I haven't had my feet checked at all (top or bottom) in over a year, have never had the bottoms checked, and almost always wind up going through a gate between the WTMD and the NoS rather than going through either to get the the pat-down.

When I opt out I am generally told the same thing alongside the line of:

"Same level of screening as everyone else I will undergo a patdown which will cover my groin area."

When told this I respond, "you mean like the same level of screening as 75yr olds?" Always gets deer in headlights.

Agreed, but that was a totally different world. The reinforced cockpit doors and other passengers would prevent that from happening.

Mike

Fair point (and I almost addressed it in my original post), and I agree 100% that if a would-be hijacker showed up with a razor blade, knife, or even a gun, there might be some collateral damage, but he (or they) wouldn't last long and certainly would never take over the plane.

But the fact is that knives and razor blades are still not permitted on planes and in fact are one of the more frequently concealed items.

If the discussion at hand is "What object concealed underneath the feet, when brought on the plane, could bring down an airplane in a post-9/11 world?" that's one thing. But if the discussion is "Which currently prohibited items (in the category of items that the TSA is *supposed* to be looking for) could be concealed under the feet?" then you have to admit a razor blade fits that bill, and that makes the fact that TSA isn't checking feet ridiculous if not shocking.

That's fair.

Mike

Sorry, boxcutters will be laughed at by passengers now. Good luck fighting off 5 laptops to your head followed by a bull rush with a box cutter.

There's an argument to be made that some artfully-concealed knives are being carried by folks on OUR side against would-be hijackers. Not the brightest would-be fighters, but not the hard-core bad guys the TSA would have you believe.

Same sort of objects that TSOs are (allegedly) looking for when they leaf through the contents of your wallet (cards and bills).

IIRC, resident TSOs have also defended the NoS capabilities in the past because they can detect ceramic blades that the WTMD would not detect.

Of course, neither WTMD or NoS will detect a ceramic blade taped to the sole of the foot....

I think that was discussed and addressed just a couple of posts above, no?

About half the time, I am instructed to take a seat while they run ETD on the gloves, and then they come back and pat down the bottom of my feet while I am seated. But I have noticed this occurring less frequently as time goes on.

My experience is exactly the opposite. Generally when I try to walk through a WTMD en route to an opt-out, they stop me and re-direct me to a separate gate - intentionally preventing me from going through the WTMD.

I don't understand the "logic" or purpose of this maneuver. The only thing I can guess is that somehow, they have to designate WTMD = NOS = pat-down = equally valid screening methods, and somehow, letting me walk though the WTMD but still requiring a patdown would expose the fallacy. Perhaps TSORon could comment?

Don't you want a correct answer?

My take on this is that if you didn't alarm when walking through the WTMD on an opt-out, there may be some opportunity to challenge the need to pat you down (not that you'd likely win that challenge) as you have completed approved screening. Next time I have time and opt-out and actually get sent through the WTMD on my way to a pat-down I think I'll test this theory.

this was my experience twice last week. Opted out of the scanner, then lined up behind a family with stroller for the WTMD (hoping that would be the extent of my screening). The WTMD clerk asked if I was with "them" (the family), I responded that yes, I was standing here with them. The mom looked at me and said "he's not with me", so I was pulled from the WTMD line, taken through the gate, and given my grope.

TSO was professional but gave a very thorough grope. I was wearing boxers that day, which lets some of my anatomy hang down my left leg. TSO asked if there was anything in my left pocket, I said no. He then stopped at the lump and fondled it for a few seconds, to which I replied "uh, that's my dick, and if you're gonna keep playing with it, I'm gonna have to charge you".

And of course, I could have placed box cutters in my socks under my feet, which would not have been found.

Correct or not, anything that comes out of a TSO's mouth/keyboard may give insight into the situation, even if it's incorrect. @:-)

I have a feeling that there must be some sort of a reason/explanation given to the TSOs to make them adamant about not using the WTMD en route to a patdown. I have seen a near-panic response when I almost made it through a WTMD.
That's what I was thinking, but you said it much more clearly. Another possibility is that if you alarm the WTMD en route to a patdown, (say you have a metal hip) it triggers an even less pleasant resolution pat down.

I posted that 3 days ago, no?