Increased Security Screenings

[SeaCruiser_1]

This past Thursday I was required to have a pat down before boarding. I cannot go through the metal detectors due to a defibrillator/pacemaker. This past July I only had to show my documentation for boarding. I do not have a problem with this since I am used to it in the airports. I just thought I would share this increased security measure. I hope you all feel safer!! :-)

[ColoradoJuli]

I was absolutely shocked to find out that if a woman is pulled aside for 'inspection' that the 'inspector' will feel around her bra! :eek: :eek: I can't believe that strangers are now allowed to grop anyone that they feel like and call it their job! I just hope I will not be pulled aside. I have a nasty habit of knocking the lights out of anyone that touches me inappropriately. ;) Wouldn't that be fun to deck the security officer. :eek:

[dakrewser]

I was absolutely shocked to find out that if a woman is pulled aside for 'inspection' that the 'inspector' will feel around her bra!
The suicide bombers who blew up a couple of Russian planes were women who carried explosives in their bras....

-dave

[anniecat]

I heard from a friend not to wear a wired bra in airport security...glad I didn't because the elderly lady (ie older than me) in front of me was very thoroughly wanded and patted down (by a female agent...but still in full public view). it seems silly...but you never know!
so ladies ...just be floppy for the flight :p

[mmacdcc]

There are women security officers.

And if you deck one for frisking you, you're likely to wind up in jail.

They're just doing their job. And a pretty thankless job it is, too. Unfortunately, it's necessary.

[ColoradoJuli]

Oh Annie - You are too funny, but I don't want to knock myself silly running through the airport. ;-)

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

My DW was recently given an extensive pat-down, including bra search, before boarding Air France in ATL. She had one metal pin on her top that she had forgotten to remove. They also checked in between her toes!

I feel much safer now! :o

[Chudley]

I am one of those women who have been "patted" down. It was strange because I passed thru the security checkpoint (airport) and everything was fine. I wasn't asked to open anything, everything was cool. When I got up to the desk at the gate the attendant who was taking my boarding pass said there had been a mistake and I was supposed to go to the head of security back down at the checkpoint. At this time they are holding my flight. Keep in mind, I'm in my early fifties, female and blond, not that it should make a difference, but I neither look like a drug smuggler or a terrorist. I went back to security and they told me I was supposed to have been checked earlier. Now, how do they decide who gets checked? Security had checked me right thru, it was Alaska Airlines that sent me back, security never knew my name. They had one guy going thru my carry-on and a female checking me out. I will tell you she was extremely thorough! It had nothing to do with an underwire bra either, so don't think not wearing one will help. I felt very violated even thou I kept telling myself this is to keep us all safe. If I'd have hid a dime in my bra the woman would have found it!! My biggest question is, who picked me out to get checked? Chud

[mmacdcc]

My last few flights have been from BWI or Philly, to Orlando, Milwaukee, Las Vegas. Not once have I set off any metal detectors, even with underwire bras.

What bothers me more though is that nobody even looks at my purse. I have a small purse, and I carry a palm pilot and cell phone, sunglasses, keys with remote for the car locks, cash/credit cards, and not much else. In the x-ray machine it must look like a electronics nightmare.

Never have I ever been asked to turn on the palm pilot, never have they flipped open the cell phone, only once did they ever even really look at it closely.

But a pin on your shirt, or a heavy underwire bra, those are dangerous things. Flip flops, or thin sandals, those have to go through the x-ray machine. Thick sneakers, those aren't a problem.

I feel so much safer now...

[SeaCruiser_1]

I must be patted down at ALL airports. Fort Lauderdale was the most thorough. I think the security officers are more uncomfortable about this than I am. I try to assure them that I know they are only doing their job to make things safer for all of us! I have been offered a private area but to tell you the truth I am more uncomfortable about that. As a nurse I can assure you this is minor compared to what I see everyday!! :-)

People who have implanted Defibrillator/Pacemakers may not have wands used on them. I have had to stop a few officers from using them.

This was the first time these measures were used in a cruise terminal. The officer was very professional.

[WindyCity]

When our daughters were flying for their cruise - one daughter got constantly checked at every check point. When she inquired as to why - she was told random tickets were chosen for searches - something with the encoding.

Honestly, I would rather get checked & see other people get checked rather than have something happen.

[wander]

How the "system" selects folks is one matter, but on at least some airlines there is a word (forgot what it is, but an agent showed it to me when I asked) printed on your boarding pass from the check-in system that indicates that you are to be given a more thorough search. When you show your pass at the screeners they should catch this. Once they "search" you they somehow so indicate this on your boarding pass. Apparently the person boarding you onto the plane noticed that the second mark was missing and sent you back. I do not know that this is what happend, but it seems likely since I do know that they use the code and marking system in at least many airports.

[HighFlyer]

How the "system" selects folks is one matter, but on at least some airlines there is a word (forgot what it is, but an agent showed it to me when I asked) printed on your boarding pass from the check-in system that indicates that you are to be given a more thorough search.

It's 'SSSS'. A few things that can flag this: one way tickets, tickets purchased at the last minute, tickets purchased with cash, name on CAPPS list. One way to lessen your chances of getting SSSS is to put your frequent flyer number in your reservation at the time you book your tickets.

So when you see SSSS on your boarding pass, you've been the lucky recipient of the TSA grope and feel.

[ColoradoJuli]

Guess I'll be looking out for the SSSS (is that a really slick slimy slithering snake?)

[trubey]

We had a spooky one coming off the Prinsendam in Athens:

As we walked, rolling our suitcases, through a portal out of the arrival terminal, a siren went off and a red light started flashing.

Instantly two guys -- no uniforms -- jumped up and said, "Please come this way, sir. Right now, if you would, sir."

When they got us out of line they asked me if we were carrying any drugs! I laughed (like an idiot) and told them I have heart disease and carry 12 different drugs with me, at which they let us go.

Back home I did a little research, and found that there is a machine that can detect 3 molecules (!) per cc of air, of any of hundreds of drugs; just by passing in front of it!

Guess that's where some of the 10 Bn euros they spent for the Olympics went, and y'know what? I do indeed feel safer every time I get stopped by security or patted down!

lane

[Krazy Kruizers]

One month after 9/11, we flew out to San Diego for a cruise. At Pittsburgh we were called aside at the gate to be completely checked - carry-ons as well. They even opened all of DH's medicine bottles and dumped his pills onto a table (US Airways was notified of this by us) and then stuffed the pills back into their containers - dirt and all.

We asked why we had been flagged - nothing was indicated on our tickets. It seems that in the previous 6 months we had been to nearly every suspect airport - Ft Lauderdale, San Diego (earlier cruise), and Seattle.

[sail7seas]

. They even opened all of DH's medicine bottles and dumped his pills onto a able (US Airways was notified of this by us) and then stuffed the pills back into their containers - dirt and all.



Did you get a response from USAirways? Did you contact TSA?
If so, did you get a response from them?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

It's 'SSSS'. A few things that can flag this: one way tickets, tickets purchased at the last minute, tickets purchased with cash, name on CAPPS list. One way to lessen your chances of getting SSSS is to put your frequent flyer number in your reservation at the time you book your tickets.

So when you see SSSS on your boarding pass, you've been the lucky recipient of the TSA grope and feel.
Not so sure this is always the case. A few years ago we were traveling United to Kona with tickets purchased with our air miles many months(11 months to be exact) in advance. When we checked in the rep at the counter informed me I had been flagged by TSA.(DH was not flagged) I asked why and of course she could not give me an answer. The extra screening was not bad in Las Vegas and no big deal in San Francisco but leaving Kona I felt like I was a criminal and was wacked on the leg by their wand because they wanted be to spread my legs really far apart. I guess I felt safer:o

[tjcletsgo]

To all who whine and cry about the extensive security searches conducted these days, let two words be your guide........."LET'S ROLL"..........

[Krazy Kruizers]

TSA wasn't installed at that time.

And yes we did get an e-mail back from US Airways. We had also given them a few suggestions - which we were pleasantly surprise to see them using when we flew down to Ft Lauderdale a month after that cruise.

[tankerjo2]

To all who whine and cry about the extensive security searches conducted these days, let two words be your guide........."LET'S ROLL"..........


That's fine but at least let's play by the same rules at all Airports. Some people sound like they would support a strip search in public in the name of security. My wife will be going through Airport security tomorrow with a still healing incision where they removed an interductal pappaloma from her right breast. We have medical documentation but should she be pulled for extra security scrutiny then it damn well better be done properly. Also curious what considerations have been given to woman or men who have suffered abuse or sexual trauma in their life as my own wife did as a child. I know many people may disagree but a strangers hands-on search, much less in a public place...I don't know.

Security, all security should be uniform and professional at all Airports and at least in my opinion anything other than an inspection of personal items or wanding of a person should take place in private. It is my understanding this is offered but I also have read several accounts of people that were then detained for such a length of time that they missed their flights.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I would be furious if we missed our flight because of an intense security check.

[K&RCurt]

The last time my DW and I flew out of PHL she set off the metal detector. When she was "hand wanded" the detector kept going off when past by her chest area. They then called over a female security officer who proceeded to give her an "NC-17" rated pat down all over her chest area, in full public view. She said she hadn't had an experience like that since high school!

She vows to never wear an underwire bra while flying again!

They could at least have an area out of full public view to do these "pat downs".

[old Marine]

I will be cruising out of Fort Lauderdale in February..I will be driving from my home in North Carolina..I would not mind if search was constant all over country but some places are really tough on citizens...It is harder for people to travel within USA ..but easy to cross all our boarders without restraint :eek: All I will have to worry about is the Highway patrol stopping to search for drugs..

George from NC

[ekerr19]

Coming back to the US from Lisbon, my passport was flagged and we were stopped by US Customs here in Denver. Out of all the people on our full BA flight, we were the only ones asked to step aside for further interrogation.

I have never had such a humiliating experience in all the years I have been flying, domestically and internationally.

I felt I was treated like nothing more than a common criminal, asked to give all kinds of explanations for my travel to California. I stated that I was born and raised there - still had family in the state. I was asked about my trip in October 2004 to LAX for my brother's wedding - where I stayed, how long, the purpose of my visit etc., etc.

I was also asked to give detail about a business trip I took several years ago to SFO, apparently, I left the return portion on United open - I had ended up purchasing a new return for an earlier flight on Frontier - and the customs agent was very interested in why.

I was also asked if I was in California in early October 2003, I had to think for a moment, but I knew I wasn't because we moved to our new house at that time. Overall, I was grilled about where I've lived for the past 20 years and about several of my trips to California for about 20-30 minutes (it just seemed forever).

After a 14 hour flight, I was exhausted. DH tried to answer some of the questions for me and was basically told "butt out". I was never given an explanation why or what they were looking for - but we believe it may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Also, as many of you know (I posted before we left) DH's right arm was in a cast, so I filled out the customs form as head of household because he could not sign his name properly. Normally when we travel outside the US, he always fills out the form and we've never been questioned, let alone stopped.

[Charliesmom]

It was probably the left-open ticket that was the trigger for the interrogation. Once they had you there, they decided to grill you properly to see if they could trip you up.

It is a sad commentary on what life in the US has become.

My sympathies to you. The US is "at war" and these are wartime tactics.

Just as a matter of curiosity - whom did you vote for for president of the US?

Roberta

[ekerr19]

Roberta-

I don't mind the advanced security screenings - it is the price we will have to pay for safer skies.

I was very surprised to be flagged - I've always had a passport since I was a teen and have traveled quite a bit without incident.

What upset me the most was the man seemed to be enjoying himself and never even bothered to explain or offer an apology for the inconvienence. Once the interrogation ended, he merely slapped my passport on the counter and rudely stated "Welcome Home!" in a sarcastic tone.

Please don't take this as rudeness, but I would rather not share my presidential vote on this forum, I get flamed enough as it is! :D

[Lovebirds]

It's 'SSSS'. A few things that can flag this: one way tickets, tickets purchased at the last minute, tickets purchased with cash, name on CAPPS list. One way to lessen your chances of getting SSSS is to put your frequent flyer number in your reservation at the time you book your tickets.

So when you see SSSS on your boarding pass, you've been the lucky recipient of the TSA grope and feel.
According to an article in our local newspaper last week, in addition to the above listed "profile" reasons, the computer will also randomly flag tickets with SSSS.

[Slinkiecat]

It was probably the left-open ticket that was the trigger for the interrogation. Once they had you there, they decided to grill you properly to see if they could trip you up.

It is a sad commentary on what life in the US has become.

My sympathies to you. The US is "at war" and these are wartime tactics.

Just as a matter of curiosity - whom did you vote for for president of the US?

Roberta
Since we were attacked, and finally decided to defend ourselves from terrorists, we are going to have to be more diligent about whom we allow to board our flights. This is what we should have been doing ten years ago or earlier, after the terrorists announced that they were going to try to destroy us and attempted to take down the WTC in 1993. We may as well learn to live with tighter security - Certainly it's better than having suicide bombers on a plane with any of us. The terrorists don't care who is president. They want to wipe us all out.

Slinkie

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

On our recent attempted departure from ATL (Atlanta) to BCL (Barcelona, Spain) via Paris (Charles DeGaulle Airport) we ran into another Homeland Security glitch. :confused:

Seems we were flagged as bad guys because we deviated from our originally scheduled flight plans. We were going to drive to Ft. Lauderdale and preposition our Recreational Vehicle for the return trip. Then fly to ATL on Delta with a transfer to Air France for the Paris leg of the trip.

At the last minute we decided to rent a car and drive to ATL from CHS (Charleston, SC). Much cheaper than trying to change our flight plans with Holland America and Delta.:o

Besides flying one way to Europe (questionable people that we are). Well, bells and whistles, we were trying to break the rules. Delta refused to issue boarding passes. Wanted to reissue the Air France tickets at an additional cost, etc. :mad:

We blew off Delta after calling our TA and went over to the Air France desk (remember that Delta sold the original tickets via HAL block travel sales) and the French ticket agent looked over at the Delta agents, standing only 15 feet to the left, and said, "of course we can help you." :cool:

They promptly honored the Delta sold tickets with boarding passes. Go figure. :rolleyes:

P.S. I have attached a copy of the photo of the questionable cruisers.

[dakrewser]

We blew off Delta after calling our TA and went over to the Air France desk (remember that Delta sold the original tickets via HAL block travel sales) and the French ticket agent looked over at the Delta agents, standing only 15 feet to the left, and said, "of course we can help you."
Well, you know those French - they'll let anybody fly on their planes. And they serve better food, too!

:rolleyes: -dave

[kryos]

I was absolutely shocked to find out that if a woman is pulled aside for 'inspection' that the 'inspector' will feel around her bra! :eek: :eek: I can't believe that strangers are now allowed to grop anyone that they feel like and call it their job! I just hope I will not be pulled aside. I have a nasty habit of knocking the lights out of anyone that touches me inappropriately. ;) Wouldn't that be fun to deck the security officer. :eek:
I got pulled aside once ... apparently they must code something randomly on your ticket, because he looked at my ticket and pulled me aside ... both inbound trip and outbound.

A woman security officer did the "special" screening and explained everything she was gonna do. It was done with dignity and I did not get the feeling I was being abused at all.

Frankly, I'd rather be subjected to extra security on occasion. I'd rather have the extra confidence that anyone sharing that airplane with me had been screened and likely would not be carrying any weapons aboard.

Like I said ... the screening was done with dignity ... and anytime she had to feel around what could be considered a sensitive area, it was with the back of her hand. I did not feel in any way violated by the experience.

Just my two cents.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Chudley]

Wander, thanks, that makes sense. I had used my frequent flyer # but we were just coming from a Mexican cruise, flying out of San Diego and when we got to the airport asked for an earlier flight. All finds of flags, probably!

Krazy, They held the plane for my "pat-down"

[MikeInPgh]

As someone with a mild disability, I walk with a leg brace and a cane. Since 9/11 I have set off almost every machine I have gone through. Once you do that, its off to the pat down area. Ususally, the are very polite about it all. There is a chair for me to use while they examine my brace and everything else. The one thing that would be nice is if that hand screening area was a little more private.

I know they want it out in the open so no one gets accused of doing anything wrong, but there is a certain amount of discomfotr in being searched like that in view of everyone else.

But as I said, usually they are pretty good about it, but every once in a while you get a real butt head. And disabled or not, if they need to pat down my wife, IT WILL BE A FEMALE OFFICER, or there will be a problem. From what I have read, most of the inappropriate pat downs lately have been male TSA employees doing it.

[RevNeal]

On my flight to Vancouver from Dallas in Sept, and then again from Orlando to Dallas, I was flagged for inspection. Chris was not. On my flight last week to Atlanta (where I attended a lecture series) I was flagged for inspection. In June of this year I was flagged. In January of this year I was flagged. In short, every flight I took in 2004 I was asked to step aside for intensive inspection. So long as the screeners are professional and reasonably efficient I don't particularly mind it too much ... but it does get a little annoying that it's always me, never the person with whom I'm traveling. Since it seems to be happening every time I fly, the last couple of times I've packed my carry-on things in such a way that they are easy to unload, examine, and reload. I also don't carry anything on my person that I don't NEED while in transit -- no money, no watch, no phones, no keys. Those are all in my carry-on, in a pouch.

I once had an opportunity to ask my House Rep. about the frequency of my being inspected and, in his opinion, it's because I'm member of the clergy.

I just hope that, in the midst of checking me and all the other people who are innocent, they also manage to flag for inspection those specific people who are planning on doing something nefarious. :)

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

I once had an opportunity to ask my House Rep. about the frequency of my being inspected and, in his opinion, it's because I'm member of the clergy.

I just hope that, in the midst of checking me and all the other people who are innocent, they also manage to flag for inspection those specific people who are planning on doing something nefarious. :) IMHO the bad guys are laughing at us for the overall disruption in the world of consumer travel in America. The truth be known the bad guys will mostly just walk over the unguarded borders and drive where they want to go (valid license or not). :eek:

[ColoradoJuli]

I was talking to my mom about this thread. She has a friend that was pulled aside and searched. She said that her husband did not touch her the way the security guard did. Her wire bra apparently needed to be throughly searched. I also have a friend that is a flight attendant and she said that every crew member is throughly searched to the point that she feels like she is being raped.

Both mom & I think that there is way too much intrusion occuring on the flying community all in the name of security and that it is time for the American public to stand up let their voice be made known.

There is one thing that really bothers me about the report that it was women with bombs in their bras that set off the last couple bombs on planes. How on earth could they know? The evidence would have been blown to pieces and if they 'showed' them on the plane everyone on the plane is dead. Who would talk about it? And if the screeners knew that they were carrying bombs in their boobs, then why were they let on the plane? It seems very strange to me. And...if they are going to so throughly search women, then why are men not asked to turn their head and cough. It seems very one sided to me.

Women, don't even think about wearing a dress on a plane. You will have to have the screener climbing up your skirt.

This just really irks me (if you couldn't tell).

Stepping down off of soapbox.;)

[Winks]

"Those who would trade essential liberty for temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security."
B. Franklin

Since we were attacked, and finally decided to defend ourselves from terrorists, we are going to have to be more diligent about whom we allow to board our flights. This is what we should have been doing ten years ago or earlier, after the terrorists announced that they were going to try to destroy us and attempted to take down the WTC in 1993. We may as well learn to live with tighter security - Certainly it's better than having suicide bombers on a plane with any of us. The terrorists don't care who is president. They want to wipe us all out.

Slinkie

[Sow There]

Having just returned through Frankfurt where their approach is no-nonsense and military armed with automatic rifles and machine guns are posted at every security station, and where full strip searches can and have been required, with no concerns about profiling or political correctness, I had two reactions:

1. I was not worried about my fellow passengers or the safety of our flight from Frankfurt.
2. We could use a little of the no-nonsense attitude here in the USA.

As for the plastic explosives in bras, that was, in fact, established as the method used in the two recent Russian crashes.

[bepsf]

I typically fly on an E-ticket and on a recent business trip the machine at check-in wouldn't service me. The United ticket rep was rather rude and wouldn't tell me anything except that I was on some sort of names list and to wait.

Hmph...

Finally, her supervisor arrived at the desk and asked me for alot more information than is typical - including my home address (which is on my ID that they always ask for anyway...). After he confirmed with someone on the phone that I was OK to fly, he took me aside and kindly explained that my name was similar to someone in connection w/ terrorism (really - I find that hard to believe...) I asked why I'd been pulled aside this time instead of all the times I'd flown before - particularly on my recent cruise from Seattle. Since I had made all my own previous arrangements and I always use my middle initial and frequent flier number, but this time the arrangements were made by my office admin and she apparently didn't use my middle initial OR frequent flier number, he reasoned that I was flagged because they couldn't determine which guy was flying...

Hmph.

BTW - I find that the better dressed I am for flying, the better treatment I recieve and the fewer checks I have at security.

[ekerr19]

BTW - I find that the better dressed I am for flying, the better treatment I recieve and the fewer checks I have at security.Brian- We always try and dress appropriately as well, if I am traveling on business, it is even more important to me... and I have never had a problem at all.

I have no idea why I was flagged by U.S. Customs when re-entering the US... but, I hope it never happens to me again.

[temple10]

I have not seen an underwire bra made with wire in years, if you open it up it is a plastic piece. well maybe not plastic, seems harder than that. but it isn't wire. Do they still actually put wire in bra's anymore??:) Christine

[ColoradoJuli]

All of mine are real wires. I feel them too when they poke through the material. The ends have a plastic covering, but the wire itself is real wire.

[kryos]

As someone with a mild disability, I walk with a leg brace and a cane. Since 9/11 I have set off almost every machine I have gone through. Once you do that, its off to the pat down area.
I guess I'm really fortunate then. While I don't have a brace, I have extensive orthopedic hardware in both legs ... rods in both femurs and multiple pins going all the way from the knee to the hip. I've never set off a metal detector. Can't imagine why.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[RevNeal]

...he took me aside and kindly explained that my name was similar to someone in connection w/ terrorism (really - I find that hard to believe...)

Haven't you heard of Osama Bin Brian ? :D

[K&RCurt]

Kyros:
Most orthopaedic "hardware" use inside the body is made of titanium. I believe the "Metal" detectors at the airports are really "iron" detectors as they work via magnetics. Most "metal" common objects (particlularly those that can be used as weapons) contain SOME iron and would activate the detector. Pure titanium embeded within skin and bone would not.

[wander]

Christine,
Oh the comment above about the wires poking through bra materials was so true. Yes, they definately are wire in bras AND eventually they work through the fabric and hurt!

[Winks]

Actually, no. At least not main stream dectectors. Metal detectors are usually either pulse induction or transmit/receive and react to all metals. Many, if not all, except pulse induction, have a discrination circuit which can eliminate or reduce reactions to various metals (has to do with ferrous content and the like). The ones you experienced may have metal such as titanium reduced or eliminated for the very reason that titanium, a neutral metal in terms of rejection in the body, is used for rods and pins.

Kyros:
Most orthopaedic "hardware" use inside the body is made of titanium. I believe the "Metal" detectors at the airports are really "iron" detectors as they work via magnetics. Most "metal" common objects (particlularly those that can be used as weapons) contain SOME iron and would activate the detector. Pure titanium embeded within skin and bone would not.

[ger_77]

My husband had a sextuple bypass a few years ago and his ribcage is "wired" together - every time we go through security, he sets off all the bells and whistles. (I don't know if it was titanium or barbed wire, but it certainly sets off the alarms!) He has learned to wear a shirt that he can open quickly to display his scar, rather than have to be strip searched for foreign objects on his person. He always travels in a sport jacket, golf shirt and dress pants for travelling, and he gets stopped wherever we go. It would seem strange to him if he ever sailed through security!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[sail7seas]

All by-pass (all open heart surgery where the chest is opened) involves wiring back together of the rib cage. I have had such surgery and am 'wired back together' but never set off the metal detector. I'm puzzled as to why your DH would be setting it off??? Wonder why?

[Slinkiecat]

I have not seen an underwire bra made with wire in years, if you open it up it is a plastic piece. well maybe not plastic, seems harder than that. but it isn't wire. Do they still actually put wire in bra's anymore??:) Christine
My bras all have underwire and they never set off any metal detector, so I'm sure they're plastic. Once I got checked with the wand (buckles on my sandals, I think, set off the metal detector) and the only metal that the wand detected was on the hooks in back on my bra, and the inspector felt those to make sure that was what was registering.

Slinkie

[ger_77]

We live in the "frozen tundra" called Saskatchewan ... who knows what the heck they really used to put my husband's parts together ! :) The first time we flew after his surgery we thought it was his belt - next trip he tried travelling without a belt, and the same thing happened - alarms were going off all around him and he was pulled aside. He removes everything from his pockets as well as his wristwatch, doesn't wear a neckchain, and doesn't have earrings (he's 60+ for god's sake!). The only thing left to set off alarms is his wired chest, and that's where the wand goes crazy when they bring it over his chest. At least he's prepared for it - he just smiles and says he's "bionic" and shows the screeners his scar.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[sail7seas]

Interesting.


So long as he stays well and continues to travel and enjoy his life......That is ALL that matters. Good health and happiness to you both.

[Grumpy1]

All by-pass (all open heart surgery where the chest is opened) involves wiring back together of the rib cage. I have had such surgery and am 'wired back together' but never set off the metal detector. I'm puzzled as to why your DH would be setting it off??? Wonder why?
Your health insurance covered Titanium.. his covered Barbed wire:D

[sail7seas]

Good , Grumpy :D


I guess I should be grateful the darn insurance covered anything/everything!!!

[stanjj111]

Can a male passenger ask for a female to do the search?

[JDee]

Can a male passenger ask for a female to do the search?

Don't think you would want to from many of the TSA I have seen....

[RevNeal]

Don't think you would want to from many of the TSA I have seen....

Now THAT's a mental picture I'll want to get rid of. ;) :) :eek: