MissVelvetDress_75 said:
There has only been one time that I was annoyed with the TSA, but they were doing their job. I have never taken Greyhound and have no desire to.
Good for you
I have been more than annoyed several times, I missed flights because of the TSA.
The TSA ruined my luggage, simply cut it because they were too lazy to open it properly - it was not locked. Then, the airline had to repair it, plus it cost me one day of my precious holidays.
Sometimes they were not doing their job (incompetent), f.e. I met a guy on Miami Airport, he had just left his tickets somewhere, looked for them and didn´t want to run around with his luggage - so I watched it for him for about half an hour, from a distance of a few metres. Me and everyone else would have been blown up pretty fast in case of..! (but I knew I could trust him because he was a Ras - so I had no problem watching his luggage).
Rather then doing their job, they were proud showing off their power to passengers: Achtung! Here comes the TSA.
They were unfriendly: while I had to wait for them to search my luggage, I was not allowed to touch the backpack, moved away a few metres, but staying in the search area. The result was that they shouted at me that they´d take the bags away if I move away - they literally shouted: Move back immidiately! If not your luggage will be confiscated! - it wasn´t unattended language, they knew it was mine, and I was waiting for them! Fucking hypocrites.
Maybe they make a difference for domestic/ international travels.
I took Greyhound from San Francisco via L.A. to Vegas and back, and I had no problem. There was security, they checked the luggage properly, no bag was lost (contrary to 15 years ago!), the buses were on time, the check in lines were not as long as the ones at the airport, the bus was comfortable and clean, and indeed there were a few middle-class Americans in there (not only the lower class in Reagan times). Also, a relative of mine did all the way by Greyhound this summer - around 20 destinations - and never had problems. The bus drivers were professional and some were really nice.
So I think at the moment Greyhound is the best way to travel inside America. It also has that cult factor. I mean, everyone is flying those days.. a slacker generation X punk like me likes em buses
You can even have a few beers while travelling.
The TSA would probably assume there´s nerve gas in a six pack and confiscate it. No, seriously, those guys pissed me off. They don´t deserve any payment at all.