essxjay

Thanks for all your hard work, gatelouse. The list is really shaping up. ^

gatelouse

Thanks for the latest feedback! If I missed anyone, please post or PM. Notice that, when someone makes a suggestion for a metro area, I tend to research and fill out all the entries for that area. Hopefully that's incentive for folks to keep contributing.

According to the sources linked off the first post, I don't see evidence of NoS. So I've started a section on SAT and added AUS. Excellent alternative to SAT.

I don't believe either has a NoS based on current information, so I'll add them to the list. SRQ looks like a pretty good alt for TPA; thanks for the suggestion. And who'd have thought there was alternate service 2 hours from LAS? I had no idea. I now have a LAS section with SGU listed!

Thank you. I've done exactly that.

Finally, it pains me to remove SMF from the list. It appears, from the FT sticky, that there's at least one scope in place.

freedomfighter

Tucson International (TUS) is a decent alternative to Phoenix. It is about 1.5-2 hours East (South) on Highway 10, depending on traffic and the occasional dust storm. Flights are pretty limited, though.

gatelouse

Thanks and Welcome to FlyerTalk, freedomfighter! I've added TUS to the PHX list. Compared to the other alternates on the list, the TUS flight schedule is actually quite robust.

dogemperor

A possible alternative to CVG would be SDF, which is reportedly NoS free and intends to stay that way as long as the airport staff can manage; approximately 100 miles or so from CVG, straight down I-71 hence to I-264. (Of note, several folks already do use SDF as an alternative to CVG, especially as far as bargain flights or non-Delta carriers go--even with most flights being regional jets, it's still cheaper to fly out of SDF than CVG much of the time. )

A potential way to avoid NoS for CVG would be Amtrak, but service to Cincinnati is less than daily; a better alternative is to fly from SDF to Chicago, then take the L to Union Station and the Amtrak terminal there (or take Metra trains to one of the alternative airports in the area not using NoS).

Another possible alternative (which is technically closer) is LEX, but is even more regional-jet-heavy and avoidance of NoS (as with SDF) depends on mapping out flights to hubs that are NoS-resistant.

I am uncertain whether DAY uses NoS, so I'm hesitant to list them as a CVG alternative just yet; further confirmation would be appreciated from someone in that area. Drive time--approximately 45 minutes, 50 miles or so north of CVG. (This may also be an alternative for CMH if it's confirmed DAY is not using NoS; it's also approximately 50 miles/45 minutes from Columbus.)

r17gordini

SGF (Springfield, MO) doesn't have them yet and the TSOs don't have attitudes. May be too far for some folks but is an alternative for STL, TUL, and MCI. Mostly traffic free 3 hour drive on nice higways. Non-stops to ORD, MEM, DEN, ATL, DTW, DFW, MPS. On selected days (allegiant) TPA, MCO, PHX, LAX, LAS.

gatelouse

I've done some work on CVG, CMH, MCI, and STL today based on recent feedback. And I'm sad to de-list ONT, which appears to be getting scopes soon. (Airport directors, please fight back!)

Thank you for the suggestions; I've incorporated them into the CVG list. It looks like DAY is receiving scopes soon, so I've omitted the airport.

It's a long drive, but still worth adding to the list, as our options are dwindling as TSA forces more of these devices into mid-sized airports. Thank you.

ConcernedAndScared

RNO is a good alternative to SMF. It's about 2 hours (but can be fairly treacherous in snow) and you can get virtually anywhere in the US from RNO.

I should add that I don't know if SMF has the NoS yet, but RNO does not.

COS_Flyer

It's a bit far to be an alternative to LAX, but it didn't have either the nudo-scope or enhanced pat downs this morning.

ghostrider10

Any way we can sticky this too, under the with-NoS thread? Might help others who miss the link in that thread to here...

Merge/repost from the main NoS thread:

But for now ONT is safe, at least maybe till new years

Kate Hanni

Will you be updating this list of airports without the body scanners, as TSA continues to implement them?

Thanks,

Kate

slh14

JAN (Jackson, Mississippi) is getting them in the next few months, so that one won't be able to be used as an alternative.

TheGolfWidow

I've asked this question of friends who are local and none of them have seen it. My husband flew through there a few times recently and didn't see it either. And the SMF website says they don't have one.

Any idea where it is located...which terminal?

snod08

Yes, thanks a lot for this!!^^

gatelouse

Greetings, fellow NoS detractors!

While it is far, I suspect some of the larger, closer alternatives will start to get scopes unless the airport authorities fight back. So I'll add PSP in anticipation of better alternatives' going away. I personally love that airport. TSA was friendly, and the open-air atrium reminds me of tropical airports.

Indeed, but too close for comfort for me, so I've deleted ONT from the LA list. I really hope that BUR fights the scanners tooth-and-nail.

That's the plan. I expect our alternatives to drop one by one. Please lobby your city councils and airport authorities to fight installation of the scopes. For instance, I know that COS has come out openly against them. I'll reward the city by sending all my DEN business to COS.

Thanks, but I don't believe JAN is on my list. I'll try to remember not to add it, though!

According to the FT master list, the B2 checkpoint. So, most checkpoints at SMF should be safe for at least another month or four. These things multiply like, well, lice. Be wary.

You're most welcome. And be sure to thank FriendlySkies for his master list; there's a ton of work that goes into keeping his list up to date.