Ah, the glorious TSA. They are the first line of defense for both leaving the airport on your destination and coming back. Only with coming back, you have to pass through the gauntlet known as Homeland Security or whatever that type of security is known as in other countries. They are there to ensure you are bringing nothing suspicious back. When going through the airport to find your terminal, you enter the first line of defense-TSA! Simply put, make sure you do what you are supposed to, be upcoming and honest, cooperate and everyone wins. Just understand they have a job to do and as a responsible traveler, it's your job to ensure you follow their rules. According to Reader's Digest, here is what TSA notices about you.
Some of the people providing advice are experts. They include Mike Delgado, a TSO (transportation security officer) with 17 years experience under him, Jeffrey Price, a trainer for the American Association of Airport Executives, Richard Rozins, a former TSO officer and Sahara Rose De Vore, a coach in travel
Not listening
-No matter what time it is that you're going through the airport, whether it be your first trip or 100th trip, you need to obey and listen to what the TSO's are saying. If you're not listening, they have to repeat it, which wastes time. Follow the instructions to ensure a smooth transition. Mike Delgado says "People not paying attention is my top pet peeve and we definitely notice if you're not listening-because you mess up and we have to explain it again, which wastes everyone's time. Throughout the TSA area, there are signs posted in multiple languages. Simply put, it pays to listen. It makes TSA's job 100% easier
Offering gifts
-This is a no no
-Since you can't take the Red Bull or bottle of liquor you got from the hotel through security, why not give it to TSA? This is a bad idea. TSA or TSO, depending on how you want to refer to them since they both mean the same thing, cannot accept gifts. Delgado says "We actually aren't allowed to accept anything free from anyone in the airport, including vendors, because it can look like a bribe. And don't ever tell me, 'just take it quick, no one will see' because there are cameras covering every square inch and I will get in trouble. Accepting a gift is one of the fastest ways to get fired." Don't keep insisting that they take a gift, because that can trigger a call for the supervisor to be present
Thinking you're special
-"If everyone else in front of you is emptying their pockets and taking off their shoes, then just by common sense, you should know you have to do it too." says Delgado. "Yet there are so many people who want us to give them special treatment. You're not special." There are some exceptions, such as breast milk being exempt from the "no liquids" rule, being inconvenienced for anything is not a good reason. Adding "Jeez, do I look like a terrorist to you?" will not help you as well. "We don't profile people, so you need to let go of this idea of what a terrorist looks like, not to mention a terrorist can look like anyone." You can ask the TSOs for clarification and they will gladly help you understand what is allowed and what is not allowed. Don't argue with them; with that, it will only make the situation worse. The TSA Precheck does not always exempt you from from the rules. It might save time, but it will not always clear you of following the rules. It only helps you get through security faster with shorter lines and more efficient processing. But you still have to go through the same rules of emptying pockets, taking off shoes, etc. just like everyone else. This is not made to annoy, this is made for security. Not just for your security, but the security of everyone, from TSA to the other passengers. Arguing with TSOs or TSA brings extra attention to you and they will pull you aside to do a thorough check on you
Fighting a pat down
-For some people, getting patted down might be awkward because they have something to hide or they don't like a stranger's hands on their body. For other people, it's part of traveling and they let the TSA people do their job. Simply put, don't fight it. Understand getting patted down is part of being a responsible traveler. "One of the biggest myths is that we do 'strip searches.' That's not a thing! People have seen too many movies, Hollywood always gets it wrong." says Mike Delgado. He is right; Hollywood does get it wrong. When a body search is done, it's because of the person is suspected of being a smuggler of something and the search will reveal if they have the item internally, inside the crevices of their body. These misconceptions just make people angry or nervous, forcing them to try and buck the pat down.
-Contrary to widely held belief, extra searches are not triggered by an item showing on the body scan are chosen, at random, by a computer. When you get selected, you are not a bad person or are you in trouble. So if you do get selected for a more thorough pat down or security, it's just the job of TSA to protect you, them and everyone else. The TSA officers do same-gender pat downs, so it's not a man patting down a woman or a woman patting down a man. As they do the pat down, they explain everything. If you prefer, you can also do a private pat down, where you will be taken to a private room and talk to a TSO in private. This often is a good way to let some form of authority know that you or someone you know is the victim of human trafficking or some form of sexual trafficking
Getting aggressive
-This is, in no way shape or form, the way to be at the airport. This is the last thing you want to do. Drawing attention to yourself at the airport by acting belligerent, angry or plain nasty throws up red flags. "It sends up a red flag, and TSA agents begin to wonder what the issue is." says Jeffrey Price, a former assistant director of security for the Denver Airport, and now a security trainer for the American Association of Airport Executives and a professor of airport management at Metropolitan State University of Denver. "If your flight has been delayed or canceled, don't let that put you in a tailspin." Mike Delgado adds that he's seen plenty of people go from cool and collected to losing their cool in every way and he doesn't take it personally. "We see a lot of crabby passengers, sometimes they'll call us names or whatever, and that doesn't bother me. I understand they're frustrated." When those same passengers start getting physical, such as pushing, throwing things, trying to get around the security measures or acting in any way that can lead to scary and unpredictable behavior, that's when tension goes up
-Price explains that TSA screeners look for behaviors that are inconsistent with typical passengers. So do your best to look cool, calm and collected. It's perfectly fine to be excited that you're going to a new destination. Even when airport issues pop up, don't let that get you down
Being overly talkative
-With TSA, this could be a red flag that something is going on. Resist the urge to make small talk. Jeffrey Price says "Many criminals try to avert the attention of security agents by using this approach. So being overly talkative may be a red flag." Avoid making small talk at all costs. Mike Delgado also adds "We appreciate it. Especially when the lines are short and we're not busy. Just be sure to keep the line moving, so don't stop to talk to us." It's important to find the right balance of communicating without making the TSA suspicious. Be courteous, polite, tell them thank you and overall having the right positive attitude does make a world of difference
Acting nervous
-Another red flag. Acting nervous and showing obvious nerves throws up another red flag to TSA. If your eyes are darting around, you're visibly sweaty, clearing your throat constantly, being fidgety, stammering / stuttering or breathing heavy / fast are signs of anxiety. You could be displaying these signs because you are flying and have a fear of flying. Or you may be nervous for another reason, a darker, more criminal-related reason. It's up to TSOs to determine that reason. TSA agents are trained to look for suspicious behavior and act as detective to get to the bottom of it. Anything they determine as suspicious they are trained to act upon. Delgado says "We won't pull you aside just for being nervous, but we may start to pay more attention to you. If things don't feel right, I'll call my supervisor and ask them to keep an eye on you, looking for additional red flags."
-This nervous behavior might also benefit you. Especially if there is a private concern you need to express with someone, especially someone with some form of authority. Delgado adds "There was a time a kid came through my line who was clearly very agitated, very nervous, so I went over to him and asked if he's okay. He whispered that he had a vape in his pocket but his parents didn't know he smokes and he didn't want to take it out for security. I offered him a private screening which he took me up on." People with fears of flying find ways to calm themselves, which includes meditation, visualizing a calm area prior to hitting the security area
Avoiding eye contact
-Another potential red flag. When you make eye contact with someone, this can often tell them they have your full attention. Avoiding eye contact could be suspicious or just mean that you're an introverted person. TSA agents are trained to read body language like a book. If they notice that you're avoiding eye contact, suddenly their suspicions go sky high. Richard Rozins, a former TSA officer, says "The eyes are the first place a TSA agent looks." "If you're unable to make eye contact with the TSA or TSO when being asked a question, it could mean you're avoiding or hiding something." says Price. Delgado adds "I may ask them a few more questions, about where they are traveling to or what they are doing, to get a feel." He also adds that this type of behavior also alerts him to potentially dangerous situations, such as kidnapping or human trafficking.
-He mentions an experience where a family came through his line and none of the kids would speak or make eye contact. "We all noticed them that day but didn't have enough reason to stop them so we let them go, a decision that still haunts me." The why to that question turned out to be that the "family" ended up on the news for trafficking and abusing children
Wearing baggy clothing
-This might not seem like a big deal elsewhere, but when traveling and going through the TSA area, this can be a problem. Baggy clothes can hide all sorts of items. They can prompt TSA to check you extra thoroughly. Mike Delgado says "This is why we ask people to remove jackets, suit coats, shirts tied around their waist, things like that. But with the new body scanners, this is less of a problem. Believe me when I tell you they can see everything regardless of how much clothing you got on. Which, again, is why it is so important to take everything out of your pockets. Like we told you ten times."
Wearing clothing unsuitable for the current season
-Any behavior that is not normal, such as wearing clothing not suitable for the current season, is a red flag. Why is that person wearing a heavy winter parka in 90 degree July heat? Are you hiding something? These are the questions TSOs or TSA will ask themselves. This might prompt them to give you a more thorough examination. Of course, you will have to remove said parka, but because you are acting in a suspicious manner by wearing clothing not suitable for the current season, you've already pinged the TSA's suspicions by that point. They may request to do a bag search or a pat down after going through the body scanner
Drinking prior to flying
-The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the governing body of all airports. They are the bosses to the bosses of the airports. They have 0% tolerance for any passenger who gets unruly, including drunkenness on board their planes. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, travel has never been the same. Incidents of passengers abusing airport staff have been on the rise. The FAA have compiled reports on the types of incidents caused and according to their reports, there have been more than 7,000 reports of unruly passenger behavior since 2021. It has even gotten to the point where the House of Representatives in Congress passed a bill called the Unruly Passenger Restraint Review Act to ban passengers who become unruly on flights.
-If a TSA agent or TSO sees that you're visibly under the influence of alcohol, you could be deemed a person of interest and it will be up to them to possibly stop you from continuing on. Delgado says "Oh, I've totally had to tell people that they were too drunk to fly. I call my supervisor who will escort them out. The thing is even if I let you through, the gate agent probably won't let you board."
Carrying a lot of money
-This is suspicious, according to TSA agents. Why would you be carrying a lot of cash? There had better be a good reason. In the US, if you are travelling with more than $10,000 on you, you have to declare it to avoid paying taxes on it. The same goes with high end items. If you have a lot of high end items on you, you have to declare them before moving on to avoid paying taxes. With cash, if you're carrying a lot of money, you can get stopped by TSA. It doesn't matter what kind of currency it is. Money is money no matter the country of origin. According to Sahara Rose De Vore, a wellness travel coach and consultant, she has visited more than 80 countries. "I've been asked at many airport security checkpoints to explain why I have multiple currencies. They are worried about sex trafficking, and this is something they often want to ask you about." TSA agents will ask you about where you went, if you are employed and by whom. It would be wise to convert the money back to the currency of your native country at the end of the trip
Traveling with coffee
-Ah, coffee. The drink that gives everyone the get up and go to do what they need to everyday. You might think bringing back a bag of the local coffee from your trip is a great souvenir, but be forewarned. Coffee beans or ground coffee is the oldest trick in the book for drug smugglers. They use ground coffee to mask the scent of drugs from the drug dogs. It's an automatic red flag for TSA. If TSA sees bags of coffee beans in your luggage, they will be prompted to question you or search your bag by hand for anything suspicious.
-While they don't prohibit coffee beans or ground coffee from carry-ons or checked in luggage, but to be safe, it would be wise to buy it at the duty free shop at that airport before you come home. Be forewarned that if the TSA dogs are around, resist the urge to pet them, talk to or distract them. Just like the human TSA agents, the TSA dogs are also on shift, working. They sniff for drugs, money, explosives in the main areas of the airport. It's more common for dogs to work flights coming in from international destinations that are considered especially high risk for drugs, explosives or large amounts of currency. If you are bringing back coffee, separate it from your other items when going through security to avoid any obscure images on the X-Ray. Even put it in the gray bin you put your stuff in so the TSA sees it right away and saves you and them time
Traveling with electronics / electrical equipment
-TSA requires that any electronics bigger than a cell phone be put into its own bin and sent through the X-ray. Most travelers know that. Most travelers who also watch programs such as To Catch a Smuggler will also know that people can use said electronics to smuggle items in to the country. De Vore says "I always get flagged for my curling iron." Mike Delgado says "It's a common misconception that our scanners are metal detectors. They're not. So we're not just looking for electronics with a lot of metal but all electronics need to be taken out of your bag, even charging cords." It's wise to follow the rules of TSA and review the rules prior to packing
Wearing intricate hairstyles
-TSA will not tell you that it's best to wear your hair down or in a simple ponytail. Wearing an elaborate hairdo, such as corn rows, Zulu knots or some other intricate hairstyle could prompt a more thorough examination. Bobby pins, clips, wigs, extensions, most types of hair accessories and hairstyles like braids, updos, hairpieces, Zulu knots, corn rows could set off the metal detector. And if you think it's impossible to hide stuff in your hair, then you're wrong. People have used intricate hairstyles in the past to conceal items. A simple pat down of your hair eliminates all worries. And to avoid even this, simply wear your hair down
Packing batteries / battery chargers
-Most people can't go one day without their electronics. And, as such, we need charging cords to keep those devices going. There are strong guidelines regarding batteries and battery chargers. As per the guidelines established by TSA, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and portable batteries containing lithium-ion can only be put in carry on bags. Batteries can have a maximum wattage of 100 watts per hour. You must obtain approval from the airport to bring larger batteries, the maximum being 160 watts per hour
Carrying liquids
-TSA has rules about liquids. It must be 3.4 oz or less and placed in a single quart sized bag. One bag per passenger. There are exceptions for hand sanitizer, which is a 12oz limit because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you try and skirt the rules, forget it. TSA will know. It's better to follow the rules than flaunt them or go around them. One massive mistake is bringing a large bottle of sunscreen to the checkpoint. It's better to put that in your checked in luggage rather than your carry on, because TSA will confiscate it
Talking about bad stuff
-When "bad stuff" is referenced, it's not referring to breakups or things. It's referring to international terrorism references, bad things that happen on airlines and in airports. Bombs and firearms. Weapons of mass destruction. Even remotely mentioning these will get you sidelined by TSA. Even asking the TSA about weapons will get you questioned. And it's become so serious that you can even be arrested by police for joking about bombs in line. Follow the old phrase "silence is golden." And if you do have to travel with a gun, take the proper precautions of getting a locked safety case, ensuring the firearm is unloaded and let the airlines and airports you'll be traveling through know far in advance that you'll be taking a weapon with you. Get it registered with them so they know in advance why you have a firearm on you
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