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TSA Baggage: An Inside Look at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly at America's Airports
Scott Becker spent over 12 years working for the TSA at Chicago's O'Hare airport and served it in numerous capacities, from baggage screener to manager. He brings to TSA Baggage a wealth of experience and stories that have something for everyone:
• Candid Cameos Several stories in TSA Baggage feature appearances from celebrities, including Madeleine Albright, Patch Adams, and the Kardashians
• Behind-the-Scenes Look For anyone who's ever wondered what happens in the parts of airports hidden from a view or during a shift at a security check, this book provides first-hand accounts of the inner workings of airports and the people who keep them humming
• Laugh Track Airports seem to attract the misguided, confused, and weird, and this provides for plenty of laughs, whether its passengers attempting to bring grenades in their luggage or trying to skip through security in a drunken tizzy
• Travel Warning This book can also be a great guide to do's and don'ts for all future travelers, with tips from someone who's seen everything that can go right and wrong at an airport
Travel brings out the good, bad, and ugly in everyone, and TSA Baggage captures all of it for readers from a first-hand witness to the whole circus. Strap in and get ready for a great read.
• Candid Cameos Several stories in TSA Baggage feature appearances from celebrities, including Madeleine Albright, Patch Adams, and the Kardashians
• Behind-the-Scenes Look For anyone who's ever wondered what happens in the parts of airports hidden from a view or during a shift at a security check, this book provides first-hand accounts of the inner workings of airports and the people who keep them humming
• Laugh Track Airports seem to attract the misguided, confused, and weird, and this provides for plenty of laughs, whether its passengers attempting to bring grenades in their luggage or trying to skip through security in a drunken tizzy
• Travel Warning This book can also be a great guide to do's and don'ts for all future travelers, with tips from someone who's seen everything that can go right and wrong at an airport
Travel brings out the good, bad, and ugly in everyone, and TSA Baggage captures all of it for readers from a first-hand witness to the whole circus. Strap in and get ready for a great read.
140 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2017
About the author
Scott Becker
127 books12 followersScott Becker is a distinguished entrepreneur, investor, and legal professional who has built a remarkable career at the intersection of healthcare, media, and law. As the founder and publisher of Becker’s Healthcare, a leading healthcare media company, and a longtime partner at McGuireWoods, a top AmLaw firm, Scott has established himself as an authority in his field.
With a mission to provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs and business leaders, Scott draws upon his extensive experience to help others navigate the complexities of building and scaling successful ventures. His expertise spans across various industries, including healthcare, private equity, and venture capital, where he has made significant investments and contributes as an active investor.
Scott’s accomplishments are numerous and noteworthy. He graduated from Harvard Law School and the University of Illinois, where he obtained his JD and a BS in finance and accounting, respectively. At Harvard, he had the privilege of teaching and advising future President Barack Obama as a moot court advisor. Scott is also a prolific author, having written several books, including Health Care Law: A Practical Guide, The Physician’s Managed Care Success Manual, The ASC Handbook, and The Entrepreneur’s Edge. He hosts two highly ranked podcasts, Becker’s Healthcare Podcast and Becker Private Equity and Business Podcast, where he shares his knowledge. He has interviewed prominent figures such as George and Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nikki Haley, and Michael Strahan via Becker’s Healthcare conferences.
Scott currently resides in the Chicago suburbs, Palm Beach Gardens, and Deer Valley. When he’s not working on his business endeavors, he can be found pursuing his passions for golf, tennis, fitness, skiing, writing, and speaking.
To learn more about Scott Becker and his insights on entrepreneurship, business growth, and investing, connect with him through Becker’s Healthcare, McGuireWoods, or through sbecker@beckerstrategygroup.com.
With a mission to provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs and business leaders, Scott draws upon his extensive experience to help others navigate the complexities of building and scaling successful ventures. His expertise spans across various industries, including healthcare, private equity, and venture capital, where he has made significant investments and contributes as an active investor.
Scott’s accomplishments are numerous and noteworthy. He graduated from Harvard Law School and the University of Illinois, where he obtained his JD and a BS in finance and accounting, respectively. At Harvard, he had the privilege of teaching and advising future President Barack Obama as a moot court advisor. Scott is also a prolific author, having written several books, including Health Care Law: A Practical Guide, The Physician’s Managed Care Success Manual, The ASC Handbook, and The Entrepreneur’s Edge. He hosts two highly ranked podcasts, Becker’s Healthcare Podcast and Becker Private Equity and Business Podcast, where he shares his knowledge. He has interviewed prominent figures such as George and Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nikki Haley, and Michael Strahan via Becker’s Healthcare conferences.
Scott currently resides in the Chicago suburbs, Palm Beach Gardens, and Deer Valley. When he’s not working on his business endeavors, he can be found pursuing his passions for golf, tennis, fitness, skiing, writing, and speaking.
To learn more about Scott Becker and his insights on entrepreneurship, business growth, and investing, connect with him through Becker’s Healthcare, McGuireWoods, or through sbecker@beckerstrategygroup.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 25, 2021
Nothing really surprising in the stories that Becker regales his readers with. Some people are gracious and nice. Some are - - not. And then there are those that have imbibed a bit too much before trying to get on an airplane. He also provides some insight into how the TSA was running along with tales of fellow employees from various levels and positions. Of course, this was before the pandemic hit (the book was published in 2015) so there are likely many more negative stories that he could collect and tell if he hadn't retired from the agency.
Some of the items left behind just - - really? one shoe? or even a pair? When will the traveller realize that he (generic) is missing one or is walking around barefoot? Then there are the animal heads. Laptops by the hundreds. Coinage and even bills that go into the TSA HQ security programs - or at least it did. Fur coats, watches and jewelry. Live animals - seriously. Funerary urns. Weapons of every variety including grenades and model RPG - seriously - they are models and pre-approved since they were being taken to an Army base for display. Um, and a infant left in his car-seat - fortunately mom had an ID tag on the seat to make sure it stayed with the pair while travelling. Only it managed to reunite a little boy with his very embarrassed mother.
And many others. It is definitely enlightening to see what some of the officers have to deal with and stay professional while the people they're having to interact with are doing their utmost to be pains in the *beep*. Many stories are cute while others just show how idiotic people can be.
One negative is that the few pictures he provided are dark and sometimes really hard to distinguish what he is attempting to show the reader.
2021-150
Some of the items left behind just - - really? one shoe? or even a pair? When will the traveller realize that he (generic) is missing one or is walking around barefoot? Then there are the animal heads. Laptops by the hundreds. Coinage and even bills that go into the TSA HQ security programs - or at least it did. Fur coats, watches and jewelry. Live animals - seriously. Funerary urns. Weapons of every variety including grenades and model RPG - seriously - they are models and pre-approved since they were being taken to an Army base for display. Um, and a infant left in his car-seat - fortunately mom had an ID tag on the seat to make sure it stayed with the pair while travelling. Only it managed to reunite a little boy with his very embarrassed mother.
And many others. It is definitely enlightening to see what some of the officers have to deal with and stay professional while the people they're having to interact with are doing their utmost to be pains in the *beep*. Many stories are cute while others just show how idiotic people can be.
One negative is that the few pictures he provided are dark and sometimes really hard to distinguish what he is attempting to show the reader.
2021-150
September 13, 2022
Actually better than 3. I’ve traveled through ORD countless times so a bit of nostalgia here. I like the creative non fiction genre. The author is rather full of himself- otherwise some interesting tales here. (The hardest working employee at ORD-bar none? How about the restroom attendants for starters? I recall having my lipstick AND tampons destroyed in the name of security. Really? I’m having my period. Am I to stuff toilet paper in my panties? $20 for 2 at the sundry shop? The time I broke my foot and was in a wheelchair and nearly had a body cavity search. So little empathy for the other side of things. I was polite. Respectful. Anyway. I understand that it’s a thankless job. I found interesting things.
November 3, 2017
This is actually two books-
If you haven't worked for the Transportation Security Administration as an officer, it's as advertised- often hilarious, sometimes downright frustrating. Some downright unsettling moments are sprinkled in as well.
If you HAVE, however, worked as a Security Officer at TSA, Its more of a collection of stories you've either heard of or similarly experienced.
No matter your opinion of the agency, it's still an entertaining read. Just don't expect someone who's worked for the agency to be surprised.
If you haven't worked for the Transportation Security Administration as an officer, it's as advertised- often hilarious, sometimes downright frustrating. Some downright unsettling moments are sprinkled in as well.
If you HAVE, however, worked as a Security Officer at TSA, Its more of a collection of stories you've either heard of or similarly experienced.
No matter your opinion of the agency, it's still an entertaining read. Just don't expect someone who's worked for the agency to be surprised.
August 12, 2018
I read the book expecting short stories to give some insight into what crazy stuff can happen at checkpoints. 2/3 of the book attempts to do that. The celebrity section is just a list of people he's seen or briefly met at the airport(or heard of people meeting) with a snap judgement of their character based how they acted while traveling.(a time when no one is at their best anymore). But honestly if you are at all plugged in to social media or even the evening news you've probably already read, heard or even seen video of much worse travel behavior.
May 11, 2018
An interesting idea for a chapter in a book about ALL the agencies that were merged into HLS in 2003 BUT as a stand-alone book, somewhat lacking in material for a full book length treatment. Having said that, worth reading if you're a road warrior spending lots of time traveling from the 'street' side to the 'air' side.
March 2, 2019
The book wasn't what I expected. It was justa bunch of one paragraph blurbs.
September 9, 2022
Basically just a collection of anecdotes, many of which date from a time of significantly less cultural sensitivity.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews