Pirate05

Hi everyone- Multi-year lurker here who has relied on the forum for information in the past, first time poster. I’ve searched the archives for advice on how to handle my particular situation, but haven’t found anything that quite fits (it’s a little different than the walking boot thread since it could theoretically be concealed under clothing).

I have a severe knee injury that’s awaiting surgery that requires constant bracing. The brace has two large metal supports in it and can be worn under pants, but it cannot be bought at a drug store (aka it’s something a doctor would order and is more supportive than something someone would wear for chronic knee pain).

I’ll be flying a round-trip (out one afternoon, back the next) for business this week. I’ll be limited in terms of time that I can come to the airport prior to my flight and be traveling with a small group directly from work. So simply coming to the airport 4+ hours before my flight and fighting it out with the TSA isn’t an option. I normally wear a skirt (for easier access to the brace if it needs adjustment based on swelling during the day), but apparently that brings extra torture for being “deviant,” reluctantly forcing me to wear pants and lack access to the brace (and be uncomfortable for hours).

What’s my best strategy for getting through security with the least amount of pain, the most amount of dignity, and actually making the flight? I cannot walk without the brace, even for a few steps (so I’m concerned about being required to remove it- but I know that the metal is an issue). Access to the brace will also be a problem if I’m forced into wearing pants, and I cannot take off the brace at a restroom. If a TSO presses extra hard against the knee during a grope, I’ll likely fall to the ground. My doctor isn't thrilled that I'll be flying, but it's for my job.

Thanks for the help- I know the collective wisdom around here can’t be beat.

AirlineBrat53

Order a wheelchair from your airline and have them take you to security. Tell them you can't stand up because of an injury and they will pat you down in the chair.

My mom is elderly and can't walk securely and we always make sure she has a wheel chair at both departure and arrival and vice versa.

Good luck.

loops

Welcome Pirate05! Good thing it's a short trip at least, so there won't be so much for you to carry as well. Could someone in your group push a wheelchair for you? You might be able to carry something for them in your lap unless there's extra room on the back of the chair. Airports are often long distance places to traverse. I'd hate to be walking to a gate with an injury like that. Dress for your own comfort. "How about shorts?", sez Mr. loops who owns a similar brace. If it can be seen that it is in fact a bare nekkid knee inside the brace, it may not require any form of touch? (fervently hoping so) I hope you have a comfortable trip in as much is possible and are soon recovering from your injury.

How about valet handicapped parking at the airports with electric scooter service? (with luggage racks of course)

oldpenny16

I traveled a great deal with a badly injured leg that looked awful. (doesn't look great now!) I learned to insist on as much help as I could get including wheel chairs and pat downs when seated.

I usually wore long skirts (that covered as much as possible of the damage) or really loose pants. No issues about my personal space being overly investigated.

The TSA wasn't as difficult as trying to get comfortable on the planes.

Good luck and travel well.

Often1

Whether you want/need a wheelchair is for you to decide and has nothing to do with security. Use one if it makes life easier. Don't be a hero.

Don't worry about the brace. The secondary pat down won't take more than 5minutes and probably significantly less. If you add 10 minutes to your usual airport time, you will be just fine.

Interestingly, it can take a while to round up a wheelchair at some airports. Don't be surprised if that's the lengthiest delay.

Pirate05

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

I'll have to look into the wheelchair since this has never been a concern before. I'll be coming directly from work- and from what I understand, hustling to make the flight due to our schedule. Hopefully my colleagues will be helpful as well.

Is the consensus that I should make sure that the brace is visible prior to security? I also have an alternate brace (an immobilizer) that is meant to go over a pant leg and has no metal. While I can't fly with it since it would mean my leg in the aisle, I'm starting to wonder if that's the way to get through security.

My doctor also told me to make sure I got up as often as possible- should I give a heads-up to the FA as soon as I'm onboard so I'm not considered a "threat" or suspicious?

squeakr

not about security per se -

"hustling to make the flight" and "immobilizing knee brace" don't go together very well to me. I would worry less about security and more about your well being. Any chance of being protected on a later flight if your schedule gets messed up?

If you're willing to give city pairs we might have more specific advice for you. But the wheelchair option, absent very tight schedule seems a good one.

Often1

+1 -
1. A wheelchair will not speed up the curbside to boarding process time elapsed, it will just be easier.
2. You may need 5-10 mins extra at checkpoint, but most likely a lot less.
3. If your medical needs conflict with onboard safety, you aren't medically fit to fly. You should not plan on being able to get out of your seat at all (what if there's turbulence) and certainly not from pushback until seatbelt sign off on departure and then descent to gate on arrival. Also, can be very hard on you & cabin crew if you are up and about during service.

I know that you are travelling with colleagues. Head to the airport with them, let them head for their flight and you book yourself on the next one. Hopefully it's not too long a wait. But, racing through an airport is how healthy people get hurt and you aren't in any position to race and getting hurt can have some bad consequences.

I would not fixate on the checkpoint. It's the least of your worries. Focus on staying healthy. If you wind up in emergency surgery in a city far from where you live, it's going to be a whole lot more than 2 hours delay.

unLogical

Can you call ahead to say that you will need a wheelchair? Also, if you choose to wear pants through security, put a skirt in your bag and change afterward.

Often1

The real question here is whether OP ought to be flying at all. If her doc is recommending fequent standing and walking around, not sure how carrier can acommodate that in turbulence or ground delays.

Before flying at all, OP ought to make sure with her doc that she's cleared for travel if she is required so stay in her seat for several hours.

jkhuggins

I am not a physician, and certainly not the OP's physician. But there's a difference between a "recommendation" and a "requirement". The OP's physician may simply be suggesting that getting up and moving around would be helpful if the opportunity presented itself --- not requiring that the OP get up every 20 minutes for a lap around the aircraft.

Heck, if memory serves, there are general recommendations out there for passengers to move around in order to prevent deep vein thrombosis on flights. None of those recommendations, of course, means that someone can get up at any phase of the flight they might choose.

But I hesitate to carry this conversation much further --- as should we all --- since none of us know the details of the conversation between the OP and her physician.

alexb133

You shouldn't have a problem.. On my really bad days of arthritis, I request a wheelchair at check in (I only use it until the gate, then I board first (even before they board F / *A Gold), and normally a flight attendant will walk me down to my seat).

Security is also pretty nice about it. I've always been asked if there is any way I could walk thru the detector unassisted (which I always have)... You also get to use a special security line at most airports.

bajajoes

I don't know what type of aircraft you'll be flying on but it will be to your advantage to be seated close to a restroom. Good luck!

Pirate05

It's taken me a few days to mentally regroup from my trip, but I wanted to thank everyone for their help.

Outbound from DC, screening was no problem. Since I was fresh, I was able to walk up to the X-ray, slip off the brace (against medical advice), and limp through the WMTD with no problems. The TSO asked me if I needed help getting back over to the X-Ray belt to retrieve the brace once it cleared.

Returning home from a midwestern city I'm not going to name but will NEVER return to, on the other hand, was a nightmare. My colleagues were stunned at the treatment I received.

I had to request a wheelchair because the gate was literally as far from the front door as possible. Upon entering the screening area, I was told to "get out of the chair, I see you have a cane. NOW." I wish I was making that up. The wheelchair pusher, bless the person's heart, told me NOT to do so and told the TSO to open a site gate and that she would park the chair at X spot and clear herself. The TSO then turned the wheelchair so that my back was to my belongings. At this point I loudly said "I have the right by your own procedures to keep eye contact with my belongings. I need to be able to see them." The response was "If you'd gotten out of the chair, it wouldn't have been a problem. You refused, so tough luck." Whiskey Tango...

The TSO screened my purse 4 times through the X-ray, including emptying the contents of my wallet. It was at this point I called loudly for the LEO nearby to please witness since I've already suffered from identity theft in the past. The LEO barely looked up. A 3-striper who appeared said something I couldn't make out to the LEO, and the LEO suddenly lost interest. The original TSO dumped the contents of my wallet into the bin despite my protests and sent them through.The screening was done with enough pressure and intentional squeezing of my knee to leave me in tears. Thank goodness I had a co-worker there as a witness who was also watching the whole thing, trying to keep an eye on my purse and its contents.

I refused to leave the checkpoint until I could check everything in the purse and recount money and cards. I asked for a comment card and was denied. After I finally departed the checkpoint humiliated, furious, and in pain, the wheelchair escort said "well, it was just 9/11. They have to be careful."

So, midwestern city, I've already written multiple complaints to the proper authorities describing my experience and why I will not be coming back. I also have alerted my cards and the credit bureaus in case of suspicious activity.

Loren Pechtel

Clearly retaliatory. Get the tapes.