Originally Posted by VegasCableGuy

t's upsetting that all of this is being done in the dark.

Originally Posted by PhoenixRev

How is this crap happening?

Originally Posted by doober

It happened back in 2004 (?) with all the poking and prodding of women's breasts[...]

Originally Posted by Wimpie

Originally Posted by supraturbo

do any airports in canada have the scanners yet?

Originally Posted by blondedawn

. . .

Incidentally, the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus!

Originally Posted by doober

One complaint might not hold any weight, but many complaints certainly will.

It happened back in 2004 (?) with all the poking and prodding of women's breasts - complaints by the thousands forced TSA to change its procedure. Thousands of complaints can force a change in this procedure also.

Originally Posted by WChou

Opted out this morning at BOS.

The WBIs are a huge bottleneck and pax are directed to the WTMD when the back up gets too large. To keep the line moving during an opt out, everyone heads to the WTMD. In the priority line, you could see people looking and trying to time not being sent to the WBI.

The lady in front of me and I ended up being selected for the WBI and we both opted out. As we got the pat down, the scanner was effectively shutdown. While getting my preflight massage, one traveller looked our way and said, "hey guys! thanks for taking one for the team." Another guy chimed in, "Yea, you two made my day" With my arms out, I shot the folks a quick thumbs up.

EDIT: I have generally found Term B security at BOS to be level headed. As I have said in the past, I have never been hassled or delayed for opting out. From what I have observed, anyone appearing to be a minor was automatically diverted to WTMD.

Originally Posted by WChou

From what I have observed, anyone appearing to be a minor was automatically diverted to WTMD.

Originally Posted by doober

But, but, but TSA tells us that the vast majority of travelers are accepting of WBI.

Originally Posted by VegasCableGuy

That seems to be pretty much in line with what I mentioned earlier: If you decline WBI, you're going to get groped. If you go through it, you might end up getting groped anyway.

I'm trying not to drop broad, trolling statements - but the simplest way I read what TSA said there about crotch blurring is this: "Here in Bizarro World, we have to feel your genitals in order to protect your privacy and dignity".

It sounds like Enhanced Patdowns are definitely being used at places other than BOS & LAS (where media reports said they were being tested). Between my experience at OMA described earlier and your description of a special patdown procedure (that some TSOs aren't yet certified with) it sounds like Enhanced Patdowns may be the new standard for WBI skipping.

It's upsetting that all of this is being done in the dark.

Originally Posted by sbagdon

Most defintely at DFW, at least at the international->domestic screening station.

Originally Posted by mozgytog

They are being used at PIT too. I got an enhanced pat-down on Monday morning after refusing the WBI. There was definite genital palmage. The 3 people behind me also opted out, and two of them looked like teenagers.

They all got the enhanced pat-down too, which I could see them getting as I was packing up my things.

Originally Posted by blondedawn

Opted out at DCA last week. I had to stand next to the scanner for probably 5-6 minutes while the TSA agent manning the checkpoint repeatedly requested a female opt-out searcher. Finally, someone arrived and escorted me to the Xray belt, where she asked me to identify my stuff and picked it up. We then went over to the secondary area.

This TSA agent was an absolutely lovely woman. She was incredibly polite and seemed very kind. She hit all the required points -- asked me if I would like a private screening, notified me that she would be using the back of her hand, etc. She completed the pat down (which was very thorough and involved the "enhanced" grasping of the limbs, but she was as gentle as possible) and had begun to swab my bags (which eventually involved checking each zipper, each handle, and every electronic device).

As she starts on the swabbing, a supervisor comes over and starts speaking with her in hushed tones and seems quite agitated. She says several times, "I told them that three times but they didn't listen!" He signals another female TSA agent, who joins us, and tells me that Female Agent Number 2 is now going to do a patdown. I say, "I've already been patted down quite extensively." He tells me he knows but Agent 2 will also pat me down. He assures me it will only take a few minutes. At this point, I am getting frustrated and ask him why I am being subjected to a second patdown. He informs me that Female Agent 1 was not certified to do the "special" opt-out patdown, and that Female Agent 2 is, so she has to do one. Which, fine -- I just wanted the reason. To his credit, Supervisor does apologize for the inconvenience. Incidentally, pat down number 2 was in no way different than pat down number 1, so I'm not sure what special knowledge Female Agent 2 had.

Incidentally, the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus![