Question about airport check in?

[Realgrumpy]

I don't know where else to ask this question. About 10 years ago my brother got shot with a b.b. The doctors could not remove it because it lodged in his neck and was near an important artery. He has flown since this happened. However, he has not flown post 9-11. My dad doesn't think it should be a problem, with the x-ray machines and all. I thought maybe he should get a doctor's note verifying the situation, just in case. PS This is a real question, although I know it sounds like it could be a joke. Thanks.

 

[DebbieB]

You don't go through an x-ray machine, it's a metal detector. It's possible the detector could pick it up, in which case they would wand him.

 

[DVC Grammy]

If the metal detector does pick it up (not all do), besides the wanding (not big deal), a male TSA person might pat him down. He should probably allow an extra 15 minutes at the airport; depending on how busy an airport is, if he needs wanding or patting down, he may be sitting in the waiting area for a little while. But, as I said, nothing to stress out about.

 

[Realgrumpy]

Thank you.

 

[seashoreCM]

Why not write your own note explaining the situation and hand it to the security check agent. Lots of people have metal screws and plates in them for hip transplants, etc.

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

 

[DVC Grammy]

Why not write your own note explaining the situation and hand it to the security check agent. Lots of people have metal screws and plates in them for hip transplants, etc.

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

Just to share my personal experience...............when I had my hip replacement, I was given a credit-card sized picture of my hip replacement device, supposedly to give to the airport gate people when I set off the alarm. Whenever I have travelled, not one security person, at any of the airports I have used, would accept that as proof of anything other than I happened to have a laminated picture of "a" hip replacement implement, even though it clearly is marked with my name, my surgeon's, the hospital's, and the date of surgery. I still have to be wanded and patted down whenever that alarm goes off. So now I don't even bother to take that card out. Their point of view seems to be that anyone can bring a fake proof of something metallic; therefore, I can't imagine how they would accept a doctor's note as proof, much less a note written by the passenger. I have just learned to allow those extra few minutes in case they're needed.

 

[Ed J]

There is a pretty slim chance that just a BB will set off the metal detector. I'm not down playing your brothers injury, and it's a good idea to look into before your trip, but there are no worries about it.

I travel some for work and kinda play a game as to see "how much I can get away with" going thought the metal detectors .

I can go though with a belt (buckle makes it without setting any alarms off). Belt + watch (metal watch). Belt + watch + money clip (no wallet for me) sets is off.

This should give you some idea of how much metal it takes to set off the alarm .

 

[maine_jennifer]

I still have to be wanded and patted down whenever that alarm goes off.

The same thing happens with my mother, so we always allow an extra 15-20 minutes. She's had both knees replaced and she also had open heart surgery and still has metal wires in her chest. When she goes through the metal detector and it beeps, she tells them about everything. Then, when she is wanded, anywhere the wand beeps, she gets patted down. It's not really a big deal, just allow yourself enough time. Could very well be that it doesn't detect it.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree with Ed's point. Make sure your brother puts all of his metal items, including belt, watch and coins in one of the plastic containers. It's very unlikely that one BB will set off the detector.

 

[bdcp]

I really doubt a b b will set off the detectors. Many men and women fly with jewelry that has a lot more metal density that a b b and don't have any problem. My mom flew last month with 2 necklaces (pendants), 4 rings, a watch and 3 braclets and didn't set off anything. There is a big weight and density difference between a titanium hip replacement and a b b.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I once had a co-worker who normally wore a pair of Timberlands with metal lace eyes that would normally set off the detectors at airports, and this was pre-9/11.

A note from the doctor on the doctor's letterhead indicating the presence of the b.b. and how long it's been there wouldn't hurt to have, but as others said it probably won't speed things up. My guess is your brother is still going to be wanded and possibly patted down, so I would allow some extra time for that.

 

[mamamary]

My father had his knee replaced. During the summer we were going thru a metal detector to board boats for the Statue of Liberty. Yes he did get stopped. They put the wand over him. They also made him take his shoes off. This took like an extra 10 minutes or so.

 

[bdcp]

One b b is not 30 boot eyelets or a titanium hip. I highly, highly doubt it will set anything off.