Airport security and traveling alone with 5 year old child....

[DizBelle]

My sister is traveling alone with her 5 year old so I'm trying to help her out...

What happens in this scenario:

You get to security and load your stuff on the belt to go through the x-ray machine. You send your child through the metal detector first and she is going to need further screening (either the detector alarm sounded or she was randomly selected). Do they wait for you to get through the detector before taking her for her further screening? What is the procedure here?

Then, what if the adult needs further screening as well? What happens then?

 

[DizBelle]

Anybody?

 

[squirrel]

Good question.

So far I have been lucky and neither one of us has needed additional screening.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think you are worrying too much.

You can make sure the x ray machine won't go off by removing all metal. If you are selected for additional screening (pat down), it is done in an area by the x ray machine. You aren't normally taken to a different area. Everyone is able to see you.

If the adult needs further screening, the child stands by and waits.

 

[DanielleandBrady]

Great question..I have been lucky enough the few times I have flown with my son alone I have not gotten stopped..but you never know..so I hope that someone answers!!!

 

[DizBelle]

I think you are worrying too much.

You can make sure the x ray machine won't go off by removing all metal. If you are selected for additional screening (pat down), it is done in an area by the x ray machine. You aren't normally taken to a different area. Everyone is able to see you.

If the adult needs further screening, the child stands by and waits.

My sister hasn't flown since 1997 so she has a lot to adapt to as it is. I'm trying help her understand the process so nothing catches her by surprise when she's at the airport. I don't have kids so I don't know the process when traveling with them.

If the child is selected for additional screening, will they wait for mom to get through before doing that screening?

If the child is not selected for additional screening but mom is, what happens to the child while mom is being screened? Who watches her to make sure she doesn't wander off or someting?

What if they are both selected for additional screening, how does that work at all?

 

[bumbershoot]

IF any of that happens, she just needs to stay calm. Make sure she has PLENTY of time at the airport so there is no need to rush at all.

As she sends DD through, make sure mom's getting eye contact with the TSA agent on the other side of the metal detector, so the agent knows that she is there. If they need to do something extra, they aren't going to just take the 5 year old away, but if she needs to come up with a plan of action, the action would be to project her voice (like in theater...it's not a *yell*, it's just a louder voice) and ask them to please wait for her.

Most likely nothing like that will happen, and daughter will just be standing there on the other side of the metal detector, waiting. If mom needs to be screened, she should simply take daughter's hand to make sure the agent knows that there's a child there.

I've seen the screening take place right there in the middle of everythign (unless the request for more privacy is made) so it's not like they will whisk one of them off. And in the small chance they do, if it happens, she needs to simply speak up clearly and politely.

I had a situation (even if one person on this forum doesn't believe me) where DH was being wanded (I could still see him, but it was probably 20 or 30 feet away), then I kept setting off the detector and they were about to take ME away too, and they were forgetting about my son standing there (either 3 or 4 years old). Things were moving a bit faster than I like (we had NO extra time b/c I had timed things really poorly) and they weren't hearing me... Thank goodness the lady behind me told me what was setting off the detector, a small and normal barrette, so I removed it, put it in a bin thing and sent it through the machine, and then I was able to walk through without setting it off again. Whew.

(the above story tends to bring out the questioners, so let me state....this day was absolutely an exception...someone had very obviously calibrated the detector very badly, as the barrette set it off, and the area that made the wands buzz on DH was his *zipper*, and that's what must have set off the detector in the first place...we've never encountered such a sensitive machine before, or after...no one should be worried about this same thing happening to them, and no one was angry or upset at the time, nor were either of us wearing ANYTHING else that set off the machines)


Anyway, just take it slow and easy, stay AWARE of what is going on, if something starts moving too fast, try to slow it down. Be polite, make sure the agents see that there is a mom and a daughter. It'll be OK.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

These types of queries are usually easily answered by checking the TSA website:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

 

[PlanningNextTrip]

I travel all the time with my son alone. The metal detectors or the body scanners are in the same area as the pat down. I went through the body scanner, my son then went through the scanner while i stood right beside the scanner and then he needed the pat down (couldn't stay still). I stood right with him while that happened, and then we went on to get all of our bags and belts and shoes and put them back on.
They will not separate mother and child, that would be a huge lawsuit in the waiting!

It's nothing to stress over, just get there early.

 

[DizBelle]

IF any of that happens, she just needs to stay calm. Make sure she has PLENTY of time at the airport so there is no need to rush at all.

As she sends DD through, make sure mom's getting eye contact with the TSA agent on the other side of the metal detector, so the agent knows that she is there. If they need to do something extra, they aren't going to just take the 5 year old away, but if she needs to come up with a plan of action, the action would be to project her voice (like in theater...it's not a *yell*, it's just a louder voice) and ask them to please wait for her.

Most likely nothing like that will happen, and daughter will just be standing there on the other side of the metal detector, waiting. If mom needs to be screened, she should simply take daughter's hand to make sure the agent knows that there's a child there.

I've seen the screening take place right there in the middle of everythign (unless the request for more privacy is made) so it's not like they will whisk one of them off. And in the small chance they do, if it happens, she needs to simply speak up clearly and politely.

I had a situation (even if one person on this forum doesn't believe me) where DH was being wanded (I could still see him, but it was probably 20 or 30 feet away), then I kept setting off the detector and they were about to take ME away too, and they were forgetting about my son standing there (either 3 or 4 years old). Things were moving a bit faster than I like (we had NO extra time b/c I had timed things really poorly) and they weren't hearing me... Thank goodness the lady behind me told me what was setting off the detector, a small and normal barrette, so I removed it, put it in a bin thing and sent it through the machine, and then I was able to walk through without setting it off again. Whew.

(the above story tends to bring out the questioners, so let me state....this day was absolutely an exception...someone had very obviously calibrated the detector very badly, as the barrette set it off, and the area that made the wands buzz on DH was his *zipper*, and that's what must have set off the detector in the first place...we've never encountered such a sensitive machine before, or after...no one should be worried about this same thing happening to them, and no one was angry or upset at the time, nor were either of us wearing ANYTHING else that set off the machines)


Anyway, just take it slow and easy, stay AWARE of what is going on, if something starts moving too fast, try to slow it down. Be polite, make sure the agents see that there is a mom and a daughter. It'll be OK.

And what would have happened if you hadn't figured out it was the barrette? Who would have watched the 3-4 year old while mom and dad were both being screened?

The video on the TSA website only covers if the child needs additional screening. Not if both need screening.

Re: bolded - All my research indicated that if someone needs addtional screening, they should not be touched as that screws up the process and you have to start over. i.e. If mom needs additional screening, she should not take DDs hand as that would then require both of them to have to start the process from the beginning again.

 

[policycobb]

Tell her to look for the "family lanes" in security. I also always send my DD thru security first and she waits right in front of me until I am finished.

 

[mommy-3]

First off, make sure your sister knows to have her "liquids" in a seperate quart sized bag, nothing more that 3oz, have those on top of all else in carry-on. It will make it sooo much easier!! Also, have simple shoes, we usually wear our crocs or slip on shoes. Have both IDs and boarding passes VERY easy to whip out and return to pocket. Then they will be ready for security. I've went through with a 5yr old and a 1 1/2yr old ALONE. I sent the 5 year old first, he simply stopped at the security officer, then my toddler. She stopped with her brother, then I went through. The security officers are pretty darn nice and were talking to my kids with lots of smiles.
As for if someone needs additional screening, no big deal. They'll simply ask you, all of you to step aside. You will ALL go to the "little area" off to the side for a simple pat down. Try not to touch the other person, but the officer will know that the kid goes to, and if the kid gets choosen, the parent goes too. They will NOT seperate you for ANY reason. Trust me, if I can do it, so can your sister.
Another tip I have, a couple days before take off you can get your gate #, check it out, do some research and find yourself a map of the airport online. That way your more familiar before you go!