i have to tell you that the variance between TSA agents at different airports is pretty striking. At Reagan National, on our way down to FL, i had to wait several long minutes for a “female” to do the pat-down [scanner was broken, and i have metal parts, so i always require a pat-down] and when the extremely dykey black TSA woman finally ambled up to do the pat-down she told me to CALM DOWN [OMG i nearly bit through my tongue not to tell her off]. On the way back from Jacksonville on Saturday, the guy wished me a happy belated bday when checking my ticket against my drivers license [it had been the previous day]!! and the rest of them were extremely pleasant and courteous and downright friendly.
I have found the TSA agents to be efficient and courteous in Milwaukee, San Francisco, and Fresno — although they confiscated my husband’s favorite pocket knife in Fresno last year. She did take a second whack at the back of my leg (for no reason except that I had a wrinkle in my jeans) in San Francisco. And Milwaukee made me remove my cross, or turn it around to hang down my back.