Beware! TSA Took My Phone At The Airport
We all know what it is like to take a lovely trip through TSA at the airport. To me, Midland International has the worst TSA ever, especially for being a small airport. TSA is not that difficult in huge airports like Dallas, Houston, or Miami. It's almost as if they go out of their way to find a reason to hold you up. Because of this, I became a TSA Pre-check passenger.
It would never fail, for some reason or another, I was always being pulled to the side to be searched for something. I was over it so I filled out the paperwork and applied for my TSA Pre-Check. It has been very handy to have. I don't typically have to wait too long in line, I don't have to take off my shoes, and typically don't mess with your baggage.
Last weekend I flew to Dallas, leaving Midland there were no issues, walked right through and got on my plane. Coming back from Dallas, I had an experience that I have never had before. The TSA agent demanded my phone. I know I had a look of complete confusion on my phone because I didn't even have my phone on me, it was in the bin that went through the screener. She again forcefully demanded my phone. I walked over to my bin and got my phone out and handed it to her. She proceeded to wipe my phone down with her wand, the same wand they use to test for explosive material on your hands. She also put my phone up against a machine that unlocked it. I was quite confused. The TSA agent gave me no clue as to what was happening. A kind man told me that they are now checking for explosives on your phone and that people are chosen at random.
According to a Reuters article in 2018, TSA said the following:
TSA said the screening “is solely intended to verify that there has been no physical tampering or hidden threat placed within the electronic device.”
Just wanted to give you a heads up so you aren't shocked like me.