June 21, 2008: Talking Points At The Security Gate

Story and Photo By Joe Zlomek

Frank, one of three Transportation Security Administration guards checking passengers in Saturday (June 21, 2008) at the "D" gates inside Philadelphia International Airport, called each traveler who faced him by name.

"Hello, Joseph," he said to one. "Hi there, Debra," to another. Granted, Frank had the benefit of identifying people from both their airline boarding passes and drivers' licenses, which were handed to him. But his greeting sounded so natural that one might have thought him clairvoyant.

He studied the documents he received for about 15 seconds, comparing the name on a license to the name on a pass. He scanned for other information too. "You were born in the same year as my sister, 1955," he said to one woman with a smile. "That was a very good year," she replied, also smiling.

"Oh, I dunno," Frank added. "She's my baby sister. I'm partial to 1951, myself. Next ...," he called to a waiting passenger, and effectively killed the conversation. The woman moved on.

"Hello, John," he said, starting another 20-second dialogue.