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"My biggest challenge over the years was remembering what to do in each place as the security people at the airports had a tendency to get upset if you didn't d

"My biggest challenge over the years was remembering what to do in each place as the security people at the airports had a tendency to get upset if you didn't do it their preferred way." It can differ from airport to airport. I traveled from Ottawa to Toronto often enough for it to be mindless but differences between two national airports in same province of same country on same airline still caught me if I went too much on autopilot. And then I'd fly to Halifax and all my instincts went out the window :). Sometimes it'd differ shift to shift. Agents would get mad at me for taking or not taking tablet from my bag. Mentioning "your colleague instructed me otherwise, can you kindly confirm the rule so I can comply in future" only gets you marked as belligerent - the power trip is definitely there :-/

fouc 5y ago
I'd stick with the more conservative measure, taking the tablet out all the time, even if it might not have been required. Also I wouldn't bother verbally responding if they ask me to do something, I'd just do it and keep my lips sealed.
- gregmac 5y ago
  I've been yelled at for taking out things besides a laptop, including a tablet with a keyboard case. I'm not even clear what the issue was; it was just a general "don't take your tablet out!!" as if it was an obvious rule that anyone with common-sense would understand, and clearly I was a fool the agent had no time for.
- lexapro 5y ago
  A simple "okay" followed by compliance also works.
- NikolaNovak 5y ago
  Oh I would agree; if being conservative always worked - but my point is I've frequently been berated for taking a tablet out as well as for keeping it on at the same airport. I kind of understand overall - At a busy airport, being overly conservative (taking out tablets, shoes, belts, coins etc when not needed) can be seen as "wasting people's time". It's the inconsistency of rules and their application that sometimes bugs me - There's no 100% winning strategy.
anchpop 5y ago
When I was flying back from Tampa, a TSA agent told me I had to take out my phone and put it through the scanner. I kept telling him I didn't have a phone on me, but he didn't believe me and asked me the same question about three more times. I was surprised he didn't search me haha. Not a big deal or anything, just thought it was funny
908B64B197 5y ago
Just ask in French. Then they'll most likely bring you to the only employee that's not a contractor.
mayneack 5y ago
It also differs within airports. I flew in LAX a week ago and one of the non-precheck lines only took off shoes, but left liquids and laptops in bags and did a generic metal detector. They didn't even randomly assign people to lines, it was apparently early enough for me to choose to use that line since it was obviously moving faster.

fouc 5y ago

I'd stick with the more conservative measure, taking the tablet out all the time, even if it might not have been required. Also I wouldn't bother verbally responding if they ask me to do something, I'd just do it and keep my lips sealed.

gregmac 5y ago
I've been yelled at for taking out things besides a laptop, including a tablet with a keyboard case. I'm not even clear what the issue was; it was just a general "don't take your tablet out!!" as if it was an obvious rule that anyone with common-sense would understand, and clearly I was a fool the agent had no time for.
lexapro 5y ago
A simple "okay" followed by compliance also works.
NikolaNovak 5y ago
Oh I would agree; if being conservative always worked - but my point is I've frequently been berated for taking a tablet out as well as for keeping it on at the same airport. I kind of understand overall - At a busy airport, being overly conservative (taking out tablets, shoes, belts, coins etc when not needed) can be seen as "wasting people's time". It's the inconsistency of rules and their application that sometimes bugs me - There's no 100% winning strategy.

anchpop 5y ago

When I was flying back from Tampa, a TSA agent told me I had to take out my phone and put it through the scanner. I kept telling him I didn't have a phone on me, but he didn't believe me and asked me the same question about three more times. I was surprised he didn't search me haha. Not a big deal or anything, just thought it was funny

908B64B197 5y ago

Just ask in French. Then they'll most likely bring you to the only employee that's not a contractor.

mayneack 5y ago

It also differs within airports. I flew in LAX a week ago and one of the non-precheck lines only took off shoes, but left liquids and laptops in bags and did a generic metal detector. They didn't even randomly assign people to lines, it was apparently early enough for me to choose to use that line since it was obviously moving faster.