Maybe not totally for nothing. It has helped wake us up, reminded us to be more vigilant and resistant. I'll be the first to admit I've been mindlessly taking off my shoes for the x-ray and not worrying about it for the past few years. Not anymore.

Katie - thank you for posting your experiences in such detail. I applaud your cheeky responses in AUS, especially the "If I did this at my job I would be arrested."

I'm totally appalled you were forced to undergo the x-ray cast-scope business with your prosthesis attached to your body. Straddling the machine, that is simply beyond the pale.

When are the TSOs going to wake up that the machinery they're operating isn't being maintained and calibrated? I'm horrified that they have pregnant women working by these machines. I can only hope they don't end up with deformed babies.

May I suggest that you write up your experiences for the Disabilities forum here at FT? There are infrequent flyers who might be reading that forum and not looking at this one.

Thank you again for your posts.

Katie....so sorry that your experience in AUS wasn't much, if any improvement over your outbound trip. I really haven't had any issues with the AUS security in 5 years of moderately heavy travel (2-3 times a month), but also have not had reason (or been randomly chosen) for patdown, and that TSA you got stuck with was horrid. I'm ashamed for my little airport now.