Originally Posted by GradGirl
I'm not a screener, but my understanding is that you can wear the coat through the metal detector. Then they will make you take it off when you reach the other side.
Additionally, they will touch you whereever they please, even if no alarm beeps. I'm assuming you are male: male searches can involve touching your nipples, feeling your genitals and massaging your backside.
You'll have to make your own call, but it's a humdinger of a catch-22. And I'm not sure that you'll save your coat from the gray bins; they might make you take the coat off and then walk it back and send it through the metal detector themselves.
Hmmm. Maybe it's time to invest in a decent hanging garment bag rather than risk wrinkles (by packing the sport coat) or filth (those repulsively dirty TSA plastic bins). Don't know why if they're going to wand/frisk me anyway they can't inspect the sport coat by hand too (after I've requested they use fresh gloves)?
I may be in the minority here but, if done
properly (as in other countries), the patdown doesn't really bother me.
Coming back from LHR recently was such a treat - didn't have to take off my belt or take off my shoes to go through the detector. (I really hate getting airport floor nasties on my socks). Either my belt or shoes buzzed the metal detector at LHR but after a very professional, polite and quick patdown by the BAA security guy I was cleared and on my way.