Originally Posted by AdamK
I don't know about other airlines, but here is United's policy.
UA WILL REFUSE TO TRANSPORT...ANY PASSENGER...WHO REFUSES TO PERMIT SEARCH OF HIS/HER PERSON OR PROPERTY FOR EXPLOSIVES OR A CONCEALED, DEADLY, OR DANGEROUS WEAPON OR ARTICLE....SUCH CARRIER WILL, AT THE REQUEST OF THE PASSENGER, REFUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 260 (INVOLUNTARY REFUNDS).
NW's starts out similar, but with a decidedly different result:
NW WILL REFUSE TO TRANSPORT...ANY PASSENGER...WHO REFUSES TO PERMIT SEARCH OF THEIR PERSON OR PROPERTY FOR EXPLOSIVES OR A CONCEALED, DEADLY OR DANGEROUS WEAPON OR ARTICLE.... NW IS NOT LIABLE FOR ITS REFUSAL TO TRANSPORT ANY PASSENGER OR FOR ITS REMOVAL OF ANY PASSENGER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRECEDING....
A PASSENGER SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND IF THE PASSENGER'S TICKET IS NONREFUNDABLE.
Furthermore, NW has a whole section of the CoC with regard to TSA screening:
PASSENGERS AND/OR THEIR BAGGAGE ARE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION BY EMPLOYEES OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) ACCORDING TO STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE TSA, WITH AN ELECTRONIC DETECTOR WITH OR WITHOUT THE PASSENGER'S CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE.
THE TSA HAS INSTITUTED STANDARDIZED SCREENING PROCEDURES AT AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION DESCRIBES THE NEW ENHANCED PROCEDURES AS THEY PRESENTLY EXIST:
1) EACH PASSENGER MUST GO THROUGH TWO STAGES OF SCREENING:
A) BAGGAGE CHECKPOINTS:
[snip]
B) PASSENGERS CHECKPOINTS:
PASSENGERS MUST PASS THROUGH THIS CHECKPOINT TO ACCESS THEIR DEPARTURE GATE. SECURITY SCREENERS WILL SCREEN PASSENGERS AND CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. THIS CHECK POINT INCLUDES X-RAY MACHINE, WALK-THROUGH METAL DETECTOR, SECONDARY SCREENING WHICH MAY INCLUDE A HAND-WAND INSPECTION AND/OR A PAT-DOWN INSPECTION, INCLUDING POSSIBLE EXAMINATION OF ITEMS SUCH AS SHOES (AS
DETERMINED BY THE TSA). IF CARRY ON BAGGAGE IS SELECTED FOR A SECONDARY SCREENING, BAG MAY BE OPENED AND EXAMINED AND MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED WITH AN EXPLOSIVE TRACE DETECTION MACHINE (ETD), WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THE X-RAY MACHINE UTILIZED AT THE CHECKPOINT.
2)
SOME PASSENGERS MAY BE SELECTED FOR ADDITIONAL TSA
SCREENING AT THE DEPARTURE GATE.
[snip]
NORTHWEST AIRLINES WILL NOT BE LIABLE IN ANY RESPECT FOR A PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH TSA'S SURVEILLANCE AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.
When you buy a ticket from NW, it pretty clear says you are agreeing with the CoC. I'd say your implied consent is right there.