Do you go through the full body scanners at the airport?

[dreamcrisp1]

I've only ever had to go through it to fly to to the US. As i rarely do these days, I just do it. I hate security and want that part over as soon as possible.

[ESF]

Don't even get me started on pre-check. OMG. If we didn't let the wealthy and large businesses buy their way out of the inconvenience and civil liberties violations, maybe they'd use their wealth and political clout to lobby for a change.

The entire system is a god damn racket. If I had to fly more than a few times a year, my exasperation at the system would probably land me in Guantanamo. @mx must have nerves of steel.

[oswin]

I usually opt out of the scanner, and I always did while pregnant. I opt out on principle - I don't agree with the pointless, expensive, and time-consuming security measures that have been enacted since September 11th. They don't work and it's a huge waste of resources and invasion of privacy.

[ESF]

Nov 10, 2015 12:54:06 GMT -5 @mx said:

Nov 10, 2015 12:48:24 GMT -5 ESF said:

Don't even get me started on pre-check. OMG. If we didn't let the wealthy and large businesses buy their way out of the inconvenience and civil liberties violations, maybe they'd use their wealth and political clout to lobby for a change.

The entire system is a god damn racket. If I had to fly more than a few times a year, my exasperation at the system would probably land me in Guantanamo. @mx must have nerves of steel.

Ha, my husband hates going through security with me because he says I'm such a bitch the whole time. Well, yes, you can only have your boobs groped so many times for America before your patience starts to wear thin. One time I recited the entire pre-pat down speech to the agent who then was like "that's cool, I still need to say it to you anyways." That's right, you are not allowed to waive the speech about how the patdown will go.

The most frustrating thing about it is that all the people doing this are like 19 year old high school drop outs with zero training.  So I'm torn between feeling badly for them and wanting to punch them.  The ones who move me so my stuff is not in my line of sight anymore are the ones that are most likely to get my bitchface.

[Deleted]

I usually go through them. I opt out while pregnant though.

Funny story, the TSA agent who recently latter me down was my college sorority house mother 15 years ago. That was awkward!

[cheezer]

I had gotten a patdown every time until 2 weeks ago. 4 cross country flights in 6 days and a hangover just about did me in and I decided I was tired of waiting to get screened every time. The whole thing makes me so angry about the security theater.

I have never seen anyone besides myself ever opt out.

[biscoffcookies]

I have Pre-Check now so I just get to go through the metal detector. Bonus -- you also get to keep your shoes on and your computers in the bag! The first time I went through Pre-Check I felt like I stepped through a time warp to 1998 when there was some degree of civility to airport security. It was the best $100 I had spent in a long time (I also got Global Entry) given that it is good for 5 years and I travel frequently for work.

Before Pre-Check, I always opted out of backscanner radiation machines because I didn't want any extra radiation and didn't entirely believe the TSA when they assured us that they were safe, if only because I didn't entirely trust that they would always be maintained/calibrated on schedule or correctly. (Fun fact: TSA refused to let the TSA agents working near these machines to carry radiation dosimeters.) However, the backscatter machines I believe have been removed from all our airports. The ones we have now are more like radio/cellular-based waves that don't concern me as much from a health perspective. I opted out of these for a long time. However, now on the occasional trip abroad or whatever where I can't invoke Pre-Check I just go through. The new software that changes the image the TSA agent sees to a generic cartoon-like figure helped ameliorate my privacy concerns, and I just ran out of energy to protest even though I still have significant issues with the security theater component of it. (I also really take issue with the fact that the TSA has been found to have violated administrative rules by implementing body scanners without a notice and comment period and, although the federal courts ordered them quite awhile ago to do the notice and comment period, they have yet to comply.)

[cgpm]

Nov 10, 2015 10:27:54 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Nov 10, 2015 10:15:45 GMT -5 @mx said:

I do sometimes lie and say I'm pregnant so I can go through the metal detector.

I have thought about doing this after a European security agent told me that's the only reason they accept for not going through the full body scanner.

Huh.  Even when visibly pregnant when I opted out of the body scanner, they still made me get a pat down. 

I tend to do the pat down either way because there's something about it that I just don't like. I suppose I have similar reasons as you. 

[Nonny]

I always opt out. I'm not going to play the government's ridiculous "safety" games with unproven* technology that is taking a naked picture of me. That is an unreasonable search! I give zero shits about the cartoony figure they now display to the TSA agents, that machine is still taking a photo of you fully nude, and if you actually believe they aren't saving those images I have some ocean front property in Nebraska to sell you.

Frankly, all of you who go through the body scanners because it is easier and you don't see the harm should be ashamed of yourselves for so willingly giving up your rights. The government doesn't have a right to see you naked as a condition for travel.

*Unproven both in the sense of safety, and because it's been shown that people can still sneak things through those scanners.

[alleinesein]

I go for the fastest option. I hate being touched by strangers and I had enough damn pat downs while in India to last me for a few centuries (you get searched and patted down at the mall, hotels, airports, historic landmarks, museums, etc). And I usually end up having my carry on bags hand searched so I don't need to stand around for another 20 minutes waiting for some stranger to come touch me.

[melmel48]

Yes. I never really thought about it.  I am flying soon to see bostonmichelle soon. If I decide to not go through them, do I just ask for a pat down? I will most likely just go through, but I am breezy about stuff like that.

[craftyesq]

I actually really like the scanners. My local airport doesn't have them and I end up getting a pat down most times I try to use the metal detector. I figure I'm probably already exposed to radiation standing in line next to the scanners.

[lillaguma]

I flew twice while pregnant. The first time I told them I was pregnant and they directed me to the metal detector. The second time (when I was very obviously pregnant) they still wouldn't budge - said it was the machine or a pat down. I got the pat down. I was really surprised they wouldn't let me do the metal detector. Both times were going out of DCA.

[ellipses84]

Nov 10, 2015 8:46:19 GMT -5 drruth said:

I don't, but I'm also traveling with my kid 99% of the time so we go through the metal detectors.

This. It's great! I used to have to travel more and would go through them. When the machines were new and I was pregnant I would get a pat down because there really was NO research out there at the time saying they were safe for pregnant women at the time, even though TSA was saying it was fine.

[mich1]

Yes, I prefer the scanners. My fake hips set off the metal detectors 100% of the time, which always entails a pat down leaving my belongings ripe for the picking. I have much more control with the scanner.

If there is no scanner available, I always let the TSA agent know I'll be needing a female assist as I'll set it off, usually a couple people before I get to the detector so there is rarely too long a wait.

[swank]

My people!!! I always get the pat down. After I opted out on my last trip this weekend, I got many a weird stares from other passengers. Except for the TSA agent that said "I don't blame you for opting out."

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2015 17:34:13 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Frankly, all of you who go through the body scanners because it is easier and you don't see the harm should be ashamed of yourselves for so willingly giving up your rights. The government doesn't have a right to see you naked as a condition for travel.

.

Seriously? Who are you to tell me I should be "ashamed of myself" for making an educated and measured decision about risk to my own body? I get that people are concerned about the safety aspects. I am not concerned. I don't intend to be "ashamed" of that decision.

Air travel is not a right. Nobody is making me fly anywhere. I choose to fly because it's more convenient than driving or taking a ship somewhere. Security is a condition for air travel. Don't like it? Don't fly.

And LOLz that a pat down search is somehow less of an invasion than a body scanner...I'd much rather be scanned than groped by a stranger.

[v]

Nov 11, 2015 7:38:18 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Nov 10, 2015 17:34:13 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Frankly, all of you who go through the body scanners because it is easier and you don't see the harm should be ashamed of yourselves for so willingly giving up your rights. The government doesn't have a right to see you naked as a condition for travel.

.

And LOLz that a pat down search is somehow less of an invasion than a body scanner...I'd much rather be scanned than groped by a stranger.

I feel this way too. And I can't get all that excited about the radiation risk because with the amount of time I spend near tvs and computer screens and cell phones and outdoors (and hey -- flying!) I'm probably exposed to so many small doses of radiation that going through a millimeter-wave scanner let's say four times a year isn't going to push the needle much. So I'd prefer that over being groped.

Also, I could not possibly take out my annoyance with the whole time-consuming security theater thing on the TSA people at the airport who are just doing their jobs. Blame those higher up the food chain for their stupid policies.

Am I the only one who has noticed that TSA seems to be getting more lax about the whole thing anyway? It seems that more and more airports allow everyone to walk through with shoes on and put people through the pre-check lines who don't have pre-check. I wonder if that's a sign of future policy changes.

[carfar]

Nov 10, 2015 8:49:31 GMT -5 sfy said:

Yes. I fought it for awhile, but then gave up.

This. I think they are stupid and aren't making us any safer, but I go through now, if I have to. With a huge side eye.

[sfy]

Nov 11, 2015 9:52:37 GMT -5 carfar said:

Nov 10, 2015 8:49:31 GMT -5 sfy said:

Yes. I fought it for awhile, but then gave up.

This. I think they are stupid and aren't making us any safer, but I go through now, if I have to. With a huge side eye.

Agreed, but this thread did kind of rile me back up again.  I have another flight next week.  Who knows what I'll do?!

Part of my big problem is that I generally arrive at my departure gate just as my zone is being boarded.  98.7% of the time, I just don't have the time to spare, but this is worth arriving early (or rather timely lol).

[sfy]

Nov 11, 2015 7:38:18 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Nov 10, 2015 17:34:13 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Frankly, all of you who go through the body scanners because it is easier and you don't see the harm should be ashamed of yourselves for so willingly giving up your rights. The government doesn't have a right to see you naked as a condition for travel.

.

Seriously? Who are you to tell me I should be "ashamed of myself" for making an educated and measured decision about risk to my own body? I get that people are concerned about the safety aspects. I am not concerned. I don't intend to be "ashamed" of that decision.

Air travel is not a right. Nobody is making me fly anywhere. I choose to fly because it's more convenient than driving or taking a ship somewhere. Security is a condition for air travel. Don't like it? Don't fly.

And LOLz that a pat down search is somehow less of an invasion than a body scanner...I'd much rather be scanned than groped by a stranger.

I agree with you both, but this exchange is hilarious.  I hope there is more to come.

Eta - Ask and ye shall receive lol!

[keweenawlove]

Nov 11, 2015 8:42:23 GMT -5 v said:

Am I the only one who has noticed that TSA seems to be getting more lax about the whole thing anyway? It seems that more and more airports allow everyone to walk through with shoes on and put people through the pre-check lines who don't have pre-check. I wonder if that's a sign of future policy changes.

H has been carrying full sized toiletries through for the last year or so. I just noticed him doing in on his last work trip and he said he's never had anything taken away.

[yentl]

I freaking hate the full body scanners but I go through them. I have had some really bad airport security experiences and I'm just not willing to push anything anymore.

If I would've known that you get the regular metal detector with pre-check, I would've started that process much, much earlier.

[Pom]

I had no idea people got even remotely riled up about this topic. Scanner, pat down, whatever. It seemed like we were flying once a month last year and I never really gave it much thought. I do remember regional airports were way more picky at the security area than the bigger airports like DTW, LAS, IAH.

[belovedbride07]

For the first couple years after they implemented them, I opted for the pat-down. Then I got lazy. (Embarrassed face.)

I was disappointed they didn't automatically direct me to the metal detectors when I flew while quite visibly pregnant; I opted for pat-downs then.

DH and I need to get Global Entry in case the kids end up not being enough to get to skip the scanners.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2015 15:34:19 GMT -5 belovedbride07 said:

For the first couple years after they implemented them, I opted for the pat-down. Then I got lazy. (Embarrassed face.)

I was disappointed they didn't automatically direct me to the metal detectors when I flew while quite visibly pregnant; I opted for pat-downs then.

DH and I need to get Global Entry in case the kids end up not being enough to get to skip the scanners.

I can't quote the website, but I'm pretty sure I checked when I was pregnant and it said that while it was safe* for pregnant women, you could still opt for alternate screening.    I flew while visibly pregnant, and the TSA agent also told me it was safe*, but asked if I wanted to do a different screening (don't remember if it was pat down or metal detector).   I just went through the body scanner.

*Again, whether it meets your definition of "safe" or whether or not you choose to trust the TSA is up to you.  Personally, I am fine with it.

[qwerty]

Nov 11, 2015 15:04:04 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Nov 10, 2015 18:43:35 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

I complain at the checkpoint until i can see my bags while waiting for a pat down. I will go through the scanner occasionally. Last time, my left leg alerted. Tsa patted down my right.

How do you know your left leg alerted? That is not how the machines work. The indicator goes off for a body area (upper, middle, lower) on both sides. It cannot distinguish left and right. The TSA agent should have patted down both legs. So they were wrong, but you are too.

This is why this topic irritates me.

Same thing happened to me. They said your right ankle alerted and patted down that area. They only checked the ankle of the one leg.

[Nonny]

You actually do have a right to fly: www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/40103
A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace.

These scanners were forced into the airports, with no studies on their safety or efficacy, because they made people money. 

The "choice" between a Freedom Grope and the EZ Porn Oven is shitty; I don't think people should have to undergo being manhandled or being photographed naked in order to fly.  Neither of those things make us safer, and both of those things are degrading and unreasonable.  However, I find the naked photograph to be so far beyond unreasonable, and such an egregious violation of the 4th Amendment, that the very thought of it actually makes my stomach hurt. 

I understand that people have different comfort levels when it comes to being touched, and various medical reasons that might make a scanner more preferable to a pat down (or even the metal detectors).  But a lot of the people who go through those scanners are doing so because it's faster, because they don't want to make a fuss, because it's easier, because they don't see the harm.  

It IS harmful.  It's letting the government get away with violating your civil rights, and yes, I think that is shameful.

[v]

Nov 11, 2015 12:11:40 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Nov 11, 2015 8:42:23 GMT -5 v said:

Am I the only one who has noticed that TSA seems to be getting more lax about the whole thing anyway? It seems that more and more airports allow everyone to walk through with shoes on and put people through the pre-check lines who don't have pre-check. I wonder if that's a sign of future policy changes.

H has been carrying full sized toiletries through for the last year or so. I just noticed him doing in on his last work trip and he said he's never had anything taken away.

I haven't flown with full-sized toiletries in a while, but I've done it many times when I ended up at the airport too late to check a bag.  Never confiscated.  Including at LCY where my bag got a full check, the guy apologized that "Sorry this is taking so long -- it's just that you have so many full-sized liquids and electronics that I need to look through," and then let me through without confiscating anything.  Granted, that wasn't America but I was surprised.

It is rare for me to not realize after I get through security that there was some sort of hand lotion in my personal item bag.  They never ever ever confiscate it.  Don't know if they don't see it or they turn a blind eye, but...

I've also had many, many times when I left my liquids or computer in my bag when I have not had pre-check and they got through without a second glance.

[boiler717]

Nov 10, 2015 10:27:54 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Nov 10, 2015 10:15:45 GMT -5 @mx said:

I do sometimes lie and say I'm pregnant so I can go through the metal detector.

I have thought about doing this after a European security agent told me that's the only reason they accept for not going through the full body scanner.

I've asked for the metal detector while visibly pregnant, they refused and made me wait over 20 min for a pat down. Two min into waiting they opened up the metal detector but still wouldn't let me through.