A Virginia Congressman is calling on the TSA to be a bit more polite. After going through an unpleasant security experience, Rep. Gerry Connolly told TSA official Kelly Hoggan that he wishes the TSA staff would simply say "please."
Connolly spoke about his experience during a recent trip to Las Vegas according to the New York Daily News.
"I counted - in one encounter - 20 barked orders," Connolly said. "'Take that off ... Move over there ... Back up ... Put your hands up ... Take your shoes off.' Not once was the word 'please' used.
"I don't understand how hard it is to teach people: make sure you use the words 'please' and 'thank you' when you're interacting with our public," Connolly said.
"I would agree," Hoggan told Connolly. She added that TSA workers are currently receiving customer service training. Connolly urged Hoggan to add even more training or he will draft legislation to make it a requirement. He believes such legislation would get bipartisan support.
"I know I won't have any resistance from the other side of the aisle on that one," he said.
According to TSA administrator John Pistole, the agency screens about 1.8 million people a day.
"Sometimes we get it right. Most of the time we do. Sometimes somebody is not 100% pleased. Sometimes that's a member of Congress," Pistole said at Dulles Airport when promoting the new PreCheck prescreening program. "We try to learn from mistakes."
According to David Cox, the national president of screeners union AFGE said that staff members "face tremendous pressure to keep the lines moving as fast as possible and simultaneously provide the kind of scrutiny that terrorism prevention requires." He believes that screeners are indeed a "respectful, knowledgeable and well-trained workforce that tries to do its best for the flying public every day."
Connolly added that he knows that screeners must be under pressure and they have successfully prevented another terrorist attack since 9/11.
The TSA is often criticized for its screening measures like shoe removal and full body scans.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
