Checkpoint Hazards on a NoS-free route?
 

If I or any of my family members should make a trip on a NoS-free route, what sort of objectionable TSA procedures might we be likely to encounter? I'm specifically concerned about getting randomly chosen for screening and/or groping, random swabbing leading to false positives, and BDO nonsense.

If it is me flying, I'd be going, possibly alone, with a 5 and 1 year old. No stroller or anything like that. This is the main reason I'm concerned -- I will not submit the kids for molestation, and I can't have them watching me getting molested either. I'll probably decide against us making the trip unless things change for the better, but my dad, who's a private pilot and has a serious aversion to commercial flight, hasn't met my daughter, and it's starting to break my heart.

The route I'm thinking of is between ANC and TUS, if it makes any difference (and also to explain why realistically we can't drive, which I'd much rather us do).

This is all assuming we clear the WTMD. But on that point, are wedding bands still safe to go through?

Here's my guess on things that could lead to a patdown, starting with most likely:

• Bulky clothing, skirt, hat, etc. TSO decides is a risk
• Random explosives swab tests positive
• WTMD alarms and TSO decides you can't try again
• Checkpoint's schedule of random things to do hits when you get to the front of the line and it specifies patdown
• WTMD randomizer decides it's time to pat someone down
• WTMD alarms several times and TSO gives up and orders patdown
• Something "suspicious" in your luggage and TSO overreacts
• You forget/lose ID
• Boarding pass gets SSSS
• For some reason you have to go through the same checkpoint several times (smoke break? left something in car? etc.) and it raises suspicions
• TSA decides to add a gate screening that involves patdowns for some/all
• BDO decides you are threatening
• Some "security breach" happens, severe enough to dump the terminal and pat down some/all on return
• Some general threat warning is spread by TSA - perhaps they decide diapers are a threat that day?
• For no discernible reason, TSO or supervisor decides to add a "layer" to security by deciding to pat down some/all travelers

Here's a few risks you might not have considered:

• Between the time you buy the ticket and when you travel, one of the airports gets a bodyscanner
• Weather/mechanical issue strands you overnight in a connection city and you have to clear their security
• Flight is diverted to an airport with a bodyscanner and you have to leave for a hotel overnight

And there's still the general risks you face whenever dealing with TSA (theft, damage to property, etc.)...

There's really no way to guarantee you won't be accosted. How much risk are you willing to take?

Take a boat to SEA or LAX and drive to TUS.

SEA port to TUS ~26hrs on US93 (very scenic).
LA port to TUS ~10 hrs on I10.

Oh, I would love it! But I'm not sure the two kiddos would have patience for such a journey. I do keep it in the back of my mind, though.

@MDtR-Chicago -- Thanks for the detailed list! Exactly what I needed to consider the risks.

I have a rather large bulky wedding ring based on a gold nugget and I've never had to take it off of my hand. I'd tell them they could look at it but it's not coming off. Never had metal zippers on pants alarm either.

Traveled through a number of airports recently. Somehow, the only ones where I had to pass through security was Burbank CA and Manchester, NH (BUR and MHT), which do not have NOS.

At Burbank, the kid in front of me was randomly chosen for additional screening. The metal detector didn't go off but the TSO told him that he was randomly chosen. He had darker skin, was about 16 - 20. I think he was probably Italian or something else with darker skin and hair. He had really pouffy curly hair that kind of stuck out. One TSO was at least nice enough to ask him to keep an eye on his belongings and pointed in that direction. The airport is tiny so it wasn't a big deal. The kid was placed in a clear box right in front of the metal detector. There were two x-ray carry-on belts and only one metal detector in between. In about 10 seconds, a male TSO guy walked up and swabbed the kids' hand really quickly and put the swab into a machine. The kid didn't even have time to notice the white swab thingee. The kid looked distressed and a little nervous. He was then directed towards a black lady, who opened up his carry-on and took out 2 things. She wasn't very nice to him, maybe because he was a teenager?? The male TSO's were nicer to the kid. After me, a lady with two young children were walking through. Some male TSO swabbed the stroller and put it into the machine. It beeped loudly and they had to pat down the lady. She had two young kids and she was holding one that was crying. They at first wanted her to put down the kid and she shook her head. The female TSO that patted her down let the lady hold the baby on one arm while they patted down the upper part of her other side. They let her switch sides and the TSO doing the pat-down wasn't really doing anything. It was security theatre at its finest!! Seriously, how can a stroller test positive?!!! The TSO made sure the swab touched every part of the double stroller. The lady didn't seem to mind?!! I saw a lady who was getting a MAJOR pat-down to the side of the x-ray belt, complete with a hair massage. Now, the lady was wearing a ton of metal on her jeans and jewelry and she did look like she was high on drugs or something. She seemed almost stoned or out of it. The funny thing was that the druggie lady went out of the sterile area to go and smoke. I wonder if they patted her down again?!! I also saw a younger female passenger who had her carry-on opened. It looked like her liquids bag was too big and she had a metal thermos that caused them to look at it for a long time. I think they ran it through the x-ray a bunch of times. Some TSO lady escorted her to the exit door and the girl was still shoeless. I later saw her so I think she just put her items into her luggage. They didn't seem to be that friendly with the girl but she didn't seem upset or anything.

At MHT, some larger middle aged guy set of the metal detector with his suspenders. The lady asked him if he wanted to take them off and walk through again. He said no and walked into a glass booth. He got a pat-down after 30 seconds and the TSO did change gloves in front of him. The suspenders wearing guy also got his carry-on opened and searched. The guy didn't seem to mind his pat-down. What is it with people not minding strangers touching them? I also saw some 30ish guy who was waiting for a pat-down as well. MHT seemed pretty "friendly" that day when I was there.

At another airport, I noticed a lady in a full burqa. I'm kind of curious as to what the TSA did for her screening. This airport had NOS. I feel bad for those women, people get mad if you screen them, other people will get mad if you don't screen them. If it really were that important for security, the TSA would screen EVERYONE going through an airport.

I think they can still choose you for a random pat-down even if there are no NOS machines.

If you have the money (and time) for it, you could cruise on one of several lines from ANC to YVR (7-11 days), then take Disney on a (5-6 day) cruise from YVR to LAX. I'm sure the kids would love that part of it. The only hard part of the journey would be the ~10 hr drive to TUS.

Since your father is a private pilot, perhaps he might be able to fly you on the last leg rather than driving. LAX to TUS is about 500 miles, well within range of most private aircraft that can seat 4, and less than 5 hours flight time on even a slow single engine craft. (And no TSA.)

As of late May, 2011, the cruise port at YVR only had WTMD, and I believe that to be the case at the cruise ports in ANC and LAX.

The only problem with doing the cruise thing is that you would need a passport for YVR. I'm not sure if the children would need passports. The last I heard, minors under 16 could enter Canada and return to the United States by land or sea by presenting a birth certificate and photo ID. I'm not sure if that is still the case.