3 year old doesnt want to go to Disney World after TSA incident

[NYDisneyKid]

Poor kid. I feel for her.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Vid...z/-/index.html

[sam_gordon]

Originally Posted by NYDisneyKid

Poor kid. I feel for her.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Vid...z/-/index.html

I feel sorry for the child. At the very least, every TSA agent on duty at that time should get additional training regarding what passengers are allowed to do (specifically regarding recording screenings).

However, what it sounds like to me was the child's lamb (and possibly the ipad) were taken from her to go through the screenings. I'm guessing THAT'S what upset the child. If so, that means the parents didn't "prepare" her for what would be required to go through security. Did anyone else notice she stopped crying as soon as she got the Ipad back?

The line at the end of the video... "Why do we continue to let TSA touch our children" doesn't make sense to me because as far as I could tell, the child was never touched. It sounded like the TSA agent ended up just swabbing the chair.

[Alesia]

The TSA didn't do anything wrong. I just don't understand why parents don't prepare their children...

[kaytieeldr]

sam_gordon is right. The girl's crying had nothing to do with additional screening by the TSA. Once she got her toys back, her crying - and desire to not go to Disney World - stopped.

[a1tinkfans]

Originally Posted by Alesia

The TSA didn't do anything wrong. I just don't understand why parents don't prepare their children...

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm going to reference and agree with others, it's a lack of personal responsibility and responsibility for your kids that is the bigger issue.

[DSLRuser]

Totally the parents fault. They need to pay attention and have the child's stuff in the bins. At 3 years old the child should be able to comprehend you get it Bach.

I have no problem with tsa workers. They are doing their job. Everyone gets treated the same. Black white old young. They have a process and they follow it. You start making exceptions, and then we are untroubled because exceptions can be exploited.

[goofy4tink]

I have to agree with everyone else. While it can be disturbing to children to go through security, it is up to parents to prepare them for the experience. I have watched young children go through security. Some have been pulled out for addtl screening...not sure why, but they were. The parents were calm about it, and stood there, with the child, and watched the entire process without getting all upset about it. I have stood and watched my own child be patted down and wanded...several times. I never felt that she was being touched inappropriately. I told her what might happen, it happened, she dealt with it, we got on the plane...period.

Now, there was the one flight, about 2 months after 9/11, that we had an 'incident'. My dd was just 8. She was a nervous flier. We had flown PanAm into/out of Sanford. I had talked to PanAm, on the phone, about 4 times to be sure that my dd's Corduroy bear would be able to remain with her...it had always been allowed on all other flights she had taken, and it gave her a lot of comfort. So, I figured with security the way it was, at that time, I would be very sure.
I was told, on each occasion, that yes, dd would be able to keep her stuffed bear with her, as long as it went through the scanner with all other personal items. Ok, fine. So, our flight down was no issue...the bear got his x-ray and off we went. Well, our return flight, out of Sanford, was a nightmare. It was un-nerving enough to see armed men/women in the airport, but when we got to the counter to check in, the agent told my dd she would have to hand her bear over. 'No,' I said. 'PanAm had told me that the bear was fine as long as it went through the scanner'. 'Sorry mam, but the bear can not go on as her personal item. It must be checked.' 'No, I talked to PanAm directly, three times, and was told that wasn't the case.' Now, my dd now has to fly, for the first time, without the dang bear, she is scared silly by all the guns she sees, and this person at the counter is making her feel like a little child. She is now crying, the agent is getting nastier, and I'm getting really upset. I mean, seriously....the bear isn't an issue. There are people getting through security with handbags much larger than that bear..send it through the scanner!!! Nope, wasn't happening. That woman was just plain nasty..her attitude was one of extreme 'power'. So, off we went, to go through security, where my dd was pulled aside, patted down and wanded, while standing next to an armed guard!!! Dear God!!! Yes, dh and I also got this treatment as well.
But, here's the thing...I had prepared dd for what was going to happen...she was ready for it. But not for her bear to be taken away when it had been fine on the flight to Sanford.

So, yes, parents need to educate their children. I have a hard time believing that there is any huge deal about a child going through security and having to be patted down. As long as the parent is standing there, with the child, have at it. This constant need to have everything on tape is getting ridiculous. The mother in this video is over the top. I mean, really? 'I don't let anyone touch my child without being taped.'? Seriously??? She could have told her child, prior to going through security, that the iPad and Lamby were going to be taken away for a little bit, and go through the 'picture machine'. The little girl would have been prepared, there wouldn't have been all the crying. And maybe mom should have just quietly stood next to her child and allowed the TSA to do what they needed to do, then gone quietly about her business.
Did she not know this was going to be the case before she got to the airport??

[natfrac]

The one time I got really upset with the TSA was like the pp, not long after 9/11, and did not involve a child. I was flying home by myself. The agent took my purse, including my wallet behind a solid partition and took every item out. Even took all the stuff out of my wallet, every receipt, my ID, etc. Even though I was told to stay behind the partition and that I wasn't allowed to view what the agent was doing, I kept peeking. Honestly I was concerned that he was going to plant something in my bag, since the whole process felt very secretive. Needless to say, I reported this to the TSA and expressed my concerns. Their response was polite enough, that this was not protocol and more training was needed.

[wiigirl]

Originally Posted by Alesia

The TSA didn't do anything wrong. I just don't understand why parents don't prepare their children...

Agreed.

[goofy4tink]

Okay...a few addtl thoughts.
Was the TSA (O) wrong? Maybe in their statements that filming is illegal. Other than that? Not so sure.
Here's what I don't understand. The mother plainly states that this has never happened to her before when flying with her dd. The agent (or whatever you want to call her) asked if there was a wheelchair involved the other times. Mom said no, this was the first time. So.....my question....did the child go through security on her own? Was she in the wheelchair when she went through? Or did she get out and walk through?
I have no issue with them wanting to swipe the wheelchair for explosives. Silly? Yes, but it's pretty much routine at this point. And 3 y/o kids just don't automatically get a pat down. They don't even have to take off their shoes for crying out loud!!! So, I'm really not at all sure what actually went on here.

Did mom try to get the child, in the wheelchair, through all at the same time? Did this then have TSA stop them?? Yes, it is obvious that they were on the other side of security, but most certainly not at the gate as some have said. There just seems to be much more to what is going on here.

Is the mom right?? Is the TSA right?? No idea. I think the TSA can use a little more common sense in their dealings with the public. And I think (still) that parents need to understand what existing policy is and prepare their families for what 'may' happen at the airport.

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

Is the mom right?? Is the TSA right?? No idea. I think the TSA can use a little more common sense in their dealings with the public. And I think (still) that parents need to understand what existing policy is and prepare their families for what 'may' happen at the airport.

For some reason, I can't view the video but this is a true statement regardless.

I wish I could say TSA needs to be more consistent but the randomness is part of what works. Still some of their guidelines are too vague and up for too much individual interpretation. (For instance, one year I was in the middle of a knitting project and wondered if I could work on it on the plane. There was no clear rule on whether my bamboo knitting needles were allowed. Some people reported they never had a problem, others said xyz airport will most always confiscate them, others got through xyz...)

Childrens' wheelchairs are nothing like those simple folding chairs hospitals and most nursing homes use. They are heavy, dismantle easily (into any nimber of pieces to) fit in a car, and... Usually have gel padded seat cushions. I'm sure thst warrants attention. It has nothing to do with the disability, it has to do with the chair.

Prepare your kids! We are not a jet-setting family but my DD has flown annually for a couple years (starting with when shoes had to come off toddlers). She never fussed- we prepared her. Now she knows she puts everything in a bin, gets to walk barefoot, and sees her bunny get X-rays! I'm sure it helped that her first flight left a sleepy little airport.

Last flight we took, my aunt and uncle were flagged for special screening leaving Jamaica. We explained to DD where they were and why. And how it keeps planes safe. If we were pulled aside, I hope we could remember to be calm and cooperative. If patents get hysterical, the child learns that what is happening is scary and makes her look like a "bad person"

Why do we continue to let TSA touch our children? Because some people will use their children as weapons. And I hope they would catch every family that would try that- save the passengers, save the child.

[DSLRuser]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

I think the TSA can use a little more common sense in their dealings with the public.

No, there is no room for common sense.

If the TSA has the option of not checkng a special needs baby, then a group who wants to do harm only has to round up families with special needs children as marters or what ever. sick, but yeah, they do this type of stuff.

The TSA has a random numbr...pick every 7th person from the line and check them. (example) so if the 7th person is a special needs child in a wheel chair....they get checked.

[bumbershoot]

Originally Posted by DSLRuser

No, there is no room for common sense.

Well, sometimes there is. Like the agent at MCO yesterday who was looking straight at me while sternly saying (in general) that we should put IDs and tickets away, that there was no need for them. Well dude, once I get a hand free I will be MORE than happy to do so. As it is, I am carrying my small item in one hand, and pulling my rolly bag while pinching those small items between my fingers with that hand. Let's have the people in front of me move forward so I can have a moment to free up a hand, and I'll put them away, because I know they aren't needed. I just didn't want to stop in the middle of everything to put them away when it doesn't do any HARM to have them out for a minute longer than needed.

He could have used common sense there.


A 3 year old with an ipad who will cry when the ipad is taken away is a 3 year old that maybe isn't grown enough to have an ipad....

[ccgirl]

Originally Posted by Alesia

The TSA didn't do anything wrong. I just don't understand why parents don't prepare their children...

Yup, this.