Finger-in-the-waistband crosses the Atlantic
Jul 25, 2011, 1:29 pm
#1
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Finger-in-the-waistband crosses the Atlantic
I was randomly selected for a patdown at BHD this morning and the search clerk announced "I'm just going to check inside your waistband" before running his finger around it, around 2 inches deep.
Sigh.
Sigh.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:32 pm
#2
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This isn't new to Europe, but be thankful he told you first. I've had clerks in Germany stick their hands in my waistband before I knew what was happening.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:36 pm
#3
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Granted, many times it was in the FCT, but sometimes it wasn't.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:37 pm
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I'll take the grope over NoS every single time. I don't need any more radiation entering my body, especially when I can avoid it.
I have been searched in Germany plenty of times, and while it is a thorough pat-down indeed, it is always conducted with the utmost courtesy and professionalism. Always.
I have been searched in Germany plenty of times, and while it is a thorough pat-down indeed, it is always conducted with the utmost courtesy and professionalism. Always.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:40 pm
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I opt out of the Chertoff RapeScam backscatter x-ray machines for health and privacy reasons, but not MMW with AIT; the MMW radiation looks to be very limited from what I can tell.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:41 pm
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Yes, sorry, I was referring to backscatter. As far as I can tell, MMW has a much, much lower dose/risk.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:50 pm
#8
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Jul 25, 2011, 2:56 pm
#9
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Jul 25, 2011, 3:05 pm
#10
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Nope, if you're chosen, you go in the machine or you don't fly.
btw, LHR T5 has MMW at one security and backscatter at the other. I think it's backscatter at T5 south and MMW at T5 north.
What I don't know is if someone entering T5 north might find themselves in the backscatter. i.e. if you're chosen, but the MMW is broken that day, would you be escorted across the terminal to the backscatter?
btw, LHR T5 has MMW at one security and backscatter at the other. I think it's backscatter at T5 south and MMW at T5 north.
What I don't know is if someone entering T5 north might find themselves in the backscatter. i.e. if you're chosen, but the MMW is broken that day, would you be escorted across the terminal to the backscatter?
Jul 25, 2011, 7:29 pm
#11
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Can you go through either checkpoint to get to the T5 gates? (I've never been to LHR T5)
Also, do international connecting pax from T3->T5 need to go through security screening again? (I'm assuming yes, if the UK is set up like the EU.)
Jul 25, 2011, 7:44 pm
#12
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I keep hearing these Germany stories and can't make sense of them-- everyone else must be really unlucky because I've transited there like two dozen times since 2007 and haven't had anything but WTMD except once to TLV.
Granted, many times it was in the FCT, but sometimes it wasn't.
Granted, many times it was in the FCT, but sometimes it wasn't.
I cannot explain it otherwise, and I fly from many German airports far more than two dozen times (and not FCT). I have documented my experiences here in past. I also watch at the checkpoint for this and don't see it. Most I have seen in recent memory is wanding of belt and men being asked to open the buckle, and being rewanded at the buckle area.
Jul 26, 2011, 12:15 am
#13
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Jul 26, 2011, 1:46 am
#14
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This has been going on for years in Europe. At AMS, LHR, FRA/MUC to name some of the biggest European hubs where this has been taking place for at least the better part of a decade. The frequency of it may not be anywhere near as common as at US airports in recent years, but it remains -- as noted above -- something that has been on this (eastern) side of the Atlantic for years now.
Jul 26, 2011, 3:49 am
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While you do have to reclear security, I don't believe the any of the transit checkpoints have scanners, only the standard WTMDs.