Typically I'm the first to jump on the bandwagon whenever there is an opportunity to criticize the Transportation Security Administration, for all the usual reasons (privacy, radiation exposure, wasted time and money, security theater, abuse of power, etc), but it'd be unfair to not cover the rare good experience as well.

I was in Florida last weekend for a wedding, we drove down with my Dad. Because we didn't go through the TSA circus to get there, I didn't realize until I got to the airport for my return flight that I didn't have any photo ID with me. I found a TSA agent standing next to the security line and asked him about my situation, preparing for the worst. He asked me if I had anything else with my name on it, and I told him I had some debit cards and my insurance card. He then asked me what time my flight was and I told him it was in a couple hours. He responded saying, "No problem, this happens some times. Get in the line and tell the officer at the checkpoint what happened, it might take a few minutes for them to call Washington, but we'll get you on your flight".

I was relieved but still skeptical about that last bit about calling Washington, since I thought that was an easy way for a few minutes to turn into a few hours. After getting through the line, I repeated the same story to the officer checking IDs, and he just asked me to stand to the side and called for a supervisor. In less than a minute, a supervisor arrived, asked the officer what the situation was, and he just said "No photo id".  The supervisor asked what I did have and I handed over my debit cards and insurance card. She looked through them briefly, and then signed my ticket, with no questions asked. I guess the call to Washington was either optional, or done after the fact.

From that point, I was able to proceed through the checkpoint as normal, with no additional screening beyond the ordinary metal detector and baggage check. The whole ordeal cost me no more than 5 minutes of delay, including the time spent talking with an officer before I even got in the line. Honestly, things went exactly as I think they should in this sort of situation, but much better than they could have given the TSA's track record.  For that reason, I think it was worth writing down. I didn't get any of the officers names or badge numbers or anything like that, but it's worth noting that there are at least three people in the TSA who are professional, reasonable, and not at all like their stereotype.

Of course, the irony is not lost on me that my wife, who had her photo ID and didn't set off any alarms was 'randomly' selected for millimeter wave scanning, along with about 50 percent of the other people in the queue.  I guess you win some and you lose some.