More security "pat-downs" at airports!

[Laz]

And to think I almost got my wife to start flying again!

More Manual Pat Downs

 

[crzy4dsny]

If it makes a flight safer I'm all for it. I think everyone should be patted down and searched.

 

[js]

I HATE to fly! I rather take the 2 day ride to WDW in my car anyday than flying. But on Friday, I will be flying
If I see them patting down passengers, I'll be happy although I can't see it doing much good. If someone wants to hide something, they will find a way.
ANYTHING to help us be a little safer is alright with me.

 

[bopeep9207]

Originally posted by crzy4dsny
If it makes a flight safer I'm all for it. I think everyone should be patted down and searched.

ITA !!!! You cannot be too careful.

 

[Figment2]

I don't mind the extra security but I do mind egotistical attitudes. The alarm went off when I went through security last month at Midway Airport. I was flying by myself so I asked the guard what about my belongings. He got RIGHT INTO MY FACE and said "what do you mean?" So I started to explain that I was by myself and would appreciate if someone could watch my purse and carry on, when he cuts me off and tells me to go sit down.

I did, but I was doing a slow burn by that point. I noticed, too, that every woman that went through set off the alarm. Not the men, just the women. I wasn't wearing any kind of underwire bra and I had taken off my shoes so not sure what could have set the thing off.

The lady who did the security search was very nice and made sure someone was watching everyone's belongings. I should have asked to talk to the guy's supervisor. I don't mind the extra security; I don't like being treated poorly.

Cyn

 

[bopeep9207]

Originally posted by Figment2
I don't mind the extra security but I do mind egotistical attitudes. The alarm went off when I went through security last month at Midway Airport. I was flying by myself so I asked the guard what about my belongings. He got RIGHT INTO MY FACE and said "what do you mean?" So I started to explain that I was by myself and would appreciate if someone could watch my purse and carry on, when he cuts me off and tells me to go sit down.

I did, but I was doing a slow burn by that point. I noticed, too, that every woman that went through set off the alarm. Not the men, just the women. I wasn't wearing any kind of underwire bra and I had taken off my shoes so not sure what could have set the thing off.

The lady who did the security search was very nice and made sure someone was watching everyone's belongings. I should have asked to talk to the guy's supervisor. I don't mind the extra security; I don't like being treated poorly.

Cyn

Some people should not be placed in postions of authority, EVER.
If you have this person's name, I would write to the TSA and complain.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)

Subject for a poll question: Which would you prefer:
1. Pat down
2. Full body X-ray
3. Strip search

I still contend you should grab extreme valuables such as purses before reporting to the special search area.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CarolA]

The problem with complaining about the TSA is that you could probably complain about 50% of them... There are some very nice ones just doing thier job. Unfortunately there are lot of them who get off on being RUDE, MEAN and just hateful.

If you grab your valuables before reporting to the serach area.... be prepared to miss you plane. They don't like that and will make you PAY! "Don't you trust us?" Uh.. NO! I saw them take someone off to a private serach area after SCREAMING at them for not proceeding directly to the search area. (the man tried to pick up his wallet!) You really have no rights here. Good luck.

In addition at my local airport the contract employees checking your ID have become just horrid. The lines are now three times longer and it is all due to ID checks. IF your hair style has changed they quiz you.... "Your hair is too long, short whatever" It is just a nightmare.

 

[treehugger]

I set off the alarm EVERY time I fly. I had a titanium hip replacement 2 years ago (at the ripe age of 39) and I always beep. I still hate the pat down (especially the bra thing) in front of everyone. I do inform them of my hip before I go through, but they still have to body wand me (which is understandable) I always send my DH ahead of me so that he can catch my purse. In my experiences all the TSA's have been very nice and professional (I have flown 10 times since the surgery) Let me tell you we have done the drive from NY and this small inconvenience is nothing compared to being stuck in a 10 mile backup on i95.

 

[NotUrsula]

I've solved the bra thing; I just begin to lift my shirt, right there in the security line. For some reason, they always decide at that point that I can go right through! I suppose it could be because I don't have the most svelte figure in the world.

I don't really think pat-downs make anyone all that much safer in those circumstances, the biggest threat is bombs, after all. What WOULD make us safer is dogs, in the gate areas and especially in the bag rooms.

BTW, belt buckles and decorative hardware on shoes tend to set off the detectors very easily, because they are usually made of lead or nickel compounds.

 

[Harligirl]

There is a big difference of being pat down and felt up - IMHO they should only pat down their gender- it is going to get ugly if one person files suit aganst TSA....

They say you can request same gender and in private BUT when that person feels their authority is being questioned....planes will be missed....attitudes will fly......Messy messy messy!!

Not good!! It worries me now...Am I going to have an issue at the airport?? Am I going to feel embarrassed by these new policies?? I am in no way saying all airport workers are like this- I am just saying that like everywhere else in the world, there are some not so nice people. I commend all the airport workers out there that do their job with a positive attitude- it makes everyone's life all the better!

Fingers crossed that one of these nice workers and myself cross paths!

Here's to safe and touch free flying
Lisa

 

[DebbieB]

Lisa,

I think they will only allow women to pat down women.
About a year ago, I forgot to take off my dress shoes in Hartford and they set it off. The male guard called out "female guard" (or whatever they call each other). Before she actually touched me, she asked if it was OK (my bra and metal buttons on my top set off the wand, so she had to pat down). Lesson learned - unless you are wearing tennis shoes, take them off.

I flew to and from Orlando last week and went through security with no problems.

 

[CarolA]

Unless you do have something like an implant about half of all pat downs are probably preventable.

When you get dressed think about the airport. Don't wear the denim shirt with the metal snaps. Don't wear the pants with metal trip. Take off your shoes even if you "think" they will be OK. Take off your costume jewerly and your hair clips. If it has metal on it take it off. I go thru every week wearing my gold jewerly and a underwire bra and never set it off. If I leave a hair clip in.... I am probably going to get zapped!

I have belts I know that I can and can't go thru with. If you don't fly alot assume your belt will set the detector off.

Men before you leave home decide if it is REALLY required to take your weight in change to Disney with you. LOL!


(Also, if you are in a long line, don't wait until you get to the detector to start stripping this stuff off. Do it while you are in line.)

 

[palmtreegirl]

I'd rather strip down to my underwear then have some stranger touch me like they described in that article.

 

[CarolA]

By the way.... that ariticle strikes me as "worse cases" I see people getting patted down all the time. Nothing they do would bother me.

I have heard of some women getting upset even in Nashville, but from what I have seen I can't imagine why at least here.

However, if you do suddenly get hysterical it might actually make things worse. If I were a TSA agent what would go thru my head is "what is she trying to hide, why is she so scared"

But always cooperate with them. One of my coworkers refused to take her jacket off since she was wearing only a camisole under it. They then proceeded to search her! It was her own fault!

Also, if you do have an implant if you get your MD to write a note for you it may help.

 

[NotUrsula]

My best single tip for everyone is to grab a largish ziploc bag on your way out the door when you leave home, and keep it in your pocket or purse.

Once you get in line, take out the bag and have everyone drop in keys, pocket change, watches, wallets that are carried in pockets, sunglasses, cell phones, pagers, PDA's, and any large pieces of jewelry; anything metal normally carried on one's person. (Be sure to take your ID out of wallets and keep it on you.) Close the bag and put it inside the outer pocket of one of your carryon bags before you reach the scanner. Before you leave security, check to see that the ziploc bag is undisturbed, but then proceed to your gate. Once you get there you will have plenty of time to put everything back where it belongs. Please do NOT stop to put all your stuff back into pockets, etc. on the other side of the security gate; it backs up the security line, as people behind you cannot come through until the area is clear.

Children's pockets should be checked before you leave home or your car; they often grab things at the last minute and slip them in their pockets; what they grabbed might not be allowed on a plane. (A favorite pocketknife, or a toy gun, for example. Even rubber knives are forbidden on planes.)

As Carol noted, pay attention to what you are planning to wear to travel. Avoid bulky clothing, and any clothing with metal trim, metal buttons, or lots of zippers. Leave your belt inside your carryon if at all possible. Have everyone wear slip-on shoes if they are bringing them.

We always have a really annoying situation at STL on flights before major holidays. There is a military prep school ~100 miles w. of here, and the kids' uniforms feature STEEL chains and insignia. They are required to wear their dress uniforms when they travel home for the holidays, and it always takes them forever to untangle and unfasten all of that metal to get through the security gates. (They also wear steel-toed combat boots, of course.) I've taken to checking the website to see when the last day of class is. If I'm flying the next day, I give myself an extra hour.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I flew the January after 9/11 and was "chosen" for a pat down leaving Orlando. The many asked me if it was ok to pay me down and my response was something like, "hey, I've been away from my husband for 5 days, go ahead and pat me down". He hurried through that pat down ready to get sarcastic me out of the airport. Don't know what got into me answering that way, but figured there needed to be some humor in the situation...

And yes, it was a male searching me, but don't know if they've changed their policies about that.

T&B

 

[wendylovesdisney]

This is not exactly about pat-downs but what kills me is every time I fly alone with my baby they usually have several security people standing around yet expect me to take my baby out of her stroller, put the stroller through the xray machine (I guess with my teeth as I am holding my infant) and so on... never a helping hand... AT ALL! I just want to yell at them.. " a little help please!"

-Wendy

 

[CarolA]

Wendy,
They are not going to help you... Sorry, but that is the way it works. I think there are a couple of reasons. Number one being they can't leave thier station. So the guy behind the conveyer can't come around to help you and the person on the other side of the screening machine can't come thru to help you.

I think the other reason may have to do with liabliity and evidence tampering. Remember they are trying to think like "cops" (not sure this really works, but...)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

That's why at MCO they have the family line and the workers will help a parent with a young child. They even know how to fold down the strollers and unfuld them at the other side! Very nice and helpful.

T&B