Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
#3091
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
#3092
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Posts: 3,012
Two experiences in the past two days:
BOS, terminal A (12 Oct): As always, the checkpoint here was a place filled with warmth and happiness and everyone was smiling. Things were moving really slowly; I think they had only two or four bag scanners going (with each pair of lines for a bag scanner feeding to a MMW). After waiting a couple minutes because the guy in front of me didn't have ziploc bags for his LGAs, finally put my stuff into the scanner and said I was opting out. Moved to where I could see my bags, which wasn't in the way but in a slightly awkward location. A TSA clerk told me to move, but I said I wouldn't be able to see my bags and stood still. She then left.
I had left my belt on, as my shorts are rather larger and susceptible to fall off without a belt. A male clerk finally came, and told me to take off my belt. I said I would once I got to the screening area. He told me to take it off again, and I told him the same thing again. He said "ok" and then left, and took a couple minutes to move bins around (I'm assuming as some sort of retaliation). Finally he came back and took me through the gate and to the patdown area. He gave a short spiel (not the whole one); I assumed he was done and asked him to test his gloves for residue prior to the patdown. He then got really angry and said "you don't tell me what to do, I tell you what to do". I pointed out that I had asked him to do something, not told him. He repeated myself, and I repeated myself. He finally swabbed his gloves and when the test came back negative asked me if I was happy.
The patdown was fairly quick. Not the most thorough I've had, but not the quickest either. After he swabbed his gloves again, his mood instantly changed and said with a pretty relaxed tone that "you're good to go". I was really surprised, to say the least, given how upset he had been when I asked him to swab his gloves originally.
BZN (13 Oct): Checkpoint was dead. Just my mom and I. The WTMD was roped off, with only the MMW as an option. After putting all my stuff through I said I was opting out, and the clerk called for a male assist which came almost instantly. Went through the script quickly, then did the patdown. He definitely got up between my legs--I keep them as close together as they let me, and he got his hands up a ways. Otherwise, was fairly quick but thorough. Had the pleasure of explaining to my mom why I don't go through the machines.
BOS, terminal A (12 Oct): As always, the checkpoint here was a place filled with warmth and happiness and everyone was smiling. Things were moving really slowly; I think they had only two or four bag scanners going (with each pair of lines for a bag scanner feeding to a MMW). After waiting a couple minutes because the guy in front of me didn't have ziploc bags for his LGAs, finally put my stuff into the scanner and said I was opting out. Moved to where I could see my bags, which wasn't in the way but in a slightly awkward location. A TSA clerk told me to move, but I said I wouldn't be able to see my bags and stood still. She then left.
I had left my belt on, as my shorts are rather larger and susceptible to fall off without a belt. A male clerk finally came, and told me to take off my belt. I said I would once I got to the screening area. He told me to take it off again, and I told him the same thing again. He said "ok" and then left, and took a couple minutes to move bins around (I'm assuming as some sort of retaliation). Finally he came back and took me through the gate and to the patdown area. He gave a short spiel (not the whole one); I assumed he was done and asked him to test his gloves for residue prior to the patdown. He then got really angry and said "you don't tell me what to do, I tell you what to do". I pointed out that I had asked him to do something, not told him. He repeated myself, and I repeated myself. He finally swabbed his gloves and when the test came back negative asked me if I was happy.
The patdown was fairly quick. Not the most thorough I've had, but not the quickest either. After he swabbed his gloves again, his mood instantly changed and said with a pretty relaxed tone that "you're good to go". I was really surprised, to say the least, given how upset he had been when I asked him to swab his gloves originally.
BZN (13 Oct): Checkpoint was dead. Just my mom and I. The WTMD was roped off, with only the MMW as an option. After putting all my stuff through I said I was opting out, and the clerk called for a male assist which came almost instantly. Went through the script quickly, then did the patdown. He definitely got up between my legs--I keep them as close together as they let me, and he got his hands up a ways. Otherwise, was fairly quick but thorough. Had the pleasure of explaining to my mom why I don't go through the machines.
#3093
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,061
#3094
Used to be Sydneysider
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: CPH
Programs: AS MVP/Gold (and 75K aspirant)
Posts: 2,984
#3095
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I'm not sure why my rotator cuff injury keeps coming back to haunt me every time I fly. I also cant explain why it feels so much better when i'm at a pre-check airport. That should save my health insurance company a few dollars.
#3096
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ATL/BOS
Posts: 331
LIH, LGA, BOS, ORD, MCO, LAX, JFK
#3097
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
#3098
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 1,685
You notice the more people suffering from shoulder injuries on this forum has resulted in less NoS Opt Out tales?
#3099
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 616
I know I personally will never suffer from a phantom shoulder injury. First of all, I believe in karma and would not lie about that stuff to anyone, even a TSA clerk. Secondly, I want to make them work, and thrid, I want public awareness as to how safe the scanners are and how silly security theater really is. My stories will continue popping up in this thread, that's for sure!
#3100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Somewhere between here and there...
Programs: WWF, Appalachian Mountain Club
Posts: 11,595
#3101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
The patdown was fairly quick. Not the most thorough I've had, but not the quickest either. After he swabbed his gloves again, his mood instantly changed and said with a pretty relaxed tone that "you're good to go". I was really surprised, to say the least, given how upset he had been when I asked him to swab his gloves originally.
Mike
#3103
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IAH mostly.
Programs: I still call it Onepass every now and then. Platinum.
Posts: 500
#3104
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3
Some good news
I heard some good news today...I don't know if this is a trend or not but a good friend of mine flew out of JAX today. This individual said that while at the checkpoint, more people were opting out than were agreeing to go through the NOS. Is anyone else seeing an increase in opt outs?
#3105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I heard some good news today...I don't know if this is a trend or not but a good friend of mine flew out of JAX today. This individual said that while at the checkpoint, more people were opting out than were agreeing to go through the NOS. Is anyone else seeing an increase in opt outs?