Why are they scanning wallets?
 

I just flew FLL-LGA, they asked me to put my wallet into a basket and run it through the scanning machine next to the metal detector. What difference would it have made if I walked through with it in my pocket or if they ran it through on the belt. With all of the chaos going on at this checkpoints, I feel uneasy about someone picking up my wallet on the other side while we are being delayed because of someone slowing down the line when they set off the buzzer at the detector.

[This message has been edited by Rssrsvp (edited 11-07-2001).]

I usually put my wallet through anyway to avoid setting off the machine (it does make a difference), but FLL is the only place I've been too (just this Monday) that ever requested I take my wallet out. I usually put it in one of my other bags before getting the checkpoint anyway.

I have a metal clip to hold money in my wallet (not that I ever have money in my wallet, another story) which sets off the walk throughs. I'm not saying your wallet would set it off, but lots of people's do.

I think they are just trying to get you through in one shot. Asking for wallets, watches, shoes, belts and the rest of the stuff they are asking you to remove (depending on airport) may keep you from beeping on the walk through, which means you will not have to be wanded, patted down, or start removing things and going through again and again.

I always put my wallet in the carry on or jacket pocket to go through security, way before all of this it would set the machines off. I was never comfortable putting it out in the open in a basket in the open.

My point exactly. If someone walks off with your wallet, is the "security" company responsible for the loss.

I also would not like to put my wallet in a basket on the belt.
That brings me to the question: What "power" have this "security persons". Do I have to do any silly thing they ask me to do?

I always place my wallet, cell phone and keys in the outside pocket of my bag. I've never had a challenge with security pre or post 9/11 with doing that.

I stopped carrying a wallet years ago due to the pain in the as* syndrome. Cards and id with rubberband in pocket.

I always put pager and cell phone in bag first, before they ask. I never take change out of pocket. Ignore the wallet and change requests, same with watch. Cheap pens stay in pocket, better ones (more metal)go into bag.

I was told by the screeners that they are concerned that the hand-held metal detecting wands might harm the magnetic strip on your credit cards if you are wanded and your wallet is still in your pocket. Don't know if it's true. I know the x-ray machines and magnetometers don't affect the magnetic strips on my cards, so I just put my wallet in a pocket of my carry-on.

If this is the case, why aren't people being warned when they use the hand held wands? This is now a common place occurance with the stepped up security, and there will be many angry travelers out there with credit cards that cannot be scanned properly when they go to make a purchase.

Currency, credit cards and photo ID stays in pocket. Wallet in carry-on or by itself (no big loss if it's stolen when empty). I am not going to let my currency, credit cards and photo ID be separated from my person. Period.

The wands don't effect CC's.

I think the main reason for scanning the wallets is that razor blades can easily be inserted between CC's.

The last days I have beeen told to pull out my jacket and to put it through the x-ray. They demanded this even when I've said that any items out of the pockets were put into my carry-on. This happened at three airports in Germany, same for all people. I was never asked to do this before.

My wallet has enough cards with magnetic strips to set off the more sensitive metal detectors; I'm sure I'm not alone. Maybe enough wallets set off the metal detectors for the "security" team to want to cut down the false alarms by having wallets go through the X-ray machine instead.

This is done to distract you so that they can steal or smash your laptop.

Goes back to childhood when parents' standard answer was "because I say so." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif