Originally Posted by brenno
If it has been discussed before: sorry. But I hadn't flown BA in a while. Wednesday I was at LHR returning home. Using the quick lane I was selected by an agent and asked to have my body X-rayed. They took three pictures while standing in three different positions. While this was reminding me of a ballet show, that other travelers could enjoy, it occurred to me that you are exposed to radiation. The officer said that the amount was only little. But I couldn't help thinking that reality is different:
- If there is one industry where lying is so customary I have a hard time taking this serious.
- Now that I'm back on BA flying them sometimes multiple times a week the radiation could still affect you. Even more so if this measure turns out to be 'successful' and is copied around the world.
I have to grant that the selection was random so next time I might not be selected. But thinking about this I just wonder what the future will bring. Will everybody walk through a 'gate' that X-rays every passenger? Maybe security in stead of terror will kill us in the end.
You currently have the right to refuse to participate in this. I was selected last month and when it became clear I would have to prance about like an idiot (more so than normal according to my companion), I said "no I am not doing it". I was still escorted to the front of the line for the metal detector and given the normal search as if the detector had gone off.
I do not see how the current trial system could be implemented airport wide without causing big delays. It is self evident that it takes longer to process an individual than the walk through metal detector gates. They were issuing leaflets about the lack of threat to health, I am sure with the info about the amount of X Ray Radiation exposure someone from the medical profession could comment about the likely physical consequences of the trial, especially upon frequent travellers.
There also seem to be some interesting new scanners installed at T1 security screening but have never seen them in operation (since BA moved to Zone R), are these any different from the normal metal detectors?