Originally Posted by Bart
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.
I use the pilot shift whenever I pass through the WTMD.
But if you can't scoot or drag, then it Does matter how you walk through.
It has a name. The "pilot shift". Its official. I can't wait to drop that name to the next screener I try it on.
I hit the WTMD wall and found it set off the alarm around 2002 or 2003. From that point till about mid-2005 I went through diagonal. It was about mid 2005 IIRC I was questioned about walking diagonal. Perhaps they did not have the new Binford, or their new SSI edition got lost in the mail. Shoulda used Fed Ex.
Since then I walk through square and careful not to touch. In the past year knock wood I have not alarmed or been secondaried or SSSSed or terminal dumped in the US, so I have had good TSA experiences. My only "extra TSA experience" was a very tokenly done 30 second shoe shine at MDW for refusing to take my 15/16 inch heeled shoes off.
OTOH, it was not TSA, but like many pax report here, in FRA I got the works at both checkpoints. But I survived and made it home.