TSA Checkpoint 4 – Honolulu International Airport

Saturday December 13^th at approximately 1900 hours I observed the TSA lady (who will be referred to as She) address an elderly man who was adjacent the inspection table watching for his bag. She brought the tray cart around and shoved it right in front of him causing him to step back, and told him it was a work area and motioned for him to step back. It is not cordoned off nor identified as such, so he had no idea. She started tossing in the trays loudly. «Grampa» watched her and looked at me as if to say, «Wow she’s having a bad day».
She held up a bag and asked whose it was and it was the elderly man’s. She asked if there was anything sharp, dangerous etc., to which he said no. She searched and found a bottle of ice tea, and told him it was not allowed — he said he forgot, she THREW it into the bin with a loud bang, I was surprised it didn’t break as it was glass. Which by the way, always perplexes me. If TSA takes away liquids as they may be explosive, why the hell do they THROW them in these bins? Boom. Hello!
Several minutes later She held up a bag and asked whose it was. A young man answered it was his. She said it has a lap top in it. He answered, «I have a lap top?» She said, «Yes», and that he was «supposed to take it out and put it in the tray». He replied, «No one told me.» She yelled back at him, «I’m telling you now!»
The guy stood around, waiting for his bag, and his tray to come through. I saw him putting one of the empty trays on top the other trays. He did not throw it like She was, but then a heavy set TSA supervisor came over and asked the passenger if there was a problem. The passenger was puzzled and said no there is no problem to which the TSA man said loudly then why are you hindering us?. The passenger replied,“Hindering? How am I hindering you?” The TSA guy just kept talking over the passenger, nearly yelling, which alerted everyone around that there was an «issue». Then he walked away. The TSA lady (She) was giving dirty looks like She was trying to egg someone on.
The passenger gathered up his belongings, waited for his bag and I heard him say under his breath, «I kill people and this is how they treat me.»
As the passenger got his bag to put the lap top back in it, I saw US Army and his name embroidered on it. He was a VETERAN! Shame on TSA. This was no way for anyone representing the United States Government Department of HOMELAND Security (note the word HOMEland) to treat someone who is fighting for our country. Shame on TSA.
The whole time this passenger was courteous, and did not get out of hand, although I could tell he was irritated. I would be too if someone yelled at me in front of a room full of strangers. As he passed me I stopped him, I thanked him for the job he was doing for our country and to keep up the good work, held out my hand to shake his, which he obliged. He said thank you and walked away.
Shortly thereafter this TSA lady (She) continued throwing the trays into each other making a lot of noise, and the TSA supervisor told her to watch it, as the guy could be outside watching. His caution is a ready admission that She was out of line. TSA needs to stick her on reading the xray machines and not having any personal contact. She told me she does not like people. After seeing her behavior, I agree.
TSA should check their security tapes from that day to confirm everything I have said. TSA was out of line.