Any chance of a refund? Need to cancel SWA due to TSA new body scanners

[Allison]

This refund would only affect the limited number of people who bought their airline tickets before the start of these new TSA regulations and who wanted to 'opt out' of flying under these conditions. Anyway, most people probably won't care, so how many refunds would there be?

Blessings,

Brenda

This refund doesn't exist.

 

[tandbs1]

The problem is that anyone who changed their minds about flying, for any reason, could easily just say that they had an issue with the screening process. Let's say that someone is flying in March, and booked their flights back in July. Now, they have found an airline with cheaper flights that suit them better.....based on your argument, they can call SW and tell them that they don't want the new screening and would like a full refund. Then, they go off and buy tickets on another airline.

Would this happen? who knows. But human nature being what it is, people will try to get away with as much as they can.

This is a good point! I see your argument and perhaps we shouldn't try to get a refund.

Also, I did not know that they have revised the regulations if a child is under the age of 12. I will check into that. I know I personally don't care if I am given the pat down. Hmm.... it really is the kids that I am most concerned about.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. It is all so new and there is so much to think about. I will be very interested to see how everyone does during the very busy Thanksgiving holidays. We will all gather much more data on how these new regulations are being implemented and perhaps modified... it's just that this data is really coming a tad too late since we are due to fly out two weeks from TODAY!

Brenda

 

[jodifla]

Comparing the effects from the scanner to the radiation people who got close to nuclear tests were exposed to?

There is still no definitive evidence that cellphones cause cancer.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones#1

Nothing like stating something as a fact which hasn't been proved.

But there certainly instances where what was once thought as safe and cutting edge turned out not to be so at all.

Look at all the children who underwent thyroid radiation in the 1950s, only to get actual thyroid cancer from that radiation years later. This happened to my BIL. The cancer then showed up later as Leukemia, and it killed him.

Like everybody on these boards about the new scanners, my MIL took the government at its word that the radiation was safe for her child. She regrets it to this day.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Im in utter shock people are actually cancelling trips over a scanner or a pat down.

This is all for our safety. I agree with "dudspizza" calm down, relax, and come back to reality. It is not the end of the world.

I agree. I don't understand all the panic.

 

[sam_gordon]

But there certainly instances where what was once thought as safe and cutting edge turned out not to be so at all.

Look at all the children who underwent thyroid radiation in the 1950s, only to get actual thyroid cancer from that radiation years later. This happened to my BIL. The cancer then showed up later as Leukemia, and it killed him.

Like everybody on these boards about the new scanners, my MIL took the government at its word that the radiation was safe for her child. She regrets it to this day.

So how do you solve this? More testing? This applies to things outside of airport security... new drugs, new technology, etc. Should we just stop doing "new" things because in 5, 10, or 15 years they might not prove to be safe? Or do we test things for 5, 10, or 15 years before releasing them to the general public?

 

[Lewisc]

But there certainly instances where what was once thought as safe and cutting edge turned out not to be so at all.

Look at all the children who underwent thyroid radiation in the 1950s, only to get actual thyroid cancer from that radiation years later. This happened to my BIL. The cancer then showed up later as Leukemia, and it killed him.

Like everybody on these boards about the new scanners, my MIL took the government at its word that the radiation was safe for her child. She regrets it to this day.

That's not what the poster said. The poster said it was proven that cell phones cause cancer.

I can understand the concern of people who work for an airline/airport and get scanned multiple times a day. I can understand the possible concern of a TSA employee. Maybe too close? Maybe not enough shielding?

TSA seems to be letting people opt out of the scanners. I have a problem if a person can say some magic words and get exempted from both the scanners and from pat down alternatives.

 

[tar heel]

As someone who has been scanned in the past 24 hours in Phoenix and patted down in Charlotte (no private parts touched, woman was very professional) in the past 10 days, I can't imagine making such a fuss about this. Isn't our goal airline safety? My DH's laptop and my tote bag were chosen for closer examination, too. I'm willing to accept a little intrusion if it keeps the people wanting to cause harm from boarding.

 

[vim]

That's not what the poster said. The poster said it was proven that cell phones cause cancer.

I did not intend to say that "it was proven that cell phones cause cancer". What I meant to say is that nobody knows how low radiation really affect us. And cell phone one of the examples, where more and more scientist are saying that there might be a link between cell phone and radiation. Currently it is just possibility and it will take more years to say for sure Yes or No. To give you idea - I have cell phone, but I talk less than 10min on it per month(!). I go to dentist, but I do preventive XRays just every second year. It is my choice and choice for my family. Many other people have different priorities and choices. I respect their decisions.
I totally understand we need security.
My understanding is that XRays and pat downs are not real security - just for show. Anybody can guess that next attempt to bring something on board by bad guys will be inside their organs (don't want to name them). And you can be assured that some of security companies already working on devices to prevent that by using "New Advanced and enhanced pad down routines". There are a lot of money in this, so it is coming - sooner or later .

 

[dudspizza]

As someone who has been scanned in the past 24 hours in Phoenix and patted down in Charlotte (no private parts touched, woman was very professional) in the past 10 days, I can't imagine making such a fuss about this. Isn't our goal airline safety? My DH's laptop and my tote bag were chosen for closer examination, too. I'm willing to accept a little intrusion if it keeps the people wanting to cause harm from boarding.

and I would think that the TSA agent doing the patdown or looking at the screen is as uncomfortable, if not more uncomfortable than the passenger is.

I worked airline security pre-TSA and it was not a fun job to do. Stressful, to say the least. I'd be getting out of that line of work if my stress levels had to go that high.....

Duds

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I'm good with the scanner. I am going to die from SOMETHING no matter what. If walking through a scanner 2-4 times a year is what does it, then it is what it is. I can't be bothered to go around avoiding everything that MIGHT be harmful, because I guarantee I can't avoid all of it. Something will get me in the end.

I would rather walk through a scanner than walk through the airport in my panties.

 

[SilverMickey]

To the original poster, If you want to avoid the scanners at MCO Just fly into Tampa (TPA) and only ad an hour to your travel time. Keep with Southwest, Just change your tickets.

 

[sam_gordon]

My understanding is that XRays and pat downs are not real security - just for show.

I'm curious what makes you say this. If I understand you correctly, the XRay machines and pat downs could "go away" and we'd still be as safe, right? So how do you find out if someone is carrying a weapon and wants to hijack the plane?

 

[Let'sGoFlyAKite]

If we cannot do either of the 2 options, then it is a 'need' rather than a 'want'. Who would 'want' to trade in a 3-hour non-stop flight with ME taking them comfortably and directly to their Disney resort... for a 24-hour cramped drive with all that wear and tear on their vehicle (not to mention wear and tear on all those joints for having to sit that long in the car and then being totally unrested while heading off to the parks... ugh!)

No, I do not 'want' to give up my airline tickets at all. But at first, I was like many of you and was telling my dh to relax, these scanners are no big deal, etc. etc. I do not feel that way anymore. And I have flown all around the world (Australia, India, Russia, South Korea, rural Iowa ) and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the whole adventure of traveling by plane.... but not anymore if it means having to take chances with my precious children's mental or physical health or well-being.

Ultimately, our position is that GOD is in control and we do not need to fear what man can do to us... however, we can try to affect some kind of positive change and 'do good' where possible, and right now that is by taking a stand on this issue.

WELL SAID!! That is exactly what I have decided, and I feel JUST like you do. I would LOVE to Fly and use ME, but NOT putting my kids through this trauma. If I walked up to someone's kid at the grocery store and grabbed their crotch, I'd be thrown in jail. If Someone had naked pics of children on their PC, JAIL....Child PORN....Unless I have a TSA badge. Then It's ok to do these disgusting things. So DRIVE IT IS! (actually just wrote a blog about the whole subject...) http://shaneisevil.wordpress.com/

 

[dudspizza]

To the original poster, If you want to avoid the scanners at MCO Just fly into Tampa (TPA) and only ad an hour to your travel time. Keep with Southwest, Just change your tickets.

They have the scanners in Tampa too. They were installed there last year when I flew through there. Note the quote below from this thread.

When we flew back to the UK from Tampa last week my DH 'chosen' for the body scan whilst DD (10) and I were not. So it is not an either/or thing - they identify certain people to go forward (I'd say from that experience only 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 passengers) for the full scan. DD and I just went through the usual metal detector. IF (and it's a big IF) my DD had been chosen she would have gone through the scanner and been none the wiser the other side. However it seemed to me that the vast majority of those chosen were adult males anyway!

If you decide to canel that is your perogative but I would be very surprised - and quite frankly annoyed - if you got a refund!

 

[BlueIrish]

The amount of people freaking out about this stuff amazes me. And I love the people that have found a new way to try to make a lawsuit out of nothing.

Do you think TSA screeners like doing pat downs? The public has this idea that the screeners are all big prevs. Way to generalize. Screeners don't know where people have been so having their hands is just as bad for them.

 

[Tara]

If we cannot do either of the 2 options, then it is a 'need' rather than a 'want'.

No - you are CHOOSING to not do the 2 options. That is a want, sorry. A NEED would be related to injury, such as "I need to cancel because my appendix ruptured and I'm having emergency surgery." Or "I need to cancel because my child has a highly contagious disease, like measles."

 

[goofy4tink]

Enough. The OP has her answer. There are way too many of the exact same arguments going on in way too many other threads. We need to keep them to a minimum.
So...this one is done, as others will be.