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March 2, 2004

Homeland Security

You may not be aware of this, but some airports are not required to use TSA personnel for security screening. Kansas City International is one of those airports - they contract with private security companies.

I'm not too sure this is a good idea. I have seen at least one serious lapse of security at KCI (I was not asked for identification at all last week), and the private security firm doesn't feel like it needs to follow the procedures that TSA follows at other airports.

For example, if you are chosen for special screening, the security people do not bring your belongings with them, while at other airports, it is standard operating procedure. This is quite worrisome, because your laptop, purse, camera, any other valuables just sit there where anyone can pick them up and take them. This has happened to me twice in the past 5 weeks.

The independent security company does not keep TSA complaint forms at the gates where they do the screening. They have conveniently been 'out of forms' the past 2 times I have asked for them.

The Kansas City private security people are the most abusive when it comes to 'verifying' that I am wearing an underwire bra of all the airports where I have been screened. They are also generally rude and condescending.

On the whole, I have found TSA personnel at other airports to be very polite and respectful. At KCI, I feel like I'm being checked out by near-thugs, who are working security to prove they are more powerful than we lowly air travellers.

I finally got around to writing TSA to explain my concerns. I'll let you know what they say.

Posted by Beth at March 2, 2004 5:02 AM