Wednesday afternoon departing Atlanta (ATL), I was finally picked for TSA Pre Check. I entered the First Class security line where they’ve been scanning boarding passes out front since Pre Check began. In all of my previous passes through the same checkpoint I was sent to the “regular” elite line, but not this time. I finally rated a pass through Pre-Check.

All I can say is WOW, what a difference. I did wind up taking my belt off, but otherwise, I left my shoes on, my laptop in my bag, and my 3-1-1 bag in there as well. I literally sailed through security. Only hold up was for a now routine swab of my hands after I rub them across my insulin pump. What a difference. It was great. And frankly, I think it is smart security. It’s good to see it spreading to more airports.

This is niche blogging, I know, but based purely on the number of people that find their way to my blog based solely on the search keywords of “diabetic” and “travel,” (hundreds, if not thousands of searches) there is interest here. A colleague of mine forwarded a link to this article. The subject of the article alleges that her insulin was confiscated by a TSA screener in Denver. Since I received the article, it’s been updated to note that TSA apologizes to the passenger for the confusion, but maintains that no one took the passenger’s insulin, only the cold packs which had thawed out. Apparently, cold packs must be completely frozen. Who knew? I don’t travel with them.

Based on what’s there, I’m not sure if TSA took her insulin or not. I’ve literally flown a million miles, both pre and post TSA, and I’ve never had any TSA or foreign security officer trouble me over the insulin vials I carry. They are clearly marked, I keep them in their own little clear plastic baggie, and I’ve never had an issue. I have had some unnecessary secondary screening because I wear an insulin pump, but even TSA seems to have gotten over itself on this lately. Nowadays it seems wearing an insulin pump warrants a quick trace detection swab of your hands after you handle the pump, and that’s it. Completely reasonable, and something I advocated on this blog 2 years ago!

But back to the story at hand. Even if a new screener got confused and took the passenger’s insulin, I would think that would be easily resolved. First things first, always remain calm and polite when you believe you are being wronged by TSA, or frankly in any interaction at the airport. Ask for a screening supervisor or screening manager, and calmly explain the situation. I can’t help but think that reason would have (and apparently did?) prevailed in this story and any other similar situation.

First, I read this article (courtesy of Bloomberg).  Then I got the following email from Delta.

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Hello Mr. Jackson,

We want to keep you – one of our most frequent flyers – up to date on the latest information from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  As you may have heard, TSA will be conducting a number of trials this fall that test modified screening procedures for some passengers traveling through select security checkpoints within the U.S. We will be cooperating with TSA as they begin a trial in our Atlanta and Detroit hubs at select checkpoints. During the first phase of testing, certain frequent fliers and members of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS Trusted Traveler programs who are U.S. citizens will be eligible to participate in this trial which could qualify them for expedited screening. TSA will determine eligibility for inclusion in the trial on a per-flight-segment basis and does not guarantee that you would receive expedited screening on future travel. To be considered, you will be required to opt in for this trial. Details on the opt-in process will follow in future communications. We appreciate your patience while TSA tests these adjustments to their screening process that ultimately may expedite the screening for airline passengers and improve your travel experience. For more information and the latest updates, please visit tsa.gov.

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Is it possible?  Could the real deal, a real honest to goodness “Registered Traveler” program be on the way?  Let’s hope so.  You can rest assured that yours truly will be “opting in” for any test opportunities.  As you know, I travel to Atlanta a good bit, and I fly Delta when I go.  There’s some potential benefit in this for me.  One has to wonder if this works, what happens to the all new CLEAR program?

Departed BWI this afternoon on Southwest.  Transited a fairly quiet checkpoint at approximately 1:15pm.  I am traveling with my boat-anchor work Dell laptop, and my 11.1″ MacBook Air.  I dutifully removed the laptop from my bag, but left the MacBook Air inside as I’ve done on every trip since buying it.  Make it through the metal detector and wait for my belongings.  Everything cleared, but the agent asked if I had a laptop in my bag.  I replied that I had an 11 inch MacBook Air in the bag.  ”All laptops must come out of the bag.”  You can’t fight city hall, so fine.  What I didn’t much care for was being directed to go back outside security, remove the MB Air from my bag, and reclear the metal detector while being separated from my other belongings, including my other laptop!  Of course, the agent took me all the way to the back of the now 4 or 5 person deep line to do all this.  Thankfully, my laptop was still there when I cleared the metal detector again, but leaving it alone was a dumb move on my part.  So BWI TSA, what’s the answer for the 11.1″ MacBook Air.  Your website says “IN” the bag.  I absolutely accept that TSA can ask me to remove anything at anytime they need to in order to get a clear image for x-ray.  But this wasn’t like that.  This was me being spoken to like I’m a 5 year old for trying to do something TSA clearly says is OK.  Off soapbox.

Well, one thing you already know….I got to partake in my first full Monty enhanced patdown in Dayton (DAY) this past week. Not fab, but certainly not something that makes me want to stop flying. The joys of flying with a tiny little medical device attached to your body by a 3 feet long tiny tube for insulin to flow through. You are also aware that MrsMJonTravel and I spent 50,000 American Airlines miles each to fly to Dayton. Not the best use of miles, but certainly OK in this instance in my book. I do miss them though.

American (and Eagle) managed to operate ontime for 4 flights with the minor exception of a jetbridge problem upon our arrival back in DCA. We landed 20 minutes early, but a malfunctioning jetbridge led to a delay. That said, we were only 5 minutes after schedule when all was said and done. A good show if you ask me.

One thing I haven’t mentioned is our stay at the Homewood Suites Dayton-Fairborn (Wright Patterson AFB). This was our 3rd, perhaps 4th stay at this property, and it never disappoints. Let’s face it, it’s not a luxurious resort, but the Homewood Suites concept just feels nice for a trip like this….where it was nice to come “home” to a quiet and cozy respite each night. The hotel serves a nice breakfast each morning, and during the week, there’s a happy hour reception. Hard to beat, and the price is reasonable. We travel to the Dayton area a couple times each year, and this is now our favorite property since we need to be out in the burbs (and not downtown). The fact that there’s a great little bar called One Eyed Jacks right across the street is a bonus.

From a travel perspective, not a bad 2-night junket. Just wish the circumstances had been happier. MrsMJonTravel lost her grandmother last week, so we were traveling for the services. And with that, I’ll close this post in memory of Mrs. Edith Marie Jones Brooks, 1916 – 2011. Dancing with Angels and her beloved husband Bruce.

I was going to save this for my trip summary to Dayton, but given the interest (hits in the hundreds according to Google Analytics) in my quick post about it, I thought I’d elaborate separately. Yesterday morning at the Dayton airport, I was sent to secondary screening after passing through the AIT machine, aka nude-o-scope. My sin, you ask? I am a Type 1 Diabetic and wear an insulin pump. I was asked to handle my pump with both hands, and then my palms were swabbed. Perfectly reasonable. Then I was given the full monty. Now, I’m not quite sure how wearing an insulin pump increases the odds that I’m hiding contraband next to my private parts, but you can rest assured, the TSO verified that I wasn’t.

Maybe I’m just jaded, or maybe the TSO’s attitude and demeanor were such that he put me at ease and kept me fully informed of what was about to happen next all through the process. In fact, he was about as professional as anyone could be in such a situation. Don’t know why…but when it was said and done, I didn’t feel like I needed to seek counseling, hide under a chair, or take a shower. In fact, it was just about exactly the same patdown I received when flying from Cali to Bogota on Avianca back in the 90′s. Primary difference being, the Colombians made me stand up on a box to do it, and the female security person doing the errr…inspection, was a helluva lot better looking than this guy was. Of course, this is the United States of America, and not 1990′s Colombia, but I digress. That said, it is what it is. Did I like it? No. Do I want to do it again? No. Will I? Since I intend to keep flying as long as I’m breathing, I guess so until we decide to do something different with security.

You read it here first.  I just experienced my first enhanced patdown by TSA.  The screener was very polite and professional, but that doesn’t mean I enjoyed the wait.  That said, it wasn’t quite as horrid as some in the media and elsewhere make it out to be.  More details to follow in my trip summary.

Report # 1 from Thanksgiving travel. Arrived at DCA earlier than usual this morning for our 6am flight to Miami. Transited security in all of about 30 seconds. No muss, no fuss. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

I’m done with probably the most enlightening, uplifting, informative, and worthwhile employer provided training I’ve had in years.  And with that, it’s time to fly home.  I’m enjoying some peace and quiet in the United Red Carpet Club in Denver while I wait for my flight.  Flying Frontier, but since I was at the airport early, I trekked over to the next concourse and took advantage of the Red Carpet, free wi-fi, and solitude.

Remind me to always use the Sky Bridge security checkpoint at Denver, no matter whom I’m flying.  So much more peaceful than the fishbowl looking mess that the main checkpoint always seems to be.  Based on my prior DEN experiences, I removed my insulin pump and placed it in the bin for TSA x-ray, thus avoiding unnecessary and wasteful full secondary screening of my person and my belongings.  The security officer working the front end of the x-ray seemed surprised and inquired if I was OK with that.  I told him it was fine.  I appreciated his concern.

Tomorrow, Mrs MJonTravel and I will spend the evening at the Westin Washington National Harbor to celebrate one of her 29th birthdays.  I’m looking forward to going home.  Two weeks seems long, but it was so worth it.  My review of the Red Lion Denver Southeast is in progress and should be posted by Monday.  In the meantime, thanks for your tolerance of my paltry posting while I was away.

I feel like I’ve been beaten down by the man, but on a recent flight out of Washington Dulles (IAD), I simply refused to be subjected to unnecessary, wasteful, and theatrical full secondary screening because I am a Type 1 Diabetic and wear an insulin pump.  I was dressed casually and just reached under my t-shirt (no need to flash anyone) and disconnected the pump via it’s handy little connector thingy.  I placed a protective cover over the …well…. connector, and put it in the bin along with my toothpaste.  I can’t for the life of me fathom what good it did to let them x-ray the pump, but I cleared security in something like 45 seconds from ID check to being on the other side.  OK, I’m exaggerating slightly, but you get the drift.

I won’t be able to do that if I’m dressed in suit and tie…just too much stuff to tuck back in, but I think I’ll take the pump off from now on when casually dressed and transiting TSA at Dulles (and any other airport that has a habit of harassing insulin pumpers) just to avoid the unnecessary hassle.  My offer to TSA to come to any training class in the DC area and let them meet an insulin pump user still stands.

And one more time: I still don’t get why an explosive trace detection swab of the pump, the wearer’s hands, and a quick visual aren’t enough of a security screen.  Why go through my underwear and other belongings because I wear a pump? Off soapbox.

Breaking news courtesy of The Washington Post.

“The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks. European governments have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions.”

Full article here.