topic Re: TSA Officers in Community Chat

TSA Officers

pateacher — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:40:03 GMT

I was so upset that TSA personnel, who keep us safe, worked without pay during the recent government shutdown.

DH and I did a trip to Lousiana last week, I made sure to thank everyone who works to provide safety for passengers. I was surprised at those who were taken aback by my thanks.

Maybe I am behind the times, and maybe some will say that they are paid to keep us safe, which wasn't technically true during the shutdown. However, sometimes a simple "thank you" can brighten anyone's day. People, regardless of their job, enjoy a little gratitude.

Re: TSA Officers

Kinz — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:45:22 GMT

I traveled to New Mexico during the government shut down and I also thanked the TSA. They were very pleased to be acknowledged for their hard work and commitment.

Re: TSA Officers

kitcat51 — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:59:25 GMT

There are plenty of important things to be upset about, that one doesn't make my list. They worked, got paid, done...fingers crossed it doesn't happen again.

Re: TSA Officers

goldensrbest — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:02:48 GMT

@kitcat51 wrote:
There are plenty of important things to be upset about, that one doesn't make my list. They worked, got paid, done...fingers crossed it doesn't happen again.

They make very little ,and have a important job to do ,our safety in the air depends on them, your post shows how un grateful you are.

Re: TSA Officers

FrostyBabe1 — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:08:35 GMT

I don't want to see anyone put in the position that these folks were put in recently.

However; the idea that the TSA "keeps us safe"? That's just plain laughable. As recently as November of 2017, they had a 70% failure rate when being tested on their skills at detecting weapons being smuggled thru checkpoints. And that was an IMPROVEMENT over 2015 when the failure rate was 95%!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2017/11/09/tsa-misses-70-of-fake-weapons-but-thats-an-improvement/#41a901fe2a38

Re: TSA Officers

I am still oxox — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:17:22 GMT

Just a note all gov't worker,s those who worked without pay and were furloughed are receiving back pay

Re: TSA Officers

pateacher — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:21:10 GMT

I was safe for my roundtrip. Maybe I was lucky, or maybe it was TSA.

I don't know, but I hate to think about what might happen without them.

Back pay does not cover late fees, and contractors were not repaid.

Re: TSA Officers

bikerbabe — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:22:15 GMT

Unfortunately all the contractors and other people whose jobs rely on the government, but are not direct government employees, are not so lucky. No compensation for them.

Re: TSA Officers

goldensrbest — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:23:32 GMT

I don't see saying thank you as a problem.

Re: TSA Officers

FrostyBabe1 — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:28:13 GMT

@pateacher wrote:
I was safe for my roundtrip. Maybe I was lucky, or maybe it was TSA.
I don't know, but I hate to think about what might happen without them.

Or maybe it was the FAA inspectors and mechanics that made sure it was safe for your aircraft to be in the sky. Or maybe it was ATC who made sure you didn't run in to another plane, either on the ground or in the sky. Or maybe it was the cockpit crew with their years of training and experience flying sophisticated aircraft. Or maybe it was the FAM's placed discretely thru out the cabin, keeping an eye on things.

I'm all for effective, efficient airport security. But the TSA isn't it. Contrary to what they'd have you believe, they're not law enforcement officers and have very little actual authority. They're really nothing more than the airport version of a mall cop. And as a very frequent flyer, I've seen and experienced them doing things that are completely outrageous.

Re: TSA Officers

Shepherd — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:27:14 GMT

pateacher, are you a TSA agent?

Re: TSA Officers

pateacher — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 20:57:17 GMT

@Shepherd

No, I am a retired teacher from Pennsylvania.

Re: TSA Officers

Laura14 — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 21:03:30 GMT

I was too. I work with the public and I wouldn't do it for free. Bless them for doing it.

Now having said that, I have run into some beyond ignorant ones at the busiest airport in the world. I know they may work the hardest because of the volume but my hope is those bad apples went the way of the wind and we weeded a few bad ones out. NO excuse to be screaming and humilitaing passengers especially when you are bucking the posted signs of what we are supposed to do.

After my last trip last year, I will be driving cross country for my vacation this year. I am kind of done with the TSA experience at Hartsfield Jackson for a while. 99% good but that 1% I still have PTSD from.

Re: TSA Officers

AuberriJean — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 21:09:10 GMT

A TSA agent in Orlando commited suicide, I just read in the news.

Re: TSA Officers

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 21:10:06 GMT

There was just an article I read on-line today about how many guns the agents find that people put in their carry-on bags. But even more scary, how many weapons the agents miss and they get through!

Re: TSA Officers

spiderw — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 21:21:48 GMT

There are times when I read these forums and want to say so much. There was a very long shut down and people suffered. Maybe not everyone suffered but enough did. The shutdown was wrong and hurt families just trying to make livings. That is the point, not that there are people who don't work or are rude, that happens in all jobs and is up to management to take care of.

Enjoy your day and respect each other, you never know when you might be in the same situations.

Re: TSA Officers

sidsmom — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 21:27:19 GMT

@AuberriJean wrote:

A TSA agent in Orlando commited suicide, I just read in the news.

Yeah...that happened this past Saturday @ 9:30am

He had just ended his shift.

36 yrs old.

So sad.

Re: TSA Officers

PamfromCT — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:39:52 GMT

@spiderw, So well said! Unfortunately, there are some who are not happy unless they are bashing people. And fortunately, those who demean groups of people are a minority here.

Re: TSA Officers

ID2 — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:40:14 GMT

I guess I'm just a private person because I can't imagine coming on a bulletin board to boast how I say thank you to TSA agents.

Re: TSA Officers

insomniac2 — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:50:50 GMT

Kitcat51, you sure don't have any empathy, do you?

These people (and many others) had to wait a long time to get paid (without knowing how much longer they were going to have to endure this almost moneyless state).

How can you be so cold?

(ID2's attitude is also self-serving. I appreciate the OP's post!)