davef139

OK had my first op out today, got a few questions.

So i was wearing a polo shirt had a pen jammed in sideways with just the top sticking out.

So i get directed over and tell them I opt out, they call over someone. This point they open a gate and I walk around the WTMD. Took a min for the guy to arrive after they called like 5times. So he walks up and we pickout my stuff.

He asks if I have anything (money) which he says I can just hold in my hand while this all happens. He noticed the pen sticking out of my shirt and asks for it and just throws it in the bins with my other stuff.

So Im walking down to my gate thinking to myself, how is this more secure since I could have had a pen knife or even consealed razor blades in my small wad o cash. He never looked through it.

So should I have went through the WTMD also but they never did do it? The screener arrive well after so he had no clue other then that I was an optout.

AviationFan24

I opted out for my return flight from IAH - PHX. I got into the line at Terminal C general boarding security lines for the Metal Detector. I was behind a family that was holding up the machines and required extra searching. I then finally was able to put my carry on through the machine, as required by TSA. I was then ushered to the Nude-O-Scope and said I opt out. I don't want to go through the cancer machines and be exposed to poison. No thank you, Michael Chertoff. I then was able through the Metal Detector and then I was told to stand to the side while a dozen people were ushered through with no questions. Finally after several TSA were standing around a man came over to me and told me go to over there. I had no idea where he wanted me and just started to walk. Then he asked me if I was aware I was about to be felt up and he would touch my junk with the back of his hand. I asked the guy to change his dirty filthy bleepin gloves. He asked me if I wanted my search done in private. I said NO!!!! He preceded to feel me up and found nothing, told me to go on my way. What a waste of tax dollars. The guy put his fingers inside my pants and underwear band, how inappropriate, made me jump and extremely uncomfortable as victim of sexual abuse.

I don't appreciate the TSA forcing me into a lane I didn't pick, such b#**s#@t. Said that to the agents I don't want cancer.

I realize I am just one and this is my experience, but it feels so good to stand up to this b.s. known as TSA and security theatre in the name of lobbyists for big corps in bed with big gov't.

I was talking to my parents this morning about the whole TSA scam and that it will only end when our elected officials, who are exempt from this being felt up, are forced to do it. How do we make them accountable and and be forced to do it guys?

Thank god Ron Paul stands up to those jerk offs in Congress who are only concerned with their own pockets and making them deeper.

I can't even stand Obama when he makes comments about how he doesn't even know how bad TSA is because he doesn't have to get security like the rest of us in the name of safety.

Guys I'm just on a high right now. I am standing up with you all and saying NO Bleeping Way, no more of this stuff.

Let's fight the real enemy, our U.S. Government and make the gov't accountable.

Thanks everyone for letting me get this off my chest, I feel so much better. Let's keep going.

Charlie.

P.S. I have more stuff I need to get out. Great place to vent my frustrations. On my Friday flight from PHX - IAH I noticed TSA agents on the jet bridge now. The guy was complaining about how he had to pay federal taxes on his tax subsidized salary. Some people were saying he should not. I had the dirtiest scowl on my face and I looked in his direction, was so disgusted this guy was complaining about having to pay federal taxes on his salary that is subsidized by U.S. Taxpayers. I am fed up. I wish I would have said if you don't want the job then leave, but don't complain about taxes man. We all have to pay damn taxes one way or another.

Government is not the solution it is the problem people.

A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all way - Gerald R. Ford (funny we are seeing this now in our country) Luckily I didn't vote for socialism.

SuperDudley

PHX yesterday was selected for the NoS, and of course opted out. TSA extremely rude, acted almost put out about it. I was finally patted down by a female who was actually very professional about it. I also got my luggage thoroughly searched; guess that's what I get for opting out.

doober

Pistole has said that the TSA doesn't touch skin - which is why they have tried for force those who strip at the checkpoint to put their clothes back on so they can be patted down.

One traveler at a time getting fed up with the TSA is the way the agency will be forced to change its ways. One traveler at a time. I am certain that there are converts being made every single day and soon the tide will start to turn - it might even be doing so now.

bajajoes

==================================================
There are a certain % of the population(3-5%?) that will always need to be "touched" because of some type of physical anomoly.
For that reason alone I do not see Opt Outs disappearing.

StanSimmons

I just got back from a cruise to Alaska. Left from DFW D18 on 5/21. TSA had both the MMW and the WTMD active. I chose the line that was feeding the WTMD, and as I was putting my backpack thru the xray, the TSA employee started to point me to the MMW. I shook my head and frowned before she could complete the gesture and I took a step toward the WTMD. I was surprised that she didn't make a scene, but she just let me thru. The xray screener called for a bag check on my backpack, which had camera equipment in it. When the checker started to take the covers off of my $1600 zoom lens, I told him to stop and get a supervisor over. The supervisor glanced at the lens and told me to have a nice trip.

Coming back from ANC last night, thru the terminal B/C checkpoint, there were no AIT machines of any sort in view. I was finishing drinking a bottle of water and made the joke about putting the water in a "TSA Approved Container" as my documents were being checked... which got a chuckle from the document checker. No drama, no worrying about lenses, very easy going.

bocastephen

Totally my fault, but I had my first opt-out at YYZ yesterday - my fault because I didn't look closely enough at the lane I was using and I could have selected a non-MMW lane just as easily.

The patdown was basic, simple, non-sexual and non-invasive - no pant liners or any other funny stuff, although the screener did run his hands down the bottoms of my feet, but maybe he was trying to tickle me for fun.

Both the patdown screener and the other screener who wanted to verify something in bag were surprised at my request to change gloves, but did so upon request.

One thing I like at YYZ - the extra large size bins that can accomodate lots of stuff. One thing I don't like at YYZ - the low sides of those extra large bins so things spill out easily. Oh well, can't have it all.

Lucee13

Recently, security at DEN at an off hour. I had plenty of time to make my flight, but my most recent invasive search happened there, so I really hoped to avoid another.

The screeners shut down a WTMD lane as I waited for I'd check, and so I ended up in one of the lines where every other person--I thought--was being directed into the MMW. I had an older gentleman in front of me who clearly hadn't flown in a while, because he was having a hard time getting everything in order, all the removal items removed, toiletries out, and so on. I took my time because I thought he was the one who was next for MMW, and he was, but I was directed to the MMW as well.

I was surprised, and unfortunately, between stress from the last time I went through security there and my prediction that I'd be able to SDOO, not as prepared as I could have been. A patter came quickly, but there was still some wait because the gentleman in front of me ended up with so many separate items and some caused interest in the x-ray.

The screener took me to a table in the middle, open area, rather than off to one side, and asked if I wanted a private screening (no). During the explanation part, one of the most redacted I've heard, I stopped her when she mentioned "resistance," and asked what that meant. I think this made the screener mad, and I got some nonsense answer about where my leg meets the pelvic bone. Rather than asking how she planned to touch bone, I said that meant she would be touching my leg, aware that she knew real and better names for "resistance." She said yes, and huffed and rolled her eyes.

This version of the patdown skipped my hair, but reverted to the bare midriff and in-the-waistband check. It included the full rubbing of the butt, etc., but otherwise was a pleasant change from the painful spread-eagle karate chops from my last visit.

Recently, at JFK T5, I was pleased to see that just about everyone was being directed through the WTMD. I finally pushed my bins past the glass wall and got in line, offering a gentleman the opportunity to step back into the line (he's had to get a...what are they, a bowl?...for pocket stuff). As I walked through, metal-free, I got buzzed. I admit it: I was angry. I was directed toward a table at the back, and I stopped halfway there because my stuff was behind me and at least 15 feet away. Thankfully, I only had my hands swabbed, though on reflection, I often use glycerin lotions and soaps, so perhaps I was lucky.

I totaled my checkpoint transits since this stuff started, and I've been selected for additionak screening or had to opt out 4 of 7 times, and for one of the other three, the airporty doesn't have nudeoscopes yet (though my observation was that women wearing loose clothing are already being pulled aside). While I think the increased procedures are invasive and ridiculous, I wasn't particularly inconvenienced by the hand swab, which leaves me at a rate of 75% of not-WMTD screenings abusive or overreaching, and 57% rate of receiving screenings that I thought were "secondary." I know how to transit a checkpoint, I wear form-fitting clothing, I don't cause a problem--so where's MY 3% statistic?

average_passenger

You're probably pretty, that's my guess. My female friends who travel quite a bit that are young and attractive get chosen for the NOS every single ****ing time.

mikemey

I'm a middle-aged fat male. What's RDU's excuse for picking me every single time???

Global_Hi_Flyer

Or IAD. 100% since May 1.

Hawk87

PHL, Tuesday 5/31. I proceeded to "B" concourse for my flight . The brand new MMW unit was in operation next to the WTMD. I naturally chose the WTMD. As I was about to walk through, I was directed to the next line over to the MMW unit which I naturally declined. I waited about three minutes for my rather reluctant "pat down pal". I watched my items on the belt like a hawk, and made sure they were in my sight at all times, before being moved to the secondary area, past the machines. After making sure he had new gloves, he went through his spiel. When asked if I had any sensitive areas, I replied "yes". He asked what they were, I looked at him sideways and said "guess!" He said nothing further... The patdown itself was not as bad as some, and I got no grope of the crotch, just hand up the thigh, almost til "resistance", but not quite. Not real aggressive in the waistband either. On my way in about 2 minutes.

What fun to look forward to now all the time at my home airport...

average_passenger

I bet you have an attractive face or maybe the person in the viewing booth finds your crotch area fascinating or interesting.

nachtnebel

Or, trying to match what you've got with what that NY Congressman's got.

RATM

While the attractive part could certainly be an issue, I think its just about frequency for alot of people on this board. Even if their 3% statistic is correct, a frequent flyer is in that pool multiple times a month. Its not 3% of the general public or the people travelling that month, its 3% of screening encounters.