Customs Seal on US Airways Sida Badge

[necigrad]

Each agency uses their own standards. These standars are based on different peerspectives. The USPS looks at who is more likely to steal mail; all types of felons and many misdomenents might be a higher risk to them. The TSA looks at who's a security threat. In that they are bound by the FARs, which specify several different felonies (including murder, rape, sedition, air piracy...) and a very few misdomeners. The TSA has asked for a lot, and believe it or not, are likely often told to pound sand because the regulations governing them tend to be rather specific. Since the USPS operates as a looser entity, permitted to establish their own policies, they have more flexibility as well. It's not a question of risk to one thing or another, but one of perspectives and restrictions on policies.

 

[T5towbar]

From my own experience, I'm pretty sure that holding a customs seal with your SIDA badge is a requirement for work, whether you are working the ramp or upstairs at the gate. (my airline - EVERYONE - including office personnel must have a customs seal). The reasoning for that is since you are lower in seniority, you will be working in a area which you will either be in an international area (like the dump); or loading a international flight - either in the bagroom or planeside; or around this time, handling a lot of sacks of mail. Even if you are in a domestic area, you will be handling mail. So you might be slotted to work anywhere on the ramp as needed. That's the reason for seal. Plus I guess management feels it weeds out the prospective applicants if they have issues in their background. (yeah, right......)

In other words, the Customs Seal has to be on your badge as a requirement for work. No if's; ands; or buts.

 

[Kidxlyricxmcfly]

Thanks for all the info guys, Yes I have a misdemeanor on my background from almost 3 years ago. I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I put that on my CBP application for the customs seal when I applied for it. According to the letter I received on why I was denied, the misdemeanor differs from what I see on the disposition I retrieved from the court where I was detained. So, I'm guessing that's where the problem comes from, I put exactly what was is on the disposition. It makes it seem as if I was lying on my application. I wish they would have contacted me first before taking action. Hopefully the port director will see that I was being honest, since I have proof to back it up. I'm still waiting on the letter about the appeal decision, I never knew appeals could take so long.

 

[Jester]

From my own experience, I'm pretty sure that holding a customs seal with your SIDA badge is a requirement for work, whether you are working the ramp or upstairs at the gate. (my airline - EVERYONE - including office personnel must have a customs seal). The reasoning for that is since you are lower in seniority, you will be working in a area which you will either be in an international area (like the dump); or loading a international flight - either in the bagroom or planeside; or around this time, handling a lot of sacks of mail. Even if you are in a domestic area, you will be handling mail. So you might be slotted to work anywhere on the ramp as needed. That's the reason for seal. Plus I guess management feels it weeds out the prospective applicants if they have issues in their background. (yeah, right......)

In other words, the Customs Seal has to be on your badge as a requirement for work. No if's; ands; or buts.

I guarantee you right now there are people working on the ramp in various major US airports who do not have a Customs Seal, and it is known to the airport authority and to their employer. The only difference being that those people do not have access to international flights. Again... I never understood why there are different standards, because the 9-11 terrorists used aircraft in which none of them were international in their origination or destination.

Employers could have their own standards in terms of the Customs Seal, as the person who started this thread was working on the ramp, but was terminated nearly 6 months later after it was determined he could not pass a background check for a Customs seal, so there appears to be some ifs, ands along with some buts.

 

[T5towbar]

Well I know for a fact that as a condition of employment at my airline (UA - sCO), the requirement is that once before training, you fill out the paperwork for your SIDA. Since training is three weeks, that is enough time to do the proper checks. Once the person graduates and gets the paperwork for the SIDA, they should then know if approved or denied. If denied, you are terminated, but can reapply in six months. (This was pre-merger policy - I don't know what the new policy is now). But as far as I can remember, every employee (except pilots and FA's) had to have a customs seal (whether red or gray) on their SIDA. I don't know the US policy, but at CO it was. Our airport requires it and the Port is strict about your endorsements as well - driving and escort.

 

[Kidxlyricxmcfly]

I guarantee you right now there are people working on the ramp in various major US airports who do not have a Customs Seal, and it is known to the airport authority and to their employer. The only difference being that those people do not have access to international flights. Again... I never understood why there are different standards, because the 9-11 terrorists used aircraft in which none of them were international in their origination or destination.

Employers could have their own standards in terms of the Customs Seal, as the person who started this thread was working on the ramp, but was terminated nearly 6 months later after it was determined he could not pass a background check for a Customs seal, so there appears to be some ifs, ands along with some buts.

I was working as "CSA" at the gates and ticket counter, and yes I've seen plenty of ppl that didn't have custom seals or didn't get it yet. Actually I know of someone who took a year to get their customs seal. Everyone knew I didn't have my seal yet, and two weeks after I was fired I was called by station management to go the domestic terminal. When I worked in the international terminal I worked the flight I just didn't go on the jetways or meet any planes due to me not having a customs seal. After looking over all the disqualifying factors for access to the customs area by the air commerce regulations, I think I have a good chance of fighting this.

 

[Kidxlyricxmcfly]

Well I know for a fact that as a condition of employment at my airline (UA - sCO), the requirement is that once before training, you fill out the paperwork for your SIDA. Since training is three weeks, that is enough time to do the proper checks. Once the person graduates and gets the paperwork for the SIDA, they should then know if approved or denied. If denied, you are terminated, but can reapply in six months. (This was pre-merger policy - I don't know what the new policy is now). But as far as I can remember, every employee (except pilots and FA's) had to have a customs seal (whether red or gray) on their SIDA. I don't know the US policy, but at CO it was. Our airport requires it and the Port is strict about your endorsements as well - driving and escort.

Yeah its confusing I got my SIDA badge in about two-three weeks which clearly means I passed the background check. I had to fill out an additional CBP 3070 form for the customs seal that I was denied for. I'm not sure about the customs seal policy with US, but I was told all CSA's had to have them which is what I was. But upon looking at my employee handbook it doesn't state anything about a customs seal or customs access. From my understanding a customs seal isn't exactly a security clearance.

 

[robbedagain]

in my station there is only a few select who have the custom seals bec of the days when us and pi had a hub at bwi and used to ground handle british airways. today if someone wants it they must fill an applic out but the state which owns and operates bwi will question you as to why you need it.

 

[Kidxlyricxmcfly]

in my station there is only a few select who have the custom seals bec of the days when us and pi had a hub at bwi and used to ground handle british airways. today if someone wants it they must fill an applic out but the state which owns and operates bwi will question you as to why you need it.

BWI is an international airport too, I thought the same rules would apply like at PHL. It sucks thats Union Reps couldn't even help me.

 

[Jester]

in my station there is only a few select who have the custom seals bec of the days when us and pi had a hub at bwi and used to ground handle british airways. today if someone wants it they must fill an applic out but the state which owns and operates bwi will question you as to why you need it.

I have my Customs Seal, and it took less than a week to get the approvals. The biggest hassle was finding my SS card, birth certificate and passport, as to submit copies as part of the application. I am sure that someone is being billed for the background check, but in terms of some extensive application process it was nothing really. The application for the TSA is 50x more extensive than anything I have seen required by an airline, and I suspect over half of the rampers would fail the TSA application, interview and health physical.

 

[T5towbar]

Everyone doesn't need the seal, but if you are in a hub or large station with international flights, it is just better to have it so you can day trade for someone working in that area. But since the OP was a new hire, you would be bounced around from area to area due to the lack of seniority. So that wouldn't be the reasoning for it. You wouldn't be allowed in the jetway or the international hall.

 

[robbedagain]

BWI is an international airport too, I thought the same rules would apply like at PHL. It sucks thats Union Reps couldn't even help me.

TRUE while BWI is an international airport they have a group of people who have it and i know at delta united and usairways and airtran they have some who already have it bec of the past but delta also has a 747 that comes in with troops weekly and ba has a daily flight to lhr and seaonal service they just started for summer to fra and aircanda jazz has daily nonstop to yyz but like i said its more of a pain in the arse in my station for anyone who wants it
i used to have it when i worked in bos bec i was the international bag runner for usairways

 

[Kidxlyricxmcfly]

TRUE while BWI is an international airport they have a group of people who have it and i know at delta united and usairways and airtran they have some who already have it bec of the past but delta also has a 747 that comes in with troops weekly and ba has a daily flight to lhr and seaonal service they just started for summer to fra and aircanda jazz has daily nonstop to yyz but like i said its more of a pain in the arse in my station for anyone who wants it
i used to have it when i worked in bos bec i was the international bag runner for usairways

I'm not sure about all the other airlines at PHL, but I was told that everyone working in the international terminal has to have their customs seals. They made me apply for it a few weeks ago I got my sida badge. Its really difficult trying to find information on the subject. I'm pretty much playing a waiting game until I get my letter from the port director on my appeal decision.

 

[Harry Callahan]

The application for the TSA is 50x more extensive than anything I have seen required by an airline, and I suspect over half of the rampers would fail the TSA application, interview and health physical.

And yet there is so much theft by TSA "clerks" guess they're missing something.

 

[Hope777]

I'm not sure about all the other airlines at PHL, but I was told that everyone working in the international terminal has to have their customs seals. They made me apply for it a few weeks ago I got my sida badge. Its really difficult trying to find information on the subject. I'm pretty much playing a waiting game until I get my letter from the port director on my appeal decision.

If you work at the International Terminal, YOU NEED THE SEAL. Up the NJ Turnpike at EWR, Not all US Employees have a Customs Holigram. Since we are only a Diversion Airport or Handle International Charters, only the Employees with the Seal can work those flights.