Interesting experience at JFK opt out
 

I was flying out of T4 (LX F) and when they escorted me to the security checkpoint, I was waived to the body scanner. I opted out and waited...and waited...and waited until looking at the time and the agent waiting for me, decided I'll go thru the body scanner. I told the TSO that I will decline the opt out and go thru, which I was waived in. Just as I started collecting my bags, another TSO came over and told me that I need a pat down as I opted out. I argued a bit, but got nowhere, which then he proceeded to give me the pat down in slow motion taking a good 10minutes. Of course by this time I was quite angry but they did hold the plane for me (being in F) .
If I declined the opt out and go thru the body scanners am I still subject to a secondary search?

Congratulations. You've just experienced the "punitive" pat-down, which has been designed by the TSA to make you think twice about opting-out next time.

[redacted ad hominen]

I always opt out. This was my first ever nudeoscope.
Looks like I got to step up my level of opting out and the whole saying your name thing (which also was done in JFK)

Can you think of any other reason to deliberately make a traveler wait to be groped, and then do it anyway once they give up and go through the Perv-O-Vision because they're tired of waiting? And then do the grope as slowly as possible?

You had yourself a vindictive TSO. They're not uncommon.

JFK TSA seems to be intermittently fans of the "say your name" thing. I usually just give them an amusing pronunciation (such as, if my name were John Smith, saying "joo-han Smi-eye-t-hah").

I think this is a good thing.

The 3-4 times I've had to opt-out I've made it perfectly clear to cast members who ask that my primary intent is to tie up resources and drive up the cost of TSA for 0 return (I never have anything on me). I've even told them to take their time.

Now that some members of Congress are...less cowardly...privatization isn't automatically rejected.

Once the wait for the assist was over three minutes, you should have just asked for a supervisor. That usually gets things moving faster.

Sounds normal for JFK.

Although when opting out of the body scan last year at JFK, I got less of a "punitive" search/pat down then I did in 2010 when I refused to take off my shoes for medical reasons.

Hmm should of done that.

I don't even wait 3 minutes, especially if I can't see my possessions. The second they get horsey about making me stand where I can't see things, I'm calling for a supe. If they don't call for a groper within about 30 seconds (intentional delay), then I'm calling for a supe.

DCA seemed very good about this the last couple times I opted out. As their employees kept moving to block me from seeing my stuff, I just started saying the following in a gradually escalating volume:

"I can't see my things - someone may be stealing them - you're allowing people to steal my stuff - someone may be planting something in my carry on"

I didn't even get the chance to start the last phrase before a supervisor was there to escort me through, asking for an expedited male assist over the radio. It seems like they're prepared for people to opt out and then object when they can't ensure the safety of their carry ons, which IMHO is probably a good thing.

Had I gotten through the entire sequence of phrases above, I would have considered shouting "Someone may be planting an explosive in my stuff back there right now, and you don't seem to care"... but I'm not 100% sure I would have actually followed through with that. Obviously my usage of the word "bomb" would be intended to trigger a response - I'm not just sure it's the type of response I would have liked to see. TSA (I'm sure) would twist around what happened to state that they caught someone making some type of threat - outright lies seem to be one of their strengths when it comes to dealing with "problem" passengers.

They usually threaten me with calling a LEO as I ALWAYS move next to my belongings. I always insist on having a LEO present after I am threatened with one, as well as having a supervisor called. I have yet to get through the screening process without a supervisor nor has my screening taken more than 5 minutes. Yes, I have always had my belongings in sight. It has taken me less time to opt out and have the grope as opposed to my traveling companions who have gone through the scanners, plus, my belongings stayed in my line of sight. Theirs didn't. If you don't follow SOP it appears that things move rather quickly. TSA doesn't like public conflict at the checkpoint. A non conforming, vocal, Grandma gets moved through the checkpoint very quickly.

Don't opt out ahead of time.

Walk into the NoS, if so directed. When the screener tells you to assume and hold the position, then decline (and don't assume the position). You will have to exit, of course, and your groper will be right there, just like he/she would be if you had been scanned and alarmed.

I find IAD to be not only totally unprepared but outright hostile to keeping things in sight. And hostile to the grope - the last one I had the screener was visibly angry at being asked to change gloves. I also had to get vocal and demand a supervisor when they tried to place me out of sight of my belongings.

In this scenario, do they test the gloves for explosives, or do they just do a full-on grope, or a resolution grope, or what?

I've never seen an ETD machine at the exit of a NoS, and I've only ever seen half-hearted rubbing there.