I was going through a TSA check line at the airport outside of Seattle. The screener sent my two trays (1st tray containing my purse and carry-on bag, both with valuables inside and 2nd tray with our shoes and my 2 jackets, my husband's one jacket and my fishing vest piled on top) through. Then TSA screener called the party in front of us back and demanded she relinquish her cell phone as she needed to screen all electronics. Woman argued. Well, screener then tossed a plastic tray containing woman's cell phone between my two trays. Then then screener began questioning my husband. Meanwhile, another screener had called me over. He was at the gate about 4 ft. away. The screener who had detained my husband made him empty all the contents of his pockets into a little tray. They were conversing so I knew he wasn't watching our stuff that was already going through their X-ray machine. People who were in front of us were already retrieving stuff in their bins. The screener who was checking me out was speaking to me but frankly after glancing at him and saying hello, I didn't hear a word he said. All I could do was stare at my trays as they moved down the belt away from us.
Screener finally stopped talking and released me and I went to our stuff. I gave the woman in front of me their cell phone which was between my two trays. Then the woman reached back and took my tray containing my black carry on and handbag. I told her that the stuff was mine. She said she thought it belonged to her friend.
Anyway, I didn't lose anything this time -- either from my checked luggage (I didn't put any new shoes or new clothes in it).
Do you have any tips about going through TSA check-points? I did wear slip on shoes as usual but have never experienced such a difficult procedure going through. I also understand how some people can have their stuff stolen in line now.
I know we wore too much clothes as it was warm in Washington and Vancouver BC but returning to our neighborhood in San Francisco and stepping off the bus into what felt like a walk-in ice box, all jackets came in handy.
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