I'm not happy with TSA's nude-o-scope screenings. I like to wear these shirts as a sign of peaceful protest to let TSA that not everyone likes their policies despite their assertions to the contrary. Since Kippie is gone and I can't wear that t-shirt, I decided to pick one up that Trollkiller designed. Image from the shirt is below:
I had a short MR today (BWI-ORD and back) and decided to wear the shirt. My only regret is that I should have done my homework better as I think I got the enhanced patdown but I'm not sure. My shirt was under a jacket/vest just in case UA wanted me to cover up.
Morning started off with the shuttle from off-airport parking. Shuttle was empty so no one to ask about/talk to about the shirt.
Got into the airport and headed to the
airline revenue protector TDC. Got there and they said nothing. So far so good. Get up to the conveyor, put my stuff on the belt and remove my vest. I start hearing comments and giggling about my shirt. Get to the moat dragon, walk thru, no alarm. They read my shirt, and said I was selected for the nude-o-scope. Second time in 2 weeks - last week's was supposedly random. I suppose this one was too.
Gee, imagine that! TK's shirt got me a secondary, something I never once got with the KHIAI shirt. I'm not saying I didn't expect it and it's TK's fault - I'm just surprised they took the bait. I, of course, declined. So instead of immediately sending me to the penalty box, I stand on a carpet near it but not quite directly in front.
When the male assist comes to escort me to the penalty box, he asks if I'd really rather be pat down than go thru the scanner. Seemed to me like "is this your final answer?" That earned an emphatic hell yeah. So in to the penalty box I go.
One thing I could tell from BWI is that they're NOT used to people telling them no to the strip search. One commented how unusual it was for someone to decline the nude-o-scope. My thought was "well, if you actually EXPLAINED what it was and what it did, a lot more people would probably decline.
I then get a very thorough patdown - much more so than last week. We're talking slow pat down over everyrthing - repeated taps down what seemed to be every inch of my body. Only thing he didn't touch was my crotch, but went around my pelvic area and my butt with the back of his hand. Finds my belt, makes me take it off and put it on the chair. Finds my complaint form and wallet, same thing.
What was different this week is the HHMD was done last and only over my lower legs.
Only reason I didn't complain right then and there is that I wasn't 100% sure I was getting the enhanced patdown. In retrospect, I think I did. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I also feel it was 100% retaliatory based on the my shirt and also the significant different from the patdown I got last week for refusing. I didn't think they'd be dumb enough to take that bait though.
Good news is that they didn't call a cop. So I have no qualms about wearing it again.
I talked to several people about my shirt in the waiting area for the flight. The FAs on my flight liked the shirt, though one told me she enjoyed strip searches!
My flight landed at ORD a half hour early, so I decided I'd exit and go thru security to see how they'd handle it. Screeners stopped me as I exited, but only to view the shirt. They seemed to like it. Went back upstairs and went thru security in the elite line for UA in Terminal 1. The shirt created a buzz at the checkpoint, but most seemed to like it and they joked with me about it. Belt set off the WTMD and the guy said "oops, gotta get naked now."
I laughed, as they were generally a lot more positive and professional than BWI. One asked if I was looking for a patdown and I told him I already had one at BWI this morning. I walked thru with nothing more than the standard TSA harassment - no secondary at all. ORD doesn't have nude-o-scopes, at least in T1.
ORD's experience really didn't surprise me as I've never had a problem there and it was much like wearing my KHIAI shirt - laughs about it, makes the point, I run the security gauntlet and I'm on my way with no secondary. Several pax also commented on my shirt at ORD too, saying they liked it. ^
Overall, 2 very different experiences. BWI made me pay for wearing it, ORD was professional about it. I'll likely be filing a complaint about BWI. Had I been 100% certain I was getting an enhanced patdown, I'd have raised a stink right there. Since I wasn't, I'll have to write in.
As far as the shirt goes, It's getting attention and the message out as I often have a chance to talk with pax about it. It makes the point to both TSA (that we don't like the invasion, not everyone's happy with their "security") and pax (raises awareness). I'll gladly wear it again next time I travel in December.
Super