Hi guys,

I'm flying from Newark soon and I was told security screening is really harsh in the New York area. I was wondering if I could get any tips here regarding clearing security at EWR. If some of you are used to flying from there, I'd be really grateful if you could tell me a little bit about it.

Thanks a lot

also i've prowled the forum and read some old post about NoS and MMW at Newark.Is there a way not to go through those scanners if I don't fly from terminal A? Thanks again!

There's always a way to not go through the scanners. Opt out. It's your right and carries the bonus of (reportedly) making the day a little worse for the screener doing your gropedown.

What I think you're asking, though, is whether there's a way to avoid the scope-or-grope dichotomy altogether by choosing a checkpoint without the Cancertrons. As I'm unfamiliar with Newark, I can't answer that directly.

I did, though, want to make sure you knew you had the right to opt out if push came to shove.

I can only talk about Terminal B and the international section. And I can only talk about what happened in December, my last trip through there. So any new information will have to come from somewhere else.

Get in the security line as soon as you are checked in and have your checked baggage dropped because it's SLOW. No more waiting until 15 minutes before the plane takes off and mosey through the metal detector at your convenience, now it's a crap shoot on metal detector or picture machine and the lines simply crawl.

A little before you get to the document check point, you should be able to see which lines are going to which machines - and if possible, self select your favorite way to go through.
Sometimes, another person in uniform will try to direct you to a specific line, though they did not seem to be too pushy.
Opt-out can happen easily, though still slowly.

Barking at passengers appears to have calmed a bit.
Signs were posted explaining the new picture machines and the opt-out procedure.

And I think that's all I have.

They will bark and yell.

They will make up rules on the spot.

They'll treat you like dirt, your rights notwithstanding.

EWR is 3rd in horrible clerks, after SAN and RDU.

Did you check the Sticky at the top of the forum regarding EWR's use of AIT? If you are lucky, perhaps you won't have to opt out, although there's always the risk of a random pat down.

According to the Sticky Thread:

Hope you can at least avoid the WBI!

IAD is on that list.

EWR pier A1 (UA, AC, some COEX) appears to have gained 1 MMW scanner at the #1 position in the TSA Time Tunnel. From what I could see, the remaining stations at A1 were standard WTMD.

Terminal C is mercifully NOS-free for right now.

I've had mixed experiences with TSA at EWR - I can confirm the shouting and general grumpy disposition, but it's really luck of the draw. In general, I end up clashing more with the idiots from Gateway Security (the toolboxes in the burgundy blazers in Terminal C) than with TSA.

ericc22: Which airline are you flying? And are you originating in EWR, or connecting from another flight?

As of 2 weeks ago C2 had a NoS that was used on a few people but most were being sent to the detector. This time around the TSA folks were actually pleasant, as opposed to the usual barking and mindlessness.

I'll be flying B6 home from EWR this weekend. I believe they use T-A. Can I leave my kippy bag in my carry on or does it need to be out? I haven't taken my kippy bag out in a few years (except at LHR). Can I use the NOS free AA gates 30-39 to access my B6 gate?

Thanks for the answer. I'm actually having a hard time understanding the previous quotation. What is the difference between WBI, MMW, T-A and NoS? I'm really unfamiliar with those terms I'd appreciate if you guys could help me on the definitions!

Also, does it mean that some lines at Terminal A don't have body scanner, unlike terminals B and C?

Thanks again for your precious help.

Thanks for your answer. I'm departing from Terminal C, flying Continental... I mean United I love their new livery btw, do you?

Again, thanks to all the people that answered. Looking forward reading some more

The most pleasant experience I've had with the TSA was Friday afternoon in Newark (terminal C). There are some good people working there, it was actually quick, easy, and they were pretty funny.

Of course, it's not always like that, it just totally depends on who you get and what their day has been like.

Know the information on your boarding pass, as they will probably ask a random question like where are you going, what time is your flight, etc.

Other than that, it's same as anywhere else.

Don't forget LAX.

Perhaps the new FSD at EWR is truly instituting change - one can only hope.

EWR is my home airport, though I usually fly out of A or C. I have never had to opt out as they don't have MMW or backscatter at every line and it is relatively easy to do a self-directed opt-out (get in an X-ray line). You do pretty much have to go through security at the terminal you are flying out of, and the lines are long (15-20 minutes, up to over 1 hour). Also the last time I flew out of EWR the id checker agents were asking names of some passengers, and the very rude man who checked my id made up a little song about my birthplace on-the-spot and watched for my reaction. So just keep calm, stand in the line and when you get to the front go for a line with WTMD. (If you fly out of A, which has this peculiar 1-behind-the-next tunnel for security, almost any line will only have WTMD because there isn't really room for anything else.)