5 More Ways to Instantly Annoy a TSA Officer

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Not long ago, we published a piece about 5 things travelers do that drive TSA officers crazy. They were activities passengers did that were either annoying to everyone involved, or simply made TSA officers’ jobs more difficult.

Not surprisingly, there are plenty more things we passengers are known to do that can ruin a TSA officer’s day. So for those who have a mean streak and want to make TSA officers (TSAOs) more miserable…or, hopefully, those who don’t want to stir the pot, here are 5 more things that totally annoy TSA officers.

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 otherwise makes it obvious they’re ready for you.

Besides being rude, approaching a TSA officer before you’re called can be seen as a security risk. And if the TSA officer (TSAO) is pulling people from two 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. Or maybe your toddler wants to “say hi to the doggy” in that no-personal-boundaries “in your face” way that young children are known for. 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 (or asks you to do it), 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 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 or hotter. And whether you think the TSA is security theater or not, you still have to go through the checkpoint, if you want to get on your plane. 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 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