Practical Travel Safety Issues - Opt out of WTMD after opting out of NoS?

I've noticed recently that when you opt out of the NoS, they now make you go through the WTMD instead of walking through the "trap door" that is usually next to the WTMD. And, even though I'm going to be patted down for opting out of the NoS, I must still get through the WTMD without setting it off before I'm patted down.

Can I opt out of the WTMD too? I'm aware that I can say I have a medical condition and can't go through the WTMD, but can I just say I opt out of the WTMD too without saying I have a medical condition?

If there is WTMD you are going to go through it with out exception as there is no reason why you should not (medical reasons aside). The only time you will not is when there is not a WTMD present.


Edit: What I wrote above is not correct as in the past when opting out I have always still gone through the WTMD. But today in PIT they shuffled me through the gate. Although I did walk through WTMD at first but the moat dragon told me to return the way I came and to get into BX line at which point I said opt out.

If there is WTMD you are going to go through it with out exception as there is no reason why you should not. The only time you will not is when there is not a WTMD present.

Actually, that's not true. If I've opted out of the NoS 100 times in the last couple years (which is probably about right), I've only been asked to walk through the WTMD about 5 times (all of which have occurred in the last couple months). Usually, they have me walk through the trap door next to the WTMD or through the NoS itself.

And, my reason for not walking through the WTMD is: I don't want to. If TSA is going to pat me down anyway, I don't want to waste time making sure I clear the WTMD without it beeping.

I've always had to walk through the WTMD when I opt out. But I fly mostly out of just 3 airports that have NOS.

I also virtually always trip the WTMD with my bra. If I've already opted out, I just go through the WTMD once and say "It's my bra" and they rarely require me to walk through it a second time. I'm already getting a pat down for opting out, and the resolution to a WTMD alarm is a pat down, so it really doesn't matter if I alarm. Though the agent doing the pat down, if they're not RIGHT there to see my alarm the WTMD, is usually informed that I also alarmed.

It depends on the airport, the day, the time, the TSO or STSO you get in the GED-minimum education hire lottery, as nothing with their agency is standard. (I always get a kick out of when they say, "this is a directive from Washington.")

Even at my home airport. In 34 departures I've been trap door'd 33 times and WTMD'd once by a three-striper looking to prove a point. He apparently took it personal that my belt didn't set off the WTMD, and was only found during opt-out pat down.

You can always opt out of the WTMD; people with pacemakers must do it all the time. This new trend is interesting, but not the WTMD has to remain optional. I wonder how a double-opt-out would go. Perhaps someone should ask the TSA.

Interesting, I've never been asked to go through the WTMD when I opt out.

Interesting, I've never been asked to go through the WTMD when I opt out.

When I opt out sometimes I get asked to walk through the NoS to get my pat down.
I always deny. Once it escalated up to a supervisor.

When I opt out sometimes I get asked to walk through the NoS to get my pat down.
I always deny. Once it escalated up to a supervisor.

I had that happen once. I bet they really zapped me. It was the day at BOS I refused to play the SPOT game.

I prefer to go through the metal detector then the trap door as its further from the machine

After I state "Opt Out", I always have fun with them and touch the WTMD as I walk through. Of course, it always alarms.

As I explained to the 3-striper, you are going to do a full patdown for the WBI opt-out, what is SOP for a WTMD alarm. I always get this funny look as the gears slowly turn, then it dawns on them, full patdown for a WTMD alarm.

Once, I had a 3-striper tell me that now that the full patdown was complete that I had to go through the WTMD. I asked why. He said "you know too much". I refused to go back to the WTMD and asked for a LEO.

He decided that he did not want to push the issue.

It was the day at BOS I refused to play the SPOT game.

This needs some more love. Did you already share the details somewhere else?

When I opt out sometimes I get asked to walk through the NoS to get my pat down.
I always deny. Once it escalated up to a supervisor.
That has never happened to me before, either. Always through the gate. What airports? I've been through ORD, ATL, SEA, BOS, RIC, TVC, SLC, and others and not once been asked to go through the body scanner or WTMD when opting out.

TVC

Slightly off-topic, but as a taxpayer, I'm still pissed that my money went towards putting a MMW scanner in the terrorist hotbed that is Traverse City, MI.

At DEN, you're typically funneled through the WTMD if you opt out of the MMW. I've never interpreted it as a punitive thing so much as it's the path of least resistance.