Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Travel Safety/Security > Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues
Reload this Page >

Has the current TSA scanning/patdown flap affected security wait lines?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Has the current TSA scanning/patdown flap affected security wait lines?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 12:38 am
  #1  
MCB
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO/OAK/SJC/LNK/OMA
Programs: UA former 1P, WN A-List, Hyatt Pt, HH Au, Marriott Ag, SPG Pt, Accor Pt, IHG
Posts: 180
Whenever there is a change in TSA screening procedures, especially those covered widely in the media, it seems that things bog down for a while.

For those who have flown in the last couple of days, has the current flap over backscatter scanning and pat-downs caused significant delays in security lines?

Whoops!

Clicked in wrong window, I thought I had posted this in "Travel Safety/Security". Sorry, folks.

Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Nov 16, 2010 at 2:23 am Reason: merge consecutive posts
MCB is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 1:10 am
  #2  
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
30 Countries Visited
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 27,015
Fixed. Moving to TS/S
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
obscure2k is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 3:42 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,972
Originally Posted by MCB
For those who have flown in the last couple of days, has the current flap over backscatter scanning and pat-downs caused significant delays in security lines?
I flew on November 3, November 8, November 13, and November 14 out of MIA, TPA, LGA, and PWM respectively and lines and checkpoint throughputs seemed normal or even better than normal. Of course, the time between Labor Day and a few days beore Thanksgiving is typically a light travel time.
RichardKenner is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:15 pm
  #4  
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MCO
Posts: 867
I flew a bit at the end of Oct. and beginning of Nov. out of TPA and ORD (including the day the cargo bomb plot broke) and didn't notice any long wait times.
LizzyDragon84 is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:17 pm
  #5  
2M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,718
I flew out of MEM in early Nov and at 5:30 am the lines were longer than normal (normally not a line until much closer to 6 am). TSA finally turned off the WBI. Don't know why. It was taking a very long time to get through the scanner. Haven't heard lately.
manneca is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:19 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MSP
Programs: DL-PM, Small Luxury Hotels & Proud Member of TSA Disparager-Gold
Posts: 774
Flew MSP-ATL-DFW on 11/5 - all checkpoints at MSP were crazy busy including Priority Lanes - we were 5 rows deep stacked up heal to toe for at least 25 minutes. Coincidence...who knows.
FetePerfection is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:23 pm
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
2M
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Democratic People's Republic of the UK
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 21,912
How do the pat-downs in the USA compare with the UK pat-downs? In terms of invasiveness and time taken? I guess it takes about 45" in the UK and I don't remember it being too close to the crown jewels, nor do I recall it overly slowing things down. It just seems to keep moving along.
Silver Fox is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:32 pm
  #8  
10 Countries Visited
20 Nights
500k
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: Chick-Fil-A Red, Wawa, Red Cross blood donor
Posts: 4,858
I recently flew through PIT. Everyone in my line was required to do the NoS which really backed things up. Then I opted out and the next 25 people breezed through the WTMD.

Last edited by bitburgr; Nov 18, 2010 at 5:16 am Reason: spelling
bitburgr is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:36 pm
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
Starting November 5, I flew out of (and went through security at) EWR, SEA, HNL, FLL and MCI. In my opinion, lines were longer than usual at all the airports except MCI. The line was especially long at FLL, early on Monday, November 15. That line was crazy long.

Bruce
bdschobel is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:39 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 785
Lines definitely longer than usual at JFK, SFO, and LAX in the past week. Of course it didn't help that tons of airline personnel were cutting in front of the priority lines, but that's fodder for another post.
stencil is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 4:39 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: PHX & PPT
Programs: DL PM, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, AmExPlat
Posts: 833
On the 8 domestic flights I've been on since 10/29, the NOS (when it has been operating) has only been used randomly, and less frequently at times when the security line gets longer. I have not yet been through an airport that required ALL pax entering security to go through the NOS, which would definitely take longer than usual. About 4 pax can get through the metal detector in the time it takes to body scan one pax through the NOS, from my observation.
BarbiJKM is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 5:15 pm
  #12  
MCB
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO/OAK/SJC/LNK/OMA
Programs: UA former 1P, WN A-List, Hyatt Pt, HH Au, Marriott Ag, SPG Pt, Accor Pt, IHG
Posts: 180
Thanks for the reports. I decided to go early to SFO for my WN flight to DEN today, but at 7:30 AM there was not much of a line in T1. About 10 minutes or so, total. They didn't seem to be doing anything different and the scanner did not appear to be in use. We all just zipped through the metal detector without incident.
MCB is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 5:19 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
Originally Posted by stencil
Lines definitely longer than usual at JFK, SFO, and LAX in the past week. Of course it didn't help that tons of airline personnel were cutting in front of the priority lines, but that's fodder for another post.
Technically, the length of the line wouldn't have been affected one way or the other by cutting in line; whether they cut in line in the front, or get in line at the end, the line still ends up being the same length.

Now, the issue of how long you end up standing in that line ... well, yes, that definitely changes ... and I agree, that's fodder for another post ...
jkhuggins is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 5:22 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Colorado
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,745
Originally Posted by MCB
Whenever there is a change in TSA screening procedures, especially those covered widely in the media, it seems that things bog down for a while.

For those who have flown in the last couple of days, has the current flap over backscatter scanning and pat-downs caused significant delays in security lines?

Whoops!

Clicked in wrong window, I thought I had posted this in "Travel Safety/Security". Sorry, folks.
No, the delays are due to Liquids left in baggage.
eyecue is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 5:26 pm
  #15  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: North of DFW
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, TSA Disparager Gold, going for Platnium
Posts: 1,535
Originally Posted by eyecue
No, the delays are due to Liquids left in baggage.

And anyone with a brain and a college education with a focus on the sciences knows that the liquids threat is complete and udder bull cookies. how many times do we have to go over this.

Lay off the koolaid cue, tauting the company line that is a known lie just discredits you.
Scubatooth is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.