Full body pat-down for checking in early?
Jan 27, 2010 | 10:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 135
Full body pat-down for checking in early?
In all my flights over the last several years, I've only had extra screening when flying one-way, buying a ticket a day before travel, or getting the "XXXXXX" randomly on the boarding pass.
Today while flying out of PHL, I checked in several hours early on AA and went into the Admiral's Club. The lounge was outside security. When I went through the metal detector to entire the gate area, I was asked by TSA to submit to a full body pat-down? I couldn't see anything on my boarding pass that would indicate that I was pre-selected for extra screening, so I was just wondering if this was one of these random layers of screening or something that I had done. I had no metal objects, but the TSA guy at the front of the x-ray machine announced to the people doing the screening that I had a "breathing machine" with me.
I had taken a cpap machine out of it's case and placed it alone in a bin per normal. It usually gets the swab test. Again, usually. You know, because only sometimes we should check for things that we isolate for extra screening.
Today while flying out of PHL, I checked in several hours early on AA and went into the Admiral's Club. The lounge was outside security. When I went through the metal detector to entire the gate area, I was asked by TSA to submit to a full body pat-down? I couldn't see anything on my boarding pass that would indicate that I was pre-selected for extra screening, so I was just wondering if this was one of these random layers of screening or something that I had done. I had no metal objects, but the TSA guy at the front of the x-ray machine announced to the people doing the screening that I had a "breathing machine" with me.
I had taken a cpap machine out of it's case and placed it alone in a bin per normal. It usually gets the swab test. Again, usually. You know, because only sometimes we should check for things that we isolate for extra screening.
Jan 27, 2010 | 10:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 464
In all my flights over the last several years, I've only had extra screening when flying one-way, buying a ticket a day before travel, or getting the "XXXXXX" randomly on the boarding pass.
Today while flying out of PHL, I checked in several hours early on AA and went into the Admiral's Club. The lounge was outside security. When I went through the metal detector to entire the gate area, I was asked by TSA to submit to a full body pat-down? I couldn't see anything on my boarding pass that would indicate that I was pre-selected for extra screening, so I was just wondering if this was one of these random layers of screening or something that I had done. I had no metal objects, but the TSA guy at the front of the x-ray machine announced to the people doing the screening that I had a "breathing machine" with me.
I had taken a cpap machine out of it's case and placed it alone in a bin per normal. It usually gets the swab test. Again, usually. You know, because only sometimes we should check for things that we isolate for extra screening.
Today while flying out of PHL, I checked in several hours early on AA and went into the Admiral's Club. The lounge was outside security. When I went through the metal detector to entire the gate area, I was asked by TSA to submit to a full body pat-down? I couldn't see anything on my boarding pass that would indicate that I was pre-selected for extra screening, so I was just wondering if this was one of these random layers of screening or something that I had done. I had no metal objects, but the TSA guy at the front of the x-ray machine announced to the people doing the screening that I had a "breathing machine" with me.
I had taken a cpap machine out of it's case and placed it alone in a bin per normal. It usually gets the swab test. Again, usually. You know, because only sometimes we should check for things that we isolate for extra screening.
Just random.
Jan 27, 2010 | 10:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: TSO, AS MVP, AOPA member, Private Pilot ASEL
Posts: 571
In all my flights over the last several years, I've only had extra screening when flying one-way, buying a ticket a day before travel, or getting the "XXXXXX" randomly on the boarding pass.
Today while flying out of PHL, I checked in several hours early on AA and went into the Admiral's Club. The lounge was outside security. When I went through the metal detector to entire the gate area, I was asked by TSA to submit to a full body pat-down? I couldn't see anything on my boarding pass that would indicate that I was pre-selected for extra screening, so I was just wondering if this was one of these random layers of screening or something that I had done. I had no metal objects, but the TSA guy at the front of the x-ray machine announced to the people doing the screening that I had a "breathing machine" with me.
I had taken a cpap machine out of it's case and placed it alone in a bin per normal. It usually gets the swab test. Again, usually. You know, because only sometimes we should check for things that we isolate for extra screening.
Today while flying out of PHL, I checked in several hours early on AA and went into the Admiral's Club. The lounge was outside security. When I went through the metal detector to entire the gate area, I was asked by TSA to submit to a full body pat-down? I couldn't see anything on my boarding pass that would indicate that I was pre-selected for extra screening, so I was just wondering if this was one of these random layers of screening or something that I had done. I had no metal objects, but the TSA guy at the front of the x-ray machine announced to the people doing the screening that I had a "breathing machine" with me.
I had taken a cpap machine out of it's case and placed it alone in a bin per normal. It usually gets the swab test. Again, usually. You know, because only sometimes we should check for things that we isolate for extra screening.
Jan 28, 2010 | 10:24 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,684
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:04 pm
#8
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Many people check in 24 hours before the flight, so seriously doubt that was the reason.
You were probably the next person through after the last person they patted down, so they had space for you.
You were probably the next person through after the last person they patted down, so they had space for you.
Jan 28, 2010 | 1:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lower Merion Township, PA, (an inner-ring suburb to the Socialist Workers City/State of Philadelphia, PA)
Posts: 597
Jan 28, 2010 | 6:56 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN
Programs: COdbaUA MM, AA EXP, AF G, Bonbon Gold, Hilton G, All G, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis Presidential
Posts: 5,929
Jan 28, 2010 | 8:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 146
I think they've just increased the "random" pat downs since 12/25. I flew out of ORD on 1/11, terminal 3. I got selected for a "random" pat down, my first one. It was early and the checkpoint was not busy. Both TSA people doing pat downs were women so they were selecting nearly every woman that went through. The kicker was she only patted me down from mid-thigh down to my feet for a total of about 5 seconds. I'm NOT complaining mind you, I don't wish for a more thorough massage, but there really was no point in it. It's all for show.
Jan 28, 2010 | 10:26 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Between EWR & PHL
Programs: UA MileagePlus dirt (former hard-way Silver); AS Mileage Plan MVP; Hilton Honors Silver
Posts: 1,586
I haven't flown since Xmas, so I can't speak to what's happening now, but prior to the current state of...whatever, I'd been patted down a couple of times for wearing "bulky clothing" - once in IND on a 15 degree morning in November while wearing a heavy sweater, and once at EWR wearing an untucked button-down oxford shirt. In both cases, the TSO explained why he (male TSO in both instances) was making the request, as opposed to this 'random' nonsense; neither TSO seemed terribly pleased to have to perform the patdown, but otherwise both were quote professional about it.
Professionalism AND honesty? TWICE? I should have bought a lottery ticket.
Professionalism AND honesty? TWICE? I should have bought a lottery ticket.