guflyer

My understanding is that for a few years, the EU has required the right to opt-out of body scanners.

In another thread, a poster indicated that having to go through the NOS is a requirement for people receiving SSSS in Frankfurt and that one cannot opt-out of this.

1. How is this allowed under EU regulations (from researching the regulations I could not find an exception for flights deemed SSSS or flights to the US but I am not the best researcher of EU regulations so perhaps I am looking at the wrong place)?

2. Are there any other instances in the EU, such as going through the additional security at pre-clearance at DUB or security at SNN where one is not able to opt-out?

3. Who could one contact (perhaps an EU agency) to get clarity regarding these rules, and is there a way to challenge the regulation in Frankfurt since it seems to go against the EU regulations?

mfkne

The status of opt-outs remains unchanged and they are still your right throughout the EU. With regards to flights to the US, you're probably looking at a whole other beast.

Aviation safety falls into the domain of Violeta Bulc, specifically Joshua Salsby: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/comm...9/bulc/team_en

Good luck getting in touch though, I've tried for the past months regarding AMS's violation of the regulation with regards to signposting, but have not heard one thing.

BSBD

The EU does allow opt-out at the entry to the "sterile" area. That seems to be the differentiator, because the scanner for SSSS awardees is not at the entrance to the sterile area. In Terminal 2 there's a separate section well inside the sterile area that the SSSS awardees are escorted to, AFTER they have been through the standard screening. That section has its own scanner, just for SSSS screening.

Unlike the US, SSSS awardees are not treated differently than other pax in primary screening (where it is possible to opt-out). Only after you have reached the gate area and attempted to pass through the final BP/passport desk are you shuffled off to secondary.

So, it truly is Secondary Screening, rather than the main checkpoint goat rodeo I experienced in DFW last week.

Often1

It's apparently an issue which largely ended in the US. Congress requires TSA to report the number of individuals opting out for non-medical reasons (although you don't have to state a reason and if you don't, it's treated as a non-medical reason) and the number of opt outs at US checkpoints has dropped radically.

That may well be due to Pre-Check, but whatever the reason, it's a rarity. I remember seeing the 2016 numbers and now can't find them.

Himeno

Have the opt outs for medical reasons increased?

N1120A

At least AMS security clerks are pretty good about instructing you that you are allowed to opt out, and not pushing back.

It is almost certainly due to PreCheck.

mfkne

They won't tell you proactively though, which is what the regulation requires airports to do.