After setting off every metal detector this week I walked through, removing my shoes 6 times, wanded up one side and down the other, "randomly" selected for gate screening I got to thinking that there must be an easier way. Somebody ought to design a line of footwear, belts etc, designed with the frequent traveler in mind. Care would be taken to eliminate virtually all metal. I suspect that the steel shank in my Nunn Bush shoes is part of my metal problem. I tried so hard to walk through without setting the thing off, I swear if you have two fillings in your teeth you're doomed.

Anyone know if some quick thinking entrepreneur has already thought of special traveler clothes for the new security world we face?

Doug

I was flying a Shuttle flight from NYC-DC last week, and despite having no metal on me at all (with the sole exception of my zipper), I set the machine off. I could not believe it. These pants have never set off any metal detector anywhere in the world ... and I have worn them through 20+ airports around the world. Nothing on me set off the machine either.

Same here. I fly the Delta Shuttle all the time, and I fastidiously remove all possible metal from my body before passing through the metal detectors. Nothing helps. Everybody beeps!

I believe that the "uncorrectable" problem is my zipper. Maybe I'll try sweat pants sometime, just as an experiment -- but I'll have to buy some first!

Bruce

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They are pretty good for the gym too Bruce!

-Mark

Try dragging your feet through the metal detector if your shoes set off the machine regularly. Before Sept. 11 I actually had a screener tell me this and it seems to work more times than not.

As for jacking up the sensitivty on the metal detetectors, I am convince that if you have an above average iron count in your blood you are doomed for the WAND.

I am convinced the ones in Term D in Philly are really broken but are equipped only with an "electric eye". I believe the wand-wavers will be getting carpel tunnel syndrome in the near future from my 100% body-wand.

MisterNice

Actually I had quite a long conversation with a couple of security people at "blank" airport (I can't remember where it was-FLL maybe). We were in the process of getting to know each other (and all my possessions) much more intimately than I would have liked. They were both women and we talked about making underwire bras with plastic "wire" rather than metal. They also recommended see-through cosmetic cases so they don't have to open them up and paw through all your toiletries and makeup. I told them they ought to go into business and they said they had thought of it.

See through make up cases have been for sale for decades. Mostly now made in China. I use Zip-Loc bags also I pack up items in a fashion that everything can be seen without difficulty. Makes for easier travel for me also. It all helps and costs very little to do.

I don't see that I suggested that these women invented see-through makeup cases but instead that they recommended them. They did have several good ideas, though, most of which I can't remember since I can't even remember at which airport I was being searched (there have been so many). Really I was just supporting the idea of this thread and felt that these women were in a good position to really come up with the ideas to capitalize on this.

I've been wondering whether enough people have had items confiscated that the following idea would be useful:

Have some kind of padded envelopes available to mail confiscated items back to yourself. I don't think there is enough money in this idea to be able to pay someone to sit there and collect them, so it would have to be some kind of self-service kiosk right at the checkpoint.

Perhaps there could be a set fee schedule based on weight, and the items would be returned COD. Or, there could be an order form to pay the service charge with a check or credit card.

Given airport prices, I suspect this service would need to be too expensive for nail clippers. But would something like this be used enough to make it profitable?