I opted out of the morning dose of backscatter radiation in SAT today and was the only pat down customer in sight. The TSO gave a very low-key and professional description of how he was going to conduct the pat down. It was less invasive that what I've been reading -- fingers extended a short distance inside the waistband of my jeans and shirt collar, back of the hands on the butt, palms on both sides of the leg and torso, no junk grope. Took about 2-3 minutes, overall not a big deal. I have to wonder if the TSA staff have been advised to tone it down a notch or two.

Rob

Having went through one on Monday, they have been overblown. They definitely touched everything. But there was no grabbing or groping. It was interesting that they used the back of their hand on the buttocks and crotch. Even though they used the back of the hand, it was in place for long enough that they could feel anything I might've had under my clothes--like
my ostomy!

Toning down is progress. Let's make more. Thanks. I'm less fearful for my parents traveling tonight.

My last pat-down had me asking why they call it a pat-down, when there was no patting involved.

"Rubdown"?

You can see a clear difference between videos of how they did it a couple of weeks ago and what they do now.

They still went inside your clothes, which is completely unacceptable. Did you at least demand new gloves?

Their toning it down because of the bad press. However like every other thing the Govt has ever done, when they meet resistance (no not that kind!) they will back down just enough to quell the outrage, then slowly, bring it back up to previous levels, often, surpassing previous levels once the population has been conditioned enough to allow it.

Personally i think the Grope and scope was nothing mroe than a test run to see what people would take, But the explosion of reports online, and in the news, the sudden backlash, has told them, that the govt needs to better condition the population so they understand that they have no rights or freedoms.

The pat down you received has not been modified. It is the standard procedure that all opt outs receive. And I am glad you were treated in a professional manner. All passengers should expect and receive that.

I can say that children will receive a modified, less intrusive pat down than the one you received. That is what has changed.

Edit: we have not been advised to tone it down. However, we are aware of what today is - NOOD. In fact, we have been told specifically for the last week that our pat down procedure will not change, except for children.

Why?

Seriously. Same question for flight crews, airline personnel, TSA personnel, and anyone else who gets a free pass or a modification.

If, as we are being told, these pat-downs are absolutely and totally necessary for our safety and security, if every single person entering the sterile area is not patted-down in exactly the same manner every time they enter the area, is airline safety and security NOT compromised?

And if a child who is 11 years, 11 months, and 29 days old can be safely allowed on a plane with a 'modified' pat-down, why not a day later? Why can't his 13 year old sister be safely allowed with a modified pat down? And why not her parents, and grandparents?

At what point does it become really, really obvious that it's not about providing actual 'security' and 'safety' so much as the impression of security and safety?

Can you post these videos, so that I can see? Becasue I know for a fact at SAT the procedure has not changed, and I trust those who I know at other airports that their procedure has not changed, either.

However, I do realize that perception does help determine reality. And I do know that more TSO's are aware of the impact TSA has - whether negative or positive - as being reported in the news more than ever before. Hopefully, this will serve to calm down the rude TSO's across the country, and make them more polite.

sattso,
is the tsa taking down names of passengers who opt-out?

Because that is what people seem to want. And I agree. We should allow some risk, as no security system is perfect to begin with. I believe in the added risk of have a less invasive pat down for children who APPEAR to be under 12 (so a 13 year old may fall under that situation) as the benefits out weigh the slightly higher risk.

In part, isnt this what many here want? A risk based approached to security? Not to apply the same level of screen to all who come through the checkpoint? The childs bags are still screened, they are still patted down or they go through the WTMD or AIT.

As far as flight crew, they do not need weapons to bring down a plane. They should be exempt. Silly to check a pilot for an IED when all he needs to do is fly his plane into a building. And flight attendants have access to the cockpit. They can bring down a plane too.

No, nothing is perfect, far from it. But what these changes represent are actually what people here have been calling for for some time: risk based security.

Not that I am aware. I do know that the passenger, if they have already entered the checkpoint by refusing the AIT, and THEN refuse the pat down will be interviewed by police. What they do I don't know.

Wow I actually agree with you! This is a huge forward step in the right direction.

a work colleague told me that his 80+ yr. old mother was in tears after her groping on both flights to & from Va. in mid-Oct.