Sounds like you have an attitude problem, no wonder they pulled you aside.  I bet you were running your mouth the whole time. 

Might have been a random search. They do select passengers at random for additional screenings.

I think this is not so much a passenger problem as a TSA problem because TSA should have learned by now that at least 30-50% of the passengers aren't really frequent flyers, and for them every time they go there's a different regulation.  That puts people on the defensive, plus many are nervous about fllying anyway.  They shouldn't jump out at a poor woman who thought 3oz meant how much was left in the bottle of cologne--I've seen them verbally abuse a woman about that--no cause other than that.  I've also seen TSA personnel w/ the people skills of a barracuda in heat--just no call for it, please & thank you, and "I'm sorry but" go a long way to calming a bad situation down--but it's rare, too rare to see a TSA agent utilize such simple skills--what did their Mama teach them anyway, not to mention the TSA!
Then there are the really nice one's, I've seen them tell a nervous passenger, "Take your time, just take some time, no need to rush."  Disarmed a bad situation quickly.  
I've seen TSA stations where they keep a supply of one quart bags, others where they just toss everything if the passenger doesn't have the bag.  
There are in actual life very few bad guys traveling, enough to be very careful, but not enough to act like storm troopers.  And I see far too many storm troopers out there, and I travel a lot.  They need to model off the few really good agents, who are on the lookout for our safety, not on the lookout for a fight.  

Might have been a random search. They do select passengers at random for additional screenings.

True Schroman, and good point.   
If you are selected for additional screening it's for a reason. You should comply and follow the officer's instructions without complaining.

Quote from: schro on September 22, 2009, 01:46:20 PM

Might have been a random search. They do select passengers at random for additional screenings.

True Schroman, and good point.   
If you are selected for additional screening it's for a reason. You should comply and follow the officer's instructions without complaining.

I was selected for a random search several years ago at the Oakland Airport, no biggie.

It's something about US airport security.  There seems to be a requirement for TSA Agents to be rude, loud, and condescending during the entire process. 

I've flown through Europe at different times and in different areas (big and small airports) and the security agents were never as rude as they were in the US.  They were more polite in Mexico too.  And I didn't feel any less safe. 

I understand that in managing security for large amounts of people in an airport like Dallas or Denver that you need to be louder and more concerned with moving people through the line, but the way in which it is currently conducted doesn't seem to enhance security.