Painful experience getting kids through airport security!

[HappyMommy2]

I recently traveled by air with my preschooler and toddler. At the security checkpoint my 3-year-old passed through the scanner with no problem. Then I was told that since my younger child was old enough to walk he'd have to go through on his own, after me. DS was already terrified by the whole scene, so needless to say he held onto me and I had to practically throw him off so that I could go through the scanner alone, and then he laid down on the floor and wailed and wouldn't walk through the scanner no matter what! I asked the agent if I could PLEASE carry DS through, and he said no. I was almost in tears! Finally, after some discussion with a couple of other TSA agents, I was allowed to carry DS through. On our way home, we had to go through security at our layover airport and a similar thing happened, but it didn't take as long for them to decide I could carry DS.

We'll be traveling again soon and I'm concerned about such a scene happening again. The TSA website says that "it would be best" for a child who can walk alone to pass through the scanner alone, so I know it's not illegal for me to carry DS through; should I print out that page from the website and bring it with me? Surely I'm not the only parent with an uncooperative toddler!

Hopefully this will be a moot point soon as DS matures and will be able to understand and do what he needs to do.

 

[tinaluis]

How idiotic of them to reduce your son to tears over something like this. The first thing I thought when I read your post is that they must not have children. I would print the page from the TSA website and hope for the best on your next trip.

 

[disneyfor3]

We recently traveled from BWI to MCO end of January. My 3 year old son fell asleep on the way to the airport and the security persons just let me pick him up from the stroller and carry him through. The same thing happened on the way back; fell asleep on the way to the airport again and security again let me carry him through with me. I did wonder how they would expect me to wake him up (he can sleep like the dead) and walk through but they never suggested it. Overall, it was a very positive experience for us.

Previously, when we went thru security when he was 2 and 1/2 from the same airports he walked through on his own without a problem. He found the kid friendly security line fun at MCO - he got a sticker after he went through.

 

[NotUrsula]

This sort of thing tends to depend on the airport. For example, Denver's security staff is notorious for giving people a hard time, while MCO is known for being rather laid-back. However, I can tell you that when you are disposed to argue with TSA agents, they tend to become disposed to subject you to the most stringest search standard possible.

If you are traveling w/ 2 adults, send the first adult and all the hand luggage *all the way through* before sending the children and then the second parent. It's actually good to let someone else go between the first parent and the kids, in case one of the bags comes up for a hand-search; you don't want the first parent to have to try to deal with being patted down or supervising a bag search while also keeping track of a child. When alone it is much harder; I know; I got picked for a body search once when travelling alone w/ my child. At most airports, though, they were OK with the fingertips technique, where the child walks through backward while just touching your outstretched hand.

In any case, always try to get to the airport early enough to be able to hang back a little and let the kids watch the process before they have to go through it. This whole security business is one of the best arguments I know for flying with babies; my DS has been flying since he was really small, and has been through some of the strictest checkpoints in the world, with machine guns and dogs all over the place. He's completely unfazed by it all.

 

[goofy4tink]

How upsetting for you and the poor kid!! Well, at least you know now that there could be a problem with it. I would suggest you do 'play security' at home. Make it a game. You could even wand him over a few times. Even my 8 y/o dd was somewhat taken aback when that happened to her at Sanford Airport. Good luck on future trips. Hope they go easier for you.

 

[mbelec]

Wait until your 7-year-old announces (loudly) that you don't have any bombs in your suitcases!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mbelec
Wait until your 7-year-old announces (loudly) that you don't have any bombs in your suitcases!

Oh, that must have been fun!!!! How was that handled.

 

[mbelec]

With tons of embarrassment and reassurances; then sitting down with him and telling him what not to say to airport security. Kids will say the darndest things, won't they?

 

[JPN4265]

Originally posted by mbelec
Wait until your 7-year-old announces (loudly) that you don't have any bombs in your suitcases!

That's when you turn around and in a very loud voice you say, AND WHO'S KID IS THIS?

 

[HappyMommy2]

LOL (sympathetically, of course), mbelec!
Kids pick the most convenient times to say things, don't they?

Thank you very much, everyone, for your responses. NotUrsula, you always have such great tips for traveling with little ones--thank you. Goofy4tink, playing "security" at home is also a great idea and I think my boys would both love that!

Thanks again.

 

[mylilnikita]

Hi. I agree with Goofy4Tink about playing airport security. I took my daughter on a 2 day cruise a couple years ago, she was 3 at the time. she has her favorite stuffed animal fluffy the cat. well she wouldnt hand the cat over to security, luckily the security officer was understanding. i told my daughter that she had to make sure fluffy was healthy enough to go on the cruise, well that worked. she walked through the metal detector by herself. Last year we went to Disney world. She had never been on a plane let alone go through security, so we practiced airport security and getting a pretend airplane with pretend turbulence, she did great.

 

[PaulaMurf]

I did not know there was one until our recent flight out of LGA - apparently, according to the TSA agent we spoke with, all the airports are supposed to have one lane that is child friendly/ready. They let my DH carry my DS(2.5) but he already had him in his arms. The agent had a fuzzy hand puppet, and there were a couple of teddy bears on the security belt to "help" the kids put their things in the boxes.

We also went through the child lane at MCO on our way out. The security people manning these lanes definately seemed nicer.

Good Luck!
Paula in CT

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Like Disneyfor3, my 4yo son fell asleep before going through security. I picked him up and security folded the stroller for me (I was travelling alone with him) and put it on the belt. I carried Jake through security and they unfolded the stroller and I was good to go. I'm glad I didn't know about him possibly having to walk himself through or it would have given me something to stress over.

T&B

 

[Doug123]

Don't throw it in their face, but I would certainly print off the sheet in order to show them their own policies. If they question taking you carrying your child through, simply show them the sheet. Nothing like using their own policies to support your position.

 

[DisneyCrazy]

You might not think so had it been the Sears Tower on 9/11/2001. Air travel is not a right. Maybe being on the East coast makes some of us a little more sensitive but maybe some people should think twice if their children are not ready to handle flying and the security measure we ALL must endure now.

Hmm, think of it, what a diversion a crying child would make for the next would be terrorist...

Originally posted by tinaluis
How idiotic of them to reduce your son to tears over something like this. The first thing I thought when I read your post is that they must not have children. I would print the page from the TSA website and hope for the best on your next trip.

 

[higgin704]

I can see both sides of it. As a parent, my dh had the unfortunate experience of having security insist that our dd (then 5) remover her shoes. Completely freaked her out. I do wish they would be a little more sensitive to children.

But the other side of me - the side which was raised by a career navy father and had career military uncles and a career airforce older brother (22 years in and still going strong!) knows better. Children are often used as decoys. It is a sad, but true, reality. And if my screaming 5 year old is what it takes to make things more secure in the U.S. I am okay with that. The security personnel simply does not have enough time to make all of our kids "feel better" about the checkpoints. I certainly wish they did - but they don't.

To whomever (the name escapes me) gave the tips about getting them through securtiy, THANK YOU. We will be sure to practice with our daughter and use your advice to get her through more comfortably next time!
angie

 

[JennHales]

my experience was just about a year after 9-11.
small podunk airport with only about 8 flights comming in and out each day! We are waiting to board and I am taking care of my baby who is 2 months old and look up to find my DD (almost 3) running out of the security exit gate. Anyway to get her back in in the gate they FRISKED her and took her aside for 15 minutes doing all there tests ect. while our plane was just about to take off. Anyway I was ticked
Jen

 

[safetymom]

Why should you be ticked? There was a security breach. In this day and time you can't take for granted that even children are safe.

I travel all the time and realize that it is just easier to go with the flow and it will work faster for everyone.

I have found that the smaller airports are much tighter with the security.

 

[DisneyCrazy]

I haven't found this the case, but it probably should be. Last time 'they' came in the front door - next time 'they'll' be sneaking in the back.

Originally posted by safetymom

I have found that the smaller airports are much tighter with the security.

On a humorous side note to the other poster about announce 'no bombs': I was traveling with a few friends to Vegas last year when my one friend LOUDLY asks my other friend's wife, "did you pack your THONGS?" - well the TSA agent though he said 'bombs' and proceeded to tear my friend a new one (my friend is about 6'5" and a police officer). It was quickly explained and the TSA agent apologized PROFUSELY - but it was not a issue, my friend identified himself as a police officer (and voulunteer fireman who has visitied ground zero) and we went on our way.

He and I then had to change airlines A NUMBER OF TIMES due to cancellations/overbookings - well, let me tell you, we were all but cavity searched EACH AND EVERY time we boarded a plane. Inconvienient, yes - pleasant, no - necessary, yes. Freedom DOES have a price and it continues to go up.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Hmmm...interesting comments! Thanks everyone.

I'm the OP, and just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that my 2-year-old shouldn't have to go through security--of course he has to, whether he wants to or not! And if they should have to hand-search him, wand him, etc. that is of course COMPLETELY acceptable. As a military wife and a neighbor of the Pentagon I'm especially attuned to the fact that flying is a privilege and that when flying we must give up some of our accustomed liberties for the sake of safety and security.

I have talked to a TSA agent since I originally posted and he told me that the reason they want kids to walk through on their own is not really a security issue per se but is just a timesaver- If I were carrying DS and we "beeped" (which we never have done before, as we religiously remove shoes, watches, metal hair clips, etc., but it's certainly possible we could miss something) both of us would have to be searched, using up double the time. I'm all for saving time so I'm working on DS and hopefully he will be able to walk though on his own with no problems when we travel next week.

Thanks!
Janet