chollie

Don't know if she was given details of what she would have to do during the private screening ('we will need you to take your shirt off'), but if it were me and I knew that's what they wanted, I would immediately take my shirt off right there.

Yes, it's wrong on so many counts, but it would send a message to other pax about what they might be called upon to do before being allowed to fly.

Vecturist14

I think my reaction would be to exclaim quite loudly:
"These perverts want me to go to a private room and take my shirt off." OR
"You want me to go to a private room room and take my shirt off? Let me see your wallet - I'm not cheap."

exbayern

WBI is not primary and one can opt out in Canada.

unLogical

What you were told is 100% accurate.

FriendlySkies

Glad to hear. That possible makes me want to fly to Canada for mileage runs.

mkt

Wednesday @ MIA D checkpoint, I am ordered to the line for the WBI by the ID checker. I try walking over to the WTMD to be with my travel companion, and am ordered back to the line. I tell her I am opting-out. A male supervisor comes within seconds, puts me in the front of the WTMD line, I don't alarm, and am sent to the pat-down area. The patdown was quick, but thorough, sup. used the palms of his hands, and cupped them. No touching around the gentleman's area, although he came close.

I asked him how often they have people that opt-out, and he told me I was actually his first. He says that most people don't know what the machine is (ugh).

The only plus side to this was that it was done fast enough that I was already in my shoes and ready to go by the time my travel partner went through the regular WTMD.

On a side-note, we had to get a supervisor to let her through with her brand new, RealID compliant (and a pain in the ... to get), Puerto Rico driver's license.

bocastephen

Second opt-out, this time at FLL T1 West.

They selected me from the beginning because they signaled the ID checker (he was jostling his earphone to listen). After being ushered towards the machine, I declined. They called an "opt-out", and the screener at the device asked the screener at the WTMD what to do - he just rolled his eyes and said "not my problem".

I was able to watch my stuff and no one threw a fit when I moved around in front of the WTMD to keep an eye on my things.

Eventually another screener came up, putting on fresh gloves, collected my things and took me to the "opt out" area and did a thorough patdown - none of my bags were searched, and it was all over in a minute or so. The screener was pleasant, so no complaints - although the dimwit at the WTMD needs to get with the program and not stand there and say "not my problem".

UALfromMSN

at IND the other day, I was directed to the NoS, and simply told them I couldn't raise my arms that high. Off to the WTMD and I was on my way. No questions, no pat down, nothing.

essxjay

The contempt for his fellow man not to mention his paycheck is appalling.

Sometimes we get lucky. Small blessings.

goalie

so much for the enhanced pat down that is supposed to happen to those who opt out so we are all kept safe n' s'cure

chollie

Except that is only supposed to happen if there are 'anomalies' to be resolved. Never retaliatory. Or you may get one because you are randomly selected.

I notice the official announcements, such as they are, do constantly reiterate that there's no fixed process, what process does exist is SSI, it's up to the local FSD to decide what to do, depends on the number of pax and current staffing levels, etc.

In other words, on any given day, your guess is as good as mine as far as what to expect.

My biggest problem with the punitive gropes is that they can (and will, on occasion) be applied to pax who have no choice. You know, folks like John Mccain, but without his privileged status, who can't raise their arms. Folks in wheelchairs or folks with walkers. I have a dear friend who had a stroke. She's mobile with a cane, but certainly can't stand unassisted, let alone raise one of her arms over her head. I keep hearing about the folks with metal implants who will (maybe) not get patted down, but I hear no mention of how many will now be forced to undergo a patdown once WBI is primary.

doober

UALfromMSN didn't "opt out" - he just told them that he could not raise his arm. Therefore, he got a pass, but if you tell them you won't go through the NoS, you get punished.

chollie

Must be like the ID policy. If you say you lost it (and they search you and can't find it), you can still fly after a thorough checkout.

OTOH, if you politely 'opt out', all he** breaks loose (just ask Phil Pmocek).

hamburgler

At ORD T1 today a 50-ish woman in front of me opted-out, and after some cajoling was sent for a pat-down, skipping the WTMD.

One person went through between her and I, the agent noted I had my belt off and motioned me to the Nude-O-Scope. I said "no way am I doing that" and he simply said "whatever" and had me go through the WTMD instead. No pat down, no other retaliation...

bdschobel

I had a similar but somewhat worse experience at FLL Terminal 1 (C gates) yesterday around 3 pm.

I was "selected" for the NoS and opted out. After passing through the metal detector, a fairly nice smurf carried my stuff to a chair and asked if I had anything in my pockets. I had my wallet and was forced to put it in a bin, but it remained with me at all times. More on that later.

Then he asked if I wanted a private screening. I did and was taken, along with two additional smurfs, to a private room. They did a reasonable pat-down, then focused on my wallet.

First, they tried to take the bin containing my wallet to the x-ray machine. No way. I had to see it at all times. I said they could take it if I removed the money first ($405, I counted later). They said that I couldn't touch the wallet. "Policy." I said, then you reach in, remove the money and hand it to me. No, couldn't do that, either. I asked for the deputy sheriff who was watching the checkpoint to help me out. He was no help at all. Just, "Do what they say or I'll escort you out and you won't fly today." I asked him to hold my money while they x-rayed the wallet. He refused, rather rudely. We had a Mexican standoff.

Finally, the three-striper blinked. He said that they would forgo the x-ray but would examine the wallet and its contents in front of me. OK, that's fine. So one of the smurfs -- not the very agreeable supervisor -- painstakingly removed every bill and credit card, looked at each one, pulled open all the little pockets in the wallet, stuck his fat fingers in them, then turned over the money and looked at it again! After about 10 minutes of this ridiculous wallet exam -- and I asked the supervisor if he agreed that it was ridiculous, and he kind of shrugged -- I was told that I could go.

Afterward, I asked the deputy sheriff on what basis he had threatened to escort me out of the terminal. He said that he hadn't threatened me, which is debatable, but his bottom line was that I was taking too much time. He said that if everyone took the 20 minutes that I took, the lines would be "out the door." I asked if that was my fault, or TSA's. He didn't really answer but made it pretty clear that he was just trying to get me out of there as quickly as possible. He also apologized "if [he] came on too strong."

What a fiasco. FLL is truly a hateful airport. Even when people are trying to be nice, they aren't.

Bruce