chollie

I'm an involuntary medical opt-out - physically unable to assume and hold the position, so I always get the grope.

Occasionally, the moat dragon will start the 'safety' spiel - as though if I know it is 'safe', my physical limitations will magically disappear and I will be able to go through the NoS - I wish!

Rather than explain "what part of physically unable to assume and hold the position don't you understand", now I just smile and say 'yeah, they used to tell us the tanning beds were ok, too.'

FriendlySkies

If you're a medical, I'm confused as to why you are opting-out.. They should just be letting you through the WTMD (unless you've got something that will make it alarm?)

chollie

I keep hearing this, but it never works out that way for me.

I never 'opt-out' I never use the words 'opt-out'. When I get selected for the NoS (which seems to be every time I fly), I say "I'm physically unable to lift my arm and I can't hold still". I am always told 'then you are an opt-out' or 'then you will get an invasive patdown, it may be a long wait, bla-bla' or occasionally 'the machines are really safe, just like a cellphone' (as though that will magically make my physical limitations go away) or 'then stand over here/there, assist!'

One one occasion, at PHX, I was told to demonstrate how far I could raise my arm. I did and the TSO just repeated 'then you are an opt-out'.

FWIW, I never had a problem clearing the WTMD. I don't have implants, and I don't have to raise my arms or stand motionless for a successful WTMD pass.

bdschobel

I did it just today at FLL. I never ever have a problem claiming injury. I think the TSA uses this as a safety valve to allow really antagonistic people like me to get through hassle-free. Both sides effectively wink at each other.

Bruce

FliesWay2Much

Wow -- that's incredible. Great job, everyone. Now, all we have to do is to make each one of the gropers feel like a pervert.

chollie

I suspect it's a combination of folks who didn't know they could opt-out and those who feel safer not being the only one.

Probably less likelihood of gratuitous chops or deep dipping or blocking someone's view of their belongings when there are multiple people waiting. Plus if you've got a line, it takes the edge off the 'it might take a while, a long while, to find someone to grope you' threat, because once the groper(s) do show up, there's no reason to walk away until everyone is done.

Best of all, you've got witnesses, witnesses that can't be threatened with 'move along, you are interfering with the screening process'.

^^

Vidiot

Interesting. I've been able to avoid flying for a while so haven't been up to date on the most recent practices. So resolution gropes are required to be done in private? (Are these the big super-invasive ones that gsoltso referred to way back when?) Are you allowed to insist that they be done in public? Are you allowed to have a witness, and/or would they be allowed to record or take pictures of this?

I gotta say that if I'm forced into a private room where I can't have a witness or my experience documented, then not flying is preferable.

InkUnderNails

I have only one data point. I opted out and alarmed the ETD. I had to get the resolution check.

Yes, the private room was required. It was not optional even though I insisted that I did not care. It did not matter. Private room or I did not fly.

Super invasive? Not mine. Less invasive and quicker than the one that I failed the ETD with. Only difference was front of hand instead of back.

Photos are not allowed, even by the witness, at least that is my understanding as I did not test this.

They will provide a witness. I said no thanks and eventually asked for an LEO. The TSA witness joined us anyway. It was a bit funny. When they said I could pick a witness I pointed to the female STSO standing right there and said I'll pick her. Nothing doing. If using a TSO as ones witness it is same sex only. That when I said get the LEO.

It was a bit funny actually. Me, my witness, the groper, his witness and all my hand luggage in a little room with its own ETD machine. It was so crowded that if you wanted to change your mind you had to step outside.

mikew99

I came very close to having one of these "resolution screenings" after a recent opt out. The groper was clearly new and/or inexperienced and was confused by the clasp of the drawstring in the pants I was wearing.

The groper couldn't figure out what it was, and after I declared that it was part of my pants and couldn't be removed, he called for a resolution screening in a private area.

Well, there is no way in hell that I'm going anywhere in private with these [redacted] -- anything they need to do, they will do in public -- and I openly told them so. They backed down when the groper finally figured out that what he was groping was just a plastic clasp.

That's the closest I've come to being detained and/or penalized for opting out, not to mention missing my flight. Fortunately I was traveling on an award that could be changed, and I was fully prepared to not fly that day. But I will not go into a private area to shield from public view the violation of my rights.

CavePearl

Yesterday's opt outs: HOU and CRP. My gropers at both locations were over-the-top-friendly. I believe they must have had the holiday cheer mandate passed down. After all, 'tis the season and all that. Made me a little nauseous... This was definitely out of character for HOU, as 2/3 of the female assists in the morning are quite surly. I actually think after Ms. Perky I might prefer surly.

Anyway, at HOU I waited 8 minutes for a female assist, plus I had a bag check on my briefcase. It was kind of funny though because the screener had to stand there holding my briefcase for 8 minutes too. ^ Apparently it was my car keys that were suspect, because they are the only things he swiped with the magic pad. He just looked at my GPS, then ran the whole thing through again.

Coming home from CRP I enjoyed the name game along with my perky grope. The male document checker there called me "little lady." The "little lady" terminology doesn't sit well at all with me. I think only refrained from punching him in the nose because it's the holiday season.

Ysitincoach

I find it's easier to say, "I'm gonna need a walk through," and leave it at that.

I like the theory. I'm with you, especially at my home airport. Thankfully, they cycle through so many clerks that it's hard to find one that remembers the antagonistic days prior to my injury.

linsj

Opted out at LIH Thanksgiving night. First time I didn't have to wait for a female groper. There were about two dozen blue shirts standing around doing nothing and only three passengers going through the line. Once again, I was the only opt-out.

tkey75

So they knocked off the recording your ID info as retaliation for opting out? If so, I might go back.

linsj

I didn't know they were doing that. Last time I flew out of LIH (Oct 2012) was on a Friday, and UA was using the lane with only a metal detector on the outside of the terminal.

exbayern

I've been holding firm. At some airports they seem to acknowledge this (ie IAH) and let me use the WTMD, but others put up a fuss, and others refuse completely.

DFW tried to use opt out as punishment. I said several times that I was medically unable to use the scanner; I was directed to wait and wait and wait whilst numerous TSOs moved me out of the way to open the gate. Finally I spoke up for the third time, and someone called 'female assist'. (They made me wait at least four minutes before even calling someone, and then it took time for her to arrive, so a total of at least 8-9 minutes to even have a TSO 'deal' with me)

She escorted me to the pat down area, had someone bring my bags, and then before she even started her spiel asked 'Did you ask if you could go through the WTMD?' I replied 'yes'. She sighed, and immediately called for a supervisor. When he came over, she explained (all without me prompting) that I was unable to use the scanner, and that I had told them that, but was still directed to a pat down. He asked me 'Did you tell them you cannot use the scanner?' I said yes, but they still made me wait and told me that I needed a pat down, and that it had been many minutes at this point.

Both the female TSO and the agent were very nice; they had the third person watch my bags (impossible for me to do so), brought me back over to the gate, and told me to cut in front of the scanner line and use the WTMD. Again the TSO manning the scanner tried to refuse, but his supervisor said something very loudly and shortly to him and I walked through, with no alarm. Supervisor walked me back to my bags, asked if I was ok, and I was free to go.

Both female assist and supervisor were very polite and professional, but this not the first time I have seen TSOs or supervisors reprimand TSOs manning the scanner who seem to refuse medical opt outs. (Happens at ORD when I do stand my ground, but they are one of the worst for intimidation)

It is by the way always male TSOs who refuse me access to the WTMD, and often the female pat down person realises the issue before they even begin. This makes a nice change from the attitude we often see from female TSOs but it may also be because I am using different airports in the US these days.