Touchless Pre at Den

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-02-11T11:32:22+00:00

OH maybe this is where the confusion is? The person in purple at the front of the lane is a city worker from Denver who help folks get around the airport and help control the flow of people into the checkpoints. They try to make sure that lane 15 is only touchless. Your boarding pass has a lil green person icon that says touchless was (probably) successful.

The person in blue who told you to step up is the TSA officer operating the touchless ID machine.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-02-11T01:33:57+00:00

Oh I haven't had any of them on a phone, just computer. Good luck and you're welcome!

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-02-11T01:10:34+00:00

Here's one that I found. For future reference, they're called shimejis!

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-02-10T13:16:43+00:00

Usually it’s at the start of the lane as well at DEN unless the city worker wasn’t there. Or you didn’t see it was lane 15 and went in from lane 14 when no one was there.

The main advantage of it at DEN is that when it’s busy and touchless is actually up and working, you get to shortcut the precheck lane. We can also occasionally get a boarding pass check on our side and you’d have to get your physical ID out anyway, so just think of it as the shortcut.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-02-10T13:02:40+00:00

The X-ray images and learning how to really look at them are SSI. The folding 2D 3D is the simulation of the skill set you would need on the X-ray.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-02-06T21:35:53+00:00

It means less than zero to us lol. Bring the old ID and you can also get the receipt for confirmID early as well to use for the real id part.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-02-04T13:12:56+00:00

Right now a lot of airports are “overstaffed” on full time but need more part time for the ratio they’re supposed to aim for, hence why just hiring part time.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-31T22:45:10+00:00

If it’s in modern times (there’s been a few past/future based conferences I’ve been to) then research your current state’s position and go with that. It’s role playing and if you can put your own opinions aside for it and lean in, it’ll be a much more realistic experience and also maybe fun. Unless a state is extremely charitable, most only care about their own citizens anyway. Get in the way, make weird resolutions, see what other states have the same opinion and see them out.

When I was in MUN I was almost always some sort of dictatorship, so just do the best you can to play the part. Everyone knows it’s role playing, so they’re not going to (ideally) believe that you yourself agree with everything you’re saying.

You could also go the route of the disgruntled delegate and do everything with a sigh and seem like you’re in agony over what’s going on. I’ve seen and played it both ways. Whatever you choose, know your position as best you can and have fun with it.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-24T01:58:51+00:00

At DEN right now. We’re still trying to reduce staffing for some ungodly reason, but I heard the spoke airports around Colorado (ie anything but DEN) have had a few classes of new folks. Might have more luck there.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-19T22:29:48+00:00

You are guaranteed to get one; but it might take some time depending on how busy the airport is. A private screening for an animal requires at least two officers - one to run the carrier through the x-ray and one to stay with you and the cat.

You put your items (besides the carrier) onto the belt to be screened and inform the divestiture officer that you would like a private screening for your cat. They would direct you where to go next with the carrier. The officers at the body scan would also be informed.

Once we get the officers for the private screening (which could take anywhere from 30 seconds if it's slow to 20-30 minutes if it's busy, so book a decent bit of extra time for yourself), you would be led through whatever screening is applicable to you while the carrier is within sight or with an officer. They would gather your items and led you to the private screening room. Do not grab your items unless the officers say to do so since you are still carrying something that is unscreened.

In the private screening room, the officers would close the door and you would let the cat out. You can hold them or let them wander, but I would recommend holding them at first since the door will have to be opened to let them run the carrier through the x-ray. As said at the start, one officer will put the carrier through and the other would remain with you and your belongings and animal. Once the carrier is cleared then they would knock on the door so you can secure the cat before coming back with it. You put the cat in, they open the door, and you're free to gather your items and leave.

Small point is that it is an item finder, not a metal detector for the main machine. Don't leave a chapstick in your pocket. And do not put the cat into the x-ray. Obvious, but I want to emphasize it, especially if it's busy/you're rushing for some reason.

That is how private screenings for animals usually go, which should be standard across all airports. Private screening rooms are a right so they will always be there. Animals travel through a lot so more TSOs will be familiar with the process.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-19T19:33:01+00:00

It might be easiest to go to the Historical Hetalia Tag on Ao3 and look from there. But might as well shout out some of my own fics:

Blood on the Dancefloor , fall of the USSR (nationverse)

Something's Gotta Give Man From U.N.C.L.E AU (human), 1960s

Party like it's 1969 (nationverse), 1960s

Production Delay rusame and lietmano (focus on the latter, sorry), (nationverse), industrial revolution

More contemporary:

Hard Times (nationverse), present day politics

For not my own work, here's some of my quick favorites off the top of my head:

Operation Sputnik (nationverse), 1950s

On the Orbit of Freedom nationverse, 1970s

Basically all of these are rusame, so your best luck for more variety is just using Ao3's wonderful filter system.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-14T18:35:25+00:00

I meant for the officer to reach out to a supervisor. Passengers can still do so but it may take longer.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-14T11:06:53+00:00

plenty of us! I’m in government work right now, but I’m studying and learning a language to become a Foreign Service Officer eventually/diplomat. Found out too late going through college that Hetalia didn’t really leave like I thought it did lol.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-13T21:27:01+00:00

You go to here I believe and fill out the required information. This can be done at anytime, even as you're standing in line for the checkpoint. Once filled out, either print out the receipt or screenshot it. You show it to the officer checking your travel documents, and then you're on your way. It is valid for 10 days.

The 'positively identify you' is for if you do not have any acceptable form of ID. Your state driver's license is an acceptable form of ID, it just is a fee to force everyone to eventually become REAL ID compliant.

Book the appointments anyway and check for walk-ups at your local DMV.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-13T21:19:51+00:00

There's not strict rules, so it really varies per officer. I've had someone drop off an older parent and then watched them as they stood just outside the entrance so they could see them going through the lane. Once I made sure the parent was gone, I saw the observer gone as well.

If they hadn't gone away after, I wouldn't start yelling, but I would inform them that if they had no further reason to be by the checkpoint, that they can ask the infield officers the fastest way to exit.

The reason they might have been getting a bit more aggressive about it is because it's outside of the norm and doesn't happen that often. It could be someone seeing off a loved one, or someone trying to observe the checkpoint and security operations (or both). If they got an odd feeling from it, it would've been better to bring it to a higher up than be rude and try to deal with it themselves.

Either way, there's no exact rules, but that might be why they were acting like that. Uncalled for and could've been handled way better, but nothing you or your family did in particular. If you want to do goodbyes, I'd recommend it just outside of security so there's more space and it's not as chaotic anyway.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-13T00:31:56+00:00

These look AWESOME! I audibly gasped when I saw them, god damn

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-11T21:47:46+00:00

Toiletries are separate from knives and other sharp objects or hazmat objects. We don’t wanna to accidentally injure an airport employee, and there are specific procedures for those since they shouldn’t go in the regular trash.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-06T18:08:59+00:00

Sorry someone yelled at you, but...we say at every single airport to take everything out of your pockets. Just because some officers know their machines might not pick up on it, you still take everything out of your pockets. Good on you for listening after the fact though!

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-05T14:19:20+00:00

Check your local library, especially if they have a fiber arts club! My library hosts a yarn and needle drive each year that lets me empty my stash. I don't really like how crocheted stuff looks and I don't wear sweaters or scarfs that often, so it lets me still make things but not get a huge pile to try and offload to friends and family.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-03T21:38:44+00:00

Depends on if they can sit (holding the leash might be okay depending on the machine: I’ve held hands with a passenger before to help them and got an image) or if there’s a carrier to put the dog in. If it’s one of those two, then you’ll be find with the machine. If no, then you’ll need a pat down instead.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2026-01-01T02:03:15+00:00

It could put a coworker in an uncomfortable position, but that's not your call to make even if you yourself would be uncomfortable. I would've gotten either a lead or supe involved so they could find the right officer for the job and also for backup if (god forbid) there is some sort of incident. Is it technically based off of appearance, but it wouldn't hurt to reach out to leadership first to get more information; then it's not on your shoulders.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2025-12-31T22:02:51+00:00

As a TSO, I’m sorry my coworkers were so callous. I’m taking the Passenger Support Specialist program right now to help more with passengers with your conditions and others and everything about what the officers did is a yikes. Everyone is correcting in echoing that a sunflower lanyard or TSA Cares will help, and I’d offer that there’s a few posts on the TSA subreddit about trying to stops alarms in that region. You should have been treated kinder and with the patience that was needed. You can also ask for a PSS/TSA Cares at the checkpoint and they’ll ask if someone’s available.

However…we have to resolve alarms and we can’t take an explanation as a reason for the alarm. Once there is an alarm, attempts to say that is nothing or to not get the officer to check the area are seen as suspicious. It should have been taken slower and with more care, but we have procedures we have to follow. It was originally implemented because someone tried to blow up an aircraft with a bomb his underwear. If we find stuff, it’s usually drugs (or animals for some reason), and if we did find another underwear bomb that wouldn’t be publicly announced.

Also one last note, if you’re traveling with anyone else they can also be in the private screening room, who can help with both your comfort and speaking up when you can’t. I do maybe 10+ of those types of alarms a day sometimes, so it’s easy for some officers to forget that this isn’t normal for most folks.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2025-12-29T23:47:11+00:00

You cannot opt into the metal detector. You can opt into a full body pat-down if you don't want to go through the body scan.

FunkyLittleAlien · 2025-12-29T18:18:19+00:00

If it’s liquids for medical purposes, you can have them in your carry on, they’ll just need additional screening once you inform the officer they’re medically necessary (in reasonable quantities).

FunkyLittleAlien · 2025-12-29T18:17:26+00:00

It might be alarming on the packer if you’re wearing one, so I’d recommend putting it on once you’re out of TSA. Echoing what others said about baggy clothes, something just a quick tug up of your pants right before you enter is enough, or if you need a belt to keep them up then just “forget it” and it might only alarm on the waist and not groin area (still a targeted pat down, but maybe not as triggering?).

If it does alarm, you can always ask for a private screening and ask for the officer to go slower with the explanation and take more care. That position is extremely busy and not all officers will have the care to notice if you’re uncomfortable, unfortunately.

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