Do you empty your pockets?

[johnnyr]

In PHL my last time through, they let me hold cash in my hand when I went through the full body scanner. I asked if it was ok before I went through. When I exited, the TSA agent on the other side asked to see what I had in my hand but didn't give me a hard time about it.

 

[vacationclub]

Just FYI the Backscatter machines do use X-Rays. The millimeter wave machines do not.

Yes, thank you, I had them mixed up in terms the name of technology. The blue-black x-ray machines are also known as back-scatter. The L3 machines....the less dangerous...are millimeter waves. Thanks for correcting that. I had my machines right just used the term back-scatter for the wrong one.

Why not just opt out of any scanner that requires assuming a position and has the effect of looking underneath one's clothing?

Actually in my post that you quoted I said that I do that...except in some cases I'll accept the less dangerous L3 machine (millimeter waves, not back-scatter as I mistakenly referred to it earlier).

To me it's not about looking under clothing at all....it's about what they are doing to my body that we may learn about years from now. I wish more people would opt out, so they are even less likely to force a scan on people to begin with.

Scanning people, in my opinion, who have no triggers (loose clothing, failed the metal detector, flagged as a suspicious traveler, etc) just to do it is ridiculous. The metal detector has worked fine for decades, and the new machines were put in after a failed attempt by an incredibly obvious person (was on a watch list but name spelled wrong, paid in cash, one way ticket, no luggage on very long trip, no jacket on trip in winter to Detroit) who's father warned the US about him...who didn't even go through TSA when he boarded a plane. We put in all this stuff and invade privacy and possibly endanger people as a reaction to massive failure of other security measures, and it didn't even happen in the US. Money grab.

 

[NotUrsula]

Great way to get robbed, absolutely.

I seed the outer pocket of every carryon bag we own with a couple of gallon ziploc baggies, and we stop and put all of our pocket items in them before we enter the security line. They go back into the carryon and stay there until we reach the gate, where we re-assemble. The only item we keep out is the photo ID, which goes in a pocket unless we are going through the full scanners, in which case we hold the ID over our heads in full view.

My jewelry stays on, but I only wear gold when I travel, and normally the detectors are set so that gold will not alarm in small amounts.

Using a ziploc has the added advantage of keeping sticky-fingered TSO's out of your stuff. It is almost impossible to quickly open a ziploc one-handed while wearing vinyl gloves.

 

[Ro Z]

I had a folded up tissue in my front pocket at Manchester NH security and the TSA (girl) poked at it after I went thru the scanner and asked what it was. I pulled out the tissue and she waved me on. I guess my jeans were too tight! So I make sure there is NOTHING in my pockets. Anything to make it easier and quicker.

 

[lotus14]

WHY is your husband carrying his SS card with him? Unless he's traveling to start a new job and they need a copy of it, there's no reason for him to carry that with him. If he had his stuff stolen, the thief would need nothing else to take his identity, since he'd have it all.

I was going to write the same thing. Carrying a SS card anywhere but to a new employer or to the SS office is just a BAD idea. Having that fall into the wrong hands could be disastrous for him and your family. No one should ever carry that SS card with them all the time. Anyone could easily apply for a million credit cards in your name and cause all sorts of other havoc if they had a mind to.

 

[DisMN]

I was going to write the same thing. Carrying a SS card anywhere but to a new employer or to the SS office is just a BAD idea. Having that fall into the wrong hands could be disastrous for him and your family. No one should ever carry that SS card with them all the time. Anyone could easily apply for a million credit cards in your name and cause all sorts of other havoc if they had a mind to.

Thankyou all for your suggestions and comments. Carrying extra ziplocks with us will be the thing to do from now on I think.

As far as our social security cards go we discovered a long long time ago that our cards are far better on us (pockets only, I don't carry a purse) at all times than tucked safely away somewhere. Things have been taken from our house before, papers rifled through and the ocassional important document has gone missing.

Have you not noticed how many places have your social security number as your ID number anyway? Moot point to hide the card now don't you think? LOL

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

As far as our social security cards go we discovered a long long time ago that our cards are far better on us (pockets only, I don't carry a purse) at all times than tucked safely away somewhere. Things have been taken from our house before, papers rifled through and the ocassional important document has gone missing.

Have you not noticed how many places have your social security number as your ID number anyway? Moot point to hide the card now don't you think? LOL

I agree that it is absolutely unnecessary to carry your SS card with you. Put it someplace safe at home. If you have trouble keeping track of important documents at home, look into getting a small safe or safe deposit box. You an also scan important documents and store the images online (yes, there are secure sites for this). Then if you lose them (such as a passport on a trip), you can easily access a copy.

As far as SSNs being used for id numbers, this is true, but they no longer appear in complete forms on these ids (such as military ids, driver's licenses, etc.), so no need to get paranoid about someone seeing them.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'm a random screening magnet. So yup my pockets are totally empty. I got selected for explosive checks and checked bag x-rays on a regular basis pre-9/11. I guess the suburban co-ed is always going to look suspicious.

So I do security by the book. I prefer to avoid extra scrutiny.

My earrings if I'm going through the classic metal detector. BUT nothing goes into a bin alone. My wallet and jewelry are in an inside pocket of my carry-on. I can combobulate after I clear security.

I'm a random screening magnet too. I put my purse or wallet or loose change into my carryon before going through security. I don't wear enough jewelry to set off the detector so I don't need to remove any of that.

Here in ATL, they also want you to put your license and airline ticket away too. It's even announced as you are going into the security line.

Once I left mine out and just held them as I went through. The TSA guy said he'd allow it this once but next time I need to put them away so I go through empty handed.

My husband usually tosses his stuff into a bin, wallet and all right from his pockets. When we fly as a family, I give him and my son each a ziploc bag to put their stuff in and then ask for it back after they put their stuff in it so I can put it into my carryon.

My son is fine with it but my husband never wants to for some reason.

 

[Miffy]

If I end up being forced into the back scatter scanners (I always opt out of the x-rays), .

vacationclub: Question: Does this mean that there's no way to opt out of the back-scatter scanners? I haven't flown in a while and was under the (maybe erroneous) assumption that one could opt out of any of the full-body scanning devices and choose a pat-down instead. Maybe not, hunh?

TIA for your reply!

 

[Thumper_Man]

We have this strategy when going through where I go through first with one person between us. My sister had things stolen off the conveyor belt so this was our way of keeping our eyes on our stuff at all times.

DW and I do this as well. First one through waits for the bins to come through the scanners and grabs them. Last one through makes sure they get through the scanners. So one of us is constantly watching our stuff.

DH puts his wallet into his carryon bag.

I do this as well. Wallet, keys, cell phone, ipod, jewelry and whatever else I may need on board go in my personal bag. What I ever I can do to make the process easier and faster. Other things I do is often wear flip flops and shorts without a lot of pockets. Usually the basketball type shorts. You can very easily tell if I have something in my pockets or not, with those type of shorts.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Yes, I haven’t carried a purse since I had my son 2 years ago, just a diaper bag, so that is where my wallet is always kept. When we fly, my son’s stuff and my stuff goes into my large backpack and I pack a small empty diaper bag to use at our destination in my suitcase. If I’m not renting a car where we are going, I put my keys in a compartment with nothing else so I won’t open it during the trip and lose my keys. At our airport, you show ID right before security and then they tell you to put it away, so I put it in my wallet before we get to the front of the line. I keep my wallet and cell phone in one specific zippered compartment inside a larger compartment just big enough to hold them both and be zipped.

I have no desire to have to gather up a lot of small things after we have gone through. I don’t wear a watch on travel day. I just use my cell to watch the time. I even pack our toiletries (minus meds) in the checked suitcase, but then I’m juggling a stroller, an 8 year-old and a toddler, so it’s enough to have to put down shoes and the backpack, then fold and put the stroller up there while making sure my faster than lightening son doesn’t take off running. Thankfully my daughter is older and they are also letting children remain in their shoes. She puts her backpack down and walks through, grabs her bag and waits on the other side for her brother and me. I put the stroller down, strap the runner down, slip back into my crocs, grab my back pack and we’re out of there.

My husband used to take his wallet out and put it on the conveyer belt but with his shoes and inhaler. Not sure why he didn’t keep the wallet and inhaler in his backpack. He always had one when we flew.

 

[DVC-Don]

I put all but my wallet in my carry on bag just before security and than get it all back out after security. I do carry my wallet in my hand and sometimes they ask to look inside, sometimes not.

 

[ford91exploder]

I had a folded up tissue in my front pocket at Manchester NH security and the TSA (girl) poked at it after I went thru the scanner and asked what it was. I pulled out the tissue and she waved me on. I guess my jeans were too tight! So I make sure there is NOTHING in my pockets. Anything to make it easier and quicker.

Ah MHT - The place where Barney Fife becomes a TSA agent, Most of them are ham handedly probing through our camera gear of each to "clear" it. Yah as in carry it clear out to their car.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Ah MHT - The place where Barney Fife becomes a TSA agent, Most of them are ham handedly probing through our camera gear of each to "clear" it. Yah as in carry it clear out to their car.

Please don't insult the Deputy from Mayberry

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We carry a back pack and as soon as we get to the airport we take everything out of our pockets, (keys, coins, kleenex) and my husband removes his belt and put it in the back pack. We only have out our boarding pass and ID. By empting your pockets when you arrive at the airport prevents people who are inline at security from seeing what valuables you have just placed in the bag. Plus it saves you time in line. All you have to do is hand them your boarding pass and ID and take off your shoes.

While we are in line for security off come our shoes as we get close to the scanner. In the first bin we put my shoes, the second bin has the laptop, then the back back and the third bin has my husband shoes. I go through first at the same time my shoes are getting scanned. As I pass through my husband will send the laptop and backpack through the screener once I have cleared the metal detectors. That leaves me free to catch the bag and laptop.
Just our way of keeping an eye on our valuables and to prevent someone from wanting to take our bag.
Plus you are not having to try and collect multiple items such as yoour shoes, a carry on bag, a container that has your coins, car keys, belt, wallet and a cell phone as well as a laptop. All of your stuff is safe and secure in your carry on or backpack. Just grab one bag, the laptop and your shoes and off you go.

 

[Coloradomom]

My husband has a small mesh bag (might be Eagle Creek) that he puts his pocket stuff in (wallet etc). He attaches it to his small carryon-it has a clip and so can keep an eye on his stuff but have it available. It works really well and he does not have to think if he has everything.

 

[delilah]

One annoying incident on our last trip to Orlando going through the security line: my husband was right behind me as we headed to the scanners, but, for some reason, a TSA agent directed him to a different line than mine. I didn't see what happened, and the fellow behind me was standing so close that I could have elbowed him in the belly. I thought it was my husband until I turned around. I almost stopped and told him to go first, because I had a carry on and brief case with a lap top in it to manage, as well as keeping an eye on our 13 year old. Just a word of caution. I was very careful to be sure to keep an eye on my stuff on the conveyor. And called out to my son to guard it.
You never can be too sure who is behind you.

 

[mckinley]

Before we get to the check point i take everything and put it into a small purse like bag i carry. I also try to put it at the bottom of they gray tub so its not real easy to see & just grab. The last time we flew i got pulled away to go thru the full body scan so i wasn't no were near our stuff. So it would of been very easy for someone to grab my bag and go.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

DH puts his wallet into his carryon bag.


WHY is your husband carrying his SS card with him? Unless he's traveling to start a new job and they need a copy of it, there's no reason for him to carry that with him. If he had his stuff stolen, the thief would need nothing else to take his identity, since he'd have it all.

This was my 1st thought too!!

Dh used to do this back in the day because his work would often get slow in winter & get laid off but ever since identity theft has become such an issue he agreed he doesn't need it in his wallet. It's even locked in a safe just in case our house get burglarized.


btw, my crazy trusting dh puts his wallet, watch, coins, ipod, etc in the little bowl. I keep offering to put it all in my carry on. There's no reason to have it all out in plain sight. At the very least, zip it into a jacket pocket.

 

[vacationclub]

vacationclub: Question: Does this mean that there's no way to opt out of the back-scatter scanners? I haven't flown in a while and was under the (maybe erroneous) assumption that one could opt out of any of the full-body scanning devices and choose a pat-down instead. Maybe not, hunh?

TIA for your reply!

Yes, you can opt out of any machine. I sometimes will reluctantly accept the millimeter waves if time or crowds are pressuring me. But if not, I'll opt out.