TSA Experiences

[curlyredhead]

Originally Posted by Andrea

One of the problems with TSA is the lack of consistency. What occurs on your flight out will probably be different than your return flight. Each airport, TSA gate, and/or TSA clerk implement different rules, including made up rules.

Things to consider when choosing between the pat down and the scanner:

1) You can still be selected for a pat down even if you don’t trigger the scanner.

2) Men with large penises and large testicles have been flagged by the scanner for ‘abnormalities’ and subjected to the pat down.

3) Women with menstrual pads on have been flagged by the scanner for ‘abnormalities’ and subjected to the pat down.

4) Check with your hearing aid manufacturer about going through the scanner with them. TSA does NOT have the expertise to advise you and may tell you it is okay just to avoid giving you the pat down.

You state you understand why TSA is at our airports. Please expound on that. What do you believe is being accomplished by removing our shoes, taking no liquids into the secure area, and having TSA check our private parts?Well obviously they are here for our safety and preventing something like what happened on 9/11 again. Yes its annoying that we have to wait in line and have this inconvenience while traveling but I would rather be safe then dead.

You also mentioned your wallet was searched by a TSA clerk and your concern you may have been flagged if you said anything about it being inappropriate. In what way did you feel you might be flagged? Did you think you would receive a retaliatory search if you mentioned the TSA clerk had no need to open your wallet or did you think mentioning the wallet search would indicate you were a terrorist? If I had told him no he can't look I had a fear that it could stir up trouble that would be unnecessary. As for whether or not it would have indicated me as a terrorist I don't know since I really don't know what their protocols are.

Not all TSA experiences are issues, other than ineffectual, time consuming, and fear mongering. I hope your experience is dull and ordinary.

One final note: you said one reason you stay in Plano, TX is to avoid TSA. See the posting directly above yours (and further back). TSA has expanded to searching trains, buses, and private cars.

I wasn't aware of this but I think in this day and age bombs and terrorist are a huge problem.If this is what we need to do to keep places safe then its what we have to do.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by curlyredhead

I wasn't aware of this but I think in this day and age bombs and terrorist are a huge problem.If this is what we need to do to keep places safe then its what we have to do.

Thank you for the dialog. Can you tell me where you got the information that "bombs and terrorist are a huge problem"?

Previously I posted these stats:

Deaths from terrorism since 9/11 (10 years) - 3033
Deaths from breast cancer in 2011 - 39,520 (est)
Deaths from DUIs in 2010 - 32,885
Deaths from homicide in 2011 - 16,799

That is 89,204 deaths in one year compared to 3,033 over 10 years.

This doesn't include death by other cancers, working in unsafe conditions, starvation, lack of medical treatment for treatable illnesses, etc.

The 2012 TSA budget: $7.85 Billion

It seems to me breast cancer, DUIs and homicides are more dangerous and yet we spend $7.85 Billion a year for airport and other screening that has not stopped one terrorist.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Andrea]

TSA ends contract with Rapiscan, maker of full-body scanner

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-fullbody-scanner-contract-20130117,0,3525187.story

"But TSA officials said the agency has canceled its contract with the company because it had failed to deliver software to protect the privacy of passengers."

"The Rapiscan scanners have also be criticized by privacy advocates and some health officials, who question whether the machines expose passengers to too much radiation."

[Linus]

[Rockinonahigh]

I'm going to the reunion this year so my mode of travel will be Amtrak from Marshall Tex. to LIttle Rock Ark, I do hope I don't have to deal wit the t.s.a. on this trip...I garentee the pic on my drivers licence and my physical one are definatly NOT female by any stretch of the imagnation...I cant help the dam name on the D.L. it is what it is.

[Toughy]

I just had a total hip replacement over Thanksgiving. I have a titanium socket and partially titanium femur (they cut off part of your femur to make the ball piece of the joint). I asked the surgeon about going through airport security. He said I would set off every metal detector there is and I could have problems with the wand depending on how it is set. The full body scanner will show the all the fancy new parts I have.

I have always maintained the full body scanners are dangerous to EVERYBODY including the TSA security folks. If that machine was in a hospital it would be in a lead lined room with ALL the precautions needed for simple x-rays. I'm glad TSA is going to dump them.

I have never liked flying....it's just not natural.....and since 9/11 when fear took over and common sense died I have flown maybe 3 times. Taking off your shoes, putting liquid in 3 oz bottles, no sharp objects, no lighters, but 3 books of matches oh wait you can have a lighter now, is all just stupid and does nothing to make anyone more secure.

I absolutely dread the thought of airport security now because I will set off all their bells and whistles. The thought of partially dropping my pants and showing off my big ass scar is not a pleasant one. Funny though....I was at the Federal Building in Oakland and I set off the metal detector. They stopped me of course, asked me where I was going (the VA Regional office) and I told them I had had a hip replacement and they did not even wand me......I got a thank you for your service and was on my way.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Toughy

I just had a total hip replacement over Thanksgiving. I have a titanium socket and partially titanium femur (they cut off part of your femur to make the ball piece of the joint). I asked the surgeon about going through airport security. He said I would set off every metal detector there is and I could have problems with the wand depending on how it is set. The full body scanner will show the all the fancy new parts I have.

I have always maintained the full body scanners are dangerous to EVERYBODY including the TSA security folks. If that machine was in a hospital it would be in a lead lined room with ALL the precautions needed for simple x-rays. I'm glad TSA is going to dump them.

I have never liked flying....it's just not natural.....and since 9/11 when fear took over and common sense died I have flown maybe 3 times. Taking off your shoes, putting liquid in 3 oz bottles, no sharp objects, no lighters, but 3 books of matches oh wait you can have a lighter now, is all just stupid and does nothing to make anyone more secure.

I absolutely dread the thought of airport security now because I will set off all their bells and whistles. The thought of partially dropping my pants and showing off my big ass scar is not a pleasant one. Funny though....I was at the Federal Building in Oakland and I set off the metal detector. They stopped me of course, asked me where I was going (the VA Regional office) and I told them I had had a hip replacement and they did not even wand me......I got a thank you for your service and was on my way.

I am sorry you will always be subjected to a pat down now, even though you previously put your life on the line to fight against this type of egregious act on every one.

[SuddenlyWestFemme]

I think there should be a 'take your chance airline'--where you go through the old fashioned security (pre 9-11), sign a waver, and are on your way to the plane that other like minded folks are flying.

Since that won't happen, and I refuse to go through the scanner, I get the pat down almost every time I fly. Would be every time, but when flying with the kids, I get to go through the old fashioned metal detector security.

I have never been touched in an obnoxious way... and everyone treats me well. However, I have Femme privileged so that probably has something to do with it.

And not to turn a serious subject into a joke... but honestly, for most of the past two years--the only touch I was getting was while going through airport security. And I kinda sorta... in an embarrassed to say way... looked forward to that part of flying. I secretly hoped for the rough strong hands of a big butch TSA officer (blush).