Disability Travel - Prosthetics

If anyone who uses a prosthetic device and has gone through WBI would care to share your experience with other FTers, I think many would appreciate your insight.

TIA.

Sorry to be ignorant, but what is WBI ?

WBI: Whole Body Imaging

Thanks - sorry about that ! I did a RTW trip last year through SIN, LHR, JFK and managed to get imaged only in San Antonio when I was there for 3 days !

Whilst I didn't really mind the thought to start, when I saw exactly what was visible to everyone walking past me I didn't like it very much ... no privacy at all, and even though I am aware that I can't exactly "hide" my leg (AK Amputee), it was totally different when everyone walking past could see it (and my undies - etc) ...

The other problem I had with it was that they kept asking me to turn in very small increments, then put my leg right up against the machine ... obviously the person asking me had TWO legs, because he was getting impatient - but when you only have one leg it can be quite difficult to turn and place your prosthetic exactly where they want it, so took me a while to position it correctly each time (and I'm a reasonably mobile AKA) !

Anyway, there's my thoughts ... I understand that security is paramount (and in my best interests as well as everyone else's), but I must admit to being surprised that whilst I went through the big ones (JFK, LHR etc) relatively easily, it took me over 20 minutes to get through SAT !!

I have a prosthetic penis...it's the kind that inflates. There are two main types of prosthetic penises. One is made of plastic plates that you can bend up, down, etc. based on the "position" you want the penis to be in. The other type of prosthetic penis is inflatable with a fluid. It's not as weird or awkward as it sounds and it helps me retain something like a normal love life.

I was traveling late last year and got held up in security because of the prosthetic penis.

There were two security lines open: one had the body scanner and the other was a normal security line with the X-ray machine for luggage and the metal detector to walk through. I normally try to get through security really quick and without incident.. I hate feeling like I'm under a microscope. But I object to the body scanners so I entered the "normal" security line with the body scanner. After a few minutes, a TSA agent told about 20 of us waiting in the normal line to move over to the line with the body scanner. It seems I wasn't the only one who wanted to avoid the body scanner.

I hesitated because as I mentioned, I did want to go through the body scanner. But the TSA agent was pretty forceful and said "Sir, if you will PLEASE STEP INTO THIS LINE, we can avoid delays." So, I did.

Well I got into the scanning machine and put my arms up like they ask (sure makes you feel guilty like "don't shoot!). After it scanned, 3 TSA agents came over (there were already 2 TSA agents at the scanner). They asked me to follow them. They took me to the side against a wall away from the lines and asked me if I had anything under my clothes or on my body that was prohibited that they should know about. I said "no". At that point, my prosthetic had not even crossed my mind. To me, it's normal and isn't suspicious.

One of the TSA agents said the scan indicated an anomaly and I would need to subject to a pat down. They did the pat down and it was at this point it suddenly hit me that they were probably talking about the prosthetic penis. My heart was racing. As you can imagine, it's a personal topic and I don't often discuss it.

They did the pat down and took extra time around my groin area. To most people who "might" touch it (only my wife and doctor up to this point!!!) it wouldn't feel much different than a regular penis..and to feel any difference, you would have to be doing much more than a quick pat down.

Apparently it didn't appease them so they said I would need to go in for a "private screening". In my mind, I was flipping out at this point. I knew I had done nothing wrong and had nothing to hide, so I said that I kindly refused. Well this really ticked them off!! I was beginning to run late for my flight and did not want to cause a scene, which I already was. I noticed other passengers looking at me!!

So, against my will, I did go into a private room. It was the most humiliating experience of my life. I had to strip. They said there was only one other person on the other side of the glass, and they could not see my face... how am I to be sure!??!?!

So I did, and I humiliated myself. And then they told me I could get dressed again. A TSA agent came in the room (and you have no clue if it was the same agent who just saw me naked!) and told me they saw something suspicious on the body scan but did not notice it in the "private screening". I explained to them what it was. I told them I had no proof or doctor's note, and I sure as heck wasn't going to demonstrate it.

In the end, I missed the flight because I took an hour in security, was completely humiliated and dehumanized. I asked to see the image of the body scan but they refused. They said it had already been erased. But my understanding is the image is not erased if they suspect something. The TSA agent has to manually click for the image to be approved and erased. So I can't say exactly what the prosthetic penis looked like on the screen, which I feel is unlawful... something about facing my accuser and being able to review the "evidence against me".

I discussed the situation with the prosthetic penis on this forum (http://bionicme.com/forums/bionic-or-prosthetic-penis) in detail and others responded about why it showed up on the body scan, etc.

So now, I will only fly out of airports that do not yet have scanners installed. It is a major inconvenience because the closest airport to me that does not have the scanners is a 3 hour drive. And it's a smaller airport so there are NO direct flights. I have to get connecting flights which usually end up being more expensive not to mention have a higher travel time.

My advise to you and anyone else with a prosthetic going through airport security: be prepared for anything and everything to happen, and try whatever you can to avoid going through the whole body scanners.

*I have not, and will not post the airport I was flying out of or flying into, because I have consulted with an attorney and have a pending investigation with the TSA. Depending on how that goes, I may be able to update this post at a later time*