Read this!!! Interesting!!! I received an email from an ORD based flight attendant with the story below. And for those of you who know me, you know I need to follow-up when I see an injustice. So I went ahead and shot an email to TSA... and read the story below. The emails are set in chronological order. If anyone has any input, please send me a message. Thanks!

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From an Chicago based UA Flight Attendant: (Dec.05)

I got pulled today at O'hare customs. The customs agent asked me specifically if I took anything from the plane and if I bought anything from the crew or purser (thought that was a weird question). He said they were doing random crew searches because of reports of crew stealing from the airplane. I am going to contact the union and find out if united is once again trying to get around proper bag searches by having customs search us.

By the way, just talked to the union. Customs Agents are reporting crews and you need to get the Customs Agent(s) badge numbers and names if this happens to you!

My questions are:

1. Why would TSA help United this way? Any benefits for TSA?

2. Does UA has the authority to ask TSA to do searches on their behalf?

3. What are TSA proper procedures when searching crew bags?

I guess this is a story what will continue to develop....

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Then, I decided to send this email via the TSA website feedback section:

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 7:31 AM
To: Hornbach, Barbara
Subject: Got Feedback : Chicago-O'Hare Int'l Airport (ORD)


Current Date/Time: 12/13/2008 8:31:47 AM
Airport: Chicago-O'Hare Int'l Airport (ORD)

Date/Time of Travel: 12/5/2008
Airline & Flight Number: United

Checkpoint/Area of Airport: O'Hare Immigrations at Terminal 5
TSA Employee: (If Known):
Compliment/Complaint:

One of the crew members of a United flight got pulled to a secondary check at O'Hare customs. The TSA agent asked the crew member, specifically, if s/he took anything from the plane.

The TSA agent also asked if the crew member if she "bought anything from the crew or purser" (thought that was a weird question).

The TSA agent said they were doing random crew searches because of reports of crew stealing from United airplanes.

I would like TSA to answer the following questions:

1. What are TSA proper procedures when searching crew bags? Anywhere crew members can read or access these procedures?

2. Does any airline management has the authority to ask TSA to do bag searches on their behalf? If so, what is the procedure?

3. If an airline management member asks TSA to do bag searches on their behalf, is this public information that can be look at? if so, how?

4. If these are not the proper procedures, what are the resources the crew member has to report the TSA agent who does an improper bag search?

5. Lastly, what is considered an improper bag search?

Thank you very much and any help you can send, (i.e. online resources or regulations available) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Would you like a response?: Yes
Passenger’s Name: XXXX
Phone Number: XXXX
Email: XXXX

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-----Original Message-----
From: Hornbach, Barbara
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 8:36 AM
To: XXXX
Cc: Hornbach, Barbara; GotFeedback; SALGADO, PATRICK
Subject: RE: Got Feedback : Chicago-O'Hare Int'l Airport (ORD)

Mr. XYZ:

I am forwarding your Got Feedback email to Customs & Border Patrol for their consideration.

Regards,
Barbara Hornbach


Barbara H. Hornbach
Customer Service Quality Improvement Manager
Transportation Security Administration
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Tel: (773) 377-1217
Cell: (773) 343-1772
Email: barbara.hornbach@dhs.gov

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Sent: December 17, 2008

Mr. XYZ:

We discussed this Got Feedback email that you sent us. First of all, if a crew member has a complaint, he/she needs to contact us directly with the following information:

- Name
- Date/time
- Exact airline/flight number
- Inbound/outbound
- Is the issue with a TSA Officer, a US Customs & Boarder Protection Officer, or a CBP Agricultural Specialist? These are distinct positions and in the case of TSA and CBP different agencies.

Moreover, the answers to the questions you have asked are sensitive security information and cannot provided you. In addition, owing to the Privacy Act of 1974 we not at liberty to investigate the incident or release any information on the individual who prompted your inquiry.

We will be glad to direct the individual impacted to the proper authorities when we hear from him/her.

With kind regards,
Barbara Hornbach

Barbara H. Hornbach
Customer Service Quality Improvement Manager
Transportation Security Administration
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Tel: (773) 377-1217
Cell: (773) 343-1772
Email: barbara.hornbach@dhs.gov

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Then, I replied on December 17th:

Ms. Hornbach:

Thank you so much for your reply and I do appreciate your time.

The issue we have, as Flight Attendants and crew members, is that we need to know, for once and for all, if a TSA Officer, a US Customs & Boarder Protection Officer, or a CBP Agricultural Specialist has the right to be asked by an Airline Management to do bag and personal searches on their behalf.

I don’t think that qualifies as a “sensitive/security” information. It should be a straight yes or no answer.

If you cannot answer that question, who should I speak to.

Thank you so much and I do hope to get an answer from you soon,

Raul