TSA Checkpoint A/B/C – Portland International Airport

As far as TSA checkpoints go, the ones at the Portland International Airport are pretty great. The service tends to be friendly and personable (at least for those managing the front of the line), the PreCheck is always open and operating (HNL, take a freakin’ hint) and even in the regular lines, the progress moves fairly quickly. I’ve never had to wait more than about 20 mins in regular line and with PreCheck I’m through in under 5 at most.
Of course there are random troubles here. Recently I got pinged with a random check and had to go through the cancer machines — those ineffective backscatter microwave deals — but in general my PreCheck experience is good here.
As to whether I agree that general TSA measures are overall effective or just security theater, I’ll reserve that for another review (maybe of Homeland Security or TSA overlords) but when it comes to the on-​the-​ground experience at PDX, the folks executing their orders here do a good job.

It might be time to adjust a scanner that picks up on deodorant. Yes TSA there is an aluminum trace in my Old Spice. and a dangerous weapon is not likely in the armpits of a … Oh wait that’s not PC. never mind. Please feel me up, touch away in an effort to keep us all safe from 80 year old grandma’s from Kansas.

only reason I am even bothering was today I got a bunch of attitude from a blonde worker who was obviously having a bad day. I fly lots, and I usually wear the same outfit. today was no exception. only difference is that I got flagged, and she had to frisk me. then she told me not to wear the dress I have worn on the last five flights because it was a bad thing. the only bad thing? was that attitude.
its a frisk. so what… maybe I should call my bra maker and tell them not to put underwires in it. jesus.
either way I have no problem with anything they ask. I just don’t particularly like it when there is commentary from the TSA gallery. I didn’t do anything wrong. kindness and a smile go a long way.

Are you kidding me? What a bunch of incompetent clowns! Friendly? Yes, if you like your extraordinary rendition with a smile.
We arrived three or so hours early for our evening flight. Lines were short. I won’t present all the details, as I don’t want anyone to accuse me of compromising national security, but we were sent to a line where we were told we didn’t have to take off shoes & belts, empty pockets, remove laptops from cases, etc. I thought, «How civilized. How American. It’s almost like we’re back to being land of the free.»
Ha – joke was on me! I go through the machine. It beeps. They ask if I have a belt on. I remove it and put it in the little tiny bowl. I go through again. The thing beeps. They ask if I have any metal objects in my pockets. Duh – I’m an adult American male. I have a job, a car, responsibilities. Of course I have keys and other metal shit in my pockets. About four pounds worth. They give me more tiny bowls. I fill several. My property is now dispersed over a thirty foot length of conveyer belt, mixed in with other people’s stuff. I think the alarm went off one more time before I was finally nekkid enough to avoid setting it off. Lost my baggage claim tag in the process. Later on they apparently confiscated my AAA batteries from my checked bag, which I thought I had properly secured according to the latest change in silly regulations.
But they were friendly. And my girlfriend almost contained her smirk when I finally made it through the TSA meat grinder.
The airport is still pretty good as airports go. Though the saga about the carpet seems a bit silly

The PDX TSA is what all TSA Checkpoints should be like. Friendly, efficient and always have enough lanes open. If more airports were like PDX, traveling might be fun!

They were very friendly here and going through security went very quickly and smoothly.

Get there early. There is a crap ton of pax flying out from PDX. TSA is very courteous and polite here; many of them have greeted each pax with, «Good morning, Sir» or have offered min frequent travelers specific instructions without barking at them like they do at LAX. There’s also a liquid dumping station in case you still have water left in your Nalgene; you don’t have to toss the bottle, so you can refill it after you get through security. Props to these guys. No wonder it’s America’s «no. 1 airport!»