Originally Posted by
MusicCityMom
Hi exbayern,
I too have travelled to Dubai,Edinburgh,Venice,Rome,Copenhagen,Brussels,et c as well as many US airports-Atlanta,LGA,JFK,DFW,ORD,BNA,SNA,SFO,Monterrey,Hous ton,Charlotte,Norfolk,etc.Until recently,I too never had a problem. I was asked several years ago by a novice TSA to disconnect my pump at San Diego and told the guy no in a very firm voice and he backed down.
However, in Copenhagen on August 30 I had an agent AND supervisor who refused to read my doctor's letter or Medtronic sheet stating that pumps cannot go through X-ray,MRI,CT or scanners,was told I had to get written permission in advance to opt out,etc. Luckily for me they did not have a WBI at that airport but they still put my loaner pump through the xray machine as well as my sensors-for that behavior I did get an apology from the airport!
I then contacted LHR who told me that they do not let anyone opt out of random selection for WBI screening even with a doctors letter. Just trying to cover my bases for any possible future travel.
I am so glad for you that you have had trouble free travel, but all it takes is on really bad experience like I had recently to become pretty anxious about flying.
I have been corresponding with the various airports in a tone to be educational,proactive,etc in the fervent hope that I can make travel for diabetic passengers less stressful. From what I am seeing, LHR is a big problem right now.
I really do think you're stressing unnecessarily. I live in London and use the various airports quite frequently, and have only once been scanned (LHR T1, for the record). My wife has never been selected. Even in the very unlikely chance that you are selected, in London all the machines are MMW, which I am given to understand will not affect your equipment. It will of course alarm, but the alarm will be resolved visually or perhaps with an ETD check.
MAN, on the other hand, you probably should avoid, as they seem to have a higher rate of scanner use and also have BKSX installed.
I rather like not having to pay for healthcare or insurance here.