Last week, when I was traveling through a major airport, I noticed a man ahead of me telling a TSA person a number when we were going through security. He was let through the gate without having his bags X-rayed or having to go through the metal detector. I have never seen this before. He then proceeded to go to the TSA desk, and gave more identifying info. He may even showed identification. I was dumbfounded and curious. I never had seen this before.
After I went through security, I followed this man down toward the gate (we were going in the same direction) and I asked, “What kind of clearance do you need to not go through security?” He glared at me with a Jack Bauer kind of look and asked if I knew him. He then asked me to step aside, showed me his sky marshall badge and asked me for identification. He proceded to scold me (rightfully so) that I pointed him out in a crowd and how was he suppose to do his job if people knew who he was?
Me- I just stood there with my foot in my mouth. I am a curious and friendly guy and this time, I should have kept my mouth shut and just keep walking to my gate.
Lesson learned about talking to strangers in airports.
Of course if he was taking short cuts through security, you have to wonder how many other folks noticed the same things you did.
So you could say he gave himself away. You did nothing wrong.
And no I wouldn’t be brave enough to say that to his face!
As every Chicagan knows,you should of asked him for his badge number when he pulled you over.This works with cops ,too.