I know this is an older thread BUT...I am a Ground Security Coordinator (GSC) at Phoenix. (Which means the TSA pays my airline to force me to sit up at the checkpoint and be REALLY bored all darned day long.) There are a few things I can clarify here. In defense of a LOT of people, they are not all errant hamburger flippers...They just have not seen a lot of SCUBA gear. Most of my people are now getting used to what's what thanks to me. You will rarely hear "BAG CHECK" called for SCUBA gear. The only time lately I ever did was when someone had a knife on their BCD.
As far as calling the Miami police...they have
NO say what so ever on what you can and cannot take on the plane with you. What you can do is ask to speak with someone higher up in the TSA. (Big new government thing...Transportation Security Administration.) 99% of them totally believe in the whole common sense thing about what's not allowed. Luckily, MIA is not a Federalized airport YET, so ask to speak with the GSC before you ask to talk to someone above the GSC.
Also, as far as whether or not you're pulled aside for the good old handwand. These people HAVE to do this. Once they finish with one, they immediately have to grab someone else if no one has alarmed when walking through the metal detector. Word of advice- unless you wear cheap tennis shoes...PUT YOUR SHOES ON THE XRAY! Even those tiny little strappy sandals we gals like to wear have a metal shank in them for support. The better the shoe, the bigger the shank. Take them off to avoid alarming. (Also, yes girls, underwire bras do set off the handwand alarm...they GOTTA do it. SUCKS I know, I have it done at LEAST once a day. Too bad they don't make good bras without those cursed things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Now, as an airline employee, I HAVE to tell you that I would NEVER EVER NEVER check my gear under the plane. I know what happens to your bags down there on the ramp and under the plane. You can have someone treat your bags very very nicely, only to have bags shift on take off, landing or during turbulance, and things get damaged. If you check your gear, spend the $$$ on a hard sided case. Just trust me on this!!!! (Have seen some really awful things happen to bags for the aforementioned things...not from bad baggage handling. ALthough that unfortunately happens too.)
PM me if y'all have any further questions on airport security. I will GLADLY answer them for you if I can. (There are things that I can go to jail for along with paying huge fines for if I tell.)
Happy Flying and happier diving! (Remember, in the end you get to go have a LOT of fun with that stuff they're stopping you for! Just relax and let them do their job. Most security screeners do take care of your things. The ones who pull and all are the exception. ANd if you have a good GSC like me, they'll be being watched and will be jumped on for doing that!)
Kristey
(OK, basically what I was saying is "Fly out of Phoenix in the evenings Sun-Wed and use the B checkpoint and you'll have very few hassles!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh wait, my counterpart on the evening shift the rest of the week knows about SCUBA gear too!)