Originally Posted by Flaflyer
Perhaps pilots can get away with it but I can't. I used to do this to avoid touching the sides, figuring one less false alarm will be one less secondary in my lifetime. A really nice TSA guy asked why I walked that way, understood my reason, did not secondary, and then was nice enough to suggest not doing so in the future to save my self trouble, know what I mean?, which I interpret to mean it is a suspicious behavior they look for. Either that or they hate a knowledgeable customer who knows how their toys work. Only FTers and real terrorists know about that touching thing, right? No law abiding citizen would want to know about how a WTMD works, right comrade? A third grader can do a google on "WTMD" for a science report, but apparently TSA does not know about google yet.
I assume the SSI approved walk, no scooting, is the best imitiation of a once a decade sheeple vacation flyer who is bumbling around like a lost puppy who has never been thru the maze before and is clueless about the process. Ignorance is power as seen by the TSA. Sigh.
I'm curious how long it's been since you've flown. The old SOP stated that you had to walk a certain way. That was several editions and several years ago. With the new Binford 10,000 superduper-enhanced Walk-thru-Metal Detector, we are told that it doesn't matter how a person walks through, the WTMD will do its job. The only rules that apply is that you can't run, skip or drag your feet through. However, you may have your hands in your pocket, covering your vitals or above your head. Doesn't matter.
I use the pilot shift whenever I pass through the WTMD. Even though I've been putting on some weight lately (age...what a bi*.h), my problem has always been my shoulders. I've got some pretty broad shoulders and will, on occasion, brush the side of the WTMD. So I use the pilot method of entry, one arm forward, one arm back, this places my shoulders at an angle, and I pass right through.