In preparation for a flight to Florida, I had applied for and received clearance for TSA PreCheck. While it was my belief that the expediated wait times to get through the checkpoint should go to individuals with disabilities who cannot stand and wait a long time in lines, the airlines do not see it that way, (unless the person with a disability also goes through the trouble of getting TSA PreCheck clearance.)

This honor goes to those who have paid and applied for this program through the Transportation Security Administration. It includes a stringent security check, including arrest record and fingerprinting. This service verifies that I am a low risk to flight security, thus making me eligible to zip through security checkpoints without having to remove my shoes, belt, and jacket, and allows me to leave my laptop and iPad in my backpack without having to take it out and turn it on for the security guards.  It would be a breeze getting through security, or so I thought.

The discounted flight I was on allowed only one personal carry-on item, so everything I needed for a short time away was carefully shoved into my backpack. Underwear and another change of clothing with an additional shirt were neatly folded, condensed, and smooshed down into the bottom.  My laptop fit snugly against the back, along with small size toiletries.

Because the backpack was my only approved personal item, I was not allowed to bring my purse, so items such as my weekly pill case, sunglasses, reading glasses, pens, dollar bills, Dramamine, and Tylenol packs were also rammed into the bag. Because flying always makes me hungry and food at the airport is so expensive, a package of peanut butter crackers, almonds and a bag of Pop Corners potato chips were put in on top for easy access. I was extremely happy to not have to take out the laptop which would disrupt the whole feng shui of the backpack.

I happily bid adieu to Hubby as he dropped me off at the airport, and practically skipped through the TSA PreCheck line.  With no one in front of me, I handed over my boarding pass to the security guard and envisioned a quick walk through the security area.

“Not so fast…” he said.  For some reason, the fact that I had this special designation was not communicated on the boarding pass.  He motioned toward the check-in counters with the long lines and told me I would have to go back there to have it changed.  Discouraged but still hopeful, I chose to just get in the other security line. The line wasn’t that long, how bad could it be?

When I got to the conveyer belt, I willingly took off my jacket, shoes and belt and put them in the industrial style grey container that would be run through the x-ray machine. Then I had to remove my laptop and my iPad, and horror struck me.

It was so densely packed in that everything came flying out. First the crackers and potato chips jumped out, then my pills and toiletries.  It was difficult to drag out the computer because the carefully packed clothes were holding it down, so they had to come out also.

The grey container was filled with my stuff all jumbled together, and I was cursing under my breath. Sweat was pouring down my forehead and my hands were shaking as the line behind me grew longer and longer.  Finally, I broke the laptop free with a sigh of relief and placed it in another container along with my iPad and phone.

Then, walking barefoot with my pants falling down, I made my way over to the Xray machine and formed a human X as the machine tried to ascertain if I was hoarding explosives on my body. Going back to the conveyer belt, I retrieved the several gray containers that were overflowing with my stuff. It was impossible to get everything back as neatly as it had been packed. With all my might, I shoved everything into the backpack. I could see my toothpaste escaping onto my clothes, and the bag of potato chips became a bag of potato chip crumbs, breaking and scattering among my clothes. Shaking with frustration, I made my way to the airplane gate, vowing to never again go through regular security.

TSA PreCheck is worth every penny!