Airport Security and Prosthesis

[carj]

Does anyone here have an idea of what we can expect with airport security and a traveling with a passenger who wears a prosthetic limb? I am not sure if this is the right board but I though that someone here might have experience with this.

We haven't flown since 1997, our honeymoon, and our son wasn't around for that trip!

I don't want to make a big deal out of it with him but if he is going to be asked to remove his leg, I need to explain to him before it happens. Also, would this be done privately rather than at the checkpoints?

I want to say that I have NO problem with complying with removing the leg for security reasons but I feel like I should explain to him what is going to happen. Also, I would like to explain in a way that won't freak him out. (I don't want to tell him they are looking for explosives etc... I would rather explain it in a less scary way.)

I don't expect to have any difficulties at Disney, I 'm just a little worried about the airport!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

Step one is to let the TSA agent know before stepping through the scanner he has an artificial leg. I have an artificial hip and cannot take my shoes off or put them on unless I am sitting. After I go through the scanner they will run a wand over my body to see if it beeps and where.

I do not think they will ask him to take it off. They may ask that he raise a pants leg so they can see underneath. Aything that may cause embarrassment in public can, at the person's request, be done in an area screened off from public view.

 

[carj]

Since it will be June when we go, he will be wearing shorts and it should be fairly obvious that he is wearing a prosthesis!

He won't be embarassed that they look at it, but I know that he would feel embarassed if he had to tak it off in front of a crowd of people. I am glad to know that at least it would be done privately, if at all.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Pre 9/11 my grandmother was once asked to remove her leg. She was walked to a private area to do so but was still ticked off as it was a major undertaking to remove and replace the strap system that held it in place. (note- this was a 1986 prosthetic leg) I went with her to help as she was allowed one person to assist her and I was not needed to do other things (I was 16 at the time.) They just wanted to see inside the thigh cup of the limb to make sure she was not smuggling anything.
It was a hassle but it went smoothly and other than listening to her gripe about it for the next hour it was fine.

Every other time she was just super wanded and let to go on her way.
Sheli

 

[carj]

Thanks for the response. I am sure that lots of people have had different experiences so that is kind of what I am looking for. I have read the FAA procedure so I know what is supposed to happen. I just wondered what the reality is. Thanks!

 

[mama2twins]

I don't wear a prosthesis, but I do wear braces and it's difficult for me to take them off or put them back on unless I'm sitting. When I flew last October, I just requested a seat, but security didn't make me take my braces and shoes off. They just ran the wand and some kind of cloth over the braces. They even offered me a private room to do that but I said it wasn't necessary.

Of course, every agent is different, but you probably won't have a problem.