Hello FTers. Apologies that my first post is seeking assistance; I've searched through this subforum and can't find an answer to the below.

By way of background, I am a British Citizen of oriental descent. I probably fly short haul return (Europe) every two weeks, long haul (Asia, US) 3 times a year. Two weeks ago, I took a day trip on business from LHR to VIE. No problems at LHR; however on the way back at VIE I was subject to an extremely intrusive secondary search that I have never seen the likes of - especially from non-TSA!

At security, I set off the walk through metal detector. I was given a very thorough frisk (including contact through clothing with intimate parts - in the public area - and being prodded quite painfully between my ribs and rather strangely the back of my calves - all of which are slender and couldn't hide anything prohibited!). Subsequently, when the hand held detector waved over me, it was extremely apparent that it had been the bra underwire - surprising as this was the first time I've had the issue, but hey ho.

Because it was so obviously the bra underwire, I assumed it would be the end of the matter, but instead I was asked to leave all my personal belongings behind and taken to a small private cubicle - just me and the (female) agent. I was asked to lift up my top and probed again and had hands very firmly run over my bra. What shocked me the most was that I was asked to incrementally loosen the bra to the extent that I was fully exposing myself to the agent (but technically still wearing the item ). I also had fingers placed some 3 inches down the waistband of my underpants. I had in fact volunteered to remove the bra and walk through the metal detector again, but this was refused again and again.

Obviously they found nothing and unceremoniously reunited me with my belongings without so much as a apology.

Has anyone heard of similar stories outside of the US? I am unaware that there was anything suspicious about the way I presented. To be entirely honest had I not flown a night flight from Asia just the day before and not absolutely exhausted, I would have refused to fly but I just wanted to get home...

What can and should I do other than complain? Unfortunately in Europe the law is unclear. There are European minimum standards for a "hand search" (which is one of the approved methods of secondary searching...) is classified but I am sure that it cannot cover being forced to strip in such a circumstance.

Anecdotes and advice most welcome... and thank you in advance.

Are you aware of any such incidents in the USA?

Yes. A friend of mine was forced by TSA to pull down his pants at ABQ a couple of years ago.

Maybe the one about the congressman's teen daughter having her breast exposed?

Discussed extensively here on the TSA reportedly exposed breasts of Rep Ralph Hall's Grandniece thread.

Sorry to hear about this but in April this year my wife and i were flying from VIE to NCE and she had almost the same experience as you - in that she had a "very" thorough pat down in the public area from a burly female security agent to the point that it was obviously very uncomfortable for her. She complained but the lady feigned not to understand English which I found hard to believe.

We also suspected it was the underwire.

Point is, if they do want to do a hand search - no problem, but do it in a private area and not in full view of other passengers or the other (male) screening staff.