Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
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#77
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 549
Were the 3 after you males, females, or a mix? If any females, did you happen to watch their enhanced pat downs to see if a hand went into the crotch?
Were you advised of the front of the hand thing and also advised before your genitals were palmed? If not, did you file a complaint?
Were you advised of the front of the hand thing and also advised before your genitals were palmed? If not, did you file a complaint?
I was not advised, and I did not file an official complaint because I was in a hurry to catch the flight. I wasn't traveling on my own time, and missing my flight would not have had a good impact on my work schedule.
Last edited by mozgytog; Aug 25, 2010 at 6:30 pm
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: xxx
Programs: yes
Posts: 60
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.
It's upsetting that all of this is being done in the dark.
I was travelling LAS-DEN-YYC and at 5AM I was selected for secondary screening which basically involved me being place in a large, see through box with a TSO hollering for a male. He came in...did not explain anything, but was friendly - just a hands-up type of thing, quick pat. This was back in April.
Thanks, exbayern for your post RE: Canada! Cheers.
Last edited by kylejaymes; Aug 26, 2010 at 4:00 pm Reason: edit
#79
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: WN A++, Marriott Plat, Avis 1
Posts: 217
Just a question: when did these enhanced patdowns start in LAS?
I was travelling LAS-DEN-YYC and at 5AM I was selected for secondary screening which basically involved me being place in a large, see through box with a TSO hollering for a male. He came in...did not explain anything, but was friendly - just a hands-up type of thing, quick pat. This was back in April.
I was travelling LAS-DEN-YYC and at 5AM I was selected for secondary screening which basically involved me being place in a large, see through box with a TSO hollering for a male. He came in...did not explain anything, but was friendly - just a hands-up type of thing, quick pat. This was back in April.
#80
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: UAL IK;Marriott Plat Elite;Hyatt Diamond;Hilton Gold;Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,567
I was screened at LAS Sunday 8/22 at the D Gates. No groping of my crotch area. Just the usual back of hand stuff. Of course, the first class line at the D gates do not yet have the nude o scopes...
Last edited by debua1k; Aug 27, 2010 at 7:28 am
#81
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 464
Were the 3 after you males, females, or a mix? If any females, did you happen to watch their enhanced pat downs to see if a hand went into the crotch?
Were you advised of the front of the hand thing and also advised before your genitals were palmed? If not, did you file a complaint?
Were you advised of the front of the hand thing and also advised before your genitals were palmed? If not, did you file a complaint?
#82
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 456
My question...
When you opt out and you wait for the pat down, what about your belongings? Can you keep your eye on them? Does TSA get them for you? If there is a line of people waiting for there sexual groping, I can see carry ons stacking up at the end of the x ray.
If I opt out and I can not see my belongings, I am going to collect my stuff first then come back. I have already had stuff stolen once, not going to happen again. If TSA has a problem with that, tough.
When you opt out and you wait for the pat down, what about your belongings? Can you keep your eye on them? Does TSA get them for you? If there is a line of people waiting for there sexual groping, I can see carry ons stacking up at the end of the x ray.
If I opt out and I can not see my belongings, I am going to collect my stuff first then come back. I have already had stuff stolen once, not going to happen again. If TSA has a problem with that, tough.
#83
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
#84
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Gold, season pass holder to all the places the kids want to go
Posts: 467
At CMH today, concourse B. One general line (post ID check) which broke into two at the choice of the passenger -- one headed to metal detector and one to NudeOScope. I choose metal detector. Unload stuff for XRay, waiting at the mouth of the XRay for all my stuff to go inside the XRay before proceeding forward. Apparently this raised the ire of the (female) NudeOScope hall monitor, who asked me to cross over and go through that machine (which is a mite odd because there was no waiting at the metal detector). Not only am I not going through the NudeOScope because I'm not going to do that, but that would put me ~15 feet and a solid wall away from my stuff. No thanks. I say "I want to opt out of the backscatter". She says "what?" (2/3rds incredulous, 1/3rd aggressive). I say this again. I'm put in a holding bin, a female agent comes over, asks me which items are mine, carries them over to the pat down area with me following. She says she's going to do a "thorough pat down with gloves" which she will need to check for residue after the pat down. She also says to put my feet on the mat facing my stuff. The pat down is thorough, but no privates and use of the side of her hand under and between my chest. Gloves are checked, she comes back and says I'm free to leave. I thank her for her professionalism and depart. Took an extra ~3 minutes.
Last edited by michellemck99; Aug 29, 2010 at 1:42 pm Reason: better explanation
#85
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FLL - Nice and Warm
Programs: TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 1,025
Latest from SEATAC
MyNorthwest.com Poll
Will you go through the scanner?
Yes 18% (281)
No 82% (1245)
Total Votes: 1526
^^^
Will you go through the scanner?
Yes 18% (281)
No 82% (1245)
Total Votes: 1526
wonderfullone wrote...
In unrelated news...
Applications for employment have risen by 400%, mostly by registered sexual offenders, for TSA screening jobs.
In unrelated news...
Applications for employment have risen by 400%, mostly by registered sexual offenders, for TSA screening jobs.
#87
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FLL - Nice and Warm
Programs: TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 1,025
#88
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,946
The people that sit and look at these all day are nothing less than the creepy perverts that we send to jail for doing exactly the same thing. Who else would sit and look at people in a state of undress all day. That's what they're doing. Electronically removing your clothes is no different than having someone stand in front of you and undress. They can make all the claims they want about security and respect for privacy, but there is nothing that would convince me that many of the people viewing these images are any different then the perverted sex offenders we send to jail every day."
^
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 11,956
A comment from the same site Spiff
The attitude is disgusting.
Pathetic from TSA and pathetic from some travelers.
The attitude is disgusting.
I just got back into town after a weekend in the midwest. 6 TSA employees watching two work at every airport. Pat downs, removing flip flops, what a joke. I am a liberial white male. I was was frisked and searched while two men from the middle east walked right by me with no pat down. What a waste of money and my time.
#90
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 549
Typing this on my phone, so please excuse any typos.
I just opted out again at PIT. The one-stripe had a big problem with my opt out and with me telling other people that they can opt out too. I got surrounded by 3 one stripes who told me that I better shut up and that the x-rays are safe. I told them that I have every right to inform people of their right to opt out of a device that uses ionizing radiation, that the damage from ionizing radiation is cumulative and is well known to cause cancer.
Then they started calling for a supervisor, having refused to do the pat down until he came over and again told me that I am not allowed to tell other travelers that they can opt out. I reiterated, loudly but politely, the dangers of exposure to ionizing radiation, and again states that I am within my rights to educate other travelers that they can opt out. So he threatened to call the police, which I ignored. At this point I had a swarm of four TSA people surrounding me and trying to hammer with questions about who I was. I did not answer. They did the pay down during this, and seemed really disappointed that the glove test was negative for explosives. At that point they told me to have a nice day, and I guess forgot all about their whole 'get the cops up here' threat.
So here I sit, airside at PIT, blogging and Facebooking and Tweeting and posting about the punishment for opting out and making sure others know they can opt out too.
The above events happened at the alternate, upstairs checkpoint at PIT, in the old commuter terminal.
I just opted out again at PIT. The one-stripe had a big problem with my opt out and with me telling other people that they can opt out too. I got surrounded by 3 one stripes who told me that I better shut up and that the x-rays are safe. I told them that I have every right to inform people of their right to opt out of a device that uses ionizing radiation, that the damage from ionizing radiation is cumulative and is well known to cause cancer.
Then they started calling for a supervisor, having refused to do the pat down until he came over and again told me that I am not allowed to tell other travelers that they can opt out. I reiterated, loudly but politely, the dangers of exposure to ionizing radiation, and again states that I am within my rights to educate other travelers that they can opt out. So he threatened to call the police, which I ignored. At this point I had a swarm of four TSA people surrounding me and trying to hammer with questions about who I was. I did not answer. They did the pay down during this, and seemed really disappointed that the glove test was negative for explosives. At that point they told me to have a nice day, and I guess forgot all about their whole 'get the cops up here' threat.
So here I sit, airside at PIT, blogging and Facebooking and Tweeting and posting about the punishment for opting out and making sure others know they can opt out too.
The above events happened at the alternate, upstairs checkpoint at PIT, in the old commuter terminal.