Yep. Another person that believes the rules don't exist for them but only for others.

This....

“They wouldn’t let me get on the plane because I’m female,” Winning told FOX31 in Denver.

should read...

“They wouldn’t let me get on the plane because I can't tell time,” Winning told FOX31 in Denver.

she should apply for a name change from Winning to Whining

Raincheck

“Once TSA is informed by the airline that our screening services are no longer needed, the security checkpoint is closed. In this instance, SkyWest made final boarding announcements and notified TSA that no additional passengers would be accepted.”

How about that reading comprehension.

Sounds like this woman did not follow the rules on being there the required minimum time before the flight and is no looking to blame TSA for her on mistake. This woman is a whiner and MSNBC should be ashamed of themselves for the completely misleading title on this article. This woman's gender had nothing to do with missing her flight her inability to tell time was the cause. Even is a screener had been available and they reopened the checkpoint just for her, the airline would not have let her on because they had already closed the flight.

she should apply for a name change from Winning to Whining

I was think that too but a more appropriate name change would be Winning to Loser.

She does have a valid point - although she was running late, she could have made the flight if there was a female inspector. I don't think it's a case of discrimination, but it's just insane that they wouldn't let a male inspector perform the patdown if she agreed that it was ok.

So, are there specific TSA agents for each airline? Sky West said that the agents could go home, but they couldn't get a female TSA agent that was over at the Southwest desk or something? It seems like it wouldn't have mattered anyway because she missed the cut-off by a few minutes. Just curious, does anyone know how that works...sounds like a pretty cush government job to me :)

Just walk through the scanner, Ms. Whiner.

Everyone on the plane felt safer knowing TSA wouldn't let her on the flight. <sarcasm>

So, are there specific TSA agents for each airline? Sky West said that the agents could go home, but they couldn't get a female TSA agent that was over at the Southwest desk or something? It seems like it wouldn't have mattered anyway because she missed the cut-off by a few minutes. Just curious, does anyone know how that works...sounds like a pretty cush government job to me :)

In a small airport there isn't much options on which airline to deal with. I would assume that this was the last flight out that particular day. The TSA closed security when the airline said they were not needed anymore. TSA does not report to airlines specifically but will remain on duty until the airlines give them the ok to close. They were closed she was late. TSA agents were still present but apparently the only females had left. As far as her being searched by a male agent... if the TSA can't force women to be searched by a man then they can't force a man to search a woman. It exposes them to risk, she could complain she was violated (even after signing a release) and the male agents have just as much right to feel uncomfortable searching a woman as a woman has to feel uncomfortable being searched by the agent.

So, are there specific TSA agents for each airline? Sky West said that the agents could go home, but they couldn't get a female TSA agent that was over at the Southwest desk or something?

Southwest doesn't fly to Rock Springs Airport. The airport has five or six departures per day. This isn't a big airport.

Wow, first person every to defend the TSA.

I use a small airport regularly, it takes about 10 seconds to walk from the ticket areas the security point. Plus there were miraculously men available. And they didn't deny her because they would have had to pat her down, they did it just in case. Sorry, but I will take her word for it over TSA's.

If she had been a man, she would have made the flight, this isn't Ohare, 27 mins is about 25 more minutes then needed, there aren't terminals, and boarding gates, you walk out the door onto the tarmac and board the plane.

Shift blame my aunt matilda's patootie! No airline closes the doors on the plane 30 minutes before scheduled departure.

Do we really and truly expect and support the notion that no service or consideration is due for anyone or anything? Have the anal retentive truly taken over every single job in the world?

with the population of males and females one does have to wonder why they kept saying male screeners (plural) were on duty yet had no female screeners on duty at the time.

In a world where there is supposed to be no gender discrimination, why aren't 50% of the screeners female?

Moheeheeko-- The airline can only determine when they close the gate. They have no authority over TSA. If the gate closes 15 minutes before takeoff, it closes at that time. Why else would there be male TSA personnel available on the clock over at the security checkpoint.

Sorry, but I will take her word for it over TSA's.

Then you're practically admitting that you'll blindly let yourself be deceived by a complainer.

I used to be an auditor, and often audited consumer-facing organizations. The percentage of times I personally observed consumers lying to a manager about a discussion between them and a customer service agent I was observing at the time was prodigious. Consumers lie, a lot, and with general impunity, while consumer-facing personnel, including TSA agents (as an auditor, I flew a lot, eh?), generally don't get away with lying very much. They get caught and punished. Consumers get caught and slink away, only to lie again another day.

with the population of males and females one does have to wonder why they kept saying male screeners (plural) were on duty yet had no female screeners on duty at the time.

I didn't get the impression anyone was on-duty. There were apparently some male screeners still around. Perhaps they are the ones responsible for closing things down. The article didn't specify the details.

Bureaucrats with thumbs up their self-importance.

Hypocrisy1776...Honestly dude how many airlines do you think serve Rock Springs, WY?

rrobeson...why do you assume Rock Springs, WY airport has a scanner?

Seriously folks, think before you type.

I actually live in wyoming and have flown to and from rock springs many times. AFTER 30 MINUTES IF YOU ARE NOT THROUGH SECURITY, ABSOLUTELY NO ENTERING!!!!!!!!!! Unless your like a government official or something.

Last August, I was due to fly from Vegas to Casper, Wyoming thru Allegiant Air. Like the article says, at major airports there is a cut off of 45 minutes. I got to the ticket counter 43 minutes before flight, I had no luggage at all, and the would not let me get on the flight. I would have had plenty of time to go thru security too, but they closed off the tickets for flight.

It sucks, but its the rule! Don't pull the gender card...

WaltDIS - Who pizzed in your cheerios this morning? Oh wait, nevermind, you said you were one of those people that oversees the customer service agents, that explains why you are miserable. You are probably the only one that is more disgruntled and nasty than customer service agents themselves. I can say this for sure, you were well brain washed by your corporate ruler to be spouting off about the customers always being the liers.

I will always take the consumer's word when it comes to the airlines and TSA, it has been proven that is the correct side the majority of the time.

Who has the most incentive to lie? The airline! They are facing a lawsuit!

Rule number one when flying, Make your plans so you arrive at the security way early. Rule two make your plans so you arrive at the gate way early. Rule three travel light and know what you can and can't carry into a airport or on a plane. Rule four you can survive without your electronics for a few hours, bring a book. Rule five remain courteous you can't out j@goff a bureaucrat. Rule six if you act like a spoiled brat be prepared to be treated like one.

@DevilsSon.... Rule number one when flying...... don't. The only reasons I would board an airplane right now are 1. In an emergency (i.e to attend a close family members funeral that I did not have time to drive to) 2. If it was a private plane being flown by it's owner out of a privately owned and operated airport.

The extremely intrusive screening that the TSA puts passengers through was instituted because of what occurred on 9-11-01. The main problem with that is NOTHING the TSA is doing would have prevented the scenario we were told played out on that date. According the official story the box knives the hijackers wielded had been smuggled onto the planes prior to the hijackers boarding them. Why was there NO investigation as to who pre-placed the box knives on the planes? Just one of hundreds if not thousands of unanswered questions regarding the official findings on the events of 9-11-01.

You mean that my NAIL CLIPPERS weren't really a threat?

I can say this for sure, you were well brain washed by your corporate ruler to be spouting off about the customers always being the liers.

How incredibly self-serving and vacuous. I actually have seen the situation from both sides, while your perspective is colored by your lack of experience seeing the consumer sector from inside the operations of a number of different types of service providers. You seem to know nothing but your own experience as a consumer and the things you've heard or read that happen to be compatible with how you want reality to be.

As it is, I worked for no corporate ruler - I worked for an independent auditor. For many years, it was my job to assess corporations for their satisfaction of the promises they made to their customers. I was essentially there to criticize the corporations and their employees for their failings.

And my overall determination, after assessing hundreds of companies?

Consumers lie.

A lot.

Own it.

I will always take the consumer's word when it comes to the airlines and TSA, it has been proven that is the correct side the majority of the time.

You seem to only know what you and your friends think - you don't know the actuality.

Who has the most incentive to lie?

Consumers. 15 minutes of fame for the consumer. Freebies given out just to shut the consumer up. And then there's that petty satisfaction of having taken a vacuous pot-shot at a company the consumer doesn't like. Consumers have the most incentive to lie, by far.

One should get to any airport, even small ones, at least an hour early for domestic flights. Boarding always starts 30 minutes before and if it's a small plane it can be quickly accomplished and the door shut. That's why you get there BEFORE boarding (an hour early). A list is generated of those who have actually shown up for the flight and once everyone in the gate area, who showed up when they should have, have boarded, then the door is shut. The gate attendants are not psychic so they do not know where any missing passengers are (excluding those delayed by late arriving connecting flight). If you aren't there early, as the airline recommends, then it is assumed you are not coming. End of story.

P.S. I do not work for an airline. Just love to travel, have never had any problems and plan to continue to do so. I also work with the public and know a little bit about what the auditor was saying. I'm an RN. Love my job, love my patients. Just know sometimes perception isn't everything.

FYI: the airline flight manifest no doubt was pretty clear that she was to be on that flight, so there was no excuse for the lack of a female TSA agent at the gate till boarding was closed. Half the population is female; hire more women TSA agents.

Reading comments on a variety of daily media web sites continues to indicate one overweaning fact: Even one female makes a lot of idiot males nervous and ill-behaved. ROFLMAO.

the airline flight manifest no doubt was pretty clear that she was to be on that flight

Actually, it is evident that that was not the case, for the reasons I've outlined elsewhere. It is essential to understand how the checked-in manifest works in airline information systems to realize that.

Ironically FAUX NEWS jumps on the opportunity to misdirect the truth.

What the HELL are those TSA professional gropers doing to female passengers that they could not get the first groper idiot they could find to feel up Ms. Whining and get her on her way?!?

A nail clipper is considered less of a weapon than... a woman's squishy?

Politician's overreaction to 9/11 has screwed up 'merka.

In addition to not getting there 30 minutes prior, consider this...

“Once TSA is informed by the airline that our screening services are no longer needed, the security checkpoint is closed. In this instance, SkyWest made final boarding announcements and notified TSA that no additional passengers would be accepted.”

not TSA's fault.

I reluctantly agree with TSA at this point. The airline has already informed them that final boarding call had been completed. Regardless of whether it was 27-min or 30-min, the airline had already made the call. I guess this is a lesson in making sure you don't try to show up at the very last minute. Being on time actually means being EARLY. If you're on time, you're actually LATE.

And the airlines get bonus points for being on-time not for being early so they have no reason to close the flight one minute prior to the appropriate time.

I'd do the patdown if i was a male tsa employee !!

Check the security video. They're time stamped.

I missed my flight because of a traffic accident a few years ago. When I arrived at the airport the plane was leaving in 30 minutes but they didn't let me enter the gate.

And I'm the only one to blame. This girl is a moron.

Plus it was a transatlantic flight in first class, very very expensive. Not her pathetic cheap flight of 2hours. Geez.

Must be a slow news day, (a person misses their flight) and the rules do not apply to this person. Even if everything here is as stated. She was informed by the last tsa official on duty, (screening is closed) and announcements were made. What's not mentioned, anyone on stand-by? What, an agent tells someone, OH, you know that standby seat we gave you a minute ago, guess what, we made a mistake, we can't count.

We don't know who is right, and this is not news one way or another unless we do. Another hastily researched, badly written article.

There should also be a log of when the airline closed boarding. This is nothing new. I remember this happening well before 9/11 when it was just the scanner. There was always (and will always be) someone who shows up on the stroke of closing and expects to be let thru.

That's a good idea.

Why do you assume she was late? Because TSA said so?

We know she was late because if you read the headline of this article you definitely know they aren't leaning toward TSA being in the right. Why is it that women can whine,nag and complain all they want and they are seen as the poor woman that is discriminated against. A man whines about something and he's just a ...whiner? Hmmmm, talk about discrimination. There is a reason why airlines tell you to get to your gate early. I wish people would get over blaming everyone else for their problems and start taking responsibility for something.

or to fat.

Raymond...you dolt, it's "too" not "to". And, to what do you base your crass assumption?

Playing the race card would be no more ridiculous than playing the sex card. She was late - end of story.

I bet if she were a hot model someone would have volunteered to pat her down, probably still would have missed her flight though due to the thoroughness of the pat down.

Best comment of the day

If you make an exception at 3 minutes, you have to make one at 4 minutes. And then if you make one at 4 minutes, you should make one at 5 minutes, because it's ONLY one extra minute... and so on and so forth. Rules exist for a reason. If you can't follow them, do the rest of us a favor and don't fly. Nothing more annoying than a flight being held up by some last-minute bozo who couldn't be bothered to get there on time.

The time difference is the difference between your watch and mine. I know that 30 min is a cut of time and she should have been there 60 min early but there is that extra time worked in because what if every one showed 2 hrs early there would still be a back log somewhere with that influx of people then what if you pass the thirty min mark, is it still your fault, should you have been there 3 hrs early even though you're told 2 hrs? Where does it end, they should have let her through.

It sounded to me like after the checkpoint closed and the agents were off-duty, there were still male agents around who would have been willing to come back to work, but the female agents had already left the building. That's just my interpretation, but it could be the way it happened.

My guess is just enough to make everyone else's tickets more expensive in the future.

Bubba, I think your comment is pretty funny - and I'm a woman :) We do like to be late; just listen to Brad Paisley's song, "Waiting on a Woman."

She wasn't fashionable late, just late. There's a big difference.

If it were a male passenger, he could have gone through the checkpoint and made and ran to the gate, which the story states was still open until 15 minutes before takeoff.

In the end they wouldn't have let her because it was closed.

I think what they meant is that, if there was a female agent available, TSA wouldn't have had a problem re-opening the security checkpoint to let her through, but it wouldn't have helped her make her flight, because she was already too late to make her flight.

Ooooh, nooo. Not the dreaded banned stuff? We can't have anybody sneakin' on with the BIG tube of toothpaste. TSA is a joke. A really unfunny joke. Or as Yogi Bear used to say, "Not funny ha-ha. Funny sheesh!".

More or less, for all the complaints about the lack of safety in air travel, the US has one of the weakest systems of any major country I know of. Both PR China and Canada both manage to have higher security without subjecting passengers to all the degrading treatment that the TSA insists upon. I know both times that I boarded my flights that I felt confident in a way that I never did flying in the US, that there were no weapons smuggled on board.

How do you explain the fact that had she been a man that they had personnel to do the screening? Ultimately she is right that she wasn't allowed to board the plane due to her gender.

How do you explain the fact that had she been a man that they had personnel to do the screening?

The TSA officers who were responsible for guarding the checkpoint after it had been shut down happened to be men.

That shouldn't be surprising. Next time you go through a checkpoint, look around at the officers. You'll note that TSA officers are disproportionately male. That's typically the case in any security situation. Since the TSA requires a woman be present whenever a checkpoint is open, that puts a disproportionate burden on the female officers to work during operating hours, and therefore it is logical that the men will be disproportionately responsible for guarding the checkpoint after it is shut down to ensure no one tries to breach the checkpoint, a role for which a woman need not be present.