my 10 year old had a body search at the airport.

[mcnuss]

crisi --

The only reason I mentioned it is bc I would not want someone who is a fairly casual flyer to think there is the possibility that TSA will strip search either them or their child.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I was thinking about this last night, and just a thought... it might be nice to put this info over on the family board as well. Again, thanks for posting this.

 

[Zephyr]

5 yrs old and seperated from the parents? I'm sorry guys, but this is not reasonable . Under a certain age and they should not be seperated from the parent. There should be some sort of a procedure that can be done if under a certain age so that one parent/guardian may be near the child.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

they can be near, just not beside them.

 

[BWVDenise]

Zephyr, this is my concern as well. If my family of 5 is standing in line and someone tries to "take" one of the younger ones, there is going to be a major problem. I can just see my dd holding on to my leg and screaming hysterically (and boy can she scream!). Does someone escort the young child back to the parent? I would be frantic if I couldn't see my kids at all times in an airport!! I saw them checking tickets and redirecting people in the security line recently in Tampa (I was alone) and never even thought about the kids (there were all adults around me, so I never gave it a thought). The rest of the line went in a totally different direction and I can't imagine where a separated child would have ended up....
Can anyone shed any more light on how they keep a child from getting "lost" from their families in these situations?
Thanks.

 

[wdwstar]

This past july(the end of the month) my 14 year old was flying back from DsiL by herself, DsiL walked her to the gate and to the plane entrance, dd sat first row isle seat next to the stewarts station( we were completely safe about this, dd flys alot with us and a few times by herself) and we were at the gate when dd came in at the plane entrance. we get passes to acess us to the plane entrance and also have to past security, well my 5 yr dd had on this barbie big buckle belt, not even thinking it would set off when dd walked through the metal detector, it did. dh was behind her so he got to stay with her while she had to take her shoes, belt off and had her spread so they can check her manually with the wand, dd was scared but was a trooper about it. we explained to her why it happened and she was fine and couldnt wait to tell sissy. next time im going to have to be more aware of the barbie belt.

 

[DisOrBust]

Why can you not stand next to your child? I don't see how that can be a threat to them at all. My 9yo DD is still very nervous about flying and if this happens to her our her little Sister it will be a major trama. She would not have a problem with being "wanded" but removed from her parents will put her over the edge. I wish I would have thought of this prior to buying our airfare. I think I just made a HUGE mistake.

 

[BWVDenise]

DisorBust-- I hear ya! I already purchased our airfare as well. My 6 yo dd wouldn't even get on the school bus last year if there was a substitute driver! She's doing better now, but that is in familiar situations-- not in an airport walking off with a stranger!
I'm going to cross my fingers and hope for the best. And of course explain things ahead of time to the best of my ability. I don't think they can take our kids out of our sight... I'm just concerned about getting reconnected on the other side of the security procedure. I certainly don't want a 5 or 6 yr old standing there alone while we can't get to them.

 

[NotUrsula]

In most cases, the "room" they use is an office cubicle, and the parent can stand right outside of it, in view. They don't let you stand right next to the person being searched b/c you theoretically could surreptiously "pass" the contraband before they found it. DS once ran away from the agent right before they finished wanding him, and grabbed my hand. Both of us had to be wanded all over again.

I had the opposite problem once when DS was not quite 3. They wanted to do a pat-down on me, and they insisted that I leave DS in the security area to wait for his dad while they did it. DH was being wanded, so he was taking a while. I politely told them that I would be happy to cooperate just as soon as DH was cleared, so that he could take charge of the toddler, and that I was NOT leaving DS unsupervised for any reason. They were insistent that I come RIGHT NOW, so I asked for a supervisor. They called the police. I was about 30 seconds from being arrested when DH finally cleared his search and arrived on the scene. At that point I told them that I'd be happy to come along for the search now, and the clueless wonders started making remarks about how "the cop convinces them every time."

 

[BWVDenise]

I can't even believe that they would SUGGEST that you leave a toddler alone!! Yes, we need good security, but what about child endangerment!! Just reading your post is making me spit fire!!!!

 

[wdwstar]

This happened to us in chgo midway, they just pulled us aside to a space with two walls & two open ends, making it a little private, dh stood right next to my dd and helped her with her belt & shoes, they also had another man in there the same time removing his shoes, and empting pockets. i was not aloud because i walked thru first and they only really needed one parent. Believe me if they took dd to a private room and wouldnt let me in, they would have not got away with it

 

[punkin]

They searched me in MCI and I had my 4 yr old with me. I was the only parent travelling and they let me take her into the cubicle with me. There was no problem and everyone was very polite. My 10 yr old was allowed into the cubicle too but was told to stand about 3 feet away from me and not touch me.

 

[Dodie]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
If you think for one moment that a terrorist would not use his own child for a pass into "heaven" or whatever, you are sadly mistaken. This is the world we live in, unfortunately, and I am for security and I hate profiling, so, random IMHO is the way to go.

Amen to that, Gail! Unfortunately, I think you're right.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, when it happened to me it happened at Denver, which has always had notoriously snippy security folks; before and after TSA. I suspect that their thinking was that if DH could see him from where he was (~ 10 ft. away) then he would be fine.
The thing is, you know how toddlers can just bolt--if DH had tried to go after him in those circumstances, the guards wanding DH would have thought he was making a run for it, and probably would have taken DH down in a flying tackle while DS just wandered off into the crowd. I wasn't about to risk it. I suspect that Denver doesn't see nearly as many little kids as MCO. I've never had any trouble at MCO; IME they are always very good about handling families.

Our rule after that episode is that one grownup goes through first and clears *completely* before a kid gets sent through. That person is then responsible for watching the child and the valuables while the rest of the party gets through. We usually let a few other people in between us in the line for the scanner, so that the family won't hold up the line waiting for the first adult to clear.

One of the things that I have since learned is crucial when flying with grade school kids is the body check before you leave the car. You can check at the house, but if they pocket something that was in the car, you are back at square 1. I check DS' carryon goodie bag after he has packed it, to make sure that there is nothing threatening in it that might be confiscated (such as toy guns, pocket knives, scissors, etc.) At the parking lot, I take one last swipe at him and make him turn out his pockets, so that if there is any contraband, it can be left in the car. I lay out travel clothes for him and make it plain that he has to wear what I lay out; it's carefully chosen to minimize metal such as jean rivets, metal buttons, zippers, etc. You can check for shanks in shoes by bending them in half at the middle of the arch; if you can do that there is no shank. (Shoes that light up are a bad idea; they often have metal terminals that make the circuit for the light.)

I keep a heavy ziploc in the outside pocket of every piece of luggage we own. While standing in the security line, we remove all watches and the contents of our pockets, zip them into the bags, and slip them back into the carryons. If they need to examine the contents, they can do it without handling the items.
We also put our shoes into the carryons and walk through without them.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by wdwstar
This happened to us in chgo midway, they just pulled us aside to a space with two walls & two open ends, making it a little private, dh stood right next to my dd and helped her with her belt & shoes, they also had another man in there the same time removing his shoes, and empting pockets. i was not aloud because i walked thru first and they only really needed one parent. Believe me if they took dd to a private room and wouldnt let me in, they would have not got away with it

Interesting. What would have done?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Dodie
Amen to that, Gail! Unfortunately, I think you're right.

Unfortunately "unfortunate" is the key word. "Sad" comes to mind also.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by NotUrsula
Just FYI, when it happened to me it happened at Denver, which has always had notoriously snippy security folks; before and after TSA. I suspect that their thinking was that if DH could see him from where he was (~ 10 ft. away) then he would be fine.
The thing is, you know how toddlers can just bolt--if DH had tried to go after him in those circumstances, the guards wanding DH would have thought he was making a run for it, and probably would have taken DH down in a flying tackle while DS just wandered off into the crowd. I wasn't about to risk it. I suspect that Denver doesn't see nearly as many little kids as MCO. I've never had any trouble at MCO; IME they are always very good about handling families.

Our rule after that episode is that one grownup goes through first and clears *completely* before a kid gets sent through. That person is then responsible for watching the child and the valuables while the rest of the party gets through. We usually let a few other people in between us in the line for the scanner, so that the family won't hold up the line waiting for the first adult to clear.

One of the things that I have since learned is crucial when flying with grade school kids is the body check before you leave the car. You can check at the house, but if they pocket something that was in the car, you are back at square 1. I check DS' carryon goodie bag after he has packed it, to make sure that there is nothing threatening in it that might be confiscated (such as toy guns, pocket knives, scissors, etc.) At the parking lot, I take one last swipe at him and make him turn out his pockets, so that if there is any contraband, it can be left in the car. I lay out travel clothes for him and make it plain that he has to wear what I lay out; it's carefully chosen to minimize metal such as jean rivets, metal buttons, zippers, etc. You can check for shanks in shoes by bending them in half at the middle of the arch; if you can do that there is no shank. (Shoes that light up are a bad idea; they often have metal terminals that make the circuit for the light.)

I keep a heavy ziploc in the outside pocket of every piece of luggage we own. While standing in the security line, we remove all watches and the contents of our pockets, zip them into the bags, and slip them back into the carryons. If they need to examine the contents, they can do it without handling the items.
We also put our shoes into the carryons and walk through without them.

Wow, what an excellent post!!!! You certainly seem to have every base covered, good for you!!

 

[twinmomplus2]

On our last trip. there was a very odd looking man in the queing area to be searched with my family group. About 12 people. He was very, very, disheveled and nervous. My 16 year old said. If that creep gets on our plane I am not getting on it. He was not taken aside and walked right on through to the gate, thank god not ours!!!! However not 1 minute later. My 22 month old son was picked for a search. Hello???? Anybody home here. This creeep collected his stuff and walked on by and they pulled a sleeping 22 month old child over to the side. I am sorry mam, But its random ticket selection and we have to check him. ok so off come the sneakers, wanded him, Scared the crap[ out of him. I appreciate how everyone has to comply. However when its absurd then please have some common sense. In this case call the ACLU on me. Because I would be profiling every second. Time is better served by checking the creep!!!!

 

[kylara]

Be aware, it is standard at MCO to have to take your shoes off and put them in a bin to go through the x-ray machine. Flip flops seem to be the only exception. Wear socks (and I would suggest they not be white).

 

[NotUrsula]

LOL, I have to have every base covered, my kid is a magpie! You should *see* the c**p I find in his pockets when I do the laundry.

Seriously, though; I find that the trip just starts out on a much nicer footing if we can avoid getting hassled at security. For me it's worth a little prep to try to manage it.

BTW, about searching babies: babies are often a search target because of the diapers. You can hide things inside them, and lumpy-looking diapers are not that odd. In places where pickpocketing is an issue, thieves often work with babies in arms, shoving the loot down into the diapers. I have a friend who works for Customs at MSY; he tells me that he finds a stuffed diaper at least once a month; usually drugs, but sometimes currency.