(opting out)

Although my really frequent travel days are in the past, and when I have flown the WBI was shut down or not in use. Today at BOS my wife and I had the opportunity to opt out, which of course we took.

As we approached the WBI, I was told to go through it. I stated I wanted to opt out and we opened barrier to the WTMD and I walked through. My wife did the same, we had to wait about 7 minutes or so until "the feel up" TSO arrived. Most likely for my wife, because the same TSOs who I told of my opt out where the ones that examined me. I wasn't really counting the time, as I was watching the x-ray machine get backed up while we were waiting.

Actually they let more people through the WTMD while we were waiting apparently because they were having trouble with the WBI.

They took my wife and I over to the exam area, we were offered a private screening but we both declined. They took all bags for us, opting is great for one thing is that they carry your stuff for you .

The TSO agent told exactly what to expect, "because you opted out . . ." I had no problem with that. The other TSO agent then proceeded to examine me. I was tempted to say "can I have a smoke afterwards" though I held my tongue.

All in all we were glad we took the time to exercise our rights.

^^^^^
Many thanks for taking a stand.

btw, TSODean says that when the opt-out feel-down is done properly, genitals are not touched, although he does feel high up to the inner leg. Did you find that claim to be true?

I know the feeling. First time I was faced with NoS or opt out, I chickened out. I immediately regretted this decision and felt terrible the rest of the day that I was so weak.

However next I time I proudly opted-out and felt true to my convictions.

You Tube had a couple new posts. I wonder if the pregnant woman opted out or TSA thought the baby was a cleverly concealed bomb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCBuH_-y9Gs

Then again with the right connections no opt out needed. NOTE: This is at ABQ not the IAH story that ran a few weeks ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwXE...1&feature=fvwp

Do TSA crews at each airport have people specifically assigned for patdowns, or do they just make you wait to increase the intimidation and hassle? When I opted out at SJU last week, the TSO that patted me down was also the same person that directed me to the NoS, although she tried calling for someone else.

With the pregnant woman... Her mother made a comment beneath the video. She said the patdown resulted because the the stroller of her 2 year old grandson tested positive for something. So they gave her daughter the rubdown because of that.

This is so disturbing. I still don't understand why they must maul the same places multiple times....

Yes and when they asked about it (what did it test positive for?) they didn't get a response....again was it swabbed? If not, how could it test positive for anything. I mean seriously, there is no science behind any of this. The security areas are so filthy, I'm surprised everyone doesn't test positive for something. Dirty bins, dirty rollers and then you put your things on them and then they test them. It's the same issue as with the gloves....

Yes it was done properly, the guy stopped when he met "resistance" but I didn't feel like I was at the doctor's office.

thanks for the info. I just find it odd that TSA claims "resistance" is not touching. It is. they should be nowhere near those areas.

Mrs. Fredd made it through the magnetometer at SEA N checkpoint today but I was selected for an X-Ray and made it clear I was opting out.

The young woman explained what would happen to me and asked if I would still prefer it. "Definitely," I replied.

Mrs. Fredd was annoyed and started to make remarks. Two male employees were deciding which of them would search me and I said loudly, "Don't fight over me, guys." Mrs. Fredd said that everybody in the area turned around.

If I don't make jokes, I'll get angry and I don't want them to have that control so I kept up my wisecracks all the way through the search. I warned the employee that I was extremely ticklish and giggled and screamed at times. He asked if I had any sensitive parts and I pointed and said, "Don't you?" At the end I announced to those in the area that he'd been "ever so gentle." I'm going to be the Milton Berle (famous old comedian for you young uns) of the opt-out line before long just to cope with it.

Mrs. Fredd OTOH is ready to quit flying.

Oh, and this is my second time already in 2011 so I'm not a virgin.

^^
BTW I'm hoping to see one day a senior comedian pull out a full set of dentures and say "Here son, you miffed a spot!".

Don't give me any more ideas, says Mrs. Fredd. Yes, next time I might offer to show the groper my "sensitive spots" when he asks.

nice experience ....
:0

Welcome to FT, shanypaul!

That's hilarious, fredd...Guess we might as well have a sense of humor about it all, it's so absurd.

I got lucky with my one opt-out, at JFK on my way back from Christmas - I think I've recounted this elsewhere, but they were sending about half the people through the backscatter and half through the WTMD.

I got gestured to the backscatter, and said "I'm going to need to request an alternate screen" (or something like that - "hand search?")
TSA person : "Why?"
Me: "I've had radiation treatment."
TSA person: "Never mind" and gestures to the WTMD

I've been through the MMW several times at SFO, which my doctor has no problem with. The first time through, being a portly gent, I managed to get a belt-line patdown anyway - on subsequent times, I've sucked in my gut and avoided the patdown.