TSA and flying in the USA again

[PST]

I know there have been endless threads on this topic, and maybe I should revive one and add to it, but I'm too lazy. Which is what TSA in Seattle told me TSA in Chicago is -- lazy. I have said several times recently that TSA has stopped requiring that CPAP machines be removed from passengers' carry-on bags. I fly often, and that has been my experience since the first of the year, but lately I have been told a different story. In St. Louis, TSA flat out insisted to me that the rule everywhere is that CPAP must be taken out, and that I was in error if I thought I had passed through security any other way. In Seattle, when I was asked to remove my machine, I said that TSA told me in Chicago that the rule had changed and this was no longer required. Fortunately, my comment did not offend the TSA representative, and he did not subject me to a cavity search. He just said that Chicago TSA was a bunch of slackers who did things their own way. The current rule, he claims, is that the machine must still come out, but it does not have to be chemically swabbed and tested anymore. I note this for whatever it is worth. I wish TSA would decide that the x-ray is enough. Now that we have to remove our belts and wallets and every last thing to go through those nudie photo booths, taking one more object out of its resting place is the last straw for me trying to scoot through security in a hurry.

[builta]

Hi,

I think that the TSA is all about mixing things up so that you never know what to expect. That way everyone including the "bad boys" are left wondering, "What'ca goning to do when they come for you?" Seems to work.

I travel extensively all around the globe and have come to find out two things "platimum level" is good! and something always changes on every trip!

Oh hea, I hate flying!

Happy travels!

Cheers

[jetcpap]

Here is my take on this. I am an airline pilot and go through the TSA several times a week. All I can say is that there is NO standardization with the TSA. One city may ask you to do one thing and the very next day a different city will ask something else. And of course they will look at you cockeyed if you say otherwise, even with a pilot uniform (they like to pick on us more for whatever reason)

I am sure they have their reasons, but each airport is different. Each time I go through security I take out my cpap, it is in a little bag so no one else can see what it is, and place it in the bin.

Enjoy your travels

[inkdesigner]

I recently traveled to China on business. Left from Logan International in Boston. I had to removes my CPAP from its case for screening in Boston. Even in China, I had to remove from the case when flying in-country from Zhuhai to Shanghai and when boarding the flight from Shanghai for the States. After clearing customs in Detroit, we were rescreened before boarding our flight to Boston, and even there, I had to remove the CPAP. No swabbing for explosives at any of the airports.

Maybe the folks in Chicago really are slackers who are making up their own rules.

[M.D.Hosehead]

My suspicion:

Homeland Security is an unwieldy bureaucracy, hastily pasted together from parts of other bureaucracies and never thoroughly integrated.

It unpredictably changes policies/definitions in response to news reports and complaints from various quarters.

Instructions coming down from Washington through various channels are voluminous, vague, contradictory and confusing. Locals can't digest it all, so they wing it.

And, n any group of people, there will be some who, given any authority, become martinets.

[Slartybartfast]

That's odd. I've went through TSA at SEA 5 times since November, and each time the CPAP machine went through on the belt in its case with no questions asked. I agree with what's been said about the strategy being "keeping them guessing," so YMMV, as they say.

[idamtnboy]

I think that the TSA is all about mixing things up so that you never know what to expect. That way everyone including the "bad boys" are left wondering, "What'ca goning to do when they come for you?" Seems to work.

Having worked for Uncle in a couple of areas where security concerns were paramount, I say do not discount that idea one bit. One thing for sure, they ain't gonna tell you what their policies and practices are.