<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CATSA Screener:
I believe you, but are you absolutely sure he asked you to open your trousers in addition to opening your belt? I personally refuse to ask people to open their belt, but that is the way we're supposed to do it and I see passengers fairly regularly misunderstand the request from the screener and open their trouser zipper as well.</font>
I was specifically told - it was the most outrageous thing I've ever encountered. In the search I described, the screener specifically searched my groin area.
I have no problems un-doing my belt and showing I have nothing underneath my belt - in fact, this is often a normal request if I beep at the metal detector (or if I'm a selectee). Most security employees are professional about this & it's no big deal for me.
To avoid "beeping" I now routinely stop before the security checkpoint and just take my belt off and put it in my carry-on (along with any items containing metal, i.e. keys, coins, etc.). When I clear security, I then go into my carry-on and put my belt back on, get the coins out, etc... makes things much easier. There isn't much metal on my belt, but it seems to set off some metal detectors.
Best,
SDF_Traveler