At the PSP airport I use the most, the have asked to see my custom lights, not because the needed to but, because they wanted to since the know I have cool gadgets. Still no fan of federal LE as it has been out of control since the Clinton Admin., however, I used to have more problems with the people in the pre-TSA days.
Some airports have a private mail system you can put your things in like if you forget you had a pocket knife, my wife has used it before. Also, if you are at home you can always go back to your car, so always leave early.
The thing that geat the most comments and the love is my Hinderer Kubaton with the pen configuration, it is just a pen.
Covering the the president once, I forgot to pat myself down, and hav a couple custom knives a SAK, and another small knife. The USSS agents are always very polite to us and the agent told me to hide them in an area outside the bubble, so I our thousands of dollars of knives under some rocks, and they were there later. They said if it was just one knife they would let me go in with it, but I had several that time. They are a cool agency and the have to watch their conduct, and I find them educated and easy to deal with in a situation where you for get something, they don't take things away, I have even had them hold things for me and they give them back later.
For a federal agency, they don't create federal cases for something that slipped your mind as all of us no matter what you do, you nave to be on your "A" game at events like that, and they are understanding. So the Service as we call them are cool, plus they get in trouble too. I have many, mostly retired friends, from that agency and there the best of the LE community, because they are protection, and can treat you with respect because the don't look down on you. Not like other mostly local agencies.
The other place the TSA has been very polite to me is New York City's airports, other places not as nice. However, nothing out of control. I feel the worst part is being made to remove your suit coat, shoes and belt - for one lone nut!
So, take and always go with your best, I take my custom lights on commercial flights almost weekly, and if there is an issue, there are ways to figure something out.
just as a back up for the business part of my travel I always go a day or two early, because of weather, and if foe some reason they tried to take my Mc Gizmo's, I would just take it back, leave and FedEX it to where I am going or home and take a later flight. lays go early since a thunderstorm near DFW screws up the entiite ATC system.
Also, if there was no security at all,I mean none, I would board any domestic flight and not worry at all, not one bit.
The real,hassle at airports is not the TSA but the awful people who are telling you to move your car when they can see you have two more items to pug on board -- these people are the real problems of air travel, as you can only load so quick. My company's councel has had several fired over the years. They are not TSA.
