Flying Air Tran was a NIGHTMARE!
 

My husband and I flew Air Tran from Boston to Ft. Myers through Atlanta. No curbside check-in. When we tried to check our bags, the woman (let's call her "Blonde Lady) told us they had to be searched. These were our check-in bags. Well, pain in the neck but OK, we understand. At the risk of being politically incorrect, let me say that we are a middle aged couple, 57 and 62, fair and WASPy looking. We take the bags around the partition and "Security Guy", who barely spoke or understood English, indicated that we were to lift the bags onto a card type table. I lifted the carry-on and it was searched. Fine. I could not lift the 2 check-in bags because they were too heavy. We explained many,many times that my husband had just had a surgical procedure and was under doctor's orders not to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. Security Guy grabs them, lays them on the floor and searches my husband's. Fine. Then he searches mine, leaving half my clothes in a ball, half in and half out of the suitcase on the floor and then walks away leaving my things like that. I'm kneeling on the floor trying to repack my bag when another security person tells me that I should complain to a supervisor. We finally get the bags checked and this person brings me to a supervisor to tell my story. The supervisor goes over to Security Guy and comes back and tells us that he was very upset because my husband "refused" to lift the bags!!! Then we go through the metal detector gate and Security Guy and Ms. Brunette tell us that we have to be searched again! This is the second time in 10 min. by the same people. They take everything out of my purse and my carry-on again, pass the wand over my husband and make both of us take off our shoes. We finally get to the gate and when we were boarding, guess what? Blonde Lady is there and tells us that we have to be searched! Guess who searched us? Security Guy and Ms. Brunette for the 3rd time in less than an hour! Everything out of my purse and carry-on again and both of us were searched with the wand and had to take our shoes off again. It was nothing but harassment, pure and simple. Then we get on the plane. The rows are squished together like most planes were several years ago but this plane is new. My husband is 6'4" and always has trouble on planes but literally can't fit his knees behind the seat. Blonde Lady had assigned our seats and, to make matters worse, put us in a row where the seats didn't recline. We flew home on Delta. We will never darken Air Tran's door again. My advise is to ignore them at all costs.

Lady,<BR><BR>it's not air tran's fault that you were searched!! It's safety regulations, and my god, you were traveling from BOSTON, which is known for the HUGE amount of SECURITY THERE!

I think this is a case of an employee abusing their "power". Whatever set someone off, should still not result in you being searched 3 times by the same people. Pure and simple its abuse. And they know you cant do anything about it or you wont get on the plane. I would be writing a letter of complaint to the airline. This was not a security issue by the 2nd and third search.

Actually, we were told by AA and United employees (family members) that once you are "tagged" to be searched for a full bag search (your check-in luggage), you will be searched at every check point (i.e. you ticket is flagged). The last time we flew from Boston, we got a full bag search, searched at the metal detectors and then searched again when we went to our connecting flight (because you have to go out through security for the AA flights to Chicago). It's just a fact of life that flying is different now. I would rather have the hassle of having my bags searched and be more safe.

alex: I can understand being searched at each "checkpoint" by different security personnel, but NOT by the same people 3 times!!!

And how is one "tagged" for a search? Is it purely random? I find it really crazy when I see elderly ladies taking off their shoes and having their bags searched. The last time we left SJC only those folks who had slip on shoes had to remove them, sneakers or those with laces could keep them on. Now, what's the point of that one??? Nothing, however, can beat the report that police at SFO last month intentially blew up a pair of shoes that were "heating shoes"--ie, to keep your feet warm in very cold weather. They determined that that was what they were and then blew them up anyway. Crazy.

Ten to one "Jackie" mouthed off to the security people and they got even by tagging her. Next time Jackie dear be nice and polite to the people searching your bags and don't piss them off....

Well, if Jackie feels she was being harassed, she should write a letter of complaint to the CEO of AirTran describing the treatment she received. If were her though, I would be polite and firm about it rather than using the same prima donna tone she used in her post.

I think this is a troll. If not a troll, it is a great fairy story.<BR><BR>If it actually happened, I would like to hear the facts in the case, because I doubt if we are reading an unbiased report. <BR><BR>It sounds to me like the guy behind me at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris who was running close to missing his flight. He was screaming ugly remarks at the poor bus attendant, who had absolutely no control at all over the situation. Finally he shouted, "I am going to write the president about you." I turned and asked him "Which president?" He answered "Bill Clinton." I should have known he never heard of Jacques Chirac. <BR><BR>Being selected for a search is nothing new. It is done at random every day, every hour. And the airline has no control over who gets picked. <BR><BR>I recently flew from Atlanta to Albuquerque and was designated for a total search. So? I had to go through the ritual. It is not the airline that does the searching, either.<BR><BR>By the way, the airline was Delta. <BR>As for checking of passengers in Boston, I think it is about time. After all, two of the airplanes that were in the 9/11 crashes were hijacked from Logan Airport in Boston. (If I recall correctly.)Security negligence has been rampant there for years.

Kam,<BR><BR>It is my understanding that it is both random and based on certain characteristics (people who booked one way tickets, people who paid for their tickets with cash, etc... are more likely to be tagged). I got tagged (I am not using that as any type of official term or anything - that was just the expression the AA employee used) on a Continental flight from Newark to Chicago when I had to buy a one way ticket because my flight on ATA was canceled. I got the whole nine yards - they opened my mascara, my deodorant, everything in my bag. Plus, they tested many of my items for explosives (that swab they do). The security personnel were extremely professional and polite but obviously serious about their jobs.<BR><BR>There are probably good security personnel dedicated to their jobs and some who may abuse their power and I was not trying to justify if an errant security agent did, in fact, abuse their power. But, the way someone reacts to a search request probably plays some part in the way they are treated.

Just a reminder that the weapons used by the hijackers (e.g., box cutters) were legal as carryons at the time; only blades longer than 3.5 inches were forbidden.<BR><BR>When I flew Southwest last month, the four people I saw getting searched thoroughly were all young men who were wearing baseball caps. I couldn't help wondering whether they were being singled out for being rude, or whether that was a sign of a dangerous person, or just the faux pas du jour.

If your husband couldn't lift the suitcases onto the table how was he going to get them off the baggage carousel? No wonder the security personnel were tough on you, you were uncooperative. Yes, it is an inconvenience to go through a thorough security search, but not nearly has inconvenient as having your plane hijacked. Get over it.

Wondering: And how did they get them from the car to the desk???

First of all, will call her bags were too heavy. Why do you expect others to pick up your luggage if you can't? Second, you were picked. Once you are picked it is a thru process, at the ticket counter and at the gate. Meanwhile, they are also doing "randoms". Those who are not picked by the computer, but chosen randomly to keep up continuous coverage. You happened to have been picked randomly at the security checkpoint. Odds of that happening are slim unless it is a slow day. All of the above have nothing to do with Air Tran by the way. <BR>As for racial profiling, it seemed the way to go. It was my opinion until the issue of Time magazing with the 2 human bombers in Israel, showed 2 lovely, barely ethnic young girls. If they could do it then who is the next to sacrafice themselves for their beliefs at our expense?<BR>And finally, the way you labeled each of them, ie blond lady, security guy, brunette lady, clearly shows your lack of respect for people doing their jobs.

This is no nightmare.<BR><BR>Coat check at Tavern on the Green...now THAT is a nightmare!

Yep, have to agree. That Tavern on the Green horror story beats this one by a mile.

Yep, at least she didn't have to abandon her suitcase in order to catch her flight.

You guys just had to do it, didn't you!? To dredge up the mindless, senseless horror that took place in that coatcheck alcove leaves me numb. I have been paying a small fortune to a very adept shrink to help me recover from the tormenting visions I have suffered since reading of it. I guess he'll just get richer now. Why, why did you have to do it!?

I am absolutely incredulous at most responses to my report. Yes, it did actually happen. How about my bag being left on the floor with my clothes half in and half out? I did not "mouth off". I was told to complain by another security person! As for lifting the bags, I could "carry" them on the wheels and use my knees to get them off the carousal. The table was much higher. Are you saying that people with disabilities shouldn't fly because they cannot lift a bag up on top of a table?? Shame on you,Fodorites!<BR><BR> Lest you think that I am an anti-government type person, I have spent the last 20 years working professionally in politics and gov't. I was chief-of-staff to my Representative for sevral years and ran her State House office. I believe in security at airports. However, when the security people can't speak or understand the language and give you a hard time because of it, something is wrong. If I wanted a job in airport security in another country, I would expect to have to be proficient in that language. It is a no brainer to me that a more efficient use of security personnel's time would be to search more people once instead of the same people 3 times in an hour. I repeat, it was simply harassment. I'm really surprised at the reaction to my experience.

Jackie, Fodors isn't the place to come for sympathy. Have you been reading the board much lately?

Well I was in line to get on an OMNI air flight in Honolulu. The security person waved at the person taking the boarding passes that she wanted the man in front of me. He sort of pretended not to hear, grabbed his pass and went down the jetway. the boarding agent said "oh well, you go" and sent me. I didn't care so much that I was searched, but was horrified that they didn't check the man who was "randomly flagged". I complained and the security said "oh, it doesn't really matter". I guess the lesson is play deaf if you are a terrorist!

A government worker---no wonder.<BR>Don't feel bad Jackie, this gray fringed balding 68 year old senior was checked twice by British Airways going, and once returning on London flights last October.

I have flown AirTran many times and have never had a problem. Logan Airport security is a mess though. It is them who let the highjackers through on 9/11. They still seem mentally retarted at least. I boarded an Alitalia flight there last month and waited over an hour in a 1000 ft line while they screened everyone through one metal detector and one x ray machine. I will never connect at Logan again.

There is sign of hope at Logan - in the past month lines have gotten a lot shorter. I think their strategy was to make lines so long that even terrorists would get frustrated and give up and go someplace else. On 2 different dates in past month family members have gotten through security (one on Delta, one on USAir) in under 10 minutes. Don't know about international though.

I am a f/a for AirTran and I encounter this type of attitude every single day. Passengers want me to lift the bags that are too heavy for them to lift-I can assist but I cannot do it by myself. If you can't lift your own bad, what makes you think I can? Security is tight and as other posts has noted, Boston, LGA, Dulles and EWR are probably the worst. My husband flies with me a great deal and he is always triple searched, so please don;t be offended--that is life in 2002!!!Finally because of your husband's height, you should considered purchasing seats in Business Class--

Experienced flyers DO NOT pack their suitcases so full they can't lift them and they are prepared for searches and lines. Sounds to me like Jackie only travel once in a while. What the heck did you pack in that bag Jackie that you couldn't lift it the kitchen sink.<BR><BR>Secondly-You have an attitude here. Sounds to me like you have a general attitude problem that just because you worked for some rep you deserve preferential treatment. No wonder you were singled out. No one likes that kind of attitude especially when they are trying to do their job. You have a BIG chip on your shoulder lady and you probably don't even realize it.<BR><BR>Thirdly-AT has nothing to do with the security in the airport.<BR><BR>Bottom line-Lose the attitude, learn to pack and next time be a little nicer and more patient....

No one has touched on a point that the original poster even considered - full body/cavity searches.<BR><BR>I think you should be thanking your lucky stars lady that they didn't pull you both aside to that stark little room with some bull dyke named Bruce just waiting for some WASPY, uptight, delusions of grandeur having blonde haired, idiot like you and your husband.<BR><BR>Don't you know to grab a wheelchair as soon as you get into the terminal? Staff will go out of their way to help you out - I bet they would've even lifted your overweight luggage. <BR><BR>Speaking of overweight luggage - don't you worry if everyone on your flight was as inconsiderate as you and your husband - packing over the 50 or so pounds they allow per suitcase, they plane would be overweight for passengers/luggage for a safe takeoff?<BR>The airlines impose a monetary fee for overweight luggage, thinking that if it hits people where they care most - in the wallet - they will THINK next time and keep it light.<BR><BR>Remember Aaliyah's plane?<BR><BR>Anyway, happy trails on your next flight. I bet you don't say a frigging thing next time!!!<BR>

ttt

To the top for the dumb blonde original poster.<BR><BR>

Security issue aside, whether those incompetents do the right thing or not, AirTran is a pain in arse to fly with. I have flown with them twice (not by choice) and both times the flights were canceled or delayed due to 1. mechanical problems (pilot seat broken, apparently the pilot's ass was so big it broke the seat) 2. plane was too empty <BR><BR>I had to wait and wait and wait, missed a meeting with a client and had to ask for a different airline. They are still very much Valujet.

Two family members flew Air Tran into Houston last year......and reported duct tape holding together some of the plane's interior. When they arrived, baggage was not sent to the usual carousel, but they found it when a local bellowed, "AIR TRAN! AIR TRAN!" They still laugh, but we're all glad they made it safely on this raggedy ride.

I don't care how long it takes to get through security checks! It could be 1 or 5 it doesn't matter to me. Instead of complaining about it be glad they are doing it! You are much safer for having gone through it. Next time I fly, I will be seriously medicated. And yes, I will fly out of Boston and be scared to death.

Me - Do you worried that being seriously medicated would impede your motor skills if you had to exit the plane in an emergency situation? I have often wished I had a Valium or something on flights, but always wondered if I would be trampled for being slow. Just a thought. :-)

Me- how does being searched multiple times by the same security team improve security at the airport? Instead of obviously harrassing this couple the crack security team of "payback and retribution" could have been using their time to target other possible problem travelers. <BR><BR>Jackie, whether you feel she deserved it or not, was the recipient of idiot, small-minded and incompetent security personnel. Security needs to focus on the issue at hand, which is to insure the safety of passengers and air travel and not in punishing people for real or imagined snobbery.

First, about being medicated....I am not talking "drool worthy" meds. Just a bit of something to take the edge off. I know many people PRE 9/11 who medicated themselves for a flight. Nothing wrong with that. I see no reason POST 9/11 why it should be an issue for you if someone CHOOSES to self medicate. To each his own I think. I had been a frequent and not nervous flyer PRE 9/11 but now I am nervous about my next flight and I will take something to take the edge off. God forbid if there is some issue with the plane the day I am scheduled to go! I will NOT get back on that plane. I don't care how much it will cost, I will go to another airline or wait for another plane.<BR><BR>About security....I personally have no problem with multiple security checks. How many people wander around once they check their bags curbside, checkin at the counter/gate, go through security? I don't think people go from the curb to their gate without a stop here and there so multiple checks make sense. And it doesn't sound like these people followed this couple from point A to B to C simply to harass. Could it just be a matter of people being moved from one area to another? Anyone think this couple wandered a bit since the first meeting?

Jackie - <BR><BR>I'm very curious about your use of the term "people with disabilties." I can see how that applies to your husband, given his recent surgery and doctor's orders, but what disability kept YOU from lifting each of those suticases? You sound like an absolute princess.

Kelly you make it sound like being a princess is a bad thing! :)<BR><BR>

Jackie - <BR><BR>Don't you feel a tiny bit pathetic about being so dependent on your husband?

Yeah, what he said!!<BR><BR>You "little women" who absolutely depend on the "man" do the "man" stuff like lifting heavy objects make me sick!!!<BR><BR>What would you have done if you were born a dyke??<BR><BR>Hmmmmmmm.......

Jackie - <BR><BR>I'm wondering about this bag lifting issue too. You speak as though the idea of YOU lifting the bags is simply unthinkable, i.e. that this is a man's job and you couldn't possibly take care of yourself. What gives?