Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - Give me some practical advice re SDOO at LAX

I'm posting this question in the Debate forum, because I know it will inevitably spark some debate over my choices, and I want the discussion to be free. But I want some practical advice.

I've never been to LAX. According to the list maintained here in TS&S (many thanks to all who have contributed to it), LAX has backscatter AIT scanners, but not at all lanes of every terminal. I'll be flying Frontier (that's F9, isn't it?), which is in T6 at LAX, according to the LAX web site.

Knowing that someone will ask me, "Why don't you just opt-out, which will guarantee that you won't go through AIT?", I will explain.

I will not allow them to put their hands on me. Period. If randomly selected for a pat-down, or selected due to an alarm, I will flat-out refuse the pat-down, even if it means I can't fly that day. I will rent a car and drive from L.A. to my home in Maryland if I have to, but I will not allow them to touch me. I will accept the risk of possible future health problems from a single AIT exposure, to avoid the 100% certainty of a pat-down that I consider a sexual assault. $11,000 fine? Bring it, Pistole. Threatened with arrest? Okay, but in that case trained, vetted LAPD officers would conduct any searches of my person. But no minimum-wage pizza-box flunky is going to touch my junk, or any other part of my body, or look down my collar, or stick their hands in my pants, or run their fingers through my hair, ever.

So, LAX-familiar FTers, how can I maximize my chances for a SDOO at LAX T6, without actually opting out and getting the pat-down?

I'm not looking for a 100% guarantee that I won't get sent through the cancer box, just advice on minimizing my chances of having to go through without opting out.

I'm posting this question in the Debate forum, because I know it will inevitably spark some debate over my choices, and I want the discussion to be free. But I want some practical advice.

I've never been to LAX. According to the list maintained here in TS&S (many thanks to all who have contributed to it), LAX has backscatter AIT scanners, but not at all lanes of every terminal. I'll be flying Frontier (that's F9, isn't it?), which is in T6 at LAX, according to the LAX web site.

Knowing that someone will ask me, "Why don't you just opt-out, which will guarantee that you won't go through AIT?", I will explain.

I will not allow them to put their hands on me. Period. If randomly selected for a pat-down, or selected due to an alarm, I will flat-out refuse the pat-down, even if it means I can't fly that day. I will rent a car and drive from L.A. to my home in Maryland if I have to, but I will not allow them to touch me. I will accept the risk of possible future health problems from a single AIT exposure, to avoid the 100% certainty of a pat-down that I consider a sexual assault. $11,000 fine? Bring it, Pistole. Threatened with arrest? Okay, but in that case trained, vetted LAPD officers would conduct any searches of my person. But no minimum-wage pizza-box flunky is going to touch my junk, or any other part of my body, or look down my collar, or stick their hands in my pants, or run their fingers through my hair, ever.

So, LAX-familiar FTers, how can I maximize my chances for a SDOO at LAX T6, without actually opting out and getting the pat-down?

I'm not looking for a 100% guarantee that I won't get sent through the cancer box, just advice on minimizing my chances of having to go through without opting out.

LAX is my airport. I have heard some complaints about rude screeners.

I have been smacked and touched by a .....y TSA female.

It can go either way. There are from plenty of bullies at this airport.

One thing I hate to say but what I have seen,heard and experienced is if you are fit person. Then you can almost be sure to get target. Cause there is quite a few ( at least female screnners) who are way overweight.

LAX is a zoo.

I went through T6 about 2 months ago. If from the ticketing counters you take the westernmost escalator to the security checkpoint, the rightmost lane is WTMD only. The First/Priority lane feeds this checkpoint lane.

There's a bit of room between the TDC and where the carryon xray belts start, so you may be able to SDOO over to that lane even if you get pulled to a different TDC.

This also assumes all lanes are open, but if you're there at a busy time, they should be.

Another thought, the priority lane/precheck lane at LAX for AA is WTMD only.

Also, police at LAX are not LAPD, they are LAWA (LA World Airport) police. Still LEO, just not LAPD.

So, LAX-familiar FTers, how can I maximize my chances for a SDOO at LAX T6, without actually opting out and getting the pat-down?

The best option, I think, would be to change to someone flying out of T4, especially American. As you enter T4, to the left you will see PreCheck signs and an escalator up to PreCheck. If you head toward the PreCheck lane (you don't have to get in the actual PreCheck line, though if you do, you will simply be denied PreCheck and get moved to the other line)you will get WMTD only. That particular check station is small -- only two lanes. One is for PreCheck and one is for all others. They both are WMTD only.

Second best, enter LAX through the United Premium lobby (which sits between T6 and T7). Head toward the United entry (in the direction of T7). Past the TDC, stick to the right. The rightmost line funnels to a WMTD. It has been open and operating for the large majority of my trips (morning to mid-afternoon).

PM me if you want to correspond more.

T1 - Can SDOO, but I'm not in there enough to really tell you how to do it.

T2 - Can SDOO easily, as long as the WTMD-only lines are open. The right-most line is WTMD-only. Watch out for red coats trying to make you go into another lane.

T3 - SDOO is rather easy, especially at busy times. I don't know how busy they are now that AS left.

TBIT - Couldn't tell ya.

T4 - jackonferry's advice is good. The AA elite line in T4 is BKSX free.

T5 - IDK

T6 - Its relatively easy to SDOO, but I rarely see the WTMD only line open. If you are flying UA and have elite status, they should not give you a problem going through into T7's line, which leads right to the connector to T6.

T7 - See below.

The best option, I think, would be to change to someone flying out of T4, especially American. As you enter T4, to the left you will see PreCheck signs and an escalator up to PreCheck. If you head toward the PreCheck lane (you don't have to get in the actual PreCheck line, though if you do, you will simply be denied PreCheck and get moved to the other line)you will get WMTD only. That particular check station is small -- only two lanes. One is for PreCheck and one is for all others. They both are WMTD only.

Second best, enter LAX through the United Premium lobby (which sits between T6 and T7). Head toward the United entry (in the direction of T7). Past the TDC, stick to the right. The rightmost line funnels to a WMTD. It has been open and operating for the large majority of my trips (morning to mid-afternoon).

PM me if you want to correspond more.

At T7, there is only one BKSX in use, which is fed by 2 bag x-ray lanes. The middle and extreme right lane (which is the one open the least often) don't lead to the BKSX. The bridge always leads to a BKSX, so never go through that checkpoint. For LAX newbies, make sure not to get caught up in the Air Serv people trying to force you into the left lane, which leads to the BKSX. It actually isn't any faster anyway. Just stick up against the wall and wait.

Just to be clear - I'm flying Frontier, which the LAX web site says is in T6, I don't have any sort of elite status with any carrier, and I'm not in any of the various trusted traveler programs.

But the list here on FT says that airside transfer is possible between T5, T6, and T7, so I guess I could go through the c/p at any of those three.

But the list here on FT says that airside transfer is possible between T5, T6, and T7, so I guess I could go through the c/p at any of those three.

"Should be able to" assuming that the TSA folks are not horse's hineys to you at the other terminals. Sometimes they will try to argue with you that your airline is in the other terminal. If that's the case, you may be able to tell them you want to catch a bite in one of the restaurants in the particular terminal you're entering. Or you plan to meet someone at the club.

"Should be able to" assuming that the TSA folks are not horse's hineys to you at the other terminals. Sometimes they will try to argue with you that your airline is in the other terminal. If that's the case, you may be able to tell them you want to catch a bite in one of the restaurants in the particular terminal you're entering. Or you plan to meet someone at the club.

Yup, that was my plan. And it will not be a lie, either, since I will actually get something to eat in one of the other terminals before going to my gate.

I believe that T6 is still relatively easy to do a SDOO. Are you travelling with someone, or can you arrange to meet up with someone who has elite status? If this is for some sort of internet event, there may be a chance of you making contact with someone flying same day/time and you could possibly try to just act as if you are together. I have not been seperated from my non-elite travel partners before entering the checkpoint.

Apologies to the OP because I fear that I am moving into debate territory...


One thing I hate to say but what I have seen,heard and experienced is if you are fit person. Then you can almost be sure to get target. Cause there is quite a few ( at least female screnners) who are way overweight.


:confused:

I really don't understand this. You've said before that you would be a target because you advise people how to lose weight for no charge.

I do counsel for free for people to loose weight and be healthy.

However Lax have mostly way overweight female screeners.

I dont believe that my answers will do good with them. So how/what i do?!

What is the correlation between the two? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/checkpoints-borders-policy-debate/1311141-tsa-questions-l.html

Do you really think that there is retaliation towards those not overweight at the checkpint, because the screeners are jealous? I can somewhat understand the argument that some screeners are envious of people who do travel, and take things out on them, but I think that it is a very, very large (no pun intended) leap to claim that being physically fit will result in retaliatory screening, especially for a male.

From what I recall of the OP, he is like many here on FT: average, middle aged, caucasian American. (Apologies to Will if that isn't the case anymore!)

In my experience, LAX can be rather hit or miss as to attitude, but that isn't just from the TSOs. I have used that airport many times over the years and met decent staff as well as unpleasant ones, from both the airlines as well as TSA.

I believe that T6 is still relatively easy to do a SDOO. Are you travelling with someone, or can you arrange to meet up with someone who has elite status? If this is for some sort of internet event, there may be a chance of you making contact with someone flying same day/time and you could possibly try to just act as if you are together. I have not been seperated from my non-elite travel partners before entering the checkpoint.

Apologies to the OP because I fear that I am moving into debate territory...

Nope, traveling alone that day, so unless a fellow FTer happens to be passing through and we notice each other somehow (unlikely since I don't have FT luggage tags), I'll have to fend for myself in the standard lines.

And don't worry about the debate thing; I thought this post would stir up an argument or two, which is why I put it in the debate forum instead of the practical advice forum.

From what I recall of the OP, he is like many here on FT: average, middle aged, caucasian American. (Apologies to Will if that isn't the case anymore!)

I like to flatter myself that I am above average, at least in a few respects :D but aside from that, you're spot on.

I like to flatter myself that I am above average, at least in a few respects :D but aside from that, you're spot on.

Well, I assumed that you didn't get any younger; the chance of your ethnicity having changed was rather slim; and I didn't want to guess on the weight gain/loss over the years. :p

But being the 'average' may slightly improve your chances, especially if you are not wearing a kilt on your day of travel.

Well, I assumed that you didn't get any younger; the chance of your ethnicity having changed was rather slim; and I didn't want to guess on the weight gain/loss over the years. :p

But being the 'average' may slightly improve your chances, especially if you are not wearing a kilt on your day of travel.

Fortunately, I have no Scottish or Irish ancestry, as I do not believe that anyone would survive the experience were they to see me wearing a kilt.

But on weight, I've had some fairly good luck of late - I lost 40lb over the course of two summers of dieting. Gained about 10lb back over this past winter, but I am back on the diet and hope to ditch it again, and perhaps go even slimmer.

I'm still large enough to be uncomfortable in a coach seat, though. At 6'-4", I find that the word "legroom" is somewhat overly generous in my case. And although I can fit in a 17" coach seat, it is less than comfortable, particularly on a flight over 4 hours. Which is why I'm trying Frontier for this trip instead of my usual Southwest; Frontier has slightly wider seats, though slightly shorter seat pitch, and I want to see if I'll be a bit more comfortable on a cross-country flight.

I'm still large enough to be uncomfortable in a coach seat, though. At 6'-4", I find that the word "legroom" is somewhat overly generous in my case. And although I can fit in a 17" coach seat, it is less than comfortable, particularly on a flight over 4 hours. Which is why I'm trying Frontier for this trip instead of my usual Southwest; Frontier has slightly wider seats, though slightly shorter seat pitch, and I want to see if I'll be a bit more comfortable on a cross-country flight.

Congratulations on the weight loss. :)

The new WN seats sound similar to the NEK on LH group, unfortunately, which are quite uncomfortable. ('Quite' is a subjective term, and a pleasant way of wording what most of us shorthaul LH fliers really think) The WN board is busy trying to take measurements much as we did over on the M&M board when NEK first came out.

I've always heard good things about Frontier from my Denver colleagues.

I recognize that this is an old thread, but...

We went through T7 Thursday night and tried the advice here and it was exactly as described, only one BKSX and 3-4 WTMD (I didn't count). If all of the lanes are open, it's very easy to SDOO by staying in the righthand lanes. Unfortunately, there was hardly any traffic through the checkpoint so they only had one lane open, which was naturally the one with the scanner. They also had a WTMD working the same lane and were randomly picking people to go through either, so even then you had about a 50% chance.

They also had a WTMD working the same lane and were randomly picking people to go through either, so even then you had about a 50% chance.

Nitpick alert: unless they were rolling dice, or using some other equivalent means of producing true random selection, they were picking people arbitrarily, not randomly. There is an important difference.

FWIW, I went through Terminal 7 yesterday and while the "secret" checkpoint wasn't open, it was very easy to SDOO through the main checkpoint, just as described in this thread. They've got precheck going on the far right side of the checkpoint, but next lane to the left has no NoS, either, and is WTMD only. Just hang to the right and don't worry that the line seems longer than the others, it's still much faster and there's no need to get scanned or groped.