Wild Tales of airport security

[Oregon Rose 2]

I saw my surgeon Monday, and he said I could go home on the airplane. So we headed off for the San Francisco Airport.

Airport security pounced on me because I didn't take off my sandals before going through the metal detector. (I admit I was had taken my prescription vicodin, and therefore it didn't occur to me to take off my shoes.) The TSA agent made a sarcastic remark about it being too much trouble to take off my shoes. I asked him if he would help me. (It does hurt to bend over.) He refused and told me to stand in the glass enclosed area.

After a few minutes, I said "Excuse me, I've just had major surgery and can't stand here for very long." He called a woman to escort me to another area. She barked at me to take off my shoes. I asked her to help me, but she just kept barking at me. I tried to sit down but she barked even louder. My husband saw what was happening and came over to try to help. She was actually swinging something at him and came close to hitting him and told him to get out.

Once I managed to get my shoes off, she made me stand there like an obedient dog and put one arm up or leg forward at a time while I was wanded. After that - and in spite of the fact that I told her several times I has just had major surgery and begged her to be careful - she patted me down - including several not very soft touches in the area of my incisions. When she was done, she just walked off.

I was shocked by this callous behavior. I was chosen for this experience simply because I forgot to take off my sandals before going through the metal detector. I was a total power trip on the part of the San Francisco TSA. Shame, shame, on them for the way they treated me after major surgery.

In case you are wondering, I was born in America, have blond hair and blue eyes, have always paid my taxes, had never had anything worse than a speeding ticket, and have no radical political or religious beliefs. I have always had pleasant experiences with the TSA in the past. There are a couple of REALLY BAD APPLES at the San Francisco Airport. I'm going to call my congressman's office and find out how to complain. If this has happened to me it is happening to other vulnerable people. :glare:

Thank God the flight home was just a little over an hour.

[Ky.hen 5]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I would complain for sure. Maybe even send a little note to the local paper about your treatment. Hope you feel better soon.

[Tiffykins 673]

That is just horrible, I'm sorry you had to endure all of that mess. I would definitely file some sort of complaint as well.

[Malaika 50]

I would report it to the TSA, report it to the newspaper and the tv stations - that is ridiculous. I think a few someones are a bit big headed over their position.

[Jagator88 1]

I hope you got the security person's name. And they loose their job!

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

I second everything everyone else has said here!

[*susan* 1,709]

Wow, what an awful experience to have been put through. The lack of compassion after you explained you had just gone through major surgery was uncalled for. There was no reason for them to be so rough on you. It does sound like a power trip. I agree with the others, you definitely need to lodge a complaint. Did you get the names of the people that did this?

[burnsun 27]

I cried at the San Diego too!!!!!!!!!!!! They were not suppossed to xray my breast milk when I came back,,,,,, I blocke dup the line..... I had my letter from their website, the name of the person I verified this with and the "list" of how to handle it for them......... It took 45 minutes.....me on oneside bare foot holding 6 days of frozen breast milk and my computer and id and other stuff on the other!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then there was no rooms or plugs in the women's bathroom to pump. I BREAST FEED EVERYWHERE.... I am good at it an never have exposed skin or anything....... but pumping is another story........

they only place to pump was to plug in at a socket in seating area....security freaked, I cried..... the nice southwest guy....let me sit under his desk and use the closest outlet....... while he was boarding a flight..........

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY the worst experience I had traveling.....and usually I travel with 3-8 kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So i feel your pain!!!!!!!