Airport Security Expert Reveals Behaviors That Trigger TSA Alerts

DENVER, Colo. — Travelers passing through airport security may unknowingly trigger heightened scrutiny from Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) due to seemingly innocuous behaviors, according to aviation security expert Jeff Price. Price, a professor of aviation management at Metropolitan State University of Denver and owner of Leading Edge Strategies, shared insights with Fox News Digital on actions that could slow down your journey through TSA checkpoints.

“There’s a variety of things that people look for or the TSA personnel will look for — and many of them are the same things that we train airport personnel,” Price said. He emphasized that TSOs are trained to identify clusters of suspicious behaviors rather than isolated actions. “You look for clusters of those activities. It’s typically never just one thing,” he explained.

Price outlined three key elements TSOs focus on: establishing a baseline of normal behavior, identifying deviations from that baseline, and recognizing clusters of suspicious actions. Common behaviors that may raise red flags include inappropriate clothing for the weather, excessive yawning, and lack of eye contact. “Exaggerated yawning, lots of yawning — that might attract attention,” Price noted. “When people are stressed, they tend to want more oxygen.”

Another potential red flag is what Price called “the thousand-yard stare” — a lack of eye contact that can indicate discomfort or stress. He also warned against excessive talking with TSOs, which could be perceived as an attempt to distract them from their duties. “Sometimes that can be seen as trying to distract them from their job duties,” Price said. “They really don’t want to engage in conversation there. They’re focused on what’s in that bag.”

Price added that TSOs are trained to use all their senses, including smell, to detect suspicious behavior. Overuse of perfume, for example, might be interpreted as an attempt to mask another scent. Aggressive or threatening behavior is another surefire way to draw attention. “Displaying aggressive [or] threatening behavior will definitely get the attention [of security personnel],” Price said. “It might just be that you’re upset with the whole process. You’re having a bad day, but it’s also going to get you some additional attention.”

To avoid delays, Price advised travelers to stay focused on their purpose at the airport. “Just be focused on your intent. Why are you there at the airport?” he said. “You’re there because you want to catch your flight on time and get to your destination, so focus on those things that are going to achieve that goal.”

In the UK, a London airport security officer echoed similar advice, emphasizing the importance of listening to TSOs. “We’re telling you these things for a reason — we don’t get paid by the word,” the officer said. They also recommended removing all metallic items from clothing and disclosing everything during searches to avoid unnecessary delays.

Ultimately, Price stressed that while airport security processes can be frustrating, they are essential for safety. “It’s going to be annoying at times, but that’s the nature of security. Security is meant to get in the way,” he said.