Over the summer, we published a piece called 5 Things That Totally Annoy TSA Agents. They were activities passengers did that were either annoying to everyone involved, or simply made TSA officers’ job more difficult.
Not surprisingly, there are plenty more things we passengers are wont to do that can ruin a TSA officer’s day. So for those who have a mean streak and want to make TSAOs more miserable…or, hopefully, those who don’t want to stir the pot, here are 5 more things that totally annoy TSA agents.
Crowding the Security Checkpoint
Of course you want to get to where you’re going. But just like many other places, you still have to wait your turn. And your turn doesn’t start until the TSA officer says “Next!” or some other way they make it obvious that “they’re ready to see you now.”
Going up to the TSA officer before you’re called, besides being rude, can be looked at as a security risk. And if the TSAO is pulling people from 2 queues and you jump ahead of the person in the “other” queue because you approached the kiosk before being told it’s OK for you to go there, you’re looking at another passenger getting angry too — and a fistfight isn’t a good look in the middle of an airport. So just wait until you’re called.
Trying to pet the TSA K9
We get it – you’re at the airport, and suddenly you see a TSA K9 with its handler. If you’re a dog lover, your first instinct might be to pet the dog, play with it, etc. The same goes for your kids. But the K9 is a working dog with an important job: sniffing for explosives. When you or your kids try to engage a TSA K9 while they’re working, it could be a distraction that could potentially make the dog miss a threat.
To be fair, the dogs are trained to ignore you. But if you’re persistent, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to get out of the queue or wait behind a barrier. You could be in for a lecture, from the handler too.
Holding Up Your ID
Some people think that a TSA officer just wants to make sure that the picture on your ID matches your face. Nope, it’s more than that. More and more airports are upgrading to CAT (Credential Authentication Technology) systems to verify IDs and spot fakes in real time. With that, the agent inserts your ID into the CAT machine, which scans and compares it to information in the Secure Flight Database. The CAT machine will also authenticate your ID, verify your reservation and see if you have a Secure Flight pre-screening status (e.g., Global Entry or TSA PreCheck).
The TSA can’t do that if you only show the officer your ID. So give it to them.
Complaining
Yes, we know – it’s too crowded, the line is too long, it’s too hot/cold in the airport, and you think the TSA is “security theater.”
You know who doesn’t care about what you think about these things? The TSA officer that you’re complaining to.
Complaining about any or all of those things to TSA agents won’t make it less crowded, the lines shorter, or the temperature cooler/hotter. And whether you think the TSA is security theater or not, you still have to go through the checkpoint. So quit the negative attitude because all it’s doing is creating a tense atmosphere and making the experience more difficult for everyone.
Try to keep a positive attitude and just focus on getting through the checkpoint safely and efficiently. Complaining isn’t going to change anything; being positive (or just being neutral if you can’t bear the thought of being positive) can make the experience more bearable for everyone.
Being Too Chatty
Obviously, being pleasant is better than being a complaining grump. But being too pleasant (read: striking up a conversation isn’t great either. TSA officers have a job to do and your talking to them for too long (A) distracts them from things they’re supposed to be watching for and (B) slows down the queue.
Be nice, but keep conversations and comments short and to the point. Let them do their job.
Feature Image (cropped): rpavich / flickr / CC BY 2.0
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
1 comment
You know what totally annoys me?…
Comment redacted by YMMV to remove portions that were against YMMV’s requirements for approval.
In this case, all of it. Whomp whomp. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯