Random travel and logistics questions

[Horace Horsecollar]

The only person who won't have to go through a backscatter scanner at most airports, especially smaller ones, is someone with an infant in arms.

So it depends on where you're coming from. I don't think I go through backscatter at LAX, but I do at BWI, BDL, ATL, TYS, BOS. What is your departing airport?

The TSA has pulled the Rapiscan "backscatter" x-ray machines from U.S. airports earlier this year. The controversial devices used x-rays to produce "naked" body scans viewed by a TSA screener (out of view of the public). There were objections due to the use of x-rays and due to privacy concerns.

The TSA has replaced the backscatter machines with millimeter wave scanners. These use radio waves, not x-rays. The millimeter wave scanners reveal anomies (which could be weapons), not full body images.

The experience of going into backscatter and millimeter wave machines is similar. You stand in one spot with raised arms for five seconds. I'm sure many people are unaware they're two different technologies and that the backscatter machines are gone.

This has been my experience also. Kids travelling with you = "normal" xray machine. They may send one adult through the 'big' machine, but we've been able to stay with our family.

Nobody goes through an x-ray machines.

There are the traditional magnetometers (electromagnetic, walk-through metal detectors) and the millimeter wave scanners. Neither uses x-rays.

The TSA agent determines which one you go through.

 

[sam_gordon]

Nobody goes through an x-ray machines.

There are the traditional magnetometers (electromagnetic, walk-through metal detectors) and the millimeter wave scanners. Neither uses x-rays.

The TSA agent determines which one you go through.

You're right. I've edited my post to correct.

 

[Autumnslight]

Please don't check your car seat with your luggage because you do not know how it will be handled in the long distance from check in to plane. If you absolutely do not want to use it on the plane, gate check because it's less of a distance for it to travel and possibly become damaged.

We're not checking the car seat, we're just going to check the stroller. We definitely want to use the car seat on the plane for our three year old!

 

[andigomeep]

Yay! Glad to hear it. I might have been thinking of a different thread when I responded here, sorry.

 

[Autumnslight]

Yay! Glad to hear it. I might have been thinking of a different thread when I responded here, sorry.

No worries! Someone did recommend that we check it, but we want to have it on the plane. My friend is a CPST, so I've had tons of car seat discussions with her.