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Shoes on? Shoes off? Can I keep my sweatshirt on? What about a sweater? Do I have to remove my baggie of approved liquids? Are empty water bottles okay? I consider myself an airport security line expert, yet I'm still often baffled by the near constant changes in TSA regulations.
So let's check in with the TSA and see what they have in store for us the next time we going through security:
NO NEED TO REMOVE THAT COMPUTER
Apple's ultra-sleek 11-inch MacBook Air is allowed to stay in your backpack or carry-on when going through airport security. This sets the machine apart from other laptops, which—as you're probably aware—must be removed for inspection. It turns out this light-as-air gadget is being classified alongside iPads, e-readers, and netbooks as checkpoint-friendly. And it all comes down to a simple matter of size. (I know I should be singing the praises of this development, because we're all taught to cherish every valuable millisecond saved during the security check process. But I, for one, don't mind the one or two seconds it takes to unzip my bag and remove a laptop.)
EXACT NAMES REQUIRED EARLY
Under the TSA's new Secure Flight Program, all passengers are required to provide name, date of birth, and gender 72 hours before a flight. Names will then be screened against a terror watch list. It won't feel like much of a change—you'll just provide this information during the ticket-buying process. One thing to watch out for: your name must exactly match the name on your passport or government-issued ID. Make sure to watch out for nicknames and those pesky middle initials.
UPDATED PAT-DOWN PROCEDURES
Passengers might get a little touchy about this next one. The TSA has updated its pat-down procedures for passengers who set off the metal detector and then refuse to go through the new, full-body scanners. Agents used to use only the backs of their hands, but now fronts of hands are allowed. And they can go farther than ever before. Without getting too graphic, as long as agents are patting you down over your clothes, no part of the body is off limits. Needless to say, representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union are up in arms. Somehow it makes the full body scan sound almost pleasant by comparison!
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I have a netbook and even though I have one of those "checkpoint-friendly" sleeves (no straps/pockets/etc), I still take the netbook out of the sleeve. It's just easier/quicker that way.
I did come across something recently that I've been wondering about - I was on a flight from Asia to the US, and we were not allowed to leave our seats in the one hour prior to landing or access our carryon luggage (the official announcement was "due to Dept of Homeland Security regulations, etc"). I thought these restrictions were relaxed by DHS soon after the failed Christmas Day bombing? Or are airlines allowed to use their "judgement" in implementing these restrictions?
I'm curious...
Posted By Cass on November 3, 2010, 9:55 PM
When I flew in August, I was chosen as the random passenger to go through the full body scanner in Atlanta. I had no problem with that, as I value my safety more than the tiny piece of privacy that it invades. Only in the USA are people so squeamish to make this a big issue. Travel internationally, and not only do you go through attractions as well. It was handled very professionally by the TSA agents and I appreciate them trying to keep our skies safe.
Posted By Cathy on November 8, 2010, 2:00 PM
On a recent trip out at Washington National Airport, I went through the full body scan immediately, rather than waiting until the magnetometer found my metal hip replacement. It was much smoother. Five seconds, rather than the full pat down/wanding I usually get.
Posted By Monty Hougen on November 8, 2010, 4:52 PM
Since I've had two knee and two hip replacements, I welcomed the full body scanner. Until this past month, it got me through without secondary wanding. Now, it's worse. They said I had an anomaly in the groin area and I had to go through fondling/groping in the groin area by the front of the agent's hands. They don't do wanding any more, they just feel you up in the "main lobby" instead. The anomaly was staples from a prostatectomy over a decade ago. Now, with the new rules, prostate cancer survivors who had surgery are a threat to our nation.
Posted By Dan on November 8, 2010, 9:59 PM
what about the safety of these scanners? What is the technology? I know x-ray machines can be hazardous, have heard the same for ultrasound and the thing they use for mammogram. I told my children they should never go in one. Does anyone know what they do?
Posted By xty on November 9, 2010, 8:42 AM
I am so aggravated by the full body scanners and first-base over the clothes groping by TSA. NONE of the terrorist threats or real actions could have been prevented by any of these 'security' measures that are being done now. We have a WHOLE NATION of fearful people, who submit to 'safety over privacy' bullcrap when it's such a SMALL number of people that we need to apprehend prior to trying something crazy in the air. It's IMPOSSIBLE to live your life now without going on an airplane, but I'm going to actively try to avoid them as much as possible. I don't want to do the scanners, I'm always in a hurry and I don't want a pat down. 99% of people are like me--NOT a threat...and the people that ARE the threats--well we won't find them like this. Let's spend our time, money and aggravation on ways to actually find those jerks and prosecute them, not let the whole rest of the country be fondled and molested by power-trippy under-educated TSA agents with shreds of decency left after handling angry people like me in a 4-8-10-12 hour shift! The terrorists have won if we submit to being treated like this 100% of the time, with privacy being infringed upon more and more each day and with every 'threat'.
Posted By Katie on November 9, 2010, 6:40 PM
RE: another commenter-- It is absolutely not true that people are 'squeamish' about full body scans and pat-downs "only in the USA." There has been HUGE public resistance to invasive airport screening methods all across Europe. In fact, compared to Europeans, the US public seems almost TOO willing to just accept it as a harmless sacrifice. I'll submit to it, but I do question its safety and overall efficacy in preventing terrorism. And with every new policy or technology employed in the name of security, ALL of us should be asking if giving up a freedom (such as a right to privacy) is worth it, or if it is counterproductive-- especially in a fight said to protect those very freedoms. We should try to have big, critical, thoughtful conversations about such things, even if in the end we collectively decide it's a worthwhile sacrifice. In that light, I find the snarky comment in the article about the ACLU pretty depressing, actually.
Posted By Marsha on November 10, 2010, 12:30 AM
I too would like to know the radiation involved in this type of exray. It definately frightens me as I avoid all kinds as much as possibl. Does anyone know the dangers?
Posted By diane on November 10, 2010, 4:34 PM
We have airline tickets purchased before all this happened and they don't have our middle initial on them. Prior to all of this it hasn't been a problem. Does anyone know if we are grandfathered or what?
Also, I have a prosthetic breast because of a bout with breast cancer. I've never had to expose myself to anymore radiation, but if I do will I also be sexually molested if I wear my prosthetic breast?
Posted By Daena Hinkelman on November 11, 2010, 3:24 PM
All the recent news about the new "strip search scanners" and the groping TSA agents, has us rethinking travel plans. We don't fly much, it's not a necessity, unless we travel far from home. We were planning to fly to Hawaii next summer but with the new rules, we are planning not to. I have a young teenage son. I do not want to submit him to what amounts to a strip search by some strange adult, an unknown amount of radiation exposure or a groping by some strange adult if we refuse the radiation strip search. Not sure we want the hassle either for ourselves, I know that I don't want to expose myself to more radiation than I have to. Note to Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and the state of Hawaii, you won't be getting our travel dollars next summer, I think we will drive to San Francisco and let Princess take us to Alaska. It's just not worth the hassle to fly.
Posted By Denise on November 11, 2010, 4:02 PM
Hey Denise, better check with Princess Cruises first.
I dont think they want anyone sinking one of their nice liners either. They may frisk you too!!
Posted By roger pivonka on May 5, 2011, 3:05 PM