Jul 18, 2013, 9:11 am
Last edit by: stifle
As and from 22 November 2013, passengers who are selected for a body scan may decline and receive a "private search alternative".
Body scanners are in place or on their way to the majority of major international airports in the UK. As of the end of 2013, they are deployed in LHR, LGW, BHX, MAN, EDI, GLA, STN, LCY, and BFS and were deployed in late 2014/early 2015 to ABZ, BHD, BRS, CWL, EMA, LBA, LPL, LTN, NCL and PIK. Until 21 November 2013, passengers declining a scan once selected were denied passage through the checkpoint and offloaded from their flight. As of 22 November 2013, passengers selected may decline a scan and will be hand-searched in a private room. This search may require the loosening or removal of some items of clothing and the passenger may have a witness present. The passenger's carry-on items will also be thoroughly searched and may be subject to explosive threat detection swabbing. Details of some FlyerTalkers' opt-out experiences can be read in post #606 and #661.
All body scanners in the UK are of the millimetre wave type. Backscatter machines were previously used but withdrawn in 2012. There are 4 models in use: the L3 ProVision, the L3 ProVision 2, the Smiths eqo (which has a passing resemblance to the single-pose Rapiscan backscatter), and the Rohde & Schwarz Quick Personnel Scanner. All use Automatic Threat Recognition software so the result of the scan is immediately visible in the form of a so-called "Gumby" figure on the screen. The passenger and the security clerk will see the figure and any anomalies are outlined with boxes; these areas are then patted down.
Scanners are not used as primary and all passengers pass through walk-through metal detectors in the first instance. In most locations, the scanner is associated with one WTMD and if you trigger this WTMD you will be directed to the scanner. Note that WTMDs in the UK are set to randomly beep with a certain probability (perhaps 15%) even if you have no metal. In some locations, however, the scanner is set back from the checkpoint and security clerks select people based on undisclosed criteria, sometimes after they have already packed up their stuff and put it back in their bags/pockets/etc.
A passenger may, if so inclined, request to be screened by the scanner rather than passing through the WTMD, which one supposes may be preferable to certain passengers possessed of metal implants which they cannot divest.
Historically the chance of being selected for scanning on any given trip was quite low, as there are generally multiple lanes at any given checkpoint but only one or two scanners. This is now changing at non-London airports where the lanes with scanners are used most and non-scanner lanes only opened to handle peak demand, and at London airports where more scanners are being installed. It was also usually the case through 2014 that fast track lanes for premium and status passengers were WTMD only; this is sadly history now.
Unless otherwise stated, the scanners below are located behind WTMDs and passengers beeping the WTMDs are scanned.
Scanner locations per airport:
LHR T1: Closed
LHR T2: Scanners on all lanes behind WTMD, except the very furthest lane from the entrance.
LHR T3: Recent information required.
LHR T4: Recent information required.
LHR T5: Scanners on most lanes behind WTMD. Due to limited space the lanes at either end of north checkpoint and at either end of south checkpoint (but not fast track) are scanner-free.
LGW TN: WTMD + scanner in every lane.
LGW TS: WTMD + scanner in every lane. Sometimes scanners switched to primary.
MAN: Scanners: one per checkpoint, used as secondary screening in lieu of pat-down if WTMD triggered.
EDI: Update needed from new checkpoint
STN: Scanners behind the WTMDs for lanes 7/8 and 15/16.
LCY: Scanners in both checkpoints, used as secondary. Two safe lanes in the old checkpoint (the one with automatic boarding pass scan gates) so use that and try to SDOO.
GLA: Between lanes 3 and 4. Note, fast track normally uses lanes 1 and 2 but you can get unlucky. (Updated 25 January 2014)
BFS: Scanner used as secondary if you trip the WTMD.
ABZ: Information needed
SOU: Scanner behind the only WTMD
BHD, LPL, BRS, EMA, NCL, LBA, LTN, CWL: Information also needed
See also: https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...ty-scanners--2
UK body scanners - opt outs permitted 22 November 2013
Jun 19, 2017, 5:19 am
#857
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: YYZ (ex-LHR)
Programs: BA Silver, VS Red, OZ Silver
Posts: 446
Jun 22, 2017, 9:17 am
#858
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
Whether staff like it or not, the U.K. have not yet left the EU and therefore all of its laws are still applicable there. I suggest at the least submitting a complaint to the EU through https://ec.europa.eu/assets/sg/repor...complaints_en/
Jun 24, 2017, 12:30 pm
#859
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 32
Their response was some wisecrack about the IRA and Gerry Adams.
Jan 11, 2018, 3:36 am
#860
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
LHR T2 transfer security fast-track pushed back pretty hard when I tried to opt out. The individual who asked me why I didn't want to use the MMW kept stating that I was refusing to comply with security procedures, even as I pointed out that EU law required that they give me an alternative. Finally, they folded, but my passport somehow went missing from the bin after the screener finished searching my belongings. Luckily, it was "found" on the desk near the machine they use to test liquids/for explosives 
. Equally worryingly, I was made to separate from my belongings during the search in the private room, but nothing other than my passport seemed to have gone missing.
Start to finish, 1 hour... out of my 4 hour transit. I appreciate the reminder of why exactly I avoid flying through the UK like the plague.
. Equally worryingly, I was made to separate from my belongings during the search in the private room, but nothing other than my passport seemed to have gone missing.Start to finish, 1 hour... out of my 4 hour transit. I appreciate the reminder of why exactly I avoid flying through the UK like the plague.
Last edited by pewpew; Jan 11, 2018 at 4:04 am
Mar 16, 2018, 11:14 am
#861
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Berlin
Posts: 1,533
I opted out at Gatwick South this afternoon. I was told that I could only opt out for medical reasons. I said that I always opt out. A manager was called and she said that I would be stripped to my underwear because it was very suspicious that I was attempting to avoid security. I pointed out that I wasn’t avoiding security, particularly if I was to be searched in such a fashion.
The manager didn’t agree and asked for my name and boarding pass otherwise she’d call the police. Needless to say, the police were called.
I spoke to the police and then I was taken for a private search by the security staff and a different manager. I did indeed have to lower my trousers to my knees because the handheld metal detector beeped as it passed over the zip area in the front of my trousers. Everything was swabbed, including my hands.
I was then allowed on my way. The whole episode lasted about 25 minutes.
Palmer
The manager didn’t agree and asked for my name and boarding pass otherwise she’d call the police. Needless to say, the police were called.
I spoke to the police and then I was taken for a private search by the security staff and a different manager. I did indeed have to lower my trousers to my knees because the handheld metal detector beeped as it passed over the zip area in the front of my trousers. Everything was swabbed, including my hands.
I was then allowed on my way. The whole episode lasted about 25 minutes.
Palmer
Mar 17, 2018, 6:25 am
#862
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,343
What did you discuss with the police and was their knowledge of the law accurate?
Mar 18, 2018, 3:30 am
#863
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Berlin
Posts: 1,533
A police officer arrived a few minutes later. He had a chat with the manager and the two security staff that had dealt with me then he came over to me. He asked why I was refusing to comply with security. I said that I wasn’t and I’d just opted out of passing through the scanner, that I was happy to go for a private search but security staff said that I could only opt out on medical grounds.
The officer said that that wasn’t the case and that anyone could opt out. He then went back to speak to the small group. Another manager had joined that group. After the officer had spoken to the group, the second manager came across and invited me through for the search with one of the security staff.
The police officer never asked for my name. He didn’t ask for my boarding pass or any details regarding where and why I was travelling. He was very level-headed with me.
Palmer
Mar 20, 2018, 10:59 am
#864
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
Point of comparison: I just opted out at FRA. It was a breeze. The agent even joked around with me, saying he needed to check to make sure I've been putting in enough time at the gym. Afterwards, he asked me for workout tips.
Get your act together, UK!
Get your act together, UK!
Apr 29, 2018, 6:17 am
#865
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Woodbridge, NJ, USA/ Swords, Co Dublin, IE/London, UK
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 142
Usual fun and games at LHR T2 when I declined last night
- 15 minutes for the security manager to appear (moustache, black jacket - didnt see a name badge)
- 5 minutes answering his questions telling him I wasnt going through it... he eventually got the message
- 5 minutes wait for the the pat down
- 5 minutes checking the bags
bags and passport were out of my sight for best part of 25 minutes... gotta love that... not
- 15 minutes for the security manager to appear (moustache, black jacket - didnt see a name badge)
- 5 minutes answering his questions telling him I wasnt going through it... he eventually got the message
- 5 minutes wait for the the pat down
- 5 minutes checking the bags
bags and passport were out of my sight for best part of 25 minutes... gotta love that... not
Oct 13, 2018, 4:11 pm
#866
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 8
I recently declined to be scanned at LGW North for medical reasons. They told me I could still use the scanner even if I couldn't adopt the correct position and they would "make allowances" so I was just an opt-out, not a medical one.
I was left to sit opposite the metal detector landside. My luggage had already gone through, which would have been a concern for me but I knew my travelling companion would deal with it. A manager appeared quite quickly, asked me why I was opting out, and told me I could end up waiting 2 minutes or 20 minutes. I said I would wait. I sat there for about 10-15 minutes. The staff kept offering me the opportunity to use the scanner. They were all polite, but I felt one or two of them took my refusal a little personally. I am pretty sure I was being closely monitored on CCTV while I was waiting so they could check to see if I was acting suspiciously.
Eventually two people took me airside and checked me with the explosives wand before taking me to a private room. En route one of them told me that when I bought my ticket for my flight I had agreed under the T&Cs to use the <whole body scanner> if requested to do so! I said how kind they were to offer me an alternative then. I was felt down, scanned again, had to lift my top and was scanned again. I was then allowed to go. I was not asked about my luggage at all, which surprised me. The whole thing took about 25 mins. I was asked if I travel a lot but no other questions, nor was I asked to sign anything. I am pretty sure that LGW knew who I was anyway (at LGW you do not show your passport until you reach the gate, they are obviously using some kind of facial recognition system).
I was selected for the <whole body scanner> because I triggered the metal detector. Interestingly, it did not beep until I was through it and the guy watching me walk through it had already started to tell me I could go when it suddenly beeped, so I am pretty sure I was a random selection. If you do not like <whole body scanner>, I would suggest avoiding LGW: I was told that 25% of those who trigger the detector are random. I watched people coming through while I was sitting there waiting and I would estimate that at least a third of passengers were being asked to use the <whole body scanner>. People were actually having to queue to use it! So LGW is now on my avoid list.
I do feel a lot safer now though.
I was left to sit opposite the metal detector landside. My luggage had already gone through, which would have been a concern for me but I knew my travelling companion would deal with it. A manager appeared quite quickly, asked me why I was opting out, and told me I could end up waiting 2 minutes or 20 minutes. I said I would wait. I sat there for about 10-15 minutes. The staff kept offering me the opportunity to use the scanner. They were all polite, but I felt one or two of them took my refusal a little personally. I am pretty sure I was being closely monitored on CCTV while I was waiting so they could check to see if I was acting suspiciously.
Eventually two people took me airside and checked me with the explosives wand before taking me to a private room. En route one of them told me that when I bought my ticket for my flight I had agreed under the T&Cs to use the <whole body scanner> if requested to do so! I said how kind they were to offer me an alternative then. I was felt down, scanned again, had to lift my top and was scanned again. I was then allowed to go. I was not asked about my luggage at all, which surprised me. The whole thing took about 25 mins. I was asked if I travel a lot but no other questions, nor was I asked to sign anything. I am pretty sure that LGW knew who I was anyway (at LGW you do not show your passport until you reach the gate, they are obviously using some kind of facial recognition system).
I was selected for the <whole body scanner> because I triggered the metal detector. Interestingly, it did not beep until I was through it and the guy watching me walk through it had already started to tell me I could go when it suddenly beeped, so I am pretty sure I was a random selection. If you do not like <whole body scanner>, I would suggest avoiding LGW: I was told that 25% of those who trigger the detector are random. I watched people coming through while I was sitting there waiting and I would estimate that at least a third of passengers were being asked to use the <whole body scanner>. People were actually having to queue to use it! So LGW is now on my avoid list.
I do feel a lot safer now though.
Last edited by TWA884; Oct 14, 2018 at 10:49 am Reason: Term not used in the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum
Oct 14, 2018, 7:26 am
#868
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
I recently declined to be scanned at LGW North for medical reasons. They told me I could still use the scanner even if I couldn't adopt the correct position and they would "make allowances" so I was just an opt-out, not a medical one.
I was left to sit opposite the metal detector landside. My luggage had already gone through, which would have been a concern for me but I knew my travelling companion would deal with it. A manager appeared quite quickly, asked me why I was opting out, and told me I could end up waiting 2 minutes or 20 minutes. I said I would wait. I sat there for about 10-15 minutes. The staff kept offering me the opportunity to use the scanner. They were all polite, but I felt one or two of them took my refusal a little personally. I am pretty sure I was being closely monitored on CCTV while I was waiting so they could check to see if I was acting suspiciously.
Eventually two people took me airside and checked me with the explosives wand before taking me to a private room. En route one of them told me that when I bought my ticket for my flight I had agreed under the T&Cs to use the <whole body scanner> if requested to do so! I said how kind they were to offer me an alternative then. I was felt down, scanned again, had to lift my top and was scanned again. I was then allowed to go. I was not asked about my luggage at all, which surprised me. The whole thing took about 25 mins. I was asked if I travel a lot but no other questions, nor was I asked to sign anything. I am pretty sure that LGW knew who I was anyway (at LGW you do not show your passport until you reach the gate, they are obviously using some kind of facial recognition system).
I was selected for the <whole body scanner> because I triggered the metal detector. Interestingly, it did not beep until I was through it and the guy watching me walk through it had already started to tell me I could go when it suddenly beeped, so I am pretty sure I was a random selection. If you do not like <whole body scanner>, I would suggest avoiding LGW: I was told that 25% of those who trigger the detector are random. I watched people coming through while I was sitting there waiting and I would estimate that at least a third of passengers were being asked to use the <whole body scanner>. People were actually having to queue to use it! So LGW is now on my avoid list.
I do feel a lot safer now though.
I was left to sit opposite the metal detector landside. My luggage had already gone through, which would have been a concern for me but I knew my travelling companion would deal with it. A manager appeared quite quickly, asked me why I was opting out, and told me I could end up waiting 2 minutes or 20 minutes. I said I would wait. I sat there for about 10-15 minutes. The staff kept offering me the opportunity to use the scanner. They were all polite, but I felt one or two of them took my refusal a little personally. I am pretty sure I was being closely monitored on CCTV while I was waiting so they could check to see if I was acting suspiciously.
Eventually two people took me airside and checked me with the explosives wand before taking me to a private room. En route one of them told me that when I bought my ticket for my flight I had agreed under the T&Cs to use the <whole body scanner> if requested to do so! I said how kind they were to offer me an alternative then. I was felt down, scanned again, had to lift my top and was scanned again. I was then allowed to go. I was not asked about my luggage at all, which surprised me. The whole thing took about 25 mins. I was asked if I travel a lot but no other questions, nor was I asked to sign anything. I am pretty sure that LGW knew who I was anyway (at LGW you do not show your passport until you reach the gate, they are obviously using some kind of facial recognition system).
I was selected for the <whole body scanner> because I triggered the metal detector. Interestingly, it did not beep until I was through it and the guy watching me walk through it had already started to tell me I could go when it suddenly beeped, so I am pretty sure I was a random selection. If you do not like <whole body scanner>, I would suggest avoiding LGW: I was told that 25% of those who trigger the detector are random. I watched people coming through while I was sitting there waiting and I would estimate that at least a third of passengers were being asked to use the <whole body scanner>. People were actually having to queue to use it! So LGW is now on my avoid list.
I do feel a lot safer now though.
I think the false positive rate used to be set at 20%, but maybe it has been increased.
I doubt LGW use some sort of sci-fi facial recognition. It just doesn't work very well reliably unless they have an excellent reference photo. And if they want to know who you are, they could just ask.
Last edited by TWA884; Oct 14, 2018 at 10:48 am Reason: Conform to moderator's edit of qouted post
Oct 22, 2018, 7:03 pm
#869
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,599
Moderator's Note
Folks,
When posting in this thread, please keep in mind that per the forum's sticky thread the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum is informational.
Please limit your responses here to data points and practical advice. Save your opinion, commentary and rants for the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum.
Posts have been edited and deleted.
Thank you for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
When posting in this thread, please keep in mind that per the forum's sticky thread the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum is informational.
Please limit your responses here to data points and practical advice. Save your opinion, commentary and rants for the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum.
Posts have been edited and deleted.
Thank you for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Oct 24, 2018, 2:41 pm
#870
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,205
I had an opt-out at LHR T2 a few months ago. There were no delays, objectionable staff, or issues. There was a very sizable log in the private search room.
My search involved pat pat down and HHMD, and meanwhile my wife was left with my baggage which was emptied and ETDd.
The process took less than 15 minutes.
My search involved pat pat down and HHMD, and meanwhile my wife was left with my baggage which was emptied and ETDd.
The process took less than 15 minutes.