These Common Behaviors Are MAJOR TSA Red Flags

Most common TSA mistakes and red flags to avoid when going through airport security. Learn about surprising behaviors and items that raise suspicions and how to avoid them for a smoother experience.

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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 TSA Red Flags to Avoid
0:54 TSA Tip #1: Protocol Violations
1:46 TSA Tip #2: How Not To Dress
2:14 TSA Tip #3: What Not To Bring
3:13 TSA Tip #4: Behaviors to Avoid

[ajvanmarle]

Here's the joke. In twenty years of existence, TSA hasn't caught a single terrorist. On the other hand, more than 200 TSA agents have been found guilty of stealing passengers' property.

[photomanwilliams]

I'm an old guy who remembers when the flying experience was part of the joy of vacation. Now it's, get past the airport experience so I can start the vacation.

[mka]

I remember when full body scanners were first being tested at Heathrow... the line for security was stupidly long (like 45 minutes), but I saw that they were selecting "random" individuals from the line, putting them through the full body scanner and then escorting them to the front of the line. So I stared over at the people doing the selection until one of them looked over at me, I immediately broke eye contact and turned my head away from them. Wouldn't you know, I got "randomly" selected and bypassed a big chunk of queue.

[forgottensage-oo]

I'm stopped 80% of the time. I'm male and travel alone. Other than that, I looked bored, unstressed, and am dorky and middle aged. When I'm searched, I'm STILL bored and unbothered because it happens so often. Apparently this is all very suspicious.

[davidconnell]

I got stopped in Africa. They pulled out my tuning fork. What is this? I said, it’s a tuning fork. I am a choir leader. Show us what you do. I struck the tuning fork, and sang the pitch back.
They looked at me very very suspicious, and said, keep it stowed in your bag.

[LetsGoChaseThatTrain]

It's security theatre. Not actual security.

[neresq]

My husband always seems to get pulled aside. One agent finally told him it's because his travel day "dad jeans" are a little too baggy. LOL.

[BarryRiley-ex]

“Americans are always ready to trade their freedoms for the illusion of security.” George Carlin.

[susandunn]

My friend had a stroke and was partially paralyzed on her left side. I don’t know if it was because of her wheelchair and couldn’t get into the scanner, but whatever the reason she was forced to stand on her one working leg while they patted her down. Because she wore a mastectomy bra, the hand scanner alarmed causing further embarrassment. They took her to a private area but would not allow her husband or any family member to come with them while they removed her bra to make sure it wasn’t dangerous.

She felt both violated and humiliated. This was just after 9/11 and she’s flown since then but it was an awful experience for her.

[stevemartin]

Flying has become really tedious; as my daughter saus; "The worst thing about travelling is travelling!" A great quote

[NoferTrunions]

I flew around 1962, I was 10, and the experience was incredible. I kid you not, had lobster tail on china with heavy cutlery on a linen tablecloth on the pull down - and this was coach. Back then every seat was 1st class. Then I flew a bunch in the 70's. So nice. If I volunteered off and got a free ticket, I sold them. I could also walk up to the 1st ticket counter of any airline, show my ticket and ask if there was an earlier flight I could get on. Usually they (airtline A) would take my ticket (airline B) and give me boarding passes for that flight (airline C). I'm 71 now and about 5 years ago I just quit flying. Thankyou TSA for making flying unbearable.

[thatguyrich]

Fun Fact: Since it's formation, the TSA has never caught a single terrorist... not a single one.

[tastx]

I have always been selected and my backpack chosen even though I traveled with 2 teenagers with backpacks. My son would pretend he didn’t know me because he was embarrassed by me being picked EVERY time. I was never worried but always assumed it was random but realized that it had to do with me. Only once was I skipped and it was because the staff were moving the ropes to shorten the winding path and the person behind me shoved me out of the way to get ahead. I just followed at a normal pace and didn’t react. The man who shoved me was selected. It made my day as they waved me through. 😊

[williamhenderson]

I travel all over the country. Every city seems to have their own TSA rules. Some agents are very professional and some act like they just crawled out of the sewer.

[IrishAnnie]

My high school age son said, “Look at those guys. They look suspicious.” They pulled my son aside and went through his stuff. I still tease him about that..

[commanderboom]

On my APES trip in high school, our teacher got checked by the TSA all three times we went through security. The probable reason? He had a large black beard that covered most of his face and was reasonably fit. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: your TSA, successfully protecting you from bearded schoolteachers since 2002.

[zrrifle.]

The Gestapo-like attitude of a lot of TSA employees is what makes it such an unpleasant experience. It's obvious some of them clearly enjoy antagonizing you and purposely make a normal situation unnecessarily tense. A few would make great prison guards.

[paulbrungardt]

I am a rifle target shooter. The day after competing in a competition, I was pulled aside by TSA to have my boots swabbed for explosives. These were the same boots I had worn while shooting. I passed the swab test without incident. I conclude TSA is more about intimidation by minimally educated government employees.

[DJapan]

Interesting travel tip. I knew a professional photographer who had a lot of expensive equipment in his bags. He said he bought a starter pistol, like what they use to start a running race, and puts it in his checked bag and declares it. Because it's technically a gun they take really good care of that bag.

[gladius]

I fart when they’re patting me down. That usually moves the process along faster.