3 ms·

I always hold my stuff up before it enters the scanner; this serves the dual purpose of making it harder to ignore my request and keeping my bags safer. Usually

by tfe 12y ago

I always hold my stuff up before it enters the scanner; this serves the dual purpose of making it harder to ignore my request and keeping my bags safer. Usually they'll then ask you to hold your belongings outside the line or put them on a shelf somewhere in eyesight.

kolev 12y ago
I've never been allowed to. They always make me run them thru the X-Ray and wait in the separate line until the guy shows up... which varied between 5 and 15 minutes. Then the guy usually shows up and starts making faces and keeps reciting the rules. I told him: I'm in a hurry, I agree, I've heard this a million times already, but, no, he needs to repeat the same thing over and over again.
- tfe 12y ago
  I'd be interested to hear their response if you said "I prefer to keep my belongings with me until I can go through with them." In fact, on occasion I've had them insist on me keeping my belongings outside the scanner. I wonder if it's a liability for them to have them back there where I can't monitor them. After all, the screenings are always conducted with your luggage in eyesight.
  - kolev 12y ago
    I will try harder next time.
r00fus 12y ago
This gets much harder if you have a family and all want to opt out. Of course, a crying or annoyed kid usually provides sufficient motivation to TSA to not keep you waiting as long as you stay courteous (as much as possible given the conditions).
- kolev 12y ago
  Last time my family and I went back to Europe, at Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, our family was directed to a special families-only line, which didn't have full-body scanners at all, and didn't even do pad downs - just went thru the old-fashioned metal detector and X-Ray for the carry-on luggage. We were pleasantly surprised as we were expecting the old nightmare.
- dubya 12y ago
  Traveling with my kids has been easier (in this regard) because the family line doesn't have the full body scanners at any of the airports I've been through (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Seattle ...). Traveling alone I usually have to opt out, though sometimes one can choose a line without a scanner.

by tfe 12y ago

kolev 12y ago

I've never been allowed to. They always make me run them thru the X-Ray and wait in the separate line until the guy shows up... which varied between 5 and 15 minutes. Then the guy usually shows up and starts making faces and keeps reciting the rules. I told him: I'm in a hurry, I agree, I've heard this a million times already, but, no, he needs to repeat the same thing over and over again.

tfe 12y ago
I'd be interested to hear their response if you said "I prefer to keep my belongings with me until I can go through with them." In fact, on occasion I've had them insist on me keeping my belongings outside the scanner. I wonder if it's a liability for them to have them back there where I can't monitor them. After all, the screenings are always conducted with your luggage in eyesight.
- kolev 12y ago
  I will try harder next time.

r00fus 12y ago

This gets much harder if you have a family and all want to opt out. Of course, a crying or annoyed kid usually provides sufficient motivation to TSA to not keep you waiting as long as you stay courteous (as much as possible given the conditions).

kolev 12y ago
Last time my family and I went back to Europe, at Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, our family was directed to a special families-only line, which didn't have full-body scanners at all, and didn't even do pad downs - just went thru the old-fashioned metal detector and X-Ray for the carry-on luggage. We were pleasantly surprised as we were expecting the old nightmare.
dubya 12y ago
Traveling with my kids has been easier (in this regard) because the family line doesn't have the full body scanners at any of the airports I've been through (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Seattle ...). Traveling alone I usually have to opt out, though sometimes one can choose a line without a scanner.