Another story of abuse of a disabled passenger
Sep 13, 2016, 5:52 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC, IB+, TAM multi+
Posts: 453
I am sure that for a woman this is very different.
Sep 13, 2016, 10:41 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
Same here. Once at MEM I was karate-chopped in a "sensitive area" so hard that I was unable to walk to my gate afterwards. I had to sit for about 20 minutes before I could move again.
Sep 13, 2016, 10:55 am
#33
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Yeah, I read about the famous 'groin chops' and nearly every time I fly, I have a screener's hands probing my genitals, often roughly, but nothing I would have called an out-and-out 'chop'.
Until the day I did get a groin chop. The closest I've ever come at any other time in my life to experiencing what happened at PHX T2 was when I hit a bump on my bike and came down on the crossbar.
It was no accident and there was no apology.
Until the day I did get a groin chop. The closest I've ever come at any other time in my life to experiencing what happened at PHX T2 was when I hit a bump on my bike and came down on the crossbar.
It was no accident and there was no apology.
Sep 13, 2016, 11:32 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
Indeed. That particular one at MEM was retaliatory - I had refused to go through the backscatter x-Ray like the other sheep, and the screener was very annoyed. He kept muttering about how stupid passengers are the whole time he was doing the hands-on thing.
Sep 13, 2016, 11:47 am
#35
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I'm an 'involuntary medical opt-out' - I can't assume and hold the position for the NoS.
At PHX T2, if you are physically incapable of using the NoS, then you are an 'opt-out': full grope, bag search-n-swab every single time.
One of the moat dragons has actually gotten spittle on my face, she was so close, and she kept repeating 'then you are an OPT-OUT' when I explained my physical limitations. PHX T2 takes it as a personal affront that you dare to come to their checkpoint incapable of doing what they want you to do. It's like if they threaten you enough, your physical limitations will magically disappear and your body will be capable of doing what they want it to do.
I so wish that were the case.
At PHX T2, if you are physically incapable of using the NoS, then you are an 'opt-out': full grope, bag search-n-swab every single time.
One of the moat dragons has actually gotten spittle on my face, she was so close, and she kept repeating 'then you are an OPT-OUT' when I explained my physical limitations. PHX T2 takes it as a personal affront that you dare to come to their checkpoint incapable of doing what they want you to do. It's like if they threaten you enough, your physical limitations will magically disappear and your body will be capable of doing what they want it to do.
I so wish that were the case.
Sep 13, 2016, 2:03 pm
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Yeah, I read about the famous 'groin chops' and nearly every time I fly, I have a screener's hands probing my genitals, often roughly, but nothing I would have called an out-and-out 'chop'.
Until the day I did get a groin chop. The closest I've ever come at any other time in my life to experiencing what happened at PHX T2 was when I hit a bump on my bike and came down on the crossbar.
It was no accident and there was no apology.
Until the day I did get a groin chop. The closest I've ever come at any other time in my life to experiencing what happened at PHX T2 was when I hit a bump on my bike and came down on the crossbar.
It was no accident and there was no apology.
I'd go so far as to request the CCTV coverage of any patdown that turned abusive.
Link to IG's complaint form: https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php
Sep 13, 2016, 2:11 pm
#37
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This was a few years ago. I avoid PHX T2 at all costs.
Stacey Amato didn't get much help from the IG, and I'm quite sure that the IG was aware of her case.
Stacey Amato didn't get much help from the IG, and I'm quite sure that the IG was aware of her case.
Sep 13, 2016, 2:38 pm
#38
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
May have been aware of it, may not have been. Being aware is not the same as having to respond in some manner to a complaint filed with the IG's office about screener abuse.
Sep 13, 2016, 9:20 pm
#39
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,417
Did either of you ever file a complaint, not with the TSA but with the DHS Inspector General? The IG might care a good deal more than the TSA. At least, if people file complaints with them then there would be an increasing number of records on file in a central repository of abusive behavior on the part of screeners.
I'd go so far as to request the CCTV coverage of any patdown that turned abusive.
Link to IG's complaint form: https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php
I'd go so far as to request the CCTV coverage of any patdown that turned abusive.
Link to IG's complaint form: https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php
Sep 14, 2016, 3:24 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
I've had a few other karate chops, but that one was definitely the worst. As mentioned above, I eventually learned not to identify any "sensitive areas," because the screener invariably was rougher there than elsewhere when I did.
As my travel increased, I also learned which airports/security areas were less likely to have a whole staff of sadistic cretins, so I could make better decisions on where and when to opt out.
Sep 14, 2016, 7:43 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 962
FWIW, since I've started answering "everywhere" to "sensitive areas", I've mostly gotten gentler treatment than before. Especially when I arrive in an airport wheelchair.
No karate chops yet, though have gotten very firm crotch swipes, which I expect would be painful to someone with any of various conditions. And pre-wheelchair I have gotten "resistance" hits that were painful.
No karate chops yet, though have gotten very firm crotch swipes, which I expect would be painful to someone with any of various conditions. And pre-wheelchair I have gotten "resistance" hits that were painful.
Sep 17, 2016, 10:54 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
As a passenger with a disability, I have often wondered about this. Before being subjected to the pat down, I am always asked whether I have any areas that are particularly sensitive. In my case, the answer is no. I have to wonder what happens when the answer is yes. Are TSOs trained to perform a more gentle pat down on such areas? What is the procedure? I have no idea.
Sep 18, 2016, 5:28 am
#45
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
If you identify a sensitive area, my experience is the TSA clerk will use that as the target for their retaliation for you making extra work by opting out. I have 2 surgical scars, one on my neck and one on the upper chest which visible if I'm wearing something lower than a turtleneck. Both are extremely sensitive to touch, and pressure on the one on my neck actually makes me gasp for air. So when I'm wearing a scoop neck shirt, it's SOP for the groper to put their thumb directly on the scars and grind it in.
Don't file with the TSA.
https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php
Last edited by petaluma1; Sep 18, 2016 at 5:48 am