every last item in my bag. After releasing me, I sprinted to the gate with my bags flailing open in an attempt to make the flight only to arrive to a closed gate. I collapsed on the floor and nearly fainted from overexertion. My complaint about Officer Pait is regarding her condescending, rude and aggressive communication with me and her inability to give me clear and reasonable instructions that were logical and easy to follow. Also, it seems she made a deliberate decision to «get revenge» on me for not immediately complying with her instructions by taking an extrodinarily long time screening my bag. The entire ordeal cost me my flight and an important business meeting at my destination. Fortunately, Qatar airways, whose attendants witnessed the latter part of the situation and sympathized with me, was willing to reschedule my flight for the following day without a no-​show fee. The change in fare rate still cost me an additional $ 214. if TSA wishes to rectify this situation, I am requesting reimbursement for the $ 214 cost difference for my rescheduled flight. I cannot see how such unprofessionalism is conducive to public safety, or efficiency in the passenger screening process. For me, it was by far the worst experience I’ve ever had with the TSA. It felt like an abuse of power. It was a nightmare that I wouldn’t wish on any other traveler.