Originally Posted by FriendlySkies

Just FYI, it's AIT.. The screening clerks would probably get mad if they heard you call it ATI, or the FT norm, Nude-O-Scope..

If you have to opt-out again, make sure your belongings are in your sight while waiting.. If they aren't tell the all mighty clerk that you want to see your belonging, and to pound sand if they refuse. At that point, I might also call for a supervisor, and possibly a LEO..

Originally Posted by Global_Hi_Flyer

Or tell 'em you don't want to be strip-searched, not even virtually.

Originally Posted by Superguy

It's always fun when you tell them that and they try to argue that it's not.

Originally Posted by DAL4550

Last night at ORD, I refused the body scan. After being directed through the metal detector, I was then ordered to stand on the mat while I waited for a female TSA to search me. When she finished, I was made to wait while a supervisor was called. I was told that I needed to be searched again. After several minutes another female arrived and told me that she was "the supervisor" and needed to search me. After the second search where they "used the back of the hand for sensitive areas". I was told I could go. Both searches were cursory and would not have found concealed items. They were not invasive but a huge waste of time. I asked the supervisor why they felt it necessary to search me twice when clearly there were no indications that I was carrying anything dangerous. (I am a 52 year old woman who traveled over 300,000 miles last year, who was wearing a short sleeved silk blouse and pencil skirt). She told me "thats the policy". Has anyone else been patted down 2 times for refusing the body scan? or was it just my unlucky day?

Originally Posted by DAL4550

...She told me "that's the policy". Has anyone else been patted down 2 times for refusing the body scan? or was it just my unlucky day?

Originally Posted by DAL4550

(I am a 52 year old woman who traveled over 300,000 miles last year, who was wearing a short sleeved silk blouse and pencil skirt). She told me "thats the policy". Has anyone else been patted down 2 times for refusing the body scan? or was it just my unlucky day?

Originally Posted by exbayern

You WERE carrying something dangerous - a skirt. At least two of our (absent) TSOs here have said that simply wearing a skirt is grounds for an additional search. This does not appear to be SOP however as it is not practiced everywhere (and note my ORD experience a few posts above yours; I too was wearing a skirt)

Originally Posted by Ellie M

Why would a skirt be grounds for an additional search? Do you remember what reasons the TSOs gave for this policy? The only thing I can think of is that it would be easier to light an underwear bomb.... So the TSA is singling out a huge percentage of the population on the basis of the extremely suspicious activity of wearing a skirt? Actually, this seems really discriminatory. More screening of women on the basis that they are female.

Originally Posted by exbayern

Skirts and kilts, according to some TSOs here, require a secondary as they are not form fitting. There is an entire thread about kilts here.

Originally Posted by TXagogo

Howdy folks,
Had my first experience with the ATI machine today at SJC and, of course, chose to opt out. I will bullet point my experience for (hopefully!) ease of reading:

1. Barely anyone in the security line. Metal detector line was right next to ATI but since no one was in the ATI line, the agent asked me to come over.
2. I went over, placed all my things in the bin, he asked if my wallet was in my pocket, and then I was directed to go to the ATI.
3. I replied “No thanks” and he stated to the metal detector agent – “Opt out – male assist please”.
4. The metal detector agent (who looked like she just rolled out of bed in her double-wide trailer) said “Sir – YOU wait there” which was next to the metal detector as a few others went through. Definite tone in her voice.
5. I waited approximately 4 minutes while she requested a male assist 3 times into her official spy issue walkie-talkie. (my items, including two laptops and my $2500 watch, were out of my view the entire time)
6. The male agent assigned to do my grope politely asked me to follow him as he gathered my things and brought them to the super special stainless steel table.
7. He explained what he was doing, asked me if I wanted a private screening area which I declined, explained that the backs of his hands would be used over the “groin” and “buttocks”.
8. He was professional about it but I found the procedure to be unnecessarily invasive, though not quite to the point of being obscene. However, I strongly object to any of this on principle.
9. He attempted friendly conversation but I made it very clear I was in no mood for idle banter.
10. He swabbed my computer and said “have a nice day”.

OVERALL: The experience was a waste of everyone’s time and was undoubtedly an infringement on my rights as a law-abiding American. Clearly there are agents out there who will be personally offended when people opt out and they will take advantage of their positions to make you wait and/ or “be punished”. (I think this attitude has the potential to change for the better if more and more people opt out, as it will become way too much time and effort to “punish” everyone). Several thousand dollars worth of personal belongings were out of my sight for a minimum of 5 minutes. The grope was BARELY acceptable as done, although the agent was trying his best to be nice. If the front of hands were used on the private areas it would definitely have crossed the line into criminal sexual assault. I adamantly oppose this entire process and if anyone in the DFW area would like to start a group to pass out flyers, educate the public, or do any kind of grassroots resistance please contact me.

Thanks…

Originally Posted by Superguy

And unlike AIT, ATI (now part of AMD) has actually added value to the world thru its offerings. Video cards for video game consoles, PCs, and other chips that people actually want to buy. I'm sure they resent being compared to something that's effective and has value.

Originally Posted by SATTSO;

You do not need to remove your watch, ever. Whether you go through the AIT, WTMD, or refuse both. So next time keep it on.

Originally Posted by deldel

Is this new? What if the watch alarms the WTMD or the wand? If it alarms would it need to be x-rayed?

Also can a TSO make a determination that the watch would need to come off?