... it makes it easier to clean up afterwards.

I have flown out of ONT twice recently (within the last 3 months and most recently late December). Both times I flew at around midnight and the NoS were roped off. Not sure if I just got lucky or because it was low traffic so that they didn't want to be bothered with NoS. Hope this helps.

LAX

Sadly, the terminal at ONT is set up so that you cannot see the checkpoint. It's up on the second floor, and they check your id (although thanks to Mocek we know we don't HAVE to) on the first floor. I tried to get a peek when I picked up the future other half of LittleSparrow (who doesn't give a hoot and remains confused with regards to my violent "I would rather rip my own veins than submit" reaction) a few weeks ago.

The way it used to be was that you would get your id checked, go up the escalator and then form one line and go to the first metal detector that was available. I just don't know how they are doing it now, which makes the thought of traveling out of ONT really stressful. Like I said before, I haven't had a problem with any agents being rude or barking in the past, but you never know what will happen when people get unchecked power and no impunity (or how they'll treat an opt-out).

This is the biggest problem with the TSA in general and TSOs in particular: unchecked power and no impunity. Also, the total and forever unpredictability. What other business or agency--anywhere--acts this way?

I hate these set-ups where you can't view the action from outside, but more and more airports seem to be headed in this direction. (The new, main IAD and ORD T1 checkpoints come to mind.) There ought to be a thread with live reports from those lingering in the sterile area waiting for their flights...

BNA is the same way. All you can see is the end of the line and the TDC if the lines are short.

Buy a refundable ticket on WN and cancel as a kludge to access the secured area.

Flew into Terminal 2 this evening. Super Bowl Sunday and very slow at every airport. Planes were nowhere near full. Note for next year, if you do not mind missing the game, it is a great time to fly.

The two terminals are built identically. There is no Terminal 1 or 3. Go figure. There is a place for them, they just are not there.

If you are elite, to the side is a TDC that will let you pass to an elevator that misses the main line at the bottom of the escalator, but everything merges together at the top of the escalator.

The lanes separate into two lanes with baggage xray. Both have the MMW machines and WTMD. Tonight, both MMW were blocked and they were using just one WTMD. Like I said, it was very, very light. I would expect full use of all four machines during the busy times.

At BNA, where I originated, it was so slow that they had time to send everyone through the scanners. I opted out and got a polite, non genital contact but everything else, rub down that was very thorough. He checked inside my collar, a new one. Anyway, the key is, if it is slow, there is a greater likelihood that you will be chosen as more people can be sent through the scanners.

The rope lines were set up so than when you get to the end you can pick whatever line you want. Look for a blocked off scanner if you can. If both are being used, choose the longest line as a greater percentage of the people should get the WTMD.

Bottom line, unless they are off, there is no guaranteed avoidance.

A final update and correction. It was terminal 4, everything else, no change.

Flew back out early this morning. Got there about 5:30 am for a 7:30. Almost nobody there yet on the Saturday morning, but it was busy by 6.

Both lines were open, one on the let using scanner/WTMD. The one on the right using WTMD only. I could choose either, so I took the right (duh).

I do not know how long it stayed that way, but it shows that there are times where you can do a Self-Selected Positional Opt Out.

Two other unrelated data points. Nexus was a mystery, neither the airline nor the TDC want to take it. Both eventually did. The TDC pulled out a typed manual of which I had never seen, made a phone call, and I got the magic squiggle. I thought about peeking but relented when I thought about how much trouble I would be in if it was SSI. And, my bag full of electronics passed through the xray and came flying out to me before I could even get my computer stored. My electronics should never go though without a swab, that is if they are really serious about checking such stuff.

Thanks InkUnderNails. At least when I fly next, I'll know to try to aim right to avoid the Rapescanner.

Watch closely! They alternate them. Or they may both be off. Or on. Who knows? Point is, sometimes they are off and you can self select if one is.

Update from February 27th
 

Just flew out of ONT yesterday at 12:30 pm. They were not running the NOS on either side. :)

I got the feeling that the TSA at this airport take themselves very seriously. I was traveling with a firearm in a checked bag and had to wait 1/2 hour for them to swab the case which gave me time to observe them. They definitely wanted to let me know who was in charge. (They had an opinion on my gun case, my lock, where I should stand.) I will now give the TSA some credit. :eek: They apologized for making me wait. Amazing.

After going through security and while waiting to get my bag from the X-ray machine my daughter said to go to the gate 'now' and she would talk to me there. Apparently they were discussing whether they should do a full private room search on my since I had check a firearm in my bag. When she heard them discussing this I headed to the gate and fortunately they did not follow.

The video from prison planet really bothered me. They lied (yes that 'lied' if BB is reading) to the guy when they said that he could not video tape and then of course they had to say to him that it was a crime. Why is this guy not punished for making a statement like that?

Just more info:

Flew out of ONT yesterday (Sunday) on a 6AM CO flight. Cleared security at 430AM. NoS was roped off. Only WTMD used (two lanes). It seemed to be off till about 530. I had to get on the plane at that time.

Update!
 

I flew out of ONT yesterday. They only had one line and it was either go through the metal detector or Rapescanner. They were pulling people from the metal detector line over to the scanner line.

It was so, so slow. It took ten minutes for me to get through to the metal detector. I got through before my bag passed through the x-ray. I think they were training someone? I've seen molasses in winter move faster. When I got my stuff ... I was smack in front of the clerk who asked me out last year. He licked his lips, started looking down my shirt as I leaned over to grab my shoes and said, "Hey." I about threw up. I flashed a smile (because I do not want a secondary, not after surviving the gauntlet of Death Box with a side of cancer and sexual battery) and put my shoes on as fast as possible. At least he didn't see me BEFORE I picked my line. The anxiety of trying to get through security unmolested (no pun intended) made it feel like an out-of-body experience. I felt like I was floating above myself the whole time.

I managed to Self-Select the hell away from the Death Box, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get lucky again, since they were making everyone take EVERYTHING out of their pockets and place them into their bags before picking left (safe) and right (Death Box). The clerks were pretty cagey about it too ("New machine, new procedure") with no verbal reminder that you could opt-out. In fact, downstairs the writing on the sign explaining the new Death Box/Fourth Amendment violation was at least TEN POINT font stating that a passenger could opt out of the Death Box.

On a side note, they had a canine team up and running. Perhaps it was the dog's break, because the officer let a kid come up and pet the dog. It was kind of weird for little, bitty Ontario.

I really hate my government right now; I don't trust them at all.

I am afraid ONT TSA is onto you. On Friday a three striper was turning people away from alternative entrances despite the airport manager's objections. There is NO ESCAPE!!! :) :mad:

And yes LittleSparrow, the lines were long on Friday too. The perverts were in full swing and going as slowly as they could.