How to tell if you’re really speaking to a supervisor at TSA
Read today's edition of Gate Access • May 11, 2026
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Happy Monday.
Last week, I had the opportunity to appear on the Tamron Hall Show. The clip is below, and to everyone who recently subscribed after seeing the episode, welcome to Gate Access.
Yes, my takes during the segment may have been a little dramatic… but hey, it’s television. You’ve got to bring a little entertainment to the airport conversation, right?
I had an amazing time in New York City filming this segment. Huge thank you again to the entire production team for having me.
And just for fun — I’d love to hear your thoughts on the segment, too.
Not sure if you knew this, but Tamron Hall’s show is filmed on the exact same set as The View, which I thought was pretty cool.
While I was backstage, I spotted a stool labeled “Whoopi.” Naturally, I had to ask one of the stage managers if it actually belonged to Whoopi Goldberg, and they confirmed that it did.
So of course… I had to sit in the seat myself and capture the moment.
On the radar
Health experts say the risk of catching hantavirus on a flight is extremely low, especially within the United States, since the rare Andes strain tied to person-to-person spread is not common here.
Travelers visiting the Bahamas on May 12, including those stopping at cruise line private islands like Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay, won’t be able to purchase alcohol due to a Bahamian election law that bans liquor sales on voting days.
The U.S. State Department says travelers with significant unpaid child support debt could have their passports revoked in coordination with HHS.
Papa John’s is giving a limited number of travelers the chance to trade in their unused Spirit Airlines loyalty points for free pizza, turning stranded rewards into dinner following the airline’s sudden shutdown.
This week’s headline story
While traveling recently, I witnessed something at a TSA checkpoint that instantly took me back to my days working as a TSA officer.
A passenger asked to speak with a supervisor after becoming frustrated with how her bag was handled during screening. The officer told her a supervisor was on the way. A few moments later, another TSA officer arrived, listened to her concerns, and the interaction ended there.
Here’s the thing: the officer who showed up wasn’t actually a supervisor. It was another regular TSA officer.
I’m not exactly proud to admit this, but during my time at TSA, officers would sometimes cover for each other in situations like this, and apparently, that culture still exists today.
What makes it confusing for travelers is that TSA officers and supervisors wear nearly identical uniforms, making it extremely difficult to tell who actually has supervisory authority.
But there’s one detail that gives it away: the shoulder boards.
1 Stripe: TSO (Transportation Security Officer)
2 Stripes: LTSO (Lead Transportation Security Officer)
3 Stripes: STSO (Supervisory Transportation Security Officer)
Why this matters: Think of the stripes like ranks. They indicate different levels of authority and responsibility. If you’re escalating a concern or filing a complaint, it helps to know whether you’re speaking with someone who can actually address the issue.
To be fair, LTSOs can perform many of the same functions as supervisors, so don’t be alarmed if one responds when you request a supervisor.
I’ll probably lose a few cool points with my former colleagues for sharing this, but the moment I witnessed that interaction, I knew it had to be the lead story for today’s edition.
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One last thing
Yes, Gate Access is free to read, but I wanted to do something special for those with a paid subscription. Paid subscribers now have a private group chat where you can ask questions, and I will drop extra travel nuggets inside the chat.