AMERICAN AIRPORTS V/S NDN's

[APACHEFIRE]

ok, heres the deal. ever since 9/11 i have been regularly pulled from line to be frisked and all my traditional items poked through.

now i understand about the safety of everyone and all that, but when it comes to my medicine bag and other special items, what legal recourse can i take? or what can i say that might make a difference?

i live on the eastcoast and my family including my children on the west. im sure its just my unusual name that gets caught in computers.

and no, im not moving anytime soon & NOT going to change my name!

[APACHEFIRE]

what, am i the only NDN that gets pulled from line? or dont any other NDNs fly from large airports? i mean, i see a lot of you have been reading this, but not one suggestion yet?

[WhoMe]

I fly to different places. I have long hair, brown skin and definitely look Indian.

The only time I get pulled to the side is when I am running late. *L I have looked at others who were also pulled over. I don't think they descriminate unless you look Arab. Do you look Arab? I am loyal to American, Delta and Southwest airlines and give them my business if I can help it.

I normally leave my suitcase at the luggage checkpoint once they have a destination tag. I don't know what they do with my luggage from there.

I don't carry medicine in my suitcase.

When I travel internationally, I now use my government passport. I never had any problems domestically or internationally so far.

[Annie Fawn]

Most airports have a hired security company and you can complain and ask to see the head of Airport security if you feel as if you are being harrassed.
I was stopped at the Atlanta Airport a couple years ago and I was only going to meet a cousin flying in from Virginia, who a few hours lay over before going on to Mobile. I had taken all precautions, useing my cane instead of wearing my metal knee brace, only had my money and phone in my purse, ect.. Not only was I pulled out of line, my phone was taken apart, they ran my cane through the machine, refused to give it back until a supervisor came over and handed it back. I was made to stand on my good leg with my arms out while they scanned me and that was before I even got to the walk through scanner. Since it was Atlanta and the Airport is in my county, which I was police lisien for at that time I called in some favors. They looked at the video tape, and the guy that harrassed me lost his job. All I had to do was tell the day and time that it happened to the Fulton County Cheif Police started making calls.

[2lineCarrandMorgan]

Woo Hoo Annie Fawn

[eap7]

I fly frequently, probably about 2 times a month or so, for different reasons- usually on United or US Air because I have a lot of frequent flyer miles with them. I rarely check luggage, which is good now that they charge for it. I've never really had any problems, except for having to be wanded down now and then. Once, I was wanded down even though I was seemingly wearing no metal jewelry, no belt, no metal snap or buttons, nothing anywhere else on my body. They blamed my bra- uhh yeah, okay. Another time, I was randomly selected for them to search my bag. It was kind of strange to have this guy pawing through all my clothes, but he was respectful enough. That time, I had my hawk fan in a box, all my beadwork, and 4 dresses. The guy just glanced at it and kept wiping the suitcase with the little explosive wipe tester thing. I think although searches can be irritating, as long as you are calm and quiet, they'll get it over with and you can be on your way. Remember the TSA people are just doing their job, so I always try to be pleasant and not make it any harder or more stressful for them.

[veritasxl]

TSA Screening

Females can ask for a Female to wand them.

You can and should always require the screener put on fresh gloves, they touch the bottom of bags and shoes, do you really want them handling your things? Just ask them politely, it's your right.

Always put underware etc. in plastic baggies so they can see it without touching it.

You can file a complaint with the FAA and the TSA. The TSA has their own website.

I strongly suggest if you travel with a medicine bag you put in your carry on
luggage to avoid it being lost on any carrier. Again in plastic bags where they can see everything.

If you're pulled out of line after going through the initial check point and your bags are checked again before boarding you can:
Require the screener put on fresh gloves, and tell them you are always pulled out and you'd like to know why they selected you, get their name if necessary.

Triggers to a second screening: Last minute ticket, no checked luggage, cash payment, over night trip avoid these and you will be lest likely to get pull out over and over. Also join the milage club that you fly on and since they have your info, it gives you more credibility.

And they are just doing their job, but some have never had this kind of authority and like most Americans they no little or nothing about us, except we're darker than they.

Hope this is helpful, I fly for a major US carrier

[APACHEFIRE]

I fly to different places. I have long hair, brown skin and definitely look Indian.

The only time I get pulled to the side is when I am running late. *L I have looked at others who were also pulled over. I don't think they descriminate unless you look Arab. Do you look Arab? I am loyal to American, Delta and Southwest airlines and give them my business if I can help it.

.

whome, i doubt that i look arab. i look like you. long straight black hair in traditional braids, brown skin and i wear long full skirts with a blouse and moccs. no metal, all cotton clothes/some buckskin. (yep, i dress like this every day). i had always used american, then traded to southwest airlines because of better service (handicap).

Most airports have a hired security company and you can complain and ask to see the head of Airport security if you feel as if you are being harrassed.
I was stopped at the Atlanta Airport a couple years ago and I was only going to meet a cousin flying in from Virginia, who a few hours lay over before going on to Mobile. I had taken all precautions, useing my cane instead of wearing my metal knee brace, only had my money and phone in my purse, ect.. Not only was I pulled out of line, my phone was taken apart, they ran my cane through the machine, refused to give it back until a supervisor came over and handed it back. I was made to stand on my good leg with my arms out while they scanned me and that was before I even got to the walk through scanner. Since it was Atlanta and the Airport is in my county, which I was police lisien for at that time I called in some favors. They looked at the video tape, and the guy that harrassed me lost his job. All I had to do was tell the day and time that it happened to the Fulton County Cheif Police started making calls.

thank you ANNIE FAWN. you have a lot of good suggestions i can use! and im proud you called that person on their attitude.

I fly frequently, probably about 2 times a month or so, for different reasons- usually on United or US Air because I have a lot of frequent flyer miles with them. I rarely check luggage, which is good now that they charge for it. I've never really had any problems, except for having to be wanded down now and then. Once, I was wanded down even though I was seemingly wearing no metal jewelry, no belt, no metal snap or buttons, nothing anywhere else on my body. They blamed my bra- uhh yeah, okay. Another time, I was randomly selected for them to search my bag. It was kind of strange to have this guy pawing through all my clothes, but he was respectful enough. That time, I had my hawk fan in a box, all my beadwork, and 4 dresses. The guy just glanced at it and kept wiping the suitcase with the little explosive wipe tester thing. I think although searches can be irritating, as long as you are calm and quiet, they'll get it over with and you can be on your way. Remember the TSA people are just doing their job, so I always try to be pleasant and not make it any harder or more stressful for them.

EAP7 yep, i always try to be calm, cool and collected. its just the fact that i seem to be constantly held up. even to the point of every person being seated but me. then some guy has to come and make a "judgement call", when i wont let them look inside my medicine bag. yeah, i wear it every day. especially when flying! and i dont wear it on the outside of my clothes.

Females can ask for a Female to wand them.

You can and should always require the screener put on fresh gloves, they touch the bottom of bags and shoes, do you really want them handling your things? Just ask them politely, it's your right.

Always put underware etc. in plastic baggies so they can see it without touching it.

You can file a complaint with the FAA and the TSA. The TSA has their own website.

I strongly suggest if you travel with a medicine bag you put in your carry on
luggage to avoid it being lost on any carrier. Again in plastic bags where they can see everything.

If you're pulled out of line after going through the initial check point and your bags are checked again before boarding you can:
Require the screener put on fresh gloves, and tell them you are always pulled out and you'd like to know why they selected you, get their name if necessary.

Triggers to a second screening: Last minute ticket, no checked luggage, cash payment, over night trip avoid these and you will be lest likely to get pull out over and over. Also join the milage club that you fly on and since they have your info, it gives you more credibility.

And they are just doing their job, but some have never had this kind of authority and like most Americans they no little or nothing about us, except we're darker than they.

Hope this is helpful, I fly for a major US carrier

VERITASXL yep, i have found that if i put every item inside ziplocks, i get to go through quicker. but while im being searched in my wheelchair, i hate that i cant see them searching every item like i used to. but thank you for all the other suggestiions, they are great.

thank you all for your suggestions and ideas.

[Wakalapi]

If I were a terrorist, I would study all the things people complain about when going through security checkpoints, wait for those checkpoints to start getting soft on their procedures because of fear of more complaints, and then exploit the new weakness. Not that complaining or standing up for your legal rights is wrong, not at all, but if I were a terrorist that's what I'd do.

[APACHEFIRE]

point taken.

[New2itall]

I am stuck at home recovering from temporary illness, and have watched more TV in the last few days than I have all year! Anyway, I saw a show (Law and Order?) where they were trying to stop an assassin. They grabbed the wrong guy and the shooter almost got away. Later, it came to light that the reason the assassin had been able to get in and close to his target was that he was in a wheelchair. His theory (and for the show it tuned out true) was that Americans are so PC that they would never search a person in a chair the way they do someone who isn't. This became their weak spot. This would make sense with the number or drug arrests in airports that happen with moms hiding drugs on their kids, or in their strollers too. It might be that you just look to darn good to be in that chair and you must be up to something. Just a guess, but then I really have been watching a lot of conspiracy theory shows.

[APACHEFIRE]

I am stuck at home recovering from temporary illness, and have watched more TV in the last few days than I have all year! Anyway, I saw a show (Law and Order?) where they were trying to stop an assassin. They grabbed the wrong guy and the shooter almost got away. Later, it came to light that the reason the assassin had been able to get in and close to his target was that he was in a wheelchair. His theory (and for the show it tuned out true) was that Americans are so PC that they would never search a person in a chair the way they do someone who isn't. This became their weak spot. This would make sense with the number or drug arrests in airports that happen with moms hiding drugs on their kids, or in their strollers too. It might be that you just look to darn good to be in that chair and you must be up to something. Just a guess, but then I really have been watching a lot of conspiracy theory shows.

YEAH, i saw that show too. hmm, i think it was law and order. i get them all mixed up. i like all those shows...CSI etc. but i dont know how you know what i look like in da wheel chair. **laughing** have you been peeking at my personal pics??

[New2itall]

You got personal pics?!? Hmmm...guess I had better get ta searching!

[APACHEFIRE]

**laughing**