Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - Pearson Airport and Body Scans CATSA

Hello, I am going to be traveling by airplane in a few weeks, and it is my first time flying in several years. The last time I traveled by airplane was before the whole TSA business began. That said, I am really nervous about the nude body scans and I am hoping someone can share information regarding this, especially if you have experience with Toronto's Pearson Airport.

1. Are the body scans mandatory or can you opt out? When and how do you opt out?
2. How do you know if there will be body scans? Is it all body scans now or still metal detectors in some areas?
3. What do the body scans look like so I can identify them?
4. Will there be signs to show if the machine is body scan?
5. Where are the the screens showing the scanned images located?
6. My family doesn't think it is body scans being used. They said when the traveled by plane last year they walked through a machine with two long bars at the side. Do the nude body scans work now by just walking through or is it still the ones where you stand and raise your hands for them to take the picture?

Here is a link to the type of detector my family has used. Do these scan? (starts after the 15 sec)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxO8cFxZ6s&

I would appreciate some answers to these questions and any additional experiences and information you can share with me. Like I said, it's my first time flying in years and I have no experience with the nude body scans. I know they say the images are deleted right after but there have been cases of leaked images that suggest otherwise and it is freaking me out.

Canada does not use the machines that use radiation, they have two blue walls (backscatter). Canada uses the clear circular booths, the MMW. I've heard friends that said that Canadian airports are much friendlier than in the States. You step on a mat that randomly chooses your screening. If you get chosen for a scan, the agent will offer you the option of a pat-down (I've known people who have opted out with no problems). The pat down is no big deal in Canada. One of my friends didn't even know it was finished. Of course, your mileage will vary. Best of luck.

1. Are the body scans mandatory or can you opt out? When and how do you opt out?You can opt out. Often the CATSA employee will offer you the choice without being asked. If not, simply say "I opt out" just like the US.

Are you flying to the US, domestically, or to a non-US international destination?

There are a few MMW (not backscatter) machines at YYZ, but in Canada they tend to be used more often at the US departures. Check the sticky thread for more information about YYZ specifically. Generally at Canadian airports one steps on the randomizer mat, and the arrow directs one either left or right, so selection for the scanner is intended to be random. But scanner use is very low when compared to US airports.

As others noted, you can opt out and you won't be punished for it. You have nothing to worry about leaving Canada. If you are flying to the US however, your worry needs to be about the return to Canada. If you are flying almost anywhere else in the world, you don't need to worry.

(And please, if you ARENT'T travelling to the US, don't remove your shoes unless they beep at the WTMD. We don't play the shoe carnival in most of the rest of the world)

I'm one of the most frequent non-Canadian travelers to Canada on this site, so I can help.


1. Are the body scans mandatory or can you opt out? When and how do you opt out?

They are not mandatory. You opt out if they are directing you to the machine. There are signs everywhere and the CATSA-contracted clerk is REQUIRED to tell you that you can opt for a pat down instead.

2. How do you know if there will be body scans? Is it all body scans now or still metal detectors in some areas?

Its all metal detectors with very few scanners. As others have said, the randomizer mat will lead you to the normal lanes or the SSSS lane. Further, even if you get the SSSS lane, you are unlikely to be selected for the MMW machine.

3. What do the body scans look like so I can identify them?

They look like big escape pods. You can't miss them.

4. Will there be signs to show if the machine is body scan?

There are signs saying that you can opt-out and the machines are self-evident. If you fly at all in the US, you have likely seen them.

5. Where are the the screens showing the scanned images located?

On the machine. They use the "gumby" software.

6. My family doesn't think it is body scans being used. They said when the traveled by plane last year they walked through a machine with two long bars at the side. Do the nude body scans work now by just walking through or is it still the ones where you stand and raise your hands for them to take the picture?

Here is a link to the type of detector my family has used. Do these scan? (starts after the 15 sec)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxO8cFxZ6s&

That's a regular walk-through metal detector (WTMD). Same kind that have been effectively screening people for decades.

They are not mandatory. You opt out if they are directing you to the machine. There are signs everywhere and the CATSA-contracted clerk is REQUIRED to tell you that you can opt for a pat down instead.

I was aware that CATSA is required to tell you of the ability to opt-out. Have you noticed any increase in the percentage of opt-outs in Canada v. the US when the opt-out is specifically disclosed to the passenger?

I imagine most passengers aren't aware of the ability to opt-out in the US as they don't read the 8.5x11 placards with the line "Use of this technology is optional." In fact, I've never heard of a TSO in the US announce that the technology was optional except in BOS a few weeks after they got the machines and months before the sliding/cupping patdowns began.

I was aware that CATSA is required to tell you of the ability to opt-out. Have you noticed any increase in the percentage of opt-outs in Canada v. the US when the opt-out is specifically disclosed to the passenger?

I fly mostly Canada - International if flying from Canada, where MMW is rarely used, but even when I did fly a lot of Canada - US (and I still try and connect that way), I saw only a very very VERY small number of people using the scanners.

I opted out the very few times I was chosen with no issue. Nor was the pat down anything like it is in the US.

Thank you guys for the very helpful advice! :)

I will not be flying to the US but it is an international flight and I heard that the body scans are more commonly used for international flights. Glad to know I will have the option to opt-out and that they will tell me so at the Canadian airports.

If anyone has any more experiences with Canadian airports and the body scan I would definitely be interested in hearing to help me know what to expect. Thanks!

We've told you pretty much everything.

If on the very slim chance the scanner is being used, you step on the randomizer mat, and on the very slim chance you are chosen, you are directed to that line. The agent explains that you can choose the MMW or the pat down, and you tell them the pat down.

Then it is a rather quick pat down, nothing like the TSA version, perhaps a hand swab, perhaps a more thorough check of your carry on, and you are good to go.

You have nothing to worry about; you are not flying to the US.

Pearson Airport - Terminal 3

I was flying out to Lisbon recently.......as I walked through the WTMD, this Philipino guy (contrac-CATSA-employee) comes as I am waiting for my bag to go through the x-ray machines.

He comes to me and says loudly: excuse me sir, you have been randomly selected for the body scanner. I asked him that I am going to "opt-out". He freaks out and says: oh but then i will have to touch you". I laughed at him a bit. He kept insisting that I would prefer the scanner rather than the touching by someone.

Anyway, I did not like his insisting, and seeing how it was MMW and the curiosity and wanting to know the details, I relented to him and made him happy that I would go for the scanner. I was just not in the mood for arguing as my flight S4 - SATA International was delayed 5 hours, coming in from LIS so outbound was delayed. No idea why though

So we walk to the scanner, he asks me to step in, quickly he presses something on the monitor next to the scanner, the scanner does a 1-time round, and he asks me to step out of it.....it took 3 seconds, that was the most I think I spent in that machine.
I come out, we wait next to the monitor, a green light appears on it, and off I go.

There was only 1 MMW at that security entrance.......each entrance to security area has only 1 MMW........at least at T3 @ YYZ

I did see a few random people selected for the MMW scanner, it seems CATSA employees are insisting that people go through the scanner rather than have a pat-down.

But from now on.....i will opt-out. No more scanners.

OP: for future reference, these are the two types of NoS used in the US. Canada only used the MMW.

http://friendlyskies.smugmug.com/photos/i-KVt5xtx/0/XL/i-KVt5xtx-XL.jpg

I did see a few random people selected for the MMW scanner, it seems CATSA employees are insisting that people go through the scanner rather than have a pat-down.They may be strongly suggesting you use the scanner but they CAN NOT insist.

Don't be bullied!

I flew back from YYZ recently (ironically, not long after my Nexus interview). I don't remember the terminal I was flying out of, but the MMW machine was "behind" the WTMDs and was not being used as primary.

Now that I think about it, it wasn't being used at all. :)

Best part about that is that when I got back into the US, I arrived as if on a domestic flight, so I didn't have to go through TSA at my first US airport, which would have resulted in an opt-out grope.

On my most recent trip through YYZ, I flew on Iceland Air to Reykjavík for a flight to LHR. There was a line with two doors at the end of it, where the randomizer matt determined which door the person was to go through. I later learned that the door to the right had WTMD but no body scanners, but the door to the left had WTMD and body scanners. I did not actually get to use the randomizer matt. The person in front of the matt shouted out the names of cities with upcoming flights and upon telling him that I was going to Reykjavik, he directed me to cut to the front of the line and to go through the door to the left. There, it seemed like everyone alarmed the metal detector and was selected for the body scanner. I asked for a pat-down and received a non-invasive pat-down (the screener did not touch any private areas).

On my recent trip flying out of YTZ, I was flying to Chicago (there is no pre-clearance at this airport). Body scanners were not being used as a primary security method, but there was a body scanner in the distance that was turned off. There was a sign letting people know that the body scanner was available as an alternative to a pat-down. I was not sure exactly what this meant, but I was wondering if they thought that the body scanner was there as a "nice" alternative to a pat-down for people who alarmed the metal detectors. I did not alarm the metal detector (and was told that I did not have to take off my shoes, even though the flight was going to the US), so this was not an issue.

I've had four US-bound flights out of YYZ over the last 9 months or so and it's pretty much self select. There may have been one lane out of many that had one, and I think it was only for secondaries or a random few. Just don't pick that lane when you go through security.

They are anal about seeing your boarding pass, but beyond that, much, much better than TSA.

At terminal 1 last week, they were not using the mat or MMW scanners. Star alliance elite access is not recognized at the security priority line. CBP were checking BP at the gate for some reason.