TSA UGH! Airport Experience

WIGO23

I need to vent!

DH with ALZ and I just got back from California visiting family. I expected some increased challenges due to travel but did not anticipate this one.

DH was pulled out of line for “pat down.” search in San Francisco International Airport. I tried to tell them he might need me close by to help communicate instructions due to MCI but was rudely told, “stay back”.

Sure enough DH could not follow instructions quickly enough to suit the agent who then got verbally rough with DH. I then said loudly, “he needs me, he has mild cognitive impairment”. They then let me over to be with him. I think it was because it attracted attention of other passengers in the TSA line. Many of those folks appeared to understand we were being mistreated by the shaking of their heads in disgust. We got through it but the damage was done.

My DH was embarrassed, confused and anxious after the episode. I had to share my husband’s condition publicly to get more compassionate treatment. I cannot understand why they ignored me the first time. Are the TSA agents so poorly trained? I guess these agents surely were.

harshedbuzz

I'm sorry that happened. I've had similar issues with my son on spectrum when he was much younger.

Since then, they have a TSA Cares Program.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/tsa-cares

GothicGremlin

I'm so sorry you and your DH had to go through this. I share your feelings about the TSA, and could write a tome about their bad behavior. But — and I can't believe I'm going to type this — the TSA Cares program is pretty good. I used it for my sister, also at SFO.

I traveled with her to Europe when she was stage 4. The TSA Cares program is like pre-check. The TSA agent met us in the line, and escorted us to our separate line to be screened. I had phoned in our travel itinerary, flight numbers, etc., Peggy's Alzheimer's diagnosis, passport info, the whole nine yards, so when we got to the line, the agent knew what was up with Peggy. He let me go through the metal detector first so that I could wait for Peggy on the other side. He told her to walk through the metal detector and to go to me. There was no yelling (by the agent or Peggy), no trauma, just an easy security check experience.

If you travel with your DH again, consider using TSA Cares, you can use it domestically as well as international. And because it's separate, it was a little quieter too, and a little less distracting.

M5M

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/223855#Comment_223855

I tried to use TSA Cares, filled the online form, received an auto response saying I would receive a phone call the day before travel. No phone call came. I later looked up another trial program that supposedly was available at our major airport, submitted a request, also heard nothing. I can’t speak to the actual airport experience because I broke my collarbone and had to cancel the trip. I think if we do travel, I would have a wheelchair for DH, even though he would not like it.

harshedbuzz

@M5M

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. I wonder if it's a staffing issue currently.

I've gone the wheelchair route with my mom. She doesn't have dementia and generally doesn't need assistance, but the extra attention she gets using it makes it worthwhile in a larger airport.

HB

LindaLouise

The last trip I took with mt DH - before the agitation got worse - I wrote that he had Alzheimer's on little cards and kept them in my pocket. When issues arose at any point, I just handed the card silently to the person who needed to know, and that made for better understanding and treatment of my DH.

FTDCaregiver1

So sorry to hear that as well, like so many situations good training does help but running into a compassionate TSA officer was my experience thank God. A few years back, DW with EO FTD went to Detroit Metro to pick up my minor nephew flying in to stay with us. Unbeknownst to me, only family members can enter the arrival area to pick up minors listed on airline info, since I was listed as the pickup, only I could enter the arrival area. I was horrified at having to leave a scared, crying woman with TSA agents, but one of the agents put his hand on my shoulder saying, "we got her, we'll take good care of her" and I ran the entire way to get my nephew and sprinted back with a 15-year kid in tow. There she was, standing at the desk, her arm around a TSA agent's arm as he continued to do his job, tearful, freighted, but coping, as I weaved through the long line, the TSA agent saw me and then smiled and gave me a thumbs up. All was well and thanks to a couple of TSA agents who showed some compassion.

eaglemom

I'll just say it, that infuriates me. I'm so sorry that happened to the both of you.

I will say that we both wear Medic Alert bracelets and can show them when in line and have avoided DH having any issues. However, in one airport I was pulled for the extra "pat down." The agent said I walked "funny," to which I said I had 2 knee replacements and was using a cane. The guy was being a jerk because I passed. But there sits DH away from me, inside the terminal alone looking scare. They wouldn't let him come back in. A very nice woman saw what was happening and approached me - Mr TSA really got mad but she didn't care - and ask if she could sit with DH until I got there. Now I was ask to leave the room for an 'extensive' search. Luckily I knew my rights and said no, and I needed a female supervisor to preform the search. Now Mr TSA was beyond furious with me. The entire line was watching and I didn't care. When the female supervisor came she wanted me to go to the different room, nope, not happening. She said I'd be embarrassed with the search in public - to which I said I didn't care. (All the while I'm thinking what if this was DH? He'd be beside himself.) Then with these filthy gloves she starts towards me and I stop her. i want clean gloves - I don't know where those gloves have been! She looks at my head, shoulders, pats my back and front, up and down both legs. Then says take off your sweater, so I did, and being me I raised my shirt for all to see showing I had nothing on me. The TSA line was laughing. Finally 45 minutes later they were done with me. I had to re-dress!!! I guess my point being, my DH couldn't have done all of that alone. So anything we as caregivers can do to prevent unnecessary steps in the travel process is well worth it, for both of you.

eagle

WIGO23

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/224023#Comment_224023

My DH has an alert bracelet but they made him remove it without even reading it! I also have printed cards that say, “my companion has cognitive impairment, Thank You for compasssionate care” but I did not think to have one ready at Security. Lesson learned—I just hope it makes a difference if we encounter this again!