Women's Question about airport security

[vald1977]

Okay, this may seem like a silly question but...

I haven't flown since May 2001 (pre 9/11) so I haven't had any experience with the new security measures. I know that the metal detectors are more sensitive now and I am wondering if my underwire bra is going to be a problem. This is the only kind I own.

Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[robinb]

Shouldn't be a problem . If you do happen to set off the detector, they will "wand" you with a hand held detector. The worst part of being wanded is having to take your shoes off!

 

[kandmwedding]

I too only wear underwire bras and all the times I've flown they've never been a problem. I did set of the alarm ebcause of my shoes (metal in the shanks) and they took me aside and wanded my entire body. When they did that my bra went off. The female guard patted down my sides (to make sure it was underwire) and let me go. The next time I went through I put my shoes on the conveyor and didn't go off at all.

 

[wdwmom2]

My family and I flew to Texas in January of 2002 and security made my daughter, then 15, take off her shoes and her belt. Then they made her bend over at the waist almost until she could touch her toes. Nothing shifty looking about her, typical blonde hair and blue eyed teenager. Didn't asked them why, my daughter was laughing which made us laugh. This was all done my a female security guard. It will be interesting when we fly this April to see if any of my family gets the same treatment!!!

 

[hammertime]

I would wear as little jewlery as possible on the plane. Some detectors are stronger than others and so they say the little metal all over your body will set it off. That happened to me in the Las Vegas airport.

I would also recomend where mules or slip on shoes. There's a good chance you'll have to take off your shoes. I usually where flip flops and then bring socks for the flight.

Best of luck.

 

[da disney fans]

I travel fairly often, as I live 3000 miles from my family. Last time I went to California, my underwire set off the metal detector (had to be the underwire, as I removed alllll other metal from my body, including my wedding rings!). The female guard asked if I was wearing an underwire, and I told her I was, but she still felt me up to be sure. And when I say "felt me up" I mean it!!

 

[crisi]

Your underwire may be plastic and you won't have to worry about it. Many of them are.

 

[Paull117]

Sometimes for my wife it goes off. Then she will get wanded and it will go off at the bra and about 50% of the time someone will inspect more always done by a female. The funniest thing happend though on one of our flights to a older teen girl who was travelling with her parents. She didn't remove all her jewelery and she got buzzed. So they wanded her instead of the bra, it went off down below. She reluctantly had to tell the guard that she had piercing done there in front of her parents. She got pulled behind the wall and had to show the guards. I know kind of gross, but it was fun watching her parents just shaking there heads and her turning bright red in the face. As we where walking to our plane we saw them again and the parents where just laying into her.

Paul

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Paull117
So they wanded her instead of the bra, it went off down below. She reluctantly had to tell the guard that she had piercing done there in front of her parents. She got pulled behind the wall and had to show the guards. I know kind of gross, but it was fun watching her parents just shaking there heads and her turning bright red in the face. As we where walking to our plane we saw them again and the parents where just laying into her.

.............................

 

[HappyMommy2]

The sensitivity of the screening devices seems to vary. On a trip not too long ago, I was careful to wear a non-underwire bra, but the little adjuster clasps on the straps set the beeper off!
I wore the same bra on a more recent trip and it didn't set anything off.

At any rate, it wasn't a big deal--a little awkward, though-- I don't like having a stranger's hands on my chest!
I'm glad they aren't taking any chances with our security.

 

[JadeTiger]

Will internal metal set off the alarms? For example an IUD?

 

[vald1977]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I got a non-underwire just to be sure. Now, if the clips set it off, there's not much I can do about that except not where one -- not an option!

JadeTiger,
I wasn't aware that IUDs were made from metal, but I would think you would need to carry a dr.'s note with you stating you have one just in case. I have a friend who has a metal rod in her back and she always carries a note stating this because she always sets off the alarms.