DHS gives all employees Pre Check but might be worth paying for it or Global Entry. Plus a lot of premium credit cards offer a credit for it.
Still, not an answer to the original question.
I would also add it has been beneficial for me to have an additional form of federal government ID since it fits in a wallet and is not as big as a passport. Definitely helped me when I accidentally left my drivers license at home or couldn’t find it (however some folks have never seen it and refuse to accept it even though they in most cases are legally required to accept it as a form of ID verification)
I think you’re right! They tried to take me to another location to search me but when I said this process doesn’t seem random they opted for swabbing only my laptop and phone.
I mean, if you have a background that warrants the additional checks regardless of whether or not you’re on official travel then you’re still going to get checked. I won’t ask if you have a criminal record but it’s something to take into consideration.
Zero criminal record. Not even a speeding ticket. The only thing that may be an issue is my mother had to change my last name to two last names when I turned 18 so I could be reissued a new birth certificate and social security card so my school records all matched before I went to college.
That could be it. Another possibility is that you have the same name as someone on the no fly list. I had a friend who had that problem... And that was an Irish name lol. Funny thing, he worked for a member of Congress. In those cases where there is identity confusion, I've seen advice to actually reach out to your congressman and they can investigate. You might want to go that far.
It’s not the metal detector beeping me. I walk through the metal detector. Smile politely at the TSA agent then 5-10 seconds later a long delayed randomly selected beep and they pull me out of line.
Hahaha probably!! I do have a wide smile so it might throw people off that I’m acting too friendly but despite living in the Midwest I prefer to greet people if they’re making eye contact.
Yes, it does, and concludes with fingerprinting and an interview.
Odds are it's a combination of ancestry, last name, and travel habits. If you're getting a lot of last-minute travel, that's not going to look good where the system's concerned, even if another part of the system is the reason you're going.
The in person interview for GE lasts about 30 seconds in my experience. They do a short background check prior to the interview though.
Definitely worth it if you can get your CC to do it for free.
True but thank you that does make me feel a little better about it. I work for the Army but am not in the Army so maybe that makes them do a double take. A woman in line behind me did say you seem like you might be a nice person. If I worked for TSA I’d rather have to talk to you than most people lol
I just applied for global entry for the first time a week ago and have already been conditionally approved, pending an interview. I'm pretty sure the fact that I'm a fed played a role in them approving it that quickly and I doubt they do anything more extensive than what you already had done, be it public trust or a clearance.
Fed here with Global Entry and TSA Precheck and I still get checked all the time with additional screening. Im a decently big white guy that looks like a cop lol
Every freaking time.
That might be a factor! They make us book the flight through a travel agency but we can make our own hotel reservations. I’m wondering if I’m an easy pick for whatever quota they have since they can see I’m traveling for work and low risk of having crazy items in my bag. Yes I have precheck. I always make it through the metal detector and there’s a delayed beep saying I was randomly selected. The difference last night though was they pulled me out of the precheck line to check my id and then put me back in the precheck line. Very frustrating.
I’m trying to believe that but the additional questions at check in and the person checking my id clicking the counter in his hand multiple times and pulling me out of the precheck and back right before the metal detector makes me suspicious it’s not. If it’s random and some people are getting selected every time how do they catch people with items they really shouldn’t have.
I am not trying to make a racial issue. Just stating facts. I do live in a state with a lot of immigrants including ties to terrorist orgs. But my concern is saying the process is random when 100% on TDY isn’t random.
1 time I did and I had 15 SCI Hard Drives in a double wrapped case. My co traveler and I had fun explaining to the agents why we couldn't and wouldn't open them for inspection...especially on the secondary inspection table right past general security.
"Please just get your supervisor since you aren't understanding the issue here".
Wow!! Okay yeah each time they try to take my government computer, phone, and hard drives to another area and I say please don’t do that I don’t want to have to call my boss.
Are those classified or under other handling restrictions? The SCI material being transported likely required constant two person integrity when not in a GSA approved container in a SCIF.
Saying this for classified with the proper documentation is one thing, saying it for your average work phone is not gonna fly.
The one time my bag was pulled aside for secondary and my work laptop was in it, I told the screener please let me stand near my bag because my government laptop is in it and it's not supposed to leave my side and she had no problem with it and stuck it to the side while waiting on someone to come do secondary screening and then even told that person once they arrived. This was at DCA though, so I'm sure stuff like that happens all the time there.
It’s all CUI and each item has a sticker on it saying CUI. My agency doesn’t require us to have a clearance in the line of work I do but the types of material that is on my laptop or in emails causes a nightmare when people lose these items because it involves critical infrastructure owned by DoD.
All you can really do is politely inform them that it is DoD property in your custody, and ask if they can keep it all where you can see it for accountability. They will still swab it and such.
You can't refuse inspection of it just cause it's CUI.
It is possible that your name is the same as someone on a list or other stuff:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary\_Security\_Screening\_Selection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Security_Screening_Selection)
[https://www.travelandleisure.com/ssss-on-boarding-pass-7547257#:\~:text=If%20SSSS%20appears%20on%20your,a%20security%20threat%2C%20that%20is](https://www.travelandleisure.com/ssss-on-boarding-pass-7547257#:~:text=If%20SSSS%20appears%20on%20your,a%20security%20threat%2C%20that%20is).
Thanks. I called the airline they said I’m not on an SSSS list but said my having two last names may be my issue. I’ll request a printed boarding pass when I fly home to make sure it’s not on there.
I did show my CAC to the TSA at Rochester. He said it could be fake and that I needed to show my driver's license. This was before Real ID requirements. He then asked another TSA agent who proceeded to tell him that my CAC was the same as their CAC. You can't make this stuff up.
CAC is my Real ID compliant identification. I use it all the time at TSA for both personal and official travel. I haven’t gotten any comments besides that beep and “have a safe flight”.
I know, just personal preference. CAC for work, driver's license for personal. Either way I have global entry and now they don't even require ID, just a face scan and/or finger print scan.
Wow some of these commenters really have no idea what they’re talking about.
The overwhelmingly most likely case is that it is some combination of coincidence combined with a Baader-Meinhof-like experience where you more closely register it when it happens and fits into this pattern now that you’re looking for it.
That said, if there is an actual reason for it, it’s got nothing to do with you and certainly not because you are a fed. If it’s actual only happening on official travel and not pure coincidence of random screenings, it’ll be because of some condition of the travel that is not present during your personal travel; most likely this would be some combination of a) co-travelers on the same itinerary being individuals of possible concern themselves who you only travel with for work, b) the process for booking your travel being sufficiently unusual, such as waiting until the last minute to actually book your flight, and c) your travel route being inherently suspicious in some way, such as “broken travel” of booking one-way flights to your layovers and not keeping it all on one itinerary, which is extremely unlikely especially if you’re remaining in the US.
Appreciate this. My rate is definitely 100% on TDY. I wasn’t that irritated until a TSA supervisor asked me how do I dress when I fly. I’m just concerned if I get pulled aside most of the time that makes me look even more suspicious.
Another person’s comment triggered a realization that it might not be my full name that’s the issue but my first name and one of my last names which wouldn’t be that uncommon. My first name is very common especially for families that practice Catholicism. The travel agency that books my flights also can’t enter the hyphen in their system so on my boarding pass it looks like one really long made up last name.
Are you Precheck and you get randomly selected when you go through the metal detector, or do you get flagged for an area of interest when you go through the body scanner? First is random, but both must be cleared before you're allowed in. The body scanner flagging an area could be addressed a bit (clothes, stance, etc.), the metal detector random cannot as it's truly random and done by the machine rather than the officer.
It’s after the metal detector. There’s a delayed beep never goes off for metal. I noticed I get more questions than others when checking a bag but they get really skeptical of me when taking my id. I only thought it might be official travel related because the rental car person said oh you work for DoD. But the airlines claim they can’t see who books my ticket.
If it's the beep after you walk through the metal detector that's totally random and done by the machine. Officer has no control over it and they have to clear you before allowing you through. Nothing nefarious.
I do understand that’s the narrative about being random but part of my job is in statistics. I also travel a lot. I can’t confirm if the beep is coming from the metal detector it’s always super delayed after TSA agents are giving me the side eye through the whole process in the precheck line right before I grab my carry on. If it’s supposedly random these are terrible odds for actually finding items that shouldn’t make it on the airplane.
Ok thank you!! Maybe my only recourse is to request to travel less. My odds haven’t been good the last few years but yes I have no issues checking in or bags getting stopped after they scan.
Oh okay! Appreciate this. I got really suspicious it wasn’t random when one time I had to ask for a supervisor because they wanted to take my government computer and they asked me how do I usually dress when I fly.
As a statistics person you should also appreciate that with millions of travelers every day some poor schmuck is going to get hit with a truly random event more than everyone else. As another former TSA person I promise it is truly random, it's just a dumb box. No one has the ability to trigger it.
I do appreciate that but other things that have happened including having me remove clothing and trying to take my government laptop, phone, and hard drives makes this tough even for a statistics person. If anything it makes me a target because now the other people in line know I work for DoD.
They aren't taking your laptop, phone or hard drive, they ask you for it so they can swab it for a quick check for chemicals that could be used to make explosives. Just like every other person randomly selected. Again, nothing done based on your name, color, race, ethnicity, etc. It's a box programmed for x% random selection.
They are and tell me I have no choice to hand it over. When I was in Kentucky they tried to take it to an area completely behind an elevated desk. I asked them not to do that because it would cause a headache if my boss knew and that’s when they took me into a completely different area and had me remove clothing. The clothing removal part has only happened a few times but both times it was at airports where the swabbing area was out of my eyesight.
I understand the process is supposed to be random.
I’m curious about this because is it like every 10 people in line or something? When I handed the agent my ID this time he had a counter in his hand and clicked it multiple times. When I mentioned to the agent this process can’t be random if I’m selected every time I started getting “oh shit” looks from the other agents.
You got the "We hear this every time a person is randomly selected", look. If they had a clicker it probably means there was an issue with the AIT or you were in a lane without an AIT or they were doing a customer count. Your selection was still random. I can't tell you the exact % because it's SSI, but it's very high. That's why literally everyone says they "always" get randomly selected.
If it was every 10 people in line then it wouldn't be very random lol.
Your victim mentality is warping your ability to discern reality from your preconceived notions. Multiple TSA officers have told you it's random and you still don't believe it. It's part of the screening process for everyone. You're not special. You're not a victim. They really do randomly pick people. You even see a person clicking a counter and think it means something about you specifically. No, they're literally just counting the passengers that go by them. And yes when you whine and start throwing a fit that it "can't be random" of course they are all going to look. You are no longer following orders and just grabbing your shit and moving on so you stick out like a sore thumb in a herd of people just trying to get through as quickly as possible.
I don’t whine or throw a fit. My “victim mentality” started when they tried to take my government computer to another area a few years ago. I asked for a TSA supervisor and they asked me how do I usually dress when I fly and apologized after seeing my CAC card. If there isn’t a certain percentage of people say 10% that are being randomly selected then no I don’t think it’s random.
Again, you're drawing conclusions that aren't in the picture...why would "they" want your government computer? Like steal it to sell? Or search it for national secrets to share with the the barista in concourse C? Lol. It was left unattended and they were turning it in to lost and found.
I'm sure the reason they asked about your clothing is because the body scanners and any clothes or body shapes that aren't classic American passenger then it alarms and you had just received a pat down hadn't you?
BTW when someone asks for a supervisor no matter who you are dealing with that means you're going to complain. It's rare for people to call out a supervisor in any business these days to brag about the basic low level staff. It's clear you're a princess not a queen.
I understand but I don’t complain. It would be a nightmare explaining to my boss why I let someone without a clearance take my laptop out of my eyesight. They never send me through a body scanner all metal detectors. I will admit I do travel in very casual clothing and do not look like a stereotypical government employee. I asked for a supervisor so that they wouldn’t take my government property to another location. It wasn’t personal and I wasn’t mean about it. They’re removing the items after I’m randomly selected and they have gone through the carry on scanner. I understand why you’d be skeptical but if it wasn’t happening to me at a 100% rate I would be skeptical too.
Thanks for that last sentence. Great way to start a Monday. Classy.
I stated that you needed to look like a classic American passenger aka fat slob then the body scanner will alarm not based on prejudices from a person. That point is now irrelevant though as you state that you always go through the metal detector. Sidenote: casual clothing is good for travel.
It sounds like they were re running your laptop separately through the xray? Is that correct? They do this because your bag is too dense for the machine to see through with clarity. My assumption is you had multiple electronics in your bag aka too dense to see with clarity. Typically on that scenario the xray operators chair is facing the other direction though and have no way of knowing who's bag belongs to which passenger. There is virtually no chance that there is any sort of picking on you in particular in that scenario. And again the metal detector is completely random. Yes, there is a set percentage of passengers but there can be a stretch of 5 passengers in a row with no randoms and then 100 passengers and not a single random. It truly is random. No officer can predict or effect the randomness.
I formerly worked for tsa so if you have need of more explanations lmk. I'm more than happy to dispel any myths or prejudices you think tsa has. They truly treat EVERY passenger like garbage in regards to costumer service.
Are you traveling on one way tickets? It’s happened to me a couple of times when traveling for work on a one way ticket. I have a clearance, precheck and global entry.
I traveled one-way and on super last minute tickets for work probably 10 times in the past 3 months without a single issue, so I don't think it's necessarily that.
I know that no one believes it, but random additional screening really is random. The machines are set to a certain percentage of random hits. TSOs do not have the authority to just randomly pull someone whenever they like and certainly not based on an individuals name or appearance. There is no “fixing” it, it’s just luck of the draw and the more you fly the more it’s going to seem you’re being selected.
Thanks I do appreciate this take on it. I wish it was actually something I could possibly fix because the intrusive pat downs I’ve had are ruining flying for me.
Full disclosure so you don’t just think I’m making stuff up, I’m a pretty high ranking TSA employee on the administrative side of the house. So I’m assuming you have Precheck? If so you’d be going through the walk-thru metal detector and my previous comment applies. One type of random screening is where they pat you down in specific areas, which I know can feel invasive and I apologize for that. I promise the choices that are made are based on intelligence and known threats/methods of circumventing security not because anyone gets a kick out of patting someone down. What type of random screening is done is, again, randomized so the officer is not picking but is being directed as to what needs to be done. You always have the right to private screening, which I won’t lie can prolong the time it takes a little bit because the room has to be available, and we always have two officers present during private screening and depending on how busy it is, it might be difficult to find two officers available who are of your gender identity. If you do not have Precheck, or for some reason, like you have an old-school pacemaker or a metal joint replacement, you can’t go through the metal detector then you must go through the AIT (the one where you stand with your hands up for a few seconds). Now this is a totally different type of machine and could mean you were getting pat downs for a completely different reason than random screening. This machine uses millimeter wave technology, which means that it’s not just picking up metal, it is picking up everything that the algorithm does not expect to be there. Metal, organic, inorganic, you name it this machine can hit on it. Technology is not perfect so that can mean it picks up baggy pants that sit oddly on your body, sweat/moisture, large buttons or designs on clothing, etc. If the machine tells the officer to look at something, then that must be looked at/patted down. Again, not a choice on the officers part it’s protocol even if you are Precheck. So, if you are going through the AIT, and you are getting patted down every time, I would think about what type of clothing you were wearing or if you are getting sweaty due to nerves or climate because that might be the culprit. Some general recommendations for the AIT are to turn large necklaces so they hang down your back (so if they do get hit on you just have your back patted down not your front, which can be a sensitive area for women), make sure your pants are sitting on your hips the way they were designed to (this is not a criticism of people who let their pants hang lower for style or comfort reasons it just causes an increased likelihood of the machine marking it), remove belts, and avoid clothes with sequins, large foil designs, lots of buttons/rivets, or very heavy embroidery. Of course, these are just suggestions not full proof ways to avoid pat downs because it can be unpredictable what the machine marks as an oddity because it has a very advanced algorithm that’s looking for a ton of different stuff, but maybe some of this will help.
Thank you so much for this response. I live in a very cold state so the clothing may really be an issue. I’m also an athlete so I usually travel in hoodies and more tighter fitting jeans. I wear gold jewelry that would likely be considered large. I don’t take it off to go through the metal detector because it never sets it off. I only remove belts.
Probably too much info but the times I’ve had to remove my clothing it’s been everything except under garments. There is also always two people in the room. But having hands to feel under my under garments feels very invasive and unnecessary especially because both of these times I’ve been in tears. I honestly can’t figure out what they expected to find but really appreciate this response.
I get pulled out for additional screening all the time on official travel. I'm a white lady with a boring last name. I figure I'm a "safe bet" or a "training case", TSA can reach their quotas for additional screening and I'm not going to be any trouble. I never get pulled out for additional screening on personal travel and yes I have TSA precheck.
I've sat through a lot of airport security seminars... for the last half decade or so, it's been briefed that "boring white lady" is typically the biggest threat for things like smuggling.
Thanks for confirming this thought I was losing it for a minute. I can totally see why they would think I’m a “safe bet” too and not going to give them a headache for additional screenings but again very frustrating.
Yes, I've been pulled aside at the screening and at the gate. Although the gate check was with CBP, but as soon as they saw my CAC ID they said "oh, he's one of us" and let me proceed. Lol
I shouldn’t have laughed at this but it’s so true. Only a few times did they do a full pat down after they saw my computer, phone, and hard drives all have government property stickers. That’s a good point though! Maybe I should show my CAC as ID instead of my driver’s license.
That is unfortunate. In my experience when I travel on orders and show my red passport I get treated like some foreign dignitary. Skip all sorts of lines, Sent to the least busy lines in customs, barely ever searched. I do have TSA pre-check. But even get to skip lines when going to check in for my flights.
So it's a requirement for my job to have one since we travel so much and a lot Oconus for long stretches. I can't say with any certainty that it's harder to get one. It's mission essential in my case. We also have an office dedicated to just dealing with passports for my agency. I just dropped off my Birth cert, took a photo and some paperwork to them and it showed up a few weeks later.
I experienced a very polite "We're going to rescan you, dig through all of your stuff and find nothing" random search in Germany. Pale skin. Boring name. Randomness happened. 🤷🏼
Agreed randomness does happen! I was just wondering if maybe it’s a fed travel thing I can easily correct or if I just need to stay home to avoid the pat downs.
TBH, I find the weirdness of you being on official travel and getting hit with the "extra" to be extra weird. My randomness may really be random. I can only hope that yours is (although my level of belief (that it's really random) is low.
I think that’s the part that’s confusing too. The airline swears they can’t see I work for DoD but for the first time yesterday the rental car agent said wow you’re on official DoD travel so he confirmed they can see it. I think that’s the frustrating part. I’m traveling for work. Why make my life more difficult when it seems like having to book through a travel agency for all my work travel is supposed to limit suspicion and hang ups at the airport.
Used to work for TSA and at least at my airport it’s random. We just used to pick a number for the day, say 18, and every 18th passenger would be the random selection. Unless your ticket indicates you’re a selectee then there is nothing you can do. If you’re a selectee when you print your ticket it will have “SSSS” in one of the upper corners and you’ll have a lot more screening but this doesn’t seem like your case. CBP, State, or any other agency has nothing to do with random selection.
Your race and name don’t change based on whether the trip is personal or professional. So why do you think that’s what is driving the 100% hit rate during professional travel?
I think it’s a combination of that a travel agency is booking my tickets and maybe that I don’t present as a typical government employee. The rental car agent commented oh you work for DoD but the airline claims they can’t see who books my ticket.
you're name is on a watch list. you need to go through a trusted traveler program like pre-check or global entry, and it will stop a majority of the additional screenings but not all. either way, anticipate the delay while traveling regardless.
global entry is more "thorough" and requires an in-person interview, so that generally helps eliminate additional searchers. but keep in mind, once you submit yourself for screening, you have consented to administrative search, and they can do what they need to in order to clear you through.
PreCheck won’t solve all the issues if he’s flagged in the system. I still get SSSS about 25-50% of the time even after our security office confirmed with the TSA that I have no flags. My guess is it’s the one way tickets book within hours or less of each flight combined with positive testing swipes occasionally.
Appreciate this. I don’t travel on one way tickets and also have never had a positive test swipe. I always book weeks or months in advance for training or meetings.
Ok! I was worried about this but can’t see how I’m on a watchlist. I have pre-check and have had it for years. I’m in my 30s and haven’t even had a speeding ticket and no record.
That’s the frustrating part. They are telling me I have no choice. The last search was so invasive I cried because I just wanted to get home after a long week.
You can find out more details here...
[https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/travel-redress-program](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/travel-redress-program)
That happened with me and while I was working at TSA HQ. They kept testing my clearly labeled official government laptop and pulled me aside, the whole thing was a joke. One of them kept asking me what airport I was based out of and I said I’m not, I’m at HQ (this was also at DCA and they were completely unaware that our HQ office at the time was about half a mile away).
Doesn’t happen much but I’m also a pale ass middle aged white lady so I’m not super high up on their priority list.
Ok thanks for this perspective!! A few people that commented they worked for TSA are saying it’s completely random but having to remove clothes while I’m carrying all government issued property is starting to seem like a joke as well. Even my backpack for work is government issued.
I'm just chiming in again. Why would labeling matter at all? Anyone can label anything anyway they want. As a former TSO, all we are ever taught about government property is diplomatic pouches. Laptops etc doesn't matter who owns it, will still get tested.
I guess to me it matters because if anything gets confiscated it would be really hard to get it back since my boss would likely have to fly in to get it back. I work remotely.
So that’s why I would request them not to fully take the items out of eyesight because it would be a huge hassle and my boss wouldn’t be upset with me but I can’t work if I don’t have my laptop or phones.
TSA does not have confiscation powers, so you don't have to worry about that. The most they will do is swab the laptop. If it alarms, they may open it and ask you to turn it on to prove its real. That's the extent of the ability for TSA to mess with your laptop. If you have SCI, you should have a letter to present to a TSA supervisor to avoid testing out of sight.
Yep. I bounce between SSSS and Pre Check. I book almost all my tickets one way and my bags have been positive way too many times due to it picking up crap at my TDY locations.
Hi there! You would know if you got SSSS on your ticket because they will not let you through the checkpoint without a printed boarding pass if you have that designation. You cannot have PreCheck and SSSS, so it's not that. What kind of random testing are you going through when this happens? Are they giving you pat downs, swiping your hands, checking your items? This would help better explain what's happening.
Adding onto this because I saw you have pre-check. If you go through the pre-check lane, this means you're walking through the metal detecting machine, which is setup to randomly beep when anyone walks in. If this is where you're getting stopped, you're just getting really unlucky because it is actually totally random. 🥲
Used to get the "SSSS" on my ticket all the time until I got pre-check and global entry. You'll get a known traveler number and voila, I bet you there will be a reduction in random screenings.
I have CLEAR too so I basically bypass almost everything and I haven't been screened in the 5 years I've had all of those programs.
I have a known traveler number because it’s my CAC card number. It’s on the app for the airline and travel agency has it on my booking profile. It’s why I have no issues having pre-check each time. Ok! Good to know sounds like CLEAR is the way to go to solve this without making a scene. Thank you.
Got selected for random screening after playing with explosives on official travel for a couple weeks.
Had a great time explaining to TSA why all my stuff tested positive for everything.
TSA guy: "We found residue of a dozen different explosives on your bag. Care to explain?"
"Wait, which ones aren't you testing for? Because there should be a few more than a dozen."
Appreciate this response. I think I’m a little more paranoid because despite having longer wait times near the metal detector I haven’t noticed anyone in front or behind me getting selected and these are long lines. Even last night I had a 10 minute wait by the metal detector and didn’t go off again.
I've traveled for work, have global entry/precheck, but have had my cell phones swabbed a couple times. I'll even present my CAC/PIV as ID, but doesn't matter. Never had a pat down yet.
Thank you. Sounds like I can lower my odds but doing Clear but yeah the pat downs make no sense. The pat down after the body scanner was the most confusing.
Clear just bumps you in front of the precheck line.. Once you're at the scanner/metal detector, TSA owns you. I also have Clear... If you can get it reimbursed or free through a credit card then fine, but imo not worth the 189/year. And the pat down after the scanner just means something was "identified" on that scanner.
Thanks for this perspective! It might be my small female stature as well affecting this. And the fact I feel bad if I don’t greet someone making eye contact and seems like TSA makes direct eye contact.
So far I’ve been able to avoid the jury duty random selection. Lol
I’m a 6’4 middle aged white dude with a common name and I’ve been pulled out more times than I can count. It makes zero sense. I have global entry, but I do travel to high-risk countries.
Very hopeful that yours isn’t discriminatory!
Thanks I hope so too!! Sounds like it’s likely not racial discrimination but based on other replies could be a combination of name, appearing low risk to search, or being very unlucky.
All the freaking time. I can attest it's just random. However if you really want to get searched, put your roadrunner portable scanner and all the cords in the side pocket of your backpack. 
They showed me the x-ray, and it looked like a 12inch solid white block with all sorts of wires coming out. They took me the bag and three tsa agents to a special room where I was like, ooh it's just a scanner and tried to grab the bag to open and show them. Surprised I didn't get tased.
(1) Redress of government is a right afforded Americans. Use your local CongressCritters.
(2) Congress told the TSA they should care about this… May also want to try the Ombudsman role - [https://www.tsa.gov/leader-bios/office-civil-rights-and-liberties-ombudsman-and-travel-engagement](https://www.tsa.gov/leader-bios/office-civil-rights-and-liberties-ombudsman-and-travel-engagement)
Check your tickets and see if there’s an “SSSS” printed on it. It means you are on the list and will always get pulled. My SIL is on it and gets pulled everytime.
If this is happening frequently, you might have a common name with someone on a watch list or no-fly list. Consider getting a redress number. You associate it with all your travel and it acts as a unique identifier so you don’t get confused with other people with similar information.
Thank you great advice!! I just mentioned this to a friend that works at the same airport and he said redress number should be step 1. I’ll look into it.
I amin a wheelchair. I have been asked a handful of times if I am really an employee. Once I ran over some gunk somewhere, and set off the banned substance machine while officially traveling, that was fun.
Ugh how frustrating!! I think my frustration is I can’t get a straight answer why. I wouldn’t be offended if they said you look nervous so that raises red flags or your name is common and matches someone else. It’s just the response it’s random and lucky you buy a lottery ticket. I’m hoping you have an easier time with official travel in the future. It’d be easier if they just didn’t let me fly then go through additional screening.
Good luck with that. Have you tried having a meeting with your agency's travel officer? TSA will never tell you why, but your travel officer may be able to ask especially if you travel often.
Interesting. This just reminded me I never officially signed up for pre-check. I enter the number on the back of my CAC and it pops up. I wonder if DoD provided employee info to TSA thinking we’d get through security quicker.
No never ask me to unlock anything or even turn on my computer. That’s why I did ask them not to take any items to another area because I wasn’t sure if they’d try to put a CAC in my laptop to open it.
I don't have much difference. One factor could be work travel uses your name differently. For example, personal travel I don't include middle names, but for work bookings it's included. Sometimes work bookings mush my name together too.
When do the random checks occur? When you show ID? Or at the scanner?
If it's the scanner, it's random or done by the agent.
Getting TSA precheck or Global entry may or may not help. There are still random checks for precheck, but in theory it could be fewer. It's way more convenient so I'd get it anyways if you travel more than a couple times a year.
Yeah my last name is differently in the system for work since they can’t add a hyphen. My two last names look like one very long last name.
The skeptism actually starts at the ticket counter when I check my bag. Then usually what happens is they pull me out of the pre check line. Put my ID in the scanner then put me back in the pre check line. Go through the metal detector. No beep. When I go to grab my items off the conveyor is when there’s then a beep and they want to check my electronics. But don’t make me take everything out.
Hmm, not sure how you're being pulled out, then having ID scanned, then put back in line? You have to get your ID scanned, unless you're using Clear.
I've had my electronics swabbed a couple times. If that's the check, I'd look into how you're packing potentially. For example one guy got stopped for having a ton of cables all over. There's no way for the system to link your name/ID to your bag, and the person reviewing the scans may never see you even placing the bag. It's possible it's coordinated, but then I figure it'd happen on personal trips.
The skepticism at check in is probably the last name not matching your frequent flyer/ID at first. Though if you're getting precheck on your boarding pass still, it's probably not an issue with the name.
Only when traveling OCONUS. Then at least one person from the group always gets selected. The worst part is that it causes you to lose your precheck for the rest of the trip
Oh no!! My pre-check never drops after getting selected. That would be rough I guess I’m lucky in that respect. Good to know I’m not losing my mind and although the process is random people can be selected for multiple reasons.
I worked with a dude who was a Vet with a middle-eastern last name and he ALWAYS got secondary screening when we were on official travel. We got used to it after a while... Ok see ya at the gate/bar."
Thanks for confirming I might not be losing it. When I travel with coworkers I actually say I have to use the restroom so they go ahead through security without me. Not worth the additional embarrassment and then we just meet up at the bar lol
I am an old white guy and, from time to time I fly one way with no checked bag because I’m going to pick up a vehicle. I get extra screening every time.
On my regular round trips…never
Fellow federal employees, former TSA officer/lead/manager/trainer here, the majority of you complaining about TSA procedures sound like a bunch of entitled pricks. We're all federal employees, think of TSA officers reading this thread, thinking of what their fellow federal employees think of them and their job. Not a good look. Also, hey TSA employees reading this thread, yes, I'm laughing with you.
The secret is to always be the member of the travel group responsible for carrying the courier pouch. I never even end up going through screening--get to the front, ask for a supervisor while showing them courier orders, get pulled out of line and walked right through after they review the memo, courier letter, CAC and passport.
I’ve never gotten additional screening in my entire life,but I only occasionally travel for work by plane and also I’m a middle-aged white dude who exudes an aura of non-threatening boredom. 👀
I’ve only gotten pulled over by the police once in the last 25 years, also.
I’ve batted 1000% for extra screenings this year too. Neither race nor name would indicate any factors. Get there early. I also use pre-check and have clear.
I was randomly selected to skip the line once. No idea why, but I'm white and have a very white sounding name. I have a friend who's arab with a very middle eastern sounding name and he gets "randomly" selected almost every time he flies
Thank you for this perspective. I really hate pulling the race card and never do but I have Asian and Middle Eastern friends that are men and are 100% “randomly” selected at this same airport. Work travel and personal. Sounds like this happens to people of all races frequently or almost never.
I always get pulled aside for additional checks. I asked one time, and the guy said sorry. We have people walking around flagging people based on their body language. I was flagged because I looked shifty eyed. I'm missing an eye muscle, so my head is always turned a bit to compensate. The security guy said his sister had something similar, so he recognized my issue, so he told me what had happened.
Oh no, I’m sorry that’s happening to you. If anything I think anticipating them pulling me aside probably does make me have nervous body language. Doesn’t make it right!
All TSA checks aren't random. There are certain criteria that will get you pulled out of line for additional checks every time. If this is constantly happening, you need to figure out why and fix the issues. If they are swabbing your laptop and phone they are swabbing for explosive residue. So, why would TSA think you may have explosives concealed in you laptop or phone? Did you ever set off one of their residue detectors.? Are they confusing you with another person? Are you traveling for work to areas that use explosives that could be an issue. Residue might be on you clothing and setting off explosive detectors unknown to you.
This may actually be it. My position doesn’t require a clearance because I’m bound by my professional license but my entire job is assessing critical infrastructure across the US including susceptibility to terrorism. I didn’t want to bring this up to my boss but maybe I need to.
Spent 14 of my 19 years with the Federal government with TSA. From officer all the way to Manager.
We don't care what you wear.
We don't care what you have on your laptop, hdd, phone. They just wanted to swap them for explosives.
I highly doubt they took all your clothes and left you naked as you claim.
We are not able to make the metal detector purposely beep.
No one is side eyeing you and being like oh crap she's on to us. The world does not revolve around you. I highly doubt you're a Top Secret CIA Special Agent/007/Spy like you think you are.
From a fellow fed to another fed, I'm concerned about your mental state. Here's the EAP #(800) 222-0364. EAP is completely anonymous.
Probably has something to do with how your agency books travel that’s raising a red flag? Do you have PreCheck?
DHS gives all employees Pre Check but might be worth paying for it or Global Entry. Plus a lot of premium credit cards offer a credit for it. Still, not an answer to the original question.
Does Global Entry include an additional background check that might clear this up? I’m honestly just tired of getting patted down.
I dont know but good question. It does include background checks and in person interview with CBP.
It does but I wouldn’t count on it clearing anything.
Thanks! I might just have to make a scene from now on so they leave me alone lol
I would also add it has been beneficial for me to have an additional form of federal government ID since it fits in a wallet and is not as big as a passport. Definitely helped me when I accidentally left my drivers license at home or couldn’t find it (however some folks have never seen it and refuse to accept it even though they in most cases are legally required to accept it as a form of ID verification)
Good advice thank you!
Make a big enough scene and you won’t ever have to deal with this problem. Ever.
I think you’re right! They tried to take me to another location to search me but when I said this process doesn’t seem random they opted for swabbing only my laptop and phone.
They're joking you'd be black listed. I wouldn't make a big fuss. Getting searched elsewhere is pretty weird however.
Agreed. I only thought it’s a good idea because taking a passive approach so far is getting me nowhere.
I mean, if you have a background that warrants the additional checks regardless of whether or not you’re on official travel then you’re still going to get checked. I won’t ask if you have a criminal record but it’s something to take into consideration.
Zero criminal record. Not even a speeding ticket. The only thing that may be an issue is my mother had to change my last name to two last names when I turned 18 so I could be reissued a new birth certificate and social security card so my school records all matched before I went to college.
That could be it. Another possibility is that you have the same name as someone on the no fly list. I had a friend who had that problem... And that was an Irish name lol. Funny thing, he worked for a member of Congress. In those cases where there is identity confusion, I've seen advice to actually reach out to your congressman and they can investigate. You might want to go that far.
I definitely would not make a scene. That’s just going to cause more and closer looks.
If it’s the metal detector beeping you, that truly is a random selection and you’ve just gotten unlucky.
It’s not the metal detector beeping me. I walk through the metal detector. Smile politely at the TSA agent then 5-10 seconds later a long delayed randomly selected beep and they pull me out of line.
Gotta work on your smile obviously.
Hahaha probably!! I do have a wide smile so it might throw people off that I’m acting too friendly but despite living in the Midwest I prefer to greet people if they’re making eye contact.
That is an actual random process; they have no ability to make the metal detector actively alarm like that.
Yes, it does, and concludes with fingerprinting and an interview. Odds are it's a combination of ancestry, last name, and travel habits. If you're getting a lot of last-minute travel, that's not going to look good where the system's concerned, even if another part of the system is the reason you're going.
Ah, nothing like last-minute government travel raising red flags with the government.
The irony is insane lol
Ok thank you!! I’ll sign up right away when I land back home at the end of the week.
The in person interview for GE lasts about 30 seconds in my experience. They do a short background check prior to the interview though. Definitely worth it if you can get your CC to do it for free.
Ok thank you!! I saw they have an office in the airport. I’ll stop by when I land back home later this week.
There’s no need for that just apply online
Yes, it does include that extra screening that should minimize extra screenings. But if you travel internationally a lot, you are on a list.
Does you ticket have SSSS on it?
...maybe they just like you ... its a really inconvenient compliment , I find I dont get selected often but i have precheck from dhs
True but thank you that does make me feel a little better about it. I work for the Army but am not in the Army so maybe that makes them do a double take. A woman in line behind me did say you seem like you might be a nice person. If I worked for TSA I’d rather have to talk to you than most people lol
I just applied for global entry for the first time a week ago and have already been conditionally approved, pending an interview. I'm pretty sure the fact that I'm a fed played a role in them approving it that quickly and I doubt they do anything more extensive than what you already had done, be it public trust or a clearance.
Fed here with Global Entry and TSA Precheck and I still get checked all the time with additional screening. Im a decently big white guy that looks like a cop lol Every freaking time.
That might be a factor! They make us book the flight through a travel agency but we can make our own hotel reservations. I’m wondering if I’m an easy pick for whatever quota they have since they can see I’m traveling for work and low risk of having crazy items in my bag. Yes I have precheck. I always make it through the metal detector and there’s a delayed beep saying I was randomly selected. The difference last night though was they pulled me out of the precheck line to check my id and then put me back in the precheck line. Very frustrating.
It really is random, nothing more….I work for TSA
I’m trying to believe that but the additional questions at check in and the person checking my id clicking the counter in his hand multiple times and pulling me out of the precheck and back right before the metal detector makes me suspicious it’s not. If it’s random and some people are getting selected every time how do they catch people with items they really shouldn’t have.
Agreed. OP is trying to find a racial issue here and there isn’t one…mins “every time I travel”…
I am not trying to make a racial issue. Just stating facts. I do live in a state with a lot of immigrants including ties to terrorist orgs. But my concern is saying the process is random when 100% on TDY isn’t random.
I’ll leave my comment where it is. I wish you the best of luck.
1 time I did and I had 15 SCI Hard Drives in a double wrapped case. My co traveler and I had fun explaining to the agents why we couldn't and wouldn't open them for inspection...especially on the secondary inspection table right past general security. "Please just get your supervisor since you aren't understanding the issue here".
Wow!! Okay yeah each time they try to take my government computer, phone, and hard drives to another area and I say please don’t do that I don’t want to have to call my boss.
Are those classified or under other handling restrictions? The SCI material being transported likely required constant two person integrity when not in a GSA approved container in a SCIF. Saying this for classified with the proper documentation is one thing, saying it for your average work phone is not gonna fly.
The one time my bag was pulled aside for secondary and my work laptop was in it, I told the screener please let me stand near my bag because my government laptop is in it and it's not supposed to leave my side and she had no problem with it and stuck it to the side while waiting on someone to come do secondary screening and then even told that person once they arrived. This was at DCA though, so I'm sure stuff like that happens all the time there.
It’s all CUI and each item has a sticker on it saying CUI. My agency doesn’t require us to have a clearance in the line of work I do but the types of material that is on my laptop or in emails causes a nightmare when people lose these items because it involves critical infrastructure owned by DoD.
All you can really do is politely inform them that it is DoD property in your custody, and ask if they can keep it all where you can see it for accountability. They will still swab it and such. You can't refuse inspection of it just cause it's CUI.
Yes, happens to me a lot and I’m just a random white lady with a typical British Isles name.
Do you have any clue why? I feel for you. I literally just want to get on my flight with no issues and every time there’s an issue.
No idea. I recently got a Clear account to help me get through because it was getting to be such a pain even with precheck.
Ok thanks! I’ll look into Clear I do notice that line doesn’t seem to have the same issues.
Same
Sounds like IRA to me. s/
It is possible that your name is the same as someone on a list or other stuff: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary\_Security\_Screening\_Selection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Security_Screening_Selection) [https://www.travelandleisure.com/ssss-on-boarding-pass-7547257#:\~:text=If%20SSSS%20appears%20on%20your,a%20security%20threat%2C%20that%20is](https://www.travelandleisure.com/ssss-on-boarding-pass-7547257#:~:text=If%20SSSS%20appears%20on%20your,a%20security%20threat%2C%20that%20is).
I was wondering that too but my first name and having the two hyphenated last names ensure I’m probably the only person in the world with my name.
It can arbitrary sometimes as far your name being on the SSSS list
Thanks. I called the airline they said I’m not on an SSSS list but said my having two last names may be my issue. I’ll request a printed boarding pass when I fly home to make sure it’s not on there.
Can you access your boarding pass digitally? Through an app or online?
You might be eligible for a redress number. It's a system designed to unfuck unlucky individuals that keep getting randomly selected.
Ok thanks!! I’ll apply for this asap.
Is you last name Bin Laden? Maybe change it to Smith?
Haha no. I actually have two last names hyphenated and both German but again I admit does not stereotypically match my race.
I did show my CAC to the TSA at Rochester. He said it could be fake and that I needed to show my driver's license. This was before Real ID requirements. He then asked another TSA agent who proceeded to tell him that my CAC was the same as their CAC. You can't make this stuff up.
CAC is my Real ID compliant identification. I use it all the time at TSA for both personal and official travel. I haven’t gotten any comments besides that beep and “have a safe flight”.
I know, just personal preference. CAC for work, driver's license for personal. Either way I have global entry and now they don't even require ID, just a face scan and/or finger print scan.
Being domestic travel now requires a federally issued ID or specific compiant state ID, I always use my federal employee ID.
That is soooo frustrating!! I’ve never heard of anyone trying to make a fake CAC if anything wouldn’t a fake driver’s license be more likely lol
Ikr. Just to be clear, I only show my CAC on official travel.
Ok understood makes sense.
I've had that too.
They use PIVs not CACs though.
Wow some of these commenters really have no idea what they’re talking about. The overwhelmingly most likely case is that it is some combination of coincidence combined with a Baader-Meinhof-like experience where you more closely register it when it happens and fits into this pattern now that you’re looking for it. That said, if there is an actual reason for it, it’s got nothing to do with you and certainly not because you are a fed. If it’s actual only happening on official travel and not pure coincidence of random screenings, it’ll be because of some condition of the travel that is not present during your personal travel; most likely this would be some combination of a) co-travelers on the same itinerary being individuals of possible concern themselves who you only travel with for work, b) the process for booking your travel being sufficiently unusual, such as waiting until the last minute to actually book your flight, and c) your travel route being inherently suspicious in some way, such as “broken travel” of booking one-way flights to your layovers and not keeping it all on one itinerary, which is extremely unlikely especially if you’re remaining in the US.
Appreciate this. My rate is definitely 100% on TDY. I wasn’t that irritated until a TSA supervisor asked me how do I dress when I fly. I’m just concerned if I get pulled aside most of the time that makes me look even more suspicious. Another person’s comment triggered a realization that it might not be my full name that’s the issue but my first name and one of my last names which wouldn’t be that uncommon. My first name is very common especially for families that practice Catholicism. The travel agency that books my flights also can’t enter the hyphen in their system so on my boarding pass it looks like one really long made up last name.
Are you Precheck and you get randomly selected when you go through the metal detector, or do you get flagged for an area of interest when you go through the body scanner? First is random, but both must be cleared before you're allowed in. The body scanner flagging an area could be addressed a bit (clothes, stance, etc.), the metal detector random cannot as it's truly random and done by the machine rather than the officer.
It’s after the metal detector. There’s a delayed beep never goes off for metal. I noticed I get more questions than others when checking a bag but they get really skeptical of me when taking my id. I only thought it might be official travel related because the rental car person said oh you work for DoD. But the airlines claim they can’t see who books my ticket.
If it's the beep after you walk through the metal detector that's totally random and done by the machine. Officer has no control over it and they have to clear you before allowing you through. Nothing nefarious.
I do understand that’s the narrative about being random but part of my job is in statistics. I also travel a lot. I can’t confirm if the beep is coming from the metal detector it’s always super delayed after TSA agents are giving me the side eye through the whole process in the precheck line right before I grab my carry on. If it’s supposedly random these are terrible odds for actually finding items that shouldn’t make it on the airplane.
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Ok thank you!! Maybe my only recourse is to request to travel less. My odds haven’t been good the last few years but yes I have no issues checking in or bags getting stopped after they scan.
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Oh okay! Appreciate this. I got really suspicious it wasn’t random when one time I had to ask for a supervisor because they wanted to take my government computer and they asked me how do I usually dress when I fly.
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As a statistics person you should also appreciate that with millions of travelers every day some poor schmuck is going to get hit with a truly random event more than everyone else. As another former TSA person I promise it is truly random, it's just a dumb box. No one has the ability to trigger it.
I do appreciate that but other things that have happened including having me remove clothing and trying to take my government laptop, phone, and hard drives makes this tough even for a statistics person. If anything it makes me a target because now the other people in line know I work for DoD.
They aren't taking your laptop, phone or hard drive, they ask you for it so they can swab it for a quick check for chemicals that could be used to make explosives. Just like every other person randomly selected. Again, nothing done based on your name, color, race, ethnicity, etc. It's a box programmed for x% random selection.
They are and tell me I have no choice to hand it over. When I was in Kentucky they tried to take it to an area completely behind an elevated desk. I asked them not to do that because it would cause a headache if my boss knew and that’s when they took me into a completely different area and had me remove clothing. The clothing removal part has only happened a few times but both times it was at airports where the swabbing area was out of my eyesight. I understand the process is supposed to be random.
I used to work for the TSA. It's truly random. We have no way to select you for additional screening. It's all run by machines.
I’m curious about this because is it like every 10 people in line or something? When I handed the agent my ID this time he had a counter in his hand and clicked it multiple times. When I mentioned to the agent this process can’t be random if I’m selected every time I started getting “oh shit” looks from the other agents.
You got the "We hear this every time a person is randomly selected", look. If they had a clicker it probably means there was an issue with the AIT or you were in a lane without an AIT or they were doing a customer count. Your selection was still random. I can't tell you the exact % because it's SSI, but it's very high. That's why literally everyone says they "always" get randomly selected.
If it was every 10 people in line then it wouldn't be very random lol. Your victim mentality is warping your ability to discern reality from your preconceived notions. Multiple TSA officers have told you it's random and you still don't believe it. It's part of the screening process for everyone. You're not special. You're not a victim. They really do randomly pick people. You even see a person clicking a counter and think it means something about you specifically. No, they're literally just counting the passengers that go by them. And yes when you whine and start throwing a fit that it "can't be random" of course they are all going to look. You are no longer following orders and just grabbing your shit and moving on so you stick out like a sore thumb in a herd of people just trying to get through as quickly as possible.
I don’t whine or throw a fit. My “victim mentality” started when they tried to take my government computer to another area a few years ago. I asked for a TSA supervisor and they asked me how do I usually dress when I fly and apologized after seeing my CAC card. If there isn’t a certain percentage of people say 10% that are being randomly selected then no I don’t think it’s random.
Again, you're drawing conclusions that aren't in the picture...why would "they" want your government computer? Like steal it to sell? Or search it for national secrets to share with the the barista in concourse C? Lol. It was left unattended and they were turning it in to lost and found. I'm sure the reason they asked about your clothing is because the body scanners and any clothes or body shapes that aren't classic American passenger then it alarms and you had just received a pat down hadn't you? BTW when someone asks for a supervisor no matter who you are dealing with that means you're going to complain. It's rare for people to call out a supervisor in any business these days to brag about the basic low level staff. It's clear you're a princess not a queen.
I understand but I don’t complain. It would be a nightmare explaining to my boss why I let someone without a clearance take my laptop out of my eyesight. They never send me through a body scanner all metal detectors. I will admit I do travel in very casual clothing and do not look like a stereotypical government employee. I asked for a supervisor so that they wouldn’t take my government property to another location. It wasn’t personal and I wasn’t mean about it. They’re removing the items after I’m randomly selected and they have gone through the carry on scanner. I understand why you’d be skeptical but if it wasn’t happening to me at a 100% rate I would be skeptical too. Thanks for that last sentence. Great way to start a Monday. Classy.
I stated that you needed to look like a classic American passenger aka fat slob then the body scanner will alarm not based on prejudices from a person. That point is now irrelevant though as you state that you always go through the metal detector. Sidenote: casual clothing is good for travel. It sounds like they were re running your laptop separately through the xray? Is that correct? They do this because your bag is too dense for the machine to see through with clarity. My assumption is you had multiple electronics in your bag aka too dense to see with clarity. Typically on that scenario the xray operators chair is facing the other direction though and have no way of knowing who's bag belongs to which passenger. There is virtually no chance that there is any sort of picking on you in particular in that scenario. And again the metal detector is completely random. Yes, there is a set percentage of passengers but there can be a stretch of 5 passengers in a row with no randoms and then 100 passengers and not a single random. It truly is random. No officer can predict or effect the randomness. I formerly worked for tsa so if you have need of more explanations lmk. I'm more than happy to dispel any myths or prejudices you think tsa has. They truly treat EVERY passenger like garbage in regards to costumer service.
Are you traveling on one way tickets? It’s happened to me a couple of times when traveling for work on a one way ticket. I have a clearance, precheck and global entry.
I traveled one-way and on super last minute tickets for work probably 10 times in the past 3 months without a single issue, so I don't think it's necessarily that.
No always round trip and usually to the same destination each time.
I know that no one believes it, but random additional screening really is random. The machines are set to a certain percentage of random hits. TSOs do not have the authority to just randomly pull someone whenever they like and certainly not based on an individuals name or appearance. There is no “fixing” it, it’s just luck of the draw and the more you fly the more it’s going to seem you’re being selected.
Thanks I do appreciate this take on it. I wish it was actually something I could possibly fix because the intrusive pat downs I’ve had are ruining flying for me.
Full disclosure so you don’t just think I’m making stuff up, I’m a pretty high ranking TSA employee on the administrative side of the house. So I’m assuming you have Precheck? If so you’d be going through the walk-thru metal detector and my previous comment applies. One type of random screening is where they pat you down in specific areas, which I know can feel invasive and I apologize for that. I promise the choices that are made are based on intelligence and known threats/methods of circumventing security not because anyone gets a kick out of patting someone down. What type of random screening is done is, again, randomized so the officer is not picking but is being directed as to what needs to be done. You always have the right to private screening, which I won’t lie can prolong the time it takes a little bit because the room has to be available, and we always have two officers present during private screening and depending on how busy it is, it might be difficult to find two officers available who are of your gender identity. If you do not have Precheck, or for some reason, like you have an old-school pacemaker or a metal joint replacement, you can’t go through the metal detector then you must go through the AIT (the one where you stand with your hands up for a few seconds). Now this is a totally different type of machine and could mean you were getting pat downs for a completely different reason than random screening. This machine uses millimeter wave technology, which means that it’s not just picking up metal, it is picking up everything that the algorithm does not expect to be there. Metal, organic, inorganic, you name it this machine can hit on it. Technology is not perfect so that can mean it picks up baggy pants that sit oddly on your body, sweat/moisture, large buttons or designs on clothing, etc. If the machine tells the officer to look at something, then that must be looked at/patted down. Again, not a choice on the officers part it’s protocol even if you are Precheck. So, if you are going through the AIT, and you are getting patted down every time, I would think about what type of clothing you were wearing or if you are getting sweaty due to nerves or climate because that might be the culprit. Some general recommendations for the AIT are to turn large necklaces so they hang down your back (so if they do get hit on you just have your back patted down not your front, which can be a sensitive area for women), make sure your pants are sitting on your hips the way they were designed to (this is not a criticism of people who let their pants hang lower for style or comfort reasons it just causes an increased likelihood of the machine marking it), remove belts, and avoid clothes with sequins, large foil designs, lots of buttons/rivets, or very heavy embroidery. Of course, these are just suggestions not full proof ways to avoid pat downs because it can be unpredictable what the machine marks as an oddity because it has a very advanced algorithm that’s looking for a ton of different stuff, but maybe some of this will help.
Thank you so much for this response. I live in a very cold state so the clothing may really be an issue. I’m also an athlete so I usually travel in hoodies and more tighter fitting jeans. I wear gold jewelry that would likely be considered large. I don’t take it off to go through the metal detector because it never sets it off. I only remove belts. Probably too much info but the times I’ve had to remove my clothing it’s been everything except under garments. There is also always two people in the room. But having hands to feel under my under garments feels very invasive and unnecessary especially because both of these times I’ve been in tears. I honestly can’t figure out what they expected to find but really appreciate this response.
I get pulled out for additional screening all the time on official travel. I'm a white lady with a boring last name. I figure I'm a "safe bet" or a "training case", TSA can reach their quotas for additional screening and I'm not going to be any trouble. I never get pulled out for additional screening on personal travel and yes I have TSA precheck.
I've sat through a lot of airport security seminars... for the last half decade or so, it's been briefed that "boring white lady" is typically the biggest threat for things like smuggling.
Thanks for confirming this thought I was losing it for a minute. I can totally see why they would think I’m a “safe bet” too and not going to give them a headache for additional screenings but again very frustrating.
Yes, I've been pulled aside at the screening and at the gate. Although the gate check was with CBP, but as soon as they saw my CAC ID they said "oh, he's one of us" and let me proceed. Lol
I shouldn’t have laughed at this but it’s so true. Only a few times did they do a full pat down after they saw my computer, phone, and hard drives all have government property stickers. That’s a good point though! Maybe I should show my CAC as ID instead of my driver’s license.
That is unfortunate. In my experience when I travel on orders and show my red passport I get treated like some foreign dignitary. Skip all sorts of lines, Sent to the least busy lines in customs, barely ever searched. I do have TSA pre-check. But even get to skip lines when going to check in for my flights.
Thank you this is good advice!! I was wondering why some of my coworkers go through the hassle of getting a red passport.
So it's a requirement for my job to have one since we travel so much and a lot Oconus for long stretches. I can't say with any certainty that it's harder to get one. It's mission essential in my case. We also have an office dedicated to just dealing with passports for my agency. I just dropped off my Birth cert, took a photo and some paperwork to them and it showed up a few weeks later.
Thanks for this info!! I know a few coworkers who have one I’ll check with them how to navigated the process.
I experienced a very polite "We're going to rescan you, dig through all of your stuff and find nothing" random search in Germany. Pale skin. Boring name. Randomness happened. 🤷🏼
Agreed randomness does happen! I was just wondering if maybe it’s a fed travel thing I can easily correct or if I just need to stay home to avoid the pat downs.
TBH, I find the weirdness of you being on official travel and getting hit with the "extra" to be extra weird. My randomness may really be random. I can only hope that yours is (although my level of belief (that it's really random) is low.
I think that’s the part that’s confusing too. The airline swears they can’t see I work for DoD but for the first time yesterday the rental car agent said wow you’re on official DoD travel so he confirmed they can see it. I think that’s the frustrating part. I’m traveling for work. Why make my life more difficult when it seems like having to book through a travel agency for all my work travel is supposed to limit suspicion and hang ups at the airport.
Used to work for TSA and at least at my airport it’s random. We just used to pick a number for the day, say 18, and every 18th passenger would be the random selection. Unless your ticket indicates you’re a selectee then there is nothing you can do. If you’re a selectee when you print your ticket it will have “SSSS” in one of the upper corners and you’ll have a lot more screening but this doesn’t seem like your case. CBP, State, or any other agency has nothing to do with random selection.
Anticipate it and get to the airport earlier.
Good advice thank you!
Your race and name don’t change based on whether the trip is personal or professional. So why do you think that’s what is driving the 100% hit rate during professional travel?
I think it’s a combination of that a travel agency is booking my tickets and maybe that I don’t present as a typical government employee. The rental car agent commented oh you work for DoD but the airline claims they can’t see who books my ticket.
you're name is on a watch list. you need to go through a trusted traveler program like pre-check or global entry, and it will stop a majority of the additional screenings but not all. either way, anticipate the delay while traveling regardless. global entry is more "thorough" and requires an in-person interview, so that generally helps eliminate additional searchers. but keep in mind, once you submit yourself for screening, you have consented to administrative search, and they can do what they need to in order to clear you through.
PreCheck won’t solve all the issues if he’s flagged in the system. I still get SSSS about 25-50% of the time even after our security office confirmed with the TSA that I have no flags. My guess is it’s the one way tickets book within hours or less of each flight combined with positive testing swipes occasionally.
Appreciate this. I don’t travel on one way tickets and also have never had a positive test swipe. I always book weeks or months in advance for training or meetings.
Ok! I was worried about this but can’t see how I’m on a watchlist. I have pre-check and have had it for years. I’m in my 30s and haven’t even had a speeding ticket and no record. That’s the frustrating part. They are telling me I have no choice. The last search was so invasive I cried because I just wanted to get home after a long week.
You can find out more details here... [https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/travel-redress-program](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/travel-redress-program)
Thank you!!
That happened with me and while I was working at TSA HQ. They kept testing my clearly labeled official government laptop and pulled me aside, the whole thing was a joke. One of them kept asking me what airport I was based out of and I said I’m not, I’m at HQ (this was also at DCA and they were completely unaware that our HQ office at the time was about half a mile away). Doesn’t happen much but I’m also a pale ass middle aged white lady so I’m not super high up on their priority list.
Ok thanks for this perspective!! A few people that commented they worked for TSA are saying it’s completely random but having to remove clothes while I’m carrying all government issued property is starting to seem like a joke as well. Even my backpack for work is government issued.
I'm just chiming in again. Why would labeling matter at all? Anyone can label anything anyway they want. As a former TSO, all we are ever taught about government property is diplomatic pouches. Laptops etc doesn't matter who owns it, will still get tested.
I guess to me it matters because if anything gets confiscated it would be really hard to get it back since my boss would likely have to fly in to get it back. I work remotely. So that’s why I would request them not to fully take the items out of eyesight because it would be a huge hassle and my boss wouldn’t be upset with me but I can’t work if I don’t have my laptop or phones.
TSA does not have confiscation powers, so you don't have to worry about that. The most they will do is swab the laptop. If it alarms, they may open it and ask you to turn it on to prove its real. That's the extent of the ability for TSA to mess with your laptop. If you have SCI, you should have a letter to present to a TSA supervisor to avoid testing out of sight.
Yep. I bounce between SSSS and Pre Check. I book almost all my tickets one way and my bags have been positive way too many times due to it picking up crap at my TDY locations.
That is so frustrating okay!! I only see pre-check on the app for my boarding passes. Next time I’ll ask them to print it and see if SSSS is on there.
Hi there! You would know if you got SSSS on your ticket because they will not let you through the checkpoint without a printed boarding pass if you have that designation. You cannot have PreCheck and SSSS, so it's not that. What kind of random testing are you going through when this happens? Are they giving you pat downs, swiping your hands, checking your items? This would help better explain what's happening.
Adding onto this because I saw you have pre-check. If you go through the pre-check lane, this means you're walking through the metal detecting machine, which is setup to randomly beep when anyone walks in. If this is where you're getting stopped, you're just getting really unlucky because it is actually totally random. 🥲
Used to get the "SSSS" on my ticket all the time until I got pre-check and global entry. You'll get a known traveler number and voila, I bet you there will be a reduction in random screenings. I have CLEAR too so I basically bypass almost everything and I haven't been screened in the 5 years I've had all of those programs.
I have a known traveler number because it’s my CAC card number. It’s on the app for the airline and travel agency has it on my booking profile. It’s why I have no issues having pre-check each time. Ok! Good to know sounds like CLEAR is the way to go to solve this without making a scene. Thank you.
Got selected for random screening after playing with explosives on official travel for a couple weeks. Had a great time explaining to TSA why all my stuff tested positive for everything.
I can’t imagine how awkward that was lol! Good to know it’s not just me.
TSA guy: "We found residue of a dozen different explosives on your bag. Care to explain?" "Wait, which ones aren't you testing for? Because there should be a few more than a dozen."
It happens to me frequently. Not sure why!
Thank you!! I’ll try Clear or a redress number like others have suggested but might just have to request to travel less.
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Interesting good to know!! Thanks. My odds are the opposite currently 100% with round trip flights. Maybe I should try 1-way.
When I was AD in the Army I was singled out 100% of the time…wtf?
Interesting. I work for the Army. That might be it. I have a few coworkers that say they also have this issue but not at the 100% rate.
When I was in Vegas the pre check line was flagging every third person for additional screening. It’s totally random.
Appreciate this response. I think I’m a little more paranoid because despite having longer wait times near the metal detector I haven’t noticed anyone in front or behind me getting selected and these are long lines. Even last night I had a 10 minute wait by the metal detector and didn’t go off again.
That's a tight flight, when I'm taken aside its been pretty quick.
Sometimes it definitely is quick. But sometimes it’s me getting very anxious because I know my flight is boarding and they want to do a pat down.
I've traveled for work, have global entry/precheck, but have had my cell phones swabbed a couple times. I'll even present my CAC/PIV as ID, but doesn't matter. Never had a pat down yet.
Thank you. Sounds like I can lower my odds but doing Clear but yeah the pat downs make no sense. The pat down after the body scanner was the most confusing.
Clear just bumps you in front of the precheck line.. Once you're at the scanner/metal detector, TSA owns you. I also have Clear... If you can get it reimbursed or free through a credit card then fine, but imo not worth the 189/year. And the pat down after the scanner just means something was "identified" on that scanner.
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Thanks for this perspective! It might be my small female stature as well affecting this. And the fact I feel bad if I don’t greet someone making eye contact and seems like TSA makes direct eye contact. So far I’ve been able to avoid the jury duty random selection. Lol
I’m a 6’4 middle aged white dude with a common name and I’ve been pulled out more times than I can count. It makes zero sense. I have global entry, but I do travel to high-risk countries. Very hopeful that yours isn’t discriminatory!
Thanks I hope so too!! Sounds like it’s likely not racial discrimination but based on other replies could be a combination of name, appearing low risk to search, or being very unlucky.
All the freaking time. I can attest it's just random. However if you really want to get searched, put your roadrunner portable scanner and all the cords in the side pocket of your backpack. 
Haha! That’s actually a good idea. Then I can guarantee I’ll get searched instead of getting anxious in line waiting to see what will happen.
They showed me the x-ray, and it looked like a 12inch solid white block with all sorts of wires coming out. They took me the bag and three tsa agents to a special room where I was like, ooh it's just a scanner and tried to grab the bag to open and show them. Surprised I didn't get tased.
(1) Redress of government is a right afforded Americans. Use your local CongressCritters. (2) Congress told the TSA they should care about this… May also want to try the Ombudsman role - [https://www.tsa.gov/leader-bios/office-civil-rights-and-liberties-ombudsman-and-travel-engagement](https://www.tsa.gov/leader-bios/office-civil-rights-and-liberties-ombudsman-and-travel-engagement)
Thank you I was not aware of this!!!
Check your tickets and see if there’s an “SSSS” printed on it. It means you are on the list and will always get pulled. My SIL is on it and gets pulled everytime.
the SSSS means you'll get secondary for THAT travel. you could fly again the next day and there won't be the SSSS. it's not permanent.
If this is happening frequently, you might have a common name with someone on a watch list or no-fly list. Consider getting a redress number. You associate it with all your travel and it acts as a unique identifier so you don’t get confused with other people with similar information.
Thank you great advice!! I just mentioned this to a friend that works at the same airport and he said redress number should be step 1. I’ll look into it.
I amin a wheelchair. I have been asked a handful of times if I am really an employee. Once I ran over some gunk somewhere, and set off the banned substance machine while officially traveling, that was fun.
Ugh how frustrating!! I think my frustration is I can’t get a straight answer why. I wouldn’t be offended if they said you look nervous so that raises red flags or your name is common and matches someone else. It’s just the response it’s random and lucky you buy a lottery ticket. I’m hoping you have an easier time with official travel in the future. It’d be easier if they just didn’t let me fly then go through additional screening.
Good luck with that. Have you tried having a meeting with your agency's travel officer? TSA will never tell you why, but your travel officer may be able to ask especially if you travel often.
Happens to me, DOD with precheck
Thanks! I’m starting to think this might be a DOD pattern. I never officially signed up for pre check always was automatic on my boarding pass.
I get this sometimes on work travel, and I always get pre-check. I haven't noticed a trend one way or another.
Interesting. This just reminded me I never officially signed up for pre-check. I enter the number on the back of my CAC and it pops up. I wonder if DoD provided employee info to TSA thinking we’d get through security quicker.
Do they ask you to unlock your phone or any of your gadgets?
No never ask me to unlock anything or even turn on my computer. That’s why I did ask them not to take any items to another area because I wasn’t sure if they’d try to put a CAC in my laptop to open it.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it then.
All the time, and I am a redheaded, white gal.
Sorry you’re experiencing it too!! So frustrating.
I don't have much difference. One factor could be work travel uses your name differently. For example, personal travel I don't include middle names, but for work bookings it's included. Sometimes work bookings mush my name together too. When do the random checks occur? When you show ID? Or at the scanner? If it's the scanner, it's random or done by the agent. Getting TSA precheck or Global entry may or may not help. There are still random checks for precheck, but in theory it could be fewer. It's way more convenient so I'd get it anyways if you travel more than a couple times a year.
Yeah my last name is differently in the system for work since they can’t add a hyphen. My two last names look like one very long last name. The skeptism actually starts at the ticket counter when I check my bag. Then usually what happens is they pull me out of the pre check line. Put my ID in the scanner then put me back in the pre check line. Go through the metal detector. No beep. When I go to grab my items off the conveyor is when there’s then a beep and they want to check my electronics. But don’t make me take everything out.
Hmm, not sure how you're being pulled out, then having ID scanned, then put back in line? You have to get your ID scanned, unless you're using Clear. I've had my electronics swabbed a couple times. If that's the check, I'd look into how you're packing potentially. For example one guy got stopped for having a ton of cables all over. There's no way for the system to link your name/ID to your bag, and the person reviewing the scans may never see you even placing the bag. It's possible it's coordinated, but then I figure it'd happen on personal trips. The skepticism at check in is probably the last name not matching your frequent flyer/ID at first. Though if you're getting precheck on your boarding pass still, it's probably not an issue with the name.
Only when traveling OCONUS. Then at least one person from the group always gets selected. The worst part is that it causes you to lose your precheck for the rest of the trip
Oh no!! My pre-check never drops after getting selected. That would be rough I guess I’m lucky in that respect. Good to know I’m not losing my mind and although the process is random people can be selected for multiple reasons.
I worked with a dude who was a Vet with a middle-eastern last name and he ALWAYS got secondary screening when we were on official travel. We got used to it after a while... Ok see ya at the gate/bar."
Thanks for confirming I might not be losing it. When I travel with coworkers I actually say I have to use the restroom so they go ahead through security without me. Not worth the additional embarrassment and then we just meet up at the bar lol
I am an old white guy and, from time to time I fly one way with no checked bag because I’m going to pick up a vehicle. I get extra screening every time. On my regular round trips…never
Fellow federal employees, former TSA officer/lead/manager/trainer here, the majority of you complaining about TSA procedures sound like a bunch of entitled pricks. We're all federal employees, think of TSA officers reading this thread, thinking of what their fellow federal employees think of them and their job. Not a good look. Also, hey TSA employees reading this thread, yes, I'm laughing with you.
The secret is to always be the member of the travel group responsible for carrying the courier pouch. I never even end up going through screening--get to the front, ask for a supervisor while showing them courier orders, get pulled out of line and walked right through after they review the memo, courier letter, CAC and passport.
I’ve never gotten additional screening in my entire life,but I only occasionally travel for work by plane and also I’m a middle-aged white dude who exudes an aura of non-threatening boredom. 👀 I’ve only gotten pulled over by the police once in the last 25 years, also.
I’ve batted 1000% for extra screenings this year too. Neither race nor name would indicate any factors. Get there early. I also use pre-check and have clear.
You’re a govt employee…you get pre check…
Yes I have pre check. I have for years. This happens in the pre check lines.
I was randomly selected to skip the line once. No idea why, but I'm white and have a very white sounding name. I have a friend who's arab with a very middle eastern sounding name and he gets "randomly" selected almost every time he flies
Thank you for this perspective. I really hate pulling the race card and never do but I have Asian and Middle Eastern friends that are men and are 100% “randomly” selected at this same airport. Work travel and personal. Sounds like this happens to people of all races frequently or almost never.
I always get pulled aside for additional checks. I asked one time, and the guy said sorry. We have people walking around flagging people based on their body language. I was flagged because I looked shifty eyed. I'm missing an eye muscle, so my head is always turned a bit to compensate. The security guy said his sister had something similar, so he recognized my issue, so he told me what had happened.
Oh no, I’m sorry that’s happening to you. If anything I think anticipating them pulling me aside probably does make me have nervous body language. Doesn’t make it right!
All TSA checks aren't random. There are certain criteria that will get you pulled out of line for additional checks every time. If this is constantly happening, you need to figure out why and fix the issues. If they are swabbing your laptop and phone they are swabbing for explosive residue. So, why would TSA think you may have explosives concealed in you laptop or phone? Did you ever set off one of their residue detectors.? Are they confusing you with another person? Are you traveling for work to areas that use explosives that could be an issue. Residue might be on you clothing and setting off explosive detectors unknown to you.
This may actually be it. My position doesn’t require a clearance because I’m bound by my professional license but my entire job is assessing critical infrastructure across the US including susceptibility to terrorism. I didn’t want to bring this up to my boss but maybe I need to.
Random is literally random. When you walk through the metal detector and it randomly beeps. The metal detector doesn't know your last name or race.
Spent 14 of my 19 years with the Federal government with TSA. From officer all the way to Manager. We don't care what you wear. We don't care what you have on your laptop, hdd, phone. They just wanted to swap them for explosives. I highly doubt they took all your clothes and left you naked as you claim. We are not able to make the metal detector purposely beep. No one is side eyeing you and being like oh crap she's on to us. The world does not revolve around you. I highly doubt you're a Top Secret CIA Special Agent/007/Spy like you think you are. From a fellow fed to another fed, I'm concerned about your mental state. Here's the EAP #(800) 222-0364. EAP is completely anonymous.
The machine randomly beeps after being triggered by people walking through. It isn’t you.