Opting out while holding baby
Apr 29, 2016, 12:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: VLO
Posts: 233
Opting out while holding baby
If my wife is holding my 22 month old child while going through airport security, will she automatically bypass the full body scanner and go through an old fashioned metal detector with our child?
I have Pre-check and she's planning on "opting out" of the full body scan, but she said she might get shunted off to the metal detector if she has the kid. Trying to figure out the fastest way to get through security at SFO tomorrow.
I have Pre-check and she's planning on "opting out" of the full body scan, but she said she might get shunted off to the metal detector if she has the kid. Trying to figure out the fastest way to get through security at SFO tomorrow.
Apr 29, 2016, 5:10 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
If my wife is holding my 22 month old child while going through airport security, will she automatically bypass the full body scanner and go through an old fashioned metal detector with our child?
I have Pre-check and she's planning on "opting out" of the full body scan, but she said she might get shunted off to the metal detector if she has the kid. Trying to figure out the fastest way to get through security at SFO tomorrow.
I have Pre-check and she's planning on "opting out" of the full body scan, but she said she might get shunted off to the metal detector if she has the kid. Trying to figure out the fastest way to get through security at SFO tomorrow.
Apr 29, 2016, 7:33 am
#4
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond Medallion 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Car Executive Elite
Posts: 550
Yes; she is to bypass the strip search machine and be directed to the WT metal detector if she is with the very young child by herself. More so (due to the interplay of a possible haraSSSSment hit and screening of young children and their older companion) if there is no stroller/child restraint device/other travel party member to hold the child while the accompanying adult is being screened.
Apr 29, 2016, 9:46 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
When traveling with young children and adults, my practice is to split the family members into pairs -- one adult and one young child. Each pair goes through security separately -- I space the pairs about 5 minutes apart. This way, there is no second adult to "watch" the young child so that the adult can be forced into the scanner, and you're assured (as much as anyone can have assurance with the "TSA people") of being sent through the WTMD.
Apr 29, 2016, 12:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
I don't think this strategy, while good to avoid the scanner, will work to speed your spouse & child through security. They'll still have to wait in line and a TSO may do a swabbing of your spouses hands/the baby's clothes. The chance of full pat down is low, but I have observed people with a child being swabbed more often recently.
Apr 29, 2016, 12:50 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I don't think this strategy, while good to avoid the scanner, will work to speed your spouse & child through security. They'll still have to wait in line and a TSO may do a swabbing of your spouses hands/the baby's clothes. The chance of full pat down is low, but I have observed people with a child being swabbed more often recently.
An intelligent travel split up approach by the OP is more likely to speed things up than most of the other alternatives, with the primary exception being the situation where the whole travel party can use PreCheck by way of it showing up on the boarding passes of all the travel party members over the age of 12/13 years.