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.

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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?

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.

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.

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 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.

“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.