Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
Jan 7, 2013, 7:44 pm
#3392
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
Originally Posted by knotyeagle:19997687
So as I was leaving the checkpoint at FLL terminal 1 concourse B, what exact "offensive attitude" did I convey when I took this photo of a TSA screener who promptly told me to come back and enter the sterile area thru the exit?
Jan 10, 2013, 9:37 am
#3394
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: HP/US Gold, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 711
A direct confrontation of the agent who sighed loudly, rolled his eyes, and asked if I really wanted a full body pat-down at LAS did not seem like it would be productive in this case. He was just ignorant and immature; he kind of reminded me of a bratty teenager (do not ask me how I know this). The supervisor actually seemed irked about it when informed.
Jan 10, 2013, 9:53 pm
#3395
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DEN
Posts: 177
Fudge - had no choice but to do a nudy screening if I wanted to make a connection since the weather delayed us on the way in - this was airport running kind of time. I knew I couldn't deal with TSA bs if I didn't want stuck overnight.
I smiled a little as I laced my fingers together in a way that flipped off the TSA as I was scanned. I hate them.
I smiled a little as I laced my fingers together in a way that flipped off the TSA as I was scanned. I hate them.
Jan 11, 2013, 10:24 am
#3396
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IAH mostly.
Programs: I still call it Onepass every now and then. Platinum.
Posts: 500
And then I had to sit in a window seat for 5 hours.
Jan 11, 2013, 10:28 am
#3397
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 186
That happened to me once last year when there was a snafu with my reservation and some checked luggage and I ended up standing at the ticket counter for nearly an hour. Wife and kids were already on the plane, I was rushing through security and didn't have a choice to stand around for 15 minutes to get patted down. I felt so dirty and guilty having to do it.
And then I had to sit in a window seat for 5 hours.
And then I had to sit in a window seat for 5 hours.
Jan 11, 2013, 9:53 pm
#3398
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IAH mostly.
Programs: I still call it Onepass every now and then. Platinum.
Posts: 500
Jan 12, 2013, 7:31 pm
#3399
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DEN
Posts: 177
Did you flip them off too?? 
(you put your hands above your head and lace them together in an accident way that might have a middle finger outstretched from the other hand).
Middle seats are awful. I hope you at least got to lay your head on your wife in the better seat to sleep a little.
(you put your hands above your head and lace them together in an accident way that might have a middle finger outstretched from the other hand). Middle seats are awful. I hope you at least got to lay your head on your wife in the better seat to sleep a little.
Jan 14, 2013, 9:36 am
#3400
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IAH mostly.
Programs: I still call it Onepass every now and then. Platinum.
Posts: 500
Did you flip them off too?? (you put your hands above your head and lace them together in an accident way that might have a middle finger outstretched from the other hand).
Middle seats are awful. I hope you at least got to lay your head on your wife in the better seat to sleep a little.
(you put your hands above your head and lace them together in an accident way that might have a middle finger outstretched from the other hand). Middle seats are awful. I hope you at least got to lay your head on your wife in the better seat to sleep a little.
That said, that was January 2nd of last year and the first of 48 segments in 2012. Every one after that was much better.
Jan 22, 2013, 7:03 am
#3401
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 203
On Thursday, I opted out at IAD, where backscatter was in full-force. Pat-down "officer" arrived immediately and started joking. I couldn't hear what the joke was, but I wasn't in a joking mood. I stood stone-faced and followed his instructions.
"Do you have any sensitive areas?"
"No."
"Really? No sensitive areas?" He began smiling.
I eyeballed him with a you-gotta-be-kidding-me look on my face.
"I'm just trying to get you to smile!"
"I don't think this process is much to smile about. I prefer to get things done as professionally and easily as possible."
The grope was the most thorough I've gotten in recent memory, with three brushes or chops to my testicles. Yes, I got the "resistance" speech.
* * *
At FLL yesterday, C terminal, the line was much too long. It took over 30 minutes to get to the ID checker. And no wonder -- almost everyone was being funneled into the cancer boxes. No one was opting out.
When my turn came, I informed the "officer" I would be opting out. He called for the male assist, and then I stood next to the metal detector so I could see my belongings. After waiting a few minutes, the aforementioned "officer" told me to stand about three steps to my right. I moved, but then I couldn't see my stuff, so, taking a page from the InkUnderNails playbook, I moved right back where I needed to be, saying, "I need to stand right here." I didn't get any pushback other than a
from him.
I continued waiting. And waiting. And waiting. A woman took over and kept calling for the male assist. Finally, she hollered for someone to come over, saying, "He's been waiting a long time! That bag check will have to wait!" (Wow! Someone who cares about customer service. I almost thanked her, but thanking a TS"O" is next to impossible for me.) My groper arrived and patted me down thoroughly, but with no contact to my genitals.
Almost 45 minutes after entering the line , I was off to my gate.
"Do you have any sensitive areas?"
"No."
"Really? No sensitive areas?" He began smiling.
I eyeballed him with a you-gotta-be-kidding-me look on my face.
"I'm just trying to get you to smile!"
"I don't think this process is much to smile about. I prefer to get things done as professionally and easily as possible."
The grope was the most thorough I've gotten in recent memory, with three brushes or chops to my testicles. Yes, I got the "resistance" speech.
* * *
At FLL yesterday, C terminal, the line was much too long. It took over 30 minutes to get to the ID checker. And no wonder -- almost everyone was being funneled into the cancer boxes. No one was opting out.
When my turn came, I informed the "officer" I would be opting out. He called for the male assist, and then I stood next to the metal detector so I could see my belongings. After waiting a few minutes, the aforementioned "officer" told me to stand about three steps to my right. I moved, but then I couldn't see my stuff, so, taking a page from the InkUnderNails playbook, I moved right back where I needed to be, saying, "I need to stand right here." I didn't get any pushback other than a
from him.I continued waiting. And waiting. And waiting. A woman took over and kept calling for the male assist. Finally, she hollered for someone to come over, saying, "He's been waiting a long time! That bag check will have to wait!" (Wow! Someone who cares about customer service. I almost thanked her, but thanking a TS"O" is next to impossible for me.) My groper arrived and patted me down thoroughly, but with no contact to my genitals.
Almost 45 minutes after entering the line
, I was off to my gate.
Jan 22, 2013, 8:02 am
#3402
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Somewhere between here and there...
Programs: WWF, Appalachian Mountain Club
Posts: 11,595
Jan 22, 2013, 8:57 am
#3403
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 203
Absolutely.
BTW, the ID checker --who eventually performed my patdown -- was blaming the slow-moving line on the passengers for not removing their liquids. He kept barking things like, "The line will move much faster if you just take out your liquids!" Of course, the scanners had nothing to do with slowing down the line.
BTW, the ID checker --who eventually performed my patdown -- was blaming the slow-moving line on the passengers for not removing their liquids. He kept barking things like, "The line will move much faster if you just take out your liquids!" Of course, the scanners had nothing to do with slowing down the line.
Jan 22, 2013, 8:59 am
#3404
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
Patdowns as of late have all be cursory at best, the last patdown the agent just sort of tapped at my pant legs, my sleeves and said have a nice day.
No complaints here if they all are that cursory,
Dan
No complaints here if they all are that cursory,
Dan
Jan 23, 2013, 3:23 pm
#3405
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - DM, Charter KM; Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,355
Let the screener at ATL F know that I couldn't raise my left arm for the machine. She sent me through WTMD and while I was putting back on my coat I raised my left arm for a half second to put it on and she came over to yell at me that "What you just did was exactly the pose for the machine! We are WATCHING you ALL THE WAY through security." She wouldn't even let me speak and just walked away.