Body scanners and pat downs

[cutie_dinokun]

Hello! I have a question regarding body scanners and pat downs. I'm NOT looking to start a debate or whatsoever.

I'm just wondering is the pat down mandatory? Or its only the case if you refused to go through the body scanners? In other words can we choose between the 2? These new regulations are so confusing!

I rather go through the scanner than be touched by a stranger...

Thanks!

 

[disney david]

Hello! I have a question regarding body scanners and pat downs. I'm NOT looking to start a debate or whatsoever.

I'm just wondering is the pat down mandatory? Or its only the case if you refused to go through the body scanners? In other words can we choose between the 2? These new regulations are so confusing!

I rather go through the scanner than be touched by a stranger...

Thanks!

No they are not mandatory if yu go through the scanners then yu wont get pated down but if you opt out then you get patted down.

 

[DebbieB]

No they are not mandatory if yu go through the scanners then yu wont get pated down but if you opt out then you get patted down.

Not always. If they see something "suspicious" on the scan, they can then pat you down. Someone posted that they left their cellphone in their pocket during the scan, so then they got the patdown to investigate it. Someone also posted that they moved during the scan, so they got patted down. If you go through the metal detector and it goes off for any reason, they will then pat you down. Really, they can pat you down for any reason they find suspicious.

 

[disney david]

Not always. If they see something "suspicious" on the scan, they can then pat you down. Someone posted that they left their cellphone in their pocket during the scan, so then they got the patdown to investigate it. Someone also posted that they moved during the scan, so they got patted down. If you go through the metal detector and it goes off for any reason, they will then pat you down. Really, they can pat you down for any reason they find suspicious.

yes i know i was ging to put that in but i figured they know if they find something or if the metal detector gos off they have to get patted down. But they was asking do they have to do both automaticlly and n if they go through the scanners and find nothing they dont wont make you get patted down. thanks for adding that you right just dont have anything in your pocket no wallets keys phones paper.

 

[drew64]

You will go through a pat down if:

you refuse the new screening
they don't like something they see in the image
you set off a metal detector
you "move" in the newscreeners
the image does not come out correctly
they choose you randomly

Basically, any TSA agent currently can subject any person to a pat down at their whim or discretion.

 

[chamonix]

Basically, any TSA agent currently can subject any person to a pat down at their whim or discretion.

Exactly this.

If you buy a plane ticket you have agreed that you will be subject to the new, enhanced pat-down. You can't even change your mind and leave the security line if they request the pat-down. I really don't like that part, myself. I think some people are sensitive to being touched (inappropriately?) such as rape victims, or people with genital abnormalities (which is actually quite common) and they should be able to at the very least, walk away and not fly if they decide they don't want to, or cannot, have their genitals touched.

All that being said, you probably won't get the pat-down. I wonder what the percentage is, though?

 

[cutie_dinokun]

Thanks for all the answers! We bought the package in July...before these new aggressive pat downs were put into place. If I knew then I wouldn't have booked our trip....I really don't want to be touched like that by a stranger.


If they do choose me for a pat down, can I request to be patted by a same-sex (female) TSA agent.....or I have absolutely no say? I read a few articles online that said some female passengers were patted by male TSA agents.......


Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

If they do choose me for a pat down, can I request to be patted by a same-sex (female) TSA agent.....or I have absolutely no say? I read a few articles online that said some female passengers were patted by male TSA agents.......


Thanks!

I am under the impression that they are only using same-sex agents for the pat down procedures.

 

[disney david]

Thanks for all the answers! We bought the package in July...before these new aggressive pat downs were put into place. If I knew then I wouldn't have booked our trip....I really don't want to be touched like that by a stranger.


If they do choose me for a pat down, can I request to be patted by a same-sex (female) TSA agent.....or I have absolutely no say? I read a few articles online that said some female passengers were patted by male TSA agents.......


Thanks!

male officer police or tsa are not allowed to search females at all if their a male their to search you stop and say you want their supervisor before you go foward. Then let them know you will be contacting the head of dhs they will have a female over their faster then it take for you to blink. It is against tsa rule for a male to serach a female and a female to search a male. I am a male and i wouldnt let a female pat me down no offense to any one. If you are in mco and a male officer touch you go up to the orlando police both and say you want to press charges against the tsa agent. Yu have the right to ask to be patted down in private so they will have to bring you to a room or to a blocked off area. every time i fly and they need to serach they yell i have a male search or female serach never saw a male search a female it to much a risk for that agent and tsa. All they need is for the female or male to say they got touched wrongly now they have a law suit and the agent getting in trouble. Not just saying female if a female agent serach and male that male could also say that the female touched him wrong.

Please dont worry it be less then five min the tsa is adware of the problems and they are trying to adress it and rethinking the pat downs or how they do it. The reason why they are haveing problem with the pat downs is they rushed it out with out properly training them all instead of makeing sure they all could do it the right way they just rolled it out before they got checked.

 

[CPT Tripss]

snip
Please dont worry it be less then five min the tsa is adware of the problems and they are trying to adress it and rethinking the pat downs or how they do it. The reason why they are haveing problem with the pat downs is they rushed it out with out properly training them all instead of makeing sure they all could do it the right way they just rolled it out before they got checked.

Are you sure about this. TSA claims they trained and tested their personnel thoroughly. If you are correct and they did a poor job training for a pat down, how can we have any confidence in them using the new scanners or the carry-on xrays?

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for all the answers! We bought the package in July...before these new aggressive pat downs were put into place. If I knew then I wouldn't have booked our trip....I really don't want to be touched like that by a stranger.


If they do choose me for a pat down, can I request to be patted by a same-sex (female) TSA agent.....or I have absolutely no say? I read a few articles online that said some female passengers were patted by male TSA agents.......


Thanks!

Delta is offering refunds for those who wish to cancel. Not sure if any other airlines are also doing it.

From what I've heard, it's same sex. I've gone through many security lines and you will hear them call out "male assist" or "female assist".

http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/11/new-tsa-pat-down-procedures.html

It’s worth mentioning that only a small percentage of passengers end up needing a pat-down. The best way to be prepared at the checkpoint is to remove everything from your pockets prior to screening. Also, if you have a hidden medical device, you may want to bring it to the officer’s attention before screening. We’ll be better able to help expedite your screening that way...

A few other points to keep in mind:

* Pat-downs are conducted by same gender officers
* All passengers have the right to request private screening at any point during the screening process
* Anyone has the right to have a traveling companion present during screening in the private screening area.

 

[disney david]

Are you sure about this. TSA claims they trained and tested their personnel thoroughly. If you are correct and they did a poor job training for a pat down, how can we have any confidence in them using the new scanners or the carry-on xrays?

I not saying they did a poor job but since they are having such problems they didn't make sure they was all on the same page I think a little more training would of helped. TSa now knows they have to fix the pay downs and proberly going to address other problems like making sure the agents pay attention to the xray screen instead of talking to each other i have seen at mco to many bags go through while the agent head turn talking to their freind.But I have confidence in the scanners since yet are machine and they was proberly tested and trained on them. But when they train them on the oar down they need to make sure they could handle doing itnon everyone and do it the same way

 

[goofy4tink]

Bottom line....the percentage of travelers going through the new, more aggresive patdowns is very small. It just isn't going to be applicable to the vast majority of travelers.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Bottom line....the percentage of travelers going through the new, more aggresive patdowns is very small. It just isn't going to be applicable to the vast majority of travelers.

This is an important point that many travelers forget.

 

[ntsammy5]

You will not go through a metal detector and a body scanner at the same checkpoint. Since I have an artificial knee, I have always gone through a pat-down because I alwaays set off metal detectors. If I go thru a scanner now, there are no metal detectors to set off.

I haven't flown since the new scanners have been in place, but that's my understanding. In the 100 or so times I have been patted down it has always been by a male. It is always a same-gender officer who does the search.

 

[jodifla]

You will not go through a metal detector and a body scanner at the same checkpoint. Since I have an artificial knee, I have always gone through a pat-down because I alwaays set off metal detectors. If I go thru a scanner now, there are no metal detectors to set off.

I haven't flown since the new scanners have been in place, but that's my understanding. In the 100 or so times I have been patted down it has always been by a male. It is always a same-gender officer who does the search.

Not true. What happened in my case is that I set off the metal detector, then was sent to the scanner, then a physical check of the bottom of my feet and the waistband of my jeans.

 

[DebbieB]

I went through the scanner this morning at PIT, got picked even though I tried to avoid the line with the scanner.. I got a patdown of my left arm, apparently my watch was suspicious.... I didn't see any full patdowns.

 

[sunnydays28]

Are kids subject to pat-downs? Are the pat-downs random or only if your refuse the scanner or set it off?

Our flight out does not have the new scanners, does MCO?

(Not sure how we feel about either, just trying to be prepared to tell our daughter something.)

 

[goofy4tink]

Are kids subject to pat-downs? Are the pat-downs random or only if your refuse the scanner or set it off?

Our flight out does not have the new scanners, does MCO?

(Not sure how we feel about either, just trying to be prepared to tell our daughter something.)

Pat downs happen if you refuse to go through one of the newer scanners. Or if something sets the scanner off. MCO does have these scanners.
Children are not subject to the patdowns. At least that is the last word I heard. BUT...I would always prepare my child for the worst and be thrilled when it was no big deal.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Pat downs happen if you refuse to go through one of the newer scanners. Or if something sets the scanner off. MCO does have these scanners.
Children are not subject to the patdowns. At least that is the last word I heard. BUT...I would always prepare my child for the worst and be thrilled when it was no big deal.

No, that isn't correct. Children 12 and under requiring further screening get a "modified" patdown. http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/11/tsa-myth-or-fact-leaked-images.html

Unfortunately, TSA won't tell what that means.