>Agreed, I've also opted for the pat-down every time, and have had only neutral-to-positive interactions and never hostility. Maybe it's worse in other cities?

>Agreed, I've also opted for the pat-down every time, and have had only neutral-to-positive interactions and never hostility. Maybe it's worse in other cities? To be fair, I had good experiences flying out of IAD and DCA. I think they're either better trained, mindful that the person they're abusing may have some power, or a combination of the two. Other airports though, the TSOs seem to take it personally if you opt out, and then everything else (asking not to re-use gloves, insisting on keeping baggage in your sightline etc)is you being "difficult". No choice of words / tone can overcome the fact that these people find someone "challenging" them in any way shape or form as an affront. (I don't come at it like some sort of sovereign citizen and try to smile/be polite. This works ~60% of the time)