Practical Travel Safety Issues - Full body scanners primary in these airports?

First time poster here. We're expats traveling home for Christmas. We're going through EWR on Continental, BNA on Southwest, and TPA on United. I'd like to know if full body scanners are the primary method used at these airports for these airlines or secondary.

And is it true that the TSA is compiling a list of people who opt out of the scanners?

Thanks.

And is it true that the TSA is compiling a list of people who opt out of the scanners?


Almost certainly not systematically... I have never been asked my name or to re-present ID. Of course they could have some sort of videotape review or alternative method of tracking who we are, but very unlikely.

I really hope they don't break or otherwise decommission the WMD's; this would be very bad.

First time poster here. We're expats traveling home for Christmas. We're going through EWR on Continental, BNA on Southwest, and TPA on United. I'd like to know if full body scanners are the primary method used at these airports for these airlines or secondary.
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I flew CO out of EWR this weekend and used the middle checkpoint, which did not have any scanners. I looked around quickly and it appeared that the first checkpoint had one scanner (MMW) and the third checkpoint did not have any scanners. But TSA has just in the past few weeks put in a number of scanners at EWR, so I wouldn't be surprised if more scanners were in place by Christmas.

I've seen TsA at TPA using the scanner as primary, but only when it's really quiet. If there is a huge line, they'll alternate between WTMD and the porno scanner

I've seen TsA at TPA using the scanner as primary, but only when it's really quiet. If there is a huge line, they'll alternate between WTMD and the porno scanner


Though they are getting more aggressive in trying to push people through this thing even when busier... not looking forward to my trip through there next week :mad:

OP - if you can use SRQ as an alternate (45 miles South) there are no NoS there and the TSA crew is generally pretty easy to deal with to boot.

I flew CO out of EWR this weekend and used the middle checkpoint, which did not have any scanners. I looked around quickly and it appeared that the first checkpoint had one scanner (MMW) and the third checkpoint did not have any scanners. But TSA has just in the past few weeks put in a number of scanners at EWR, so I wouldn't be surprised if more scanners were in place by Christmas.

When some lanes have a cancer box and others don't, you can often just switch lanes. I've done this in a pretty obvious fashion with TSA agents watching and most of the time they say nothing.

One time a guy forced me away though when I tried to get into the LONGER WMD only line, so I had to do the whole opt-out thing and get a nice rubdown. :rolleyes:

BNA is my home airport, and it is nearly always possible to choose a line that does not go through an AIT. I travel weekly, and I have only had to opt out once. Every other time, I could pick a WTMD line. Even in the wrong line, only about 1 in 4 to 6 get "chosen" for the AIT.

The best strategy seems to be to enter security from the Southwest ticketing side and avoid the Expert black diamond lanes. Use the casual or family lanes. They seem to move just as fast anyway. Once you get past the TDC, observe the lines and find one that is WTMD only. It is nearly always possible to position yourself in that line at some point. Many times all of the rope lines lead to an unblocked area where you can easily move from side to side, occasionally for the full width of the security area, but nearly always encompassing two or three WTMD or ATI lines. The WTMD may be backed up farther and not appear to be as quick. Go ahead in get in the line and wait. They generally do not move people out of it.

If you are just changing planes in BNA you will not have to rescreen. If you are transferring between WN and any other airline except AA, and you do not have to re-check luggage, you will pass security on the sterile side of security and get to the other terminal. All of WN and AA is terminal C. Everyone else is A or B, which are connected to each other away from the screening area.