TSA Screeners Now Sniffing For Concealed Chemicals

By now, you're used to it. You get to the airport early for a commercial flight out. You go through security - perhaps get hand-searched (always a thrill). Your luggage is X-rayed and, along with your shoes, electronically sniffed for explosive residue. It's the new reality.

But now, there's something even newer.

"Ma'am, Mind If I Smell Your Purse?"

As you're being searched for weapons and explosive traces, you may also be sniffed for concealed chemicals.

"From everything that we've seen, if we go to war, there will be a real high risk of terrorism," said Aaron Batt, federal security director at John Wayne International Airport in Orange County (CA). "What we're attempting to provide is enhanced security."

The Long And Winding Road To The Boarding Ramp

It's the latest in the increasingly long and winding labyrinth airline passengers have to endure before they actually board the plane. Since September 2002, all checked bags are opened and searched by one of 20 employees of the Transportation Security Administration, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. Now the search includes the swabbing, which checks for unspecified (for security reasons) chemical residue.

False alarms do happen. Screeners have gone so far as to keep a bag off a plane after they couldn't figure out what was setting off an alarm. Most of the time, though, a more detailed search reveals the bag is safe.

"We really look into the bag when we don't know what the substance is," Burch said.

The machines are set up near the ticket counters and passengers are welcome to watch the inspection. The inspectors themselves were taught customer relations by Marriott Hotel personnel.

"Most people are very willing to cooperate. There are times when they come in frustrated," Burch said. "We try to say something nice. The majority are very accepting. Some people you know not to say a lot to. And then they are out of there quickly."

After having checked bags examined, passengers go through a physical search along with their carry-on bags.

Carry-on luggage is still examined by the X-ray, commonplace in airports for years. Metal-detector searches lead some passengers to have to remove their shoes and belts for inspections before being admitted to their gate.

FMI: TSA