Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
Aug 21, 2010, 5:35 pm
#46
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
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One complaint might not hold any weight, but many complaints certainly will.
It happened back in 2004 (?) with all the poking and prodding of women's breasts - complaints by the thousands forced TSA to change its procedure. Thousands of complaints can force a change in this procedure also.
It happened back in 2004 (?) with all the poking and prodding of women's breasts - complaints by the thousands forced TSA to change its procedure. Thousands of complaints can force a change in this procedure also.
Aug 21, 2010, 5:41 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Opted out at DCA yesterday.
Screener was truly perplexed, "this is for security, this isn't a choice."
Me: "I believe I am allowed to take a secondary."
Screener: "Well you're going to have to wait awhile then."
Me: "Is the delay retaliatory for my opting of the nudo-o-scope?"
Screener: "Umm, no, it'll be just a moment until someone arrives."
Two screeners confer, sounds as though asking that they take extra long with me. But while not the quickest secondary I've ever gotten, was completely professional.
Screener was truly perplexed, "this is for security, this isn't a choice."
Me: "I believe I am allowed to take a secondary."
Screener: "Well you're going to have to wait awhile then."
Me: "Is the delay retaliatory for my opting of the nudo-o-scope?"
Screener: "Umm, no, it'll be just a moment until someone arrives."
Two screeners confer, sounds as though asking that they take extra long with me. But while not the quickest secondary I've ever gotten, was completely professional.
Aug 21, 2010, 5:43 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,165
professionally done, pat down
Aug 21, 2010, 6:04 pm
#49
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
It's part of the TSA's conditioning of passengers - they want everything out of your pockets and off your body except your clothes, which will be removed in the strip search machine or pulled off you by the new grope.
Aug 21, 2010, 6:11 pm
#50
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
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It's just the scumbags "in charge" of TSA who choose to make these perv-o-scopes unjust retaliation that make travel so unpleasant.
Aug 21, 2010, 7:47 pm
#51
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FLL - Nice and Warm
Programs: TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 1,025
Even the Pilots are getting Pissed!
Express Jet Pilots (blog)
"As dutiful citizens, we cannot conscientiously consent to the despotic indignity of virtual strip searches as a matter of course in reporting for work or performing the routine duties of our profession. Neither can we abide the prospect of being stopped daily by government agents and physically molested as we lawfully go about the business of earning an honest living. It is appalling that any citizen, who is not under arrest, has made no threats, nor raised any suspicion of terrorist or similar malicious intentions should be forced to submit to either of these ‘options’ in order to move about within the confines of his or her own national borders." ^^^
http://www.expressjetpilots.com/the-...agement-re-TSA
"As dutiful citizens, we cannot conscientiously consent to the despotic indignity of virtual strip searches as a matter of course in reporting for work or performing the routine duties of our profession. Neither can we abide the prospect of being stopped daily by government agents and physically molested as we lawfully go about the business of earning an honest living. It is appalling that any citizen, who is not under arrest, has made no threats, nor raised any suspicion of terrorist or similar malicious intentions should be forced to submit to either of these ‘options’ in order to move about within the confines of his or her own national borders." ^^^
http://www.expressjetpilots.com/the-...agement-re-TSA
Aug 21, 2010, 9:58 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
Express Jet Pilots (blog)
"As dutiful citizens, we cannot conscientiously consent to the despotic indignity of virtual strip searches as a matter of course in reporting for work or performing the routine duties of our profession. Neither can we abide the prospect of being stopped daily by government agents and physically molested as we lawfully go about the business of earning an honest living. It is appalling that any citizen, who is not under arrest, has made no threats, nor raised any suspicion of terrorist or similar malicious intentions should be forced to submit to either of these ‘options’ in order to move about within the confines of his or her own national borders." ^^^
http://www.expressjetpilots.com/the-...agement-re-TSA
"As dutiful citizens, we cannot conscientiously consent to the despotic indignity of virtual strip searches as a matter of course in reporting for work or performing the routine duties of our profession. Neither can we abide the prospect of being stopped daily by government agents and physically molested as we lawfully go about the business of earning an honest living. It is appalling that any citizen, who is not under arrest, has made no threats, nor raised any suspicion of terrorist or similar malicious intentions should be forced to submit to either of these ‘options’ in order to move about within the confines of his or her own national borders." ^^^
http://www.expressjetpilots.com/the-...agement-re-TSA
Aug 22, 2010, 6:46 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
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Aug 24, 2010, 9:00 am
#54
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 112
Opt out at DCA
Opted out at DCA last week. I had to stand next to the scanner for probably 5-6 minutes while the TSA agent manning the checkpoint repeatedly requested a female opt-out searcher. Finally, someone arrived and escorted me to the Xray belt, where she asked me to identify my stuff and picked it up. We then went over to the secondary area.
This TSA agent was an absolutely lovely woman. She was incredibly polite and seemed very kind. She hit all the required points -- asked me if I would like a private screening, notified me that she would be using the back of her hand, etc. She completed the pat down (which was very thorough and involved the "enhanced" grasping of the limbs, but she was as gentle as possible) and had begun to swab my bags (which eventually involved checking each zipper, each handle, and every electronic device).
As she starts on the swabbing, a supervisor comes over and starts speaking with her in hushed tones and seems quite agitated. She says several times, "I told them that three times but they didn't listen!" He signals another female TSA agent, who joins us, and tells me that Female Agent Number 2 is now going to do a patdown. I say, "I've already been patted down quite extensively." He tells me he knows but Agent 2 will also pat me down. He assures me it will only take a few minutes. At this point, I am getting frustrated and ask him why I am being subjected to a second patdown. He informs me that Female Agent 1 was not certified to do the "special" opt-out patdown, and that Female Agent 2 is, so she has to do one. Which, fine -- I just wanted the reason. To his credit, Supervisor does apologize for the inconvenience. Incidentally, pat down number 2 was in no way different than pat down number 1, so I'm not sure what special knowledge Female Agent 2 had.
Incidentally, the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus!
This TSA agent was an absolutely lovely woman. She was incredibly polite and seemed very kind. She hit all the required points -- asked me if I would like a private screening, notified me that she would be using the back of her hand, etc. She completed the pat down (which was very thorough and involved the "enhanced" grasping of the limbs, but she was as gentle as possible) and had begun to swab my bags (which eventually involved checking each zipper, each handle, and every electronic device).
As she starts on the swabbing, a supervisor comes over and starts speaking with her in hushed tones and seems quite agitated. She says several times, "I told them that three times but they didn't listen!" He signals another female TSA agent, who joins us, and tells me that Female Agent Number 2 is now going to do a patdown. I say, "I've already been patted down quite extensively." He tells me he knows but Agent 2 will also pat me down. He assures me it will only take a few minutes. At this point, I am getting frustrated and ask him why I am being subjected to a second patdown. He informs me that Female Agent 1 was not certified to do the "special" opt-out patdown, and that Female Agent 2 is, so she has to do one. Which, fine -- I just wanted the reason. To his credit, Supervisor does apologize for the inconvenience. Incidentally, pat down number 2 was in no way different than pat down number 1, so I'm not sure what special knowledge Female Agent 2 had.
Incidentally, the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus!
Aug 24, 2010, 9:19 am
#55
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
Opted out at DCA last week. I had to stand next to the scanner for probably 5-6 minutes while the TSA agent manning the checkpoint repeatedly requested a female opt-out searcher. Finally, someone arrived and escorted me to the Xray belt, where she asked me to identify my stuff and picked it up. We then went over to the secondary area.
This TSA agent was an absolutely lovely woman. She was incredibly polite and seemed very kind. She hit all the required points -- asked me if I would like a private screening, notified me that she would be using the back of her hand, etc. She completed the pat down (which was very thorough and involved the "enhanced" grasping of the limbs, but she was as gentle as possible) and had begun to swab my bags (which eventually involved checking each zipper, each handle, and every electronic device).
As she starts on the swabbing, a supervisor comes over and starts speaking with her in hushed tones and seems quite agitated. She says several times, "I told them that three times but they didn't listen!" He signals another female TSA agent, who joins us, and tells me that Female Agent Number 2 is now going to do a patdown. I say, "I've already been patted down quite extensively." He tells me he knows but Agent 2 will also pat me down. He assures me it will only take a few minutes. At this point, I am getting frustrated and ask him why I am being subjected to a second patdown. He informs me that Female Agent 1 was not certified to do the "special" opt-out patdown, and that Female Agent 2 is, so she has to do one. Which, fine -- I just wanted the reason. To his credit, Supervisor does apologize for the inconvenience. Incidentally, pat down number 2 was in no way different than pat down number 1, so I'm not sure what special knowledge Female Agent 2 had.
Incidentally, the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus!
This TSA agent was an absolutely lovely woman. She was incredibly polite and seemed very kind. She hit all the required points -- asked me if I would like a private screening, notified me that she would be using the back of her hand, etc. She completed the pat down (which was very thorough and involved the "enhanced" grasping of the limbs, but she was as gentle as possible) and had begun to swab my bags (which eventually involved checking each zipper, each handle, and every electronic device).
As she starts on the swabbing, a supervisor comes over and starts speaking with her in hushed tones and seems quite agitated. She says several times, "I told them that three times but they didn't listen!" He signals another female TSA agent, who joins us, and tells me that Female Agent Number 2 is now going to do a patdown. I say, "I've already been patted down quite extensively." He tells me he knows but Agent 2 will also pat me down. He assures me it will only take a few minutes. At this point, I am getting frustrated and ask him why I am being subjected to a second patdown. He informs me that Female Agent 1 was not certified to do the "special" opt-out patdown, and that Female Agent 2 is, so she has to do one. Which, fine -- I just wanted the reason. To his credit, Supervisor does apologize for the inconvenience. Incidentally, pat down number 2 was in no way different than pat down number 1, so I'm not sure what special knowledge Female Agent 2 had.
Incidentally, the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus!
It would be interesting to know if screeners volunteer to learn the enhanced pat down procedures or if all of them will eventually be trained in how to sexually assault passengers.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Aug 24, 2010 at 2:13 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
Aug 24, 2010, 9:23 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SZX/HKG/BWI
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Posts: 2,637
I am not re-directing this thread to mine, but am just making a record about a recent happening with the nude-o-scope I encountered at BWI. I believe it deserved its own thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...heard-bwi.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...heard-bwi.html
Aug 24, 2010, 10:55 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
Incidentally, the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus!
Aug 24, 2010, 11:09 am
#58
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Washington DC USA
Posts: 2,571
I disagree. When entering certain dodgy nightclubs, a frisk is standard, and I find the folks that do those are entirely professional - meaning, they're quick, to the point, and don't leave me feeling like I need a shower afterwards. TSA could learn something from nightclub bouncers...but then again, the bouncers are probably more highly qualified and trained, so who am I kidding?
Aug 24, 2010, 12:12 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: WN A++, Marriott Plat, Avis 1
Posts: 217
... the rest of my party went through the scanner, and each of them were getting a brief pat-down (in the groin/pelvic region) after going through. Apparently the TSA told them it is beause they are blurring that portion of the images but so have to manually check the area. So you get to go through the scanner AND be felt up -- bonus!
I'm trying not to drop broad, trolling statements - but the simplest way I read what TSA said there about crotch blurring is this: "Here in Bizarro World, we have to feel your genitals in order to protect your privacy and dignity".
It sounds like Enhanced Patdowns are definitely being used at places other than BOS & LAS (where media reports said they were being tested). Between my experience at OMA described earlier and your description of a special patdown procedure (that some TSOs aren't yet certified with) it sounds like Enhanced Patdowns may be the new standard for WBI skipping.
It's upsetting that all of this is being done in the dark.
Last edited by VegasCableGuy; Aug 24, 2010 at 4:56 pm Reason: typo