:rolleyes:

Actually, it is:

Selected for Secondary Security Screening

:p

Sassy and Superfluous Super Search.

Super Sucky Sucky Search if your coming from Asia

Sexy Standard Screening Search

First time SSSS at YUL today.

I booked a last-minute Aeroplan ticket three days ago, and apparently the agent making my reservation (they had to open a seat up, hence the call in and extra donation to AE) got my year of birth wrong. As I tried checking in online last night I noticed the wrong year pre-populated, changed it, and then couldn't complete the process, as it broke off after entering passport info. My boarding pass was still #0001 despite the aborted check-in.

This morning, I called in and got them to change the year of birth. When I tried checking in again, I didn't even get to the seat selection screen, and the site told me to check in at the airport.

At YUL, nothing particular at check in, but the boarding pass had SSSS on it.

At security, despite the arrow pointing right, they direct me to the left. The guy writes down my info on a sheet where I see about 20 other "random" selections since mid-day.

They take my BP before the X-ray and hold on to it. All my stuff goes through as usual, nothing special. One relatively aggressive looking agent motions me through the WTMD, and then toward the body scanner. I refuse, and he looks like he just got hit by a truck, but then quickly recovers and asks me to step to the side.

I get a firm but useless patdown (e.g. they stay far away from any "sensitive" areas) and am then free to go get my bags. At the end of the patdown, the agent asks me why I refused the scanner, and I tell him it's a matter of principle. Again he seems confused, but doesn't say anything else.

No special treatment at all for my carry-on luggage.

So overall, I have to say the exercise was rather futile if it was really supposed to be an enhanced check of myself or my luggage.

NEXUS worked as expected, and so now I have an extra 1/2 hour to enjoy Guinness courtesy of AC. :D

But really, why? :confused:

Because I like a back rub in the morning.

Because I feel like getting my $12 (or whatever) worth.

Because I KWIA even if they don't.

Because I believe that 'randomly' putting people through the body scanner improves passenger safety as much as releasing a herd of cats in the airport with instructions to 'find the terrorists'.

But mostly because I can.

Please show me any airport with a security checkpoint in Canada where people randomly walk through the WTMD. In Canada, everyone goes through the WTMD unless unable except for maybe at private security checkpoints at FBOs or charter terminals.
This I have no problems with, you know your options and you choose one.

My apologies, I meant the body scanner.

In that case, I agree. It should be all or nothing, none of this random BS (no pun intended!). If you are getting body scanned, why do you have to walk through the WTMD anyway? And if you set it off, why should you get wanded if you're going to go through the body scanner? The wanding followed by pat-down combo is also an "intriguing" one.

Because the machines are useless. The system, particularly the SSSS is created to catch stupid terrorists.

Because the system is extremely stupid: the purpose of the body scans is to see all parts of your body, including the "sensitive" areas. Now you can circumvent that by getting a pat down without "sensitive" areas being touched. This demonstrates that this entire process is nothing more than security theater.

Because the more difficult you can make it for a screener or anyone in authority, the better it is for a society that purports to believe in freedom.

Because it's yet another example of our civil liberties shrinking--not increasing--as time progresses.

Because they say the images cannot be saved but there have been cases of images actually being saved. And you're really going to trust the authorities?

Because we are entitled to do this without justification.

There is not one reason which you just listed which isn't extremely stupid. rehoult's comment "Because I can" is absolutely true and valid. He can refuse the body scanner, so he chooses to do so. Saying you're "entitled to do this without justification" is a completely naive and careless comment. If DHS/TSA come up with a new enhancement and inevitably bullies TC/CATSA to implement, they will do it and you will have no choice. If they take away your choice, no amount of complaining will help. I surely hope you can afford to hire your own charters if you so much would like to stand your "moral ground". The cost to charter a King Air right now is at least $1200 an hour, plus crew. ^ The toilet is even a revenue seat on those.

Btw about the images, considering that I know someone who was a key player in designing this system and that I have actually seen and tried using this equipment before (albeit in a closed development-type setting), I think I know what I am saying. Are you really so narcissistic to believe that people would like to save your images for "future enjoyment"? In Canada, (I "acquired" access to and inspected some of these rooms myself for recording devices) there are no cameras, video cameras, voice recorders, cell phones or windows in the viewing rooms. In fact, the software has been reprogrammed to allow the computer greater autonomy and less "invasion of privacy". Your greatest threat is a screener who breaks the rules to bring in his cell phone into the room, and I'm sure they'd be more concerned with texting their co-worker about when they're going for break rather than taking pictures of you.

I'm not debating that the security process is effective or logical. It isn't. I'm just saying that irrational refusals by a small minority of people only inconveniences their fellow passengers, make fools of themselves and make a mockery of the "Canadian way". More often than the people actually working at security ruining the experience for passengers (although this happens too much), it is the DYKWIA passengers who throw their ego around the security checkpoint to "make a stand" and get a bit of attention. Inexperienced travellers don't understand and automatically assume the entire system is purely miserable.

My family of 4 travelled YVR-LAS on 11/11/11. AC picked my under aged son with SSSS. WT_ !!

Hahaha mocking the "Canadian way".

Ever realized why Israeli security is so quick? Not just because it is safer, but because Israeli's don't tolerate standing in stupid lineups.

Oh but so true, I should just conform, be polite, shut up and put up with my shrinking civil liberties... it's the "Canadian way", and we don't want to startle anyone.:rolleyes:

Israeli foreign policy and security are just
as racist and unethical as those of their more "aggressive" Arab neighbours. I don't think this is a model to look up to.

I'll leave the politics of this to others, but the 'no lines/crowds' goal is a good and obvious one that we saw practiced throughout the middle east. There is no need to try and get a bomb on a plane when there is a plane worth of people waiting at most TSA checkpoints, and there is little if any security between there and the curb.

That the TSA and CATSA haven't found a way of solving that one yet continues to be mind boggling to me. But I have no doubt they will; a week after such a bombing happens.