What is the procedure if selected for secondary screening when flying to the US? Is a pat-down an option? I don't want to use any airports that don't offer at least that option.

Sorry if this has been covered, but I couldn't find the info using the search function.

I've read that all gates at AMS with flights to the US have the body scanners, with all gates getting them by the end of the year. I don't know for sure, but having gone through AMS security several times (pre 12/25 incident), I highly doubt that the scanner will be optional. The way their security has been traditionally, I wouldn't be surprised if passengers are screened with the scanner AND a pat down.

According to the AMS website

• They are using MMW (not x-ray) scanners for flights to the US with more on order (presumably for flights elsewhere).
• Not clear if every US bound passenger is scanned or if it's "random".
• If chosen for scanning, you can request a patdown instead (according to the brochure linked from page above).
• Screener interpreting image is right there at the machine and the image produced is a cartoon figure* rather than the explicit image produced by the US/UK machines.

I'm just telling you what I read; I may need to go to AMS later in the year and decided to check up. Any of the above could change, of course, but IMO it's not as bad as the UK/US model.

*ISTR that some of the systems used in the US produce an explicit image for viewing by the screener in the back room, and a cartoon image with the threat area highlighted for the screener at the machine. My interpretation of the AMS machine is that it goes right to the cartoon image. From a technology point-of-view, this is certainly feasible and and obviously preferable for privacy. It also eliminates the need for the backroom screener which may be bad for the Workfare aspect of the TSA system.

Edit to add: the video linked from the page above has English subtitles which describe MMW as "sound waves" (about 0:06) I don't know whether this is wrong in the Dutch narration or a translation error...

Thanks for the replies.

Anyone made a recent pass through Amsterdam? My wife has a European trip planned this summer. And I just want her to be mentally prepared for what she might run into. I can't see where they'd be highly excited about her trip over, but when she has to check through coming back, after the BVD Bomber, it might clash with her personal territoriality.

As a rule of thumb, security in Europe is significantly more professional than the TSA. I pass through AMS security every few weeks and while they now have the Nude-o-scope for US flights, the procedure was still much better and more dignified than the procedure when going through security after entering the US.

My mom just when through there. Her biggest problem wasn't security it was the connecting flight that was changed to a distant terminal. That meant going through passport control and security. She made it before they offloaded her luggage. It's a big airport so make sure you allow a decent amount of time if changing planes. It is also boring as h*ll, so don't allot too much time.

There was a brief thread here where I posted some links to the AMS website on security. Will be through there late March/early April and will report on any interesting observations. (I'm not transiting, and not going to/from US, though.)

Boring? Not for me. That place is a shopping mall on steroids and good sushi to boot!

As for security, some but not all U.S. bound flights have body scanners. Two weeks ago the scanner at my gate was not yet installed. Everyone was patted down and all bags were manually searched after x-ray. Pretty painless and professional.

Also, be sure to walk all the way to your conecting gate prior to shopping. You want to make sure you have passed through your immigration line. Some times the wait can be quite long(30 minutes or more). A few of those terminals are a long walk.

How is AMS security doing lately? Is that getting better with aviation security levels. It should have to more improvement with passengers screening at checkpoint. That's why last time AMS is very poorly security on the job training. It does not have to meet the qualifications standard. All AMS security will try to get better for everyday. It wasn't aware of AMS security is very badly security on the job training.

It should have to take own responsible for all passengers screening at checkpoint before entry into the gate areas. It's extrmeely importance things to do for security personnel. Don't make another mistaken to attemping with terrorize to get on the plane again. It have to kept terrorized organizations out of the commercial airplanes or entry into the countries. This is restrictions for all muslins to keep out of the commercial airplanes.

However, it should have more concentrate on the jobs training. If doesn't have improvable on the aviation security. All security personnal could be result fired from the jobs or subject to get disciplinary actions against of the screeners. It have try to be more responsbility for passengers screening entry into checkpoint and need to being screened all carryons go through x-ray machines or metal detector, too.