Originally Posted by
UsedToNotMindFlying
This is my first post on FT although I have been following a few different forums.
Cathay Boy, thanks for your description of your ORD experience. It is helpful for me as I am flying out of ORD on CX for the first time next month. You mentioned going through metal detectors at T5. I thought they had AIT installed there. I am stressing a little about the AIT/pat downs because of horror stories I have read. It seems like the easier thing to do would be just to subject to the AIT instead of opting out but I haven't even allowed my dentist to do diagnostic x-rays on my teeth for years! I would rather minimize radiation exposure until these AIT machines have been tested in use for at least 5 years. Do you have a choice of metal detector or AIT at T5 and T3?
You can never choose which device to screen through. In T3 they have both devices but the agent will direct you to one and that decision is final. You can always opt out and I have done it when not in a hurry. First you must wait for an agent, then perform the pat-down, then they perform a more rigorous (punitive) search of your personal items. If you opt out I would expect to add about 10 minutes to your security time.