TSA refused CHL for ID

[grumble]

Aww man! I totally forgot about my Sam's card!!
Maybe I'll use that first. Then hand over the CHL if they don't like Sam's.
And then maybe I'll find my TDL.

Stupid people make me crazy!!!!!!!

Was flying from Newark to Indianapolis about 4 years ago. When I travel, I ALWAYS carry my US Passport. There's no higher form of ID. I walk up to the young lady at the ticket counter (I was checking a bag) and handed her my boarding pass and my US passport. She said "I need your NJ driver's license, please." Well now the fun begins.. I say to her "you have my US passport. That is what I have out." She repeats, "I will need to see your NJ driver's license please." Now this is making absolutely no sense to me. Of course, I had a current and valid NJ driver's license, but I was trying to make a point. I responded to her "Ma'am, you have my passport. It's recently issued with a recent photo, and the U.S. Government recognizes it over any state identification." Again, she responds, "please hand me your NJ driver's license." I then said to her "What if I don't drive? What if I don't have a NJ license? I *DO* have a US Passport as you can see. What other forms of ID would be acceptable? How about my NRA Lifetime Membership Card?" - At that point, she just stared blankly at me. I then gave up and handed her my NJ driver's license. She stamped my boarding pass and sent me on my way. Life was good. Yep. It was good. Right up to the point that I got in line at the security checkpoint. Handed the TSA dude my US passport - he smiled, motioned to 3 other TSA agents to come over... And that's where the real fun started. Long story short, it's a VERY good thing I had gotten to the airport 3 hours before my flight time as I pretty much needed every minute.

I'd probably do it again if I was flying out of Jersey

I've never had ANYONE refuse to let me on board a plane with my US Passport prior to, or after, this particular incident. I'll be flying from DFW to Ft. Lauderdale in a month or so and I'll be taking a firearm, and you can be assured that I'll be on my best behavior.

So let's just say I'm annoyed by the "Sam's card" story.

[alvins]

once when i was a cashier this lady showed a photo id for her cat. ofcourse ive had people tell me my 2 dollar bills are fake also.

[texanjoker]

Many govt' issued ID's get rejected all the time by various agencies. That is just part of life. I doubt it had to do with it being a CHL, just outside their norm.

[Kythas]

While many of us do not have a very favorable opinion of TSA, myself included, they can cause you a bunch of trouble if they perceive that they are being challenged.

The Sturmabteilung and Schutzstaffel could cause you a bunch of trouble if they perceived they were being challenged, too. Yet it was lack of them being challenged that allowed them to become as powerful as they became.

[grumble]

I've traveled by air for over 27 years (USA, Canada and Mexico). 2.3 million miles just on American Airlines alone. I've been reading all of the posts with great interest. I know sometimes the TSA can be a bit "misinformed" and a bit of a PITA at times. I also read that sometimes you folks want to make a point about the ID you use. I guess that is up to you. However, I have NEVER had a issue with identification with the airlines or TSA. The reason for this? I ALWAYS try to stay below the radar on things when traveling. I ALWAYS use my passport for identification and have never had a issue with TSA or the airlines when doing so. I also do not say anything unless spoken to and then I only answer the question. Nothing more. While many of us do not have a very favorable opinion of TSA, myself included, they can cause you a bunch of trouble if they perceive that they are being challenged.

I just thought I would share my thoughts on this subject.

I have traveled extensively as well, and have always followed this exact set of rules, hence walking up to the ticketing counter with my boarding pass and passport out. Keep in mind, in my narrative above, I never said I had any issue with the way that the TSA handled my security check. Frankly, they were professional, but incredibly thorough . It was the airline employee who did not seem to "get it" that a US passport is the ultimate form of ID. I made my point, she learned absolutely nothing from it, and I got to see the "inner workings" of the TSA and their back rooms. A win-win IMHO. Yes, I'm being light-hearted about it.

I understand the need for security. I witnessed 9/11 firsthand in NYC. That still doesn't give the "angry to have to be here at 5a.m." airline rep the right to just give people a hassle because she hadn't had her second cup of coffee. Frankly, if she doesn't understand government documents (she was only checking in a bag for me), she shouldn't have been working the counter.

[rotor]

So we all know TSA workers are just in the process of getting their PhD's and the job is temporary. I personally do not want to show anyone my chl license. Now, what would have happened if the police stopped you while driving and you didn't have your drivers license? Or what if you were carrying and didn't have your chl with you and were stopped by police? Could be big problem for you.

[C-dub]

I think it is incredibly telling that the only country that has an issue with my U.S. Passport is the country in which it was issued. I have traveled to many countries outside of the U.S. since 9.11.01 and no one has not accepted my passport. I have not used it for ID anywhere in the U.S. except the airport in the U.S. when exiting and entering the country. I have used it for ID everywhere asked for ID outside of the country.

Could it be that for domestic flights and other areas that are not accustomed to seeing a real U.S. Passport they just are not familiar enough with it to recognize it or know much of anything about it? Although, I am curious how these same people would react to a foreign traveler that presented their country's passport. I bet they would accept that. Hmm, IDK.

[Andrew]

So we all know TSA workers are just in the process of getting their PhD's and the job is temporary. I personally do not want to show anyone my chl license. Now, what would have happened if the police stopped you while driving and you didn't have your drivers license? Or what if you were carrying and didn't have your chl with you and were stopped by police? Could be big problem for you.

While the TSA had it's hands full dealing with nationalized employees(incompetence, injuries?, absenteeism, theft,etc), since early in the aughts, a very large majority of male new hires have been long term or retired military, or retired LEO. Finding females(who are vital to operations vis-a-vis screening female passengers)with similar backgrounds has been very difficul, if not impossible. The LEOs seem to have migrated into upper supervisorial positions (including Airport FSDs)while former military are the frontline supv. or lead screeners(you can tell who the supv. are by the number of rings on their epaulets).

Not every man or woman who has served has the temperment or the skills to work with the public,(I'd be getting arrested for assault daily if I had to work F2F with some of the folks that I've observed when I traveled for work) any more than the population as a whole. Ops protocols can change daily, are different for different airports, require communication to the traveling public, there's no way to win here. Compound the difficulty of the job, with constant changes in how to do the job, mean spirited travelers, the ridicule that is heaped on to TSA screeners at every turn by just about the whole country and who, with marketable skills and in their right mind, would consider working for the TSA?
And remember, the policies and protocols that frontline TSA staff are trying to work with, were promulgated far from the screening area.
Sorry for the rant, my Bride is gonna kick my behind. And, No IANATSAE, nor do I play one on t.v.

[C-dub]

Sorry for the rant, my Bride is gonna kick my behind. And, No IANATSAE, nor do I play one on t.v.

As far as rants go I thought that was tame. Is your bride on this forum. If not, we won't tell.

While you may not be a TSAE, is your bride?

[Andrew]

Sorry for the rant, my Bride is gonna kick my behind. And, No IANATSAE, nor do I play one on t.v.

As far as rants go I thought that was tame. Is your bride on this forum. If not, we won't tell.

While you may not be a TSAE, is your bride?

No she isn't a member, my son, my BIL, and oldest daughter are members though. No she isn't a TSAE, she's one of the vile promul'gators'.

[The Annoyed Man]

I've traveled by air for over 27 years (USA, Canada and Mexico). 2.3 million miles just on American Airlines alone. I've been reading all of the posts with great interest. I know sometimes the TSA can be a bit "misinformed" and a bit of a PITA at times. I also read that sometimes you folks want to make a point about the ID you use. I guess that is up to you. However, I have NEVER had a issue with identification with the airlines or TSA. The reason for this? I ALWAYS try to stay below the radar on things when traveling. I ALWAYS use my passport for identification and have never had a issue with TSA or the airlines when doing so. I also do not say anything unless spoken to and then I only answer the question. Nothing more. While many of us do not have a very favorable opinion of TSA, myself included, they can cause you a bunch of trouble if they perceive that they are being challenged.

I just thought I would share my thoughts on this subject.

Did you read two posts above yours? Apparently your US passport is worth less than a SAM's Card when you're traveling. I don't fly anymore because Janet Napolitano is a cave troll and TSA security—at least the ones I've had to deal with—are all her Uruk-hai. I don't use MY U.S. Passport because it notes that I was born in Morocco. If you haven't had a colonoscopy in a while, bring ID to the airport that shows your were born somewhere in Jihadistan.........and I am an old white-haired man with reading glasses, a southern accent, and a Kentucky Colonel beard and mustache.....and a cane. But by God, I must look hellbent on blowing up a airplane. Bless their hearts.

My last trip ever on an airliner was last May, and I had to fly to make it to a rocket launch on time at Kennedy Space Center. But I normally drive anywhere I go in the U.S. outside of Texas, and I much prefer it—one of the blessings of being self employed and able to take my business with me when I want to travel. I get to see more of the country that way, and meet a lot of nice people I wouldn't otherwise get to meet. And until they start putting "security theater" stops on all the interstates, I don't have to dance with any cave trolls or Uruk-hai. Bless their baggy black hearts.