TSA is out of control in Florida
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
TSA is out of control in Florida
I had a flight from Palm Beach airport to Boston today.
There were very few people going through security at the time, half were sent through the naked scanner machines and half through the metal detectors.
I was in the line for the naked scanner, a woman was telling us how safe the machine was the whole time I was waiting, telling us it was much safer than using a cellphone, just going on and on about how completely safe it was.
When it was my turn I told her my doctor said it might cause cancer so I didn't want to go through the machine. She says my doctor is wrong and starts telling me that I should do more research and goes on and on about its a new machine and its much safer than the old one.
Finally i said OK can I just get a refund for my ticket because I'm not going through the machine.
She says she will call over a male agent to pat me down.
The male TSA agent pats me down, he does the most thorough search I ever had in my life, I had short sleeves on and he was touching my arms and hands and touching my watch.
I was on the fence about driving this time because I hate dealing with the TSA, next year I will drive for sure.
There were very few people going through security at the time, half were sent through the naked scanner machines and half through the metal detectors.
I was in the line for the naked scanner, a woman was telling us how safe the machine was the whole time I was waiting, telling us it was much safer than using a cellphone, just going on and on about how completely safe it was.
When it was my turn I told her my doctor said it might cause cancer so I didn't want to go through the machine. She says my doctor is wrong and starts telling me that I should do more research and goes on and on about its a new machine and its much safer than the old one.
Finally i said OK can I just get a refund for my ticket because I'm not going through the machine.
She says she will call over a male agent to pat me down.
The male TSA agent pats me down, he does the most thorough search I ever had in my life, I had short sleeves on and he was touching my arms and hands and touching my watch.
I was on the fence about driving this time because I hate dealing with the TSA, next year I will drive for sure.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
So the TSA is now encroaching on our Second Amendment right to BARE ARMS!
#4
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 986
Don't worry, you aren't alone--we all hate the things. Opt-outs are quite common for members of this board. And if you're going to give up flying because of the machines, write a letter to your congressperson. If they get enough mail, something might happen eventually.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: Ham Sandwich Medallion
Posts: 889
OP, did the screener have anything in his hand as he was patting your bare skin? Might have been some type of swabbing going on. Definitely sounds like there was some retaliation going on there.
FYI going forward, PBI uses MMW scanners which, based on the type of imaging technology they use, are inherently safer than backscatter X-ray scanners. The backscatter scanners are two blue boxes placed side by side, with you in the middle of a nuclear sandwich. MMWs are tall, gray phone booths that have clear paneling on the outside.
#7
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
I have found that arguing about safety or privacy usually gets you a more aggressive pat-down. No need to debate anything, just say you want to opt out. If asked why, say "I always opt out" or "personal reasons".
#8
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,004
please please
1) Confine your comments to practical advice, commiseration etc
2) refrain from inflammatory terms no matter how angry you are
3) remember this is the Practical Issues forum
thanks
squeakr
co Mod TS/S
2) refrain from inflammatory terms no matter how angry you are
3) remember this is the Practical Issues forum
thanks
squeakr
co Mod TS/S
#9
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,177
To the OP, what you experienced is normal procedure, in terms of the opt out, but patting your bare arms indicates the TSO was just on autopilot and not really thinking about what they were doing.
Personally, I am cautious about the difference between safer and actually safe. My main concern is malfunction. Since neither type has been publicly tested at the level of use required, I don't know if safer is good enough for me. My parallel is the number of stories of lead paint, asbestos, and cigarettes marketed as a phlegm-clearing product. Companies making buck dollars will lie.
Personally, I am cautious about the difference between safer and actually safe. My main concern is malfunction. Since neither type has been publicly tested at the level of use required, I don't know if safer is good enough for me. My parallel is the number of stories of lead paint, asbestos, and cigarettes marketed as a phlegm-clearing product. Companies making buck dollars will lie.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,214
One of the aims of the patdown is to collect traces of explosives. There is a minute possibility they could be on someone's arms but not their clothes.