What Are Your Thoughts On Enhanced Airport Security?

[Nicolette]

For the sake of not getting myself into the shit... ABSOLUTELY! :D

The slight concern with this comment is he's saying not to get into the shit instead of wanting to say something nice. :p He's getting better but still learning. :lol:

 

[WonderingWhy]

I'd give him 1/2 credit instead of full credit for that one!;)

 

[catjudo]

Seriously though, I also want to know if the scans are transient or are they recorded? Myself I know there is absolutely NO WAY I could go through the "pat down". If the viewing of the "scan" is very discrete and not held in any type of memory, or recording I think I could deal with that.

The scans are viewed in a private/discreet location so that only the TSA employees can see them. Supposedly they cannot be saved or recorded in any way. However, from what I've read this may not be 100% accurate. For example, if they scan a person and there is a problem/question, there is the ability to store that scan as part of further investigation. If the ability exists in that scenario, there are some people who question whether or not it may be done in other circumstances without the individual's knowledge.

If I really had to, I could do the body scan. There is no way I could go through what they're describing as a "thorough pat down" which includes, among other things, feeling the inner thigh, buttocks and genital areas (although I will say that it is performed by a same-gender employee).

 

[Crusoe]

Are there any online examples of what is shown on a scan? I'm going to check just so I have more of an idea as to what they show. From your description I could probably just about handle a pat down by a same sex officer. I just couldn't face any internal stuff eeeeek.

 

[Crusoe]

Just had a look and it didn't seem that bad to me but we're all different. I'd opt for a scan.

 

[cherryblossom]

I have absolutely no issue at all with body scans/ patting down etc..... so long as someone actually watches the images, or they actually used the security measures that they already have. That might sound strange, but my reason is....
Last time I flew, this summer I had 4 flights. I wore the same clothes, shoes and jewellery on every flight.
1st flight I, I completely forgot I had small bottles of liquid in my hand luggage, and forgot to put them in that clear plastic bag - one was a small moisturiser, one was alcohol hand clean gel, and the other eye drops. No issues what so ever.
2nd flight - put our bags into be checked and the guys 'watching' the xrays were too engrossed in conversation to even watch the screens. I was watching them for a good 5-10 minutes whilst in the queue, and neither of them looked at the screen once.
3rd flight - for some reason we went through security check twice. On arrival at the airport, suitcases, hand luggage, the lot. No problems. Then after check in, another security check. The machine bleeped. I was told to take off my bracelet and go through again. The machine bleeped again. I was told to take off my watch, and go through again. The machine bleeped. I was told to carry on!!
4th flight - 500ml bottle of water in my hand luggage, which again I completely forgot about, and only remembered I had after going through security without any issues.

All these security checks involve us all standing in queues for ages. Perhaps airports should make better use of the security checks they already have, before inflicting more on us.

Also, in the summer, I went up the Eiffel tower, which involved a 'bag search'. A very bored guy, opened one zip, of 4 different compartments in my bag, and glanced into the darkness. Now I can rarely find anything in my bag, that I actually want - quite how he could tell, on a glance, what was in there, I'll never know :lol:

 

[catjudo]

Also, in the summer, I went up the Eiffel tower, which involved a 'bag search'. A very bored guy, opened one zip, of 4 different compartments in my bag, and glanced into the darkness. Now I can rarely find anything in my bag, that I actually want - quite how he could tell, on a glance, what was in there, I'll never know :lol:

I hear you on this one. Bag checks are fairly common here for any type of event/large venue...sporting events, amusement parks, etc. There is little consistency in how the bags are checked and I find them to be rather cursory, at best. I don't mind the bag checks but it does slow things down and seems kind of pointless if they're not going to really pay attention.

 

[cherryblossom]

I have no issues with security checks, at the airport, or bag checks at large events. I just wish they did it properly, otherwise it seems like a complete waste of time and money for everyone involved.

 

[anthony]

I believe a lot of the problem is exposing frequent flyers to the constant radiation of an xray, which is uncool and they believe could put rise to cancer from another group, being frequent flyers who fly in and out of the USA, where body scans will be near compulsory for most passengers / random selection of passengers.

 

[cherryblossom]

I believe a lot of the problem is exposing frequent flyers to the constant radiation of an xray

Yeah that can't be good for people. Also don't xrays harm a foetus? Would this put unknown early pregnancies at risk?

 

[Crusoe]

Yes they do, potentially. They couldn't legally insist that people go through x-rays if pregnant. In fact I think that they would have to insist that they DIDN'T go through a scan (for fear of damage to a foetus and being sued etc) which would mean that pregnant women would HAVE to have a pat down.

 

[cherryblossom]

Yeah, I kind of meant early unknown pregnancies. Maybe first 4-6 weeks when the woman may not know she's pregnant, and may not even consider it.