TSA is a national agency - why do they have different standards at
different airports?

I flew out of San Jose - liquids can stay in the bag, take your laptop
out, a tablet is fine to leave in your bag.

I flew back home from Las Vegas and was flagged for secondary inspection
for my tablet (a 6" kindle), while I had a condescending agent tell me
that a tablet is just like a laptop. In the meantime, I had a battery
pack that was fine to stay in my luggage.

You'd think they could get it consistent, given the attention they
receive.

Don't get me started about the TSA agent at Logan yelling commands to passengers in the third person like he was still a drill sargeant,
holding up a hand and snapping his blue glove while telling us we really
didn't want "secondary inspections".

Southwest now has reserved seating instead of cattle call - which means
they allocate center seats in the back first, then offer aisle and
window seats for an extra cost. Southwest was the last bastion of
unshittiness before this.



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Hey poindexter!

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:37:30 -0800, you wrote:

Southwest now has reserved seating instead of cattle call - which means
they allocate center seats in the back first, then offer aisle and
window seats for an extra cost. Southwest was the last bastion of unshittiness before this.

The last time my family (4 of us) flew to Florida and back, we were seated all over the fucking plane, and not anywhere near each other. That was the first time I ever encountered this, and it completely ruined my opinion of Southwest at the time.

Just booked a flight for 3 of us this June to Florida again, and paid an extra $20 per person to actually select our seats. I'm glad they (Southwest) brought that option back, but that never used to be an extra charge, and will be an add-on I will /always/ select from here on out after that experience.

Unfortunately, where I'm at, Southwest is the main service out of Milwaukee (MKE), and the only service that does direct flights to most places I need to go (because piss on layovers, too). Plus, Delta and United are usually ridiculously expensive, in comparison.

Regards,
Nick

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Re: TSA pet peeves
By: Accession to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu Feb 12 2026 07:00 pm

The last time my family (4 of us) flew to Florida and back, we were seated all over the fucking plane, and not anywhere near each other. That was the first time I ever encountered this, and it completely ruined my opinion of Southwest at the time.

Just booked a flight for 3 of us this June to Florida again, and paid an extra $20 per person to actually select our seats. I'm glad they (Southwest) brought that option back, but that never used to be an extra charge, and will be an add-on I will /always/ select from here on out after that experience.

I think Southwest's policy of choosing your own seat (and not charging money to choose a seat) was popular with some people, but I can see there might be situations where that could lead to not being able to sit together. I feel like airlines try to nickel & dime people these days, and the latest thing seems to be charging money to choose your seat (even if it's not much, such as $20). Years ago, I remember buying airline tickets and being able to choose my seat without being charged extra for that. Airlines also have baggage check fees & luggage weight fees (if your luggage weighs too much) too..

Nightfox

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Nightfox wrote to Accession <=-

charged extra for that. Airlines also have baggage check fees &
luggage weight fees (if your luggage weighs too much) too..

Southwest now markets their preferred seating fee by saying that you'll
be in group 1 boarding and have a better change of storing your carry-on
bag - and save the checked baggage charge.

Conveniently glossing over the fact that they used to allow one free
bag.

At least with preferred seating I got artisanal bar kibbles.



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Hey Nightfox!

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:05:48 -0800, you wrote:

I feel like airlines try to nickel & dime people these days,

Not only nickel and dime, but even traveling with a family of 4 will cost you $1200-$1800 just normally, depending on what day and time you choose to fly.

Regards,
Nick

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