What I do have issues with are the new security procedures that involve getting potentially high doses of radiation or letting a stranger feel me up. I'm pretty sure that I don't want kids, but just in case I change my mind a decade from now, frying my uterus probably isn't a good idea. The idea of someone seeing me naked? I could get over that, sort of. I mean, there certainly wouldn't be any feeling good about it - not like those girls whose life goal is to pose for Playboy - but I could deal.
I can't deal with someone I don't know touching me, without being allowed to attack them for it. They recruited for these TSA people on pizza boxes. Not that only idiots eat pizza - I'm sure even Bill Gates and Obama and tons of smart people do - but those people are aspiring towards more than working in an airport. The TSA people are on power trips. It's like mall security guards who do that because they're not qualified to become cops.
When I told Josh that I won't be able to go through airport security if it involves being felt up, he was kind of annoyed and walked away. When he came back a few minutes later Josh asked if this is because of what it says to Danielle and Alex, about letting strangers touch them. Well, no. I was just being obnoxious and thinking of myself, but that's a good point too. Alex hasn't even made out with a boy, so what does it teach her if she has the opportunity to fly somewhere, if she's supposed to let strangers touch her in places she hasn't ever let people she knows touch her? I'd rather they profiled, to be honest.
Josh found an airport about an hour away that we can drive to, to fly to Florida. It's not on the list of airports with backscatters. Leaving Florida though, all the airports seem to have them. I guess because the 9/11 hijackers trained in Florida, plus they've got people from all over the world coming to Disney they feel like they have to be extra careful. I found three airports sort of near Orlando that aren't on the list, but Josh never heard of any of them. I guess he thinks he's traveled enough that he's heard of all the good airports? But I don't care if an airport doesn't have a fancy store or good food courts. I just don't want to get felt up by strangers. Plus, what if I have my period?
Prison probably wouldn't go well for me.
8 comments:
My 22 year old daughter flew home today, and had the same worries you had. She neither had to go for the naked-body scan nor the authoritarian feel-up. She zoomed through security. Perhaps you won't encounter any nonsense.
shame man this is terrible I had no idea it was still so hectic!!
I flew in and out of Orlando this month. First time, the line I was in didn't have the scanners, so I just went through the little doorway thing-y. The second time, one line had the scanner and one didn't, so I just changed from the scanner line to the no scanner line and no one said anything. My home airport is in Michigan (not Detroit though), and I sailed through there as well. I think they may have scanners, but I didn't see any. They did search my daughter's bag though, because she had a butter knife in it, and they confiscated her peanut butter and jelly! Dangerous! (We packed it so we could eat in the room instead of paying $50 for a Disney-burger.)
I haven't looked into this tons - but I don't think there's a way (other than going to the airports that don't have scanners) to predict how they will deal with you. I know of a family that flew yesterday from Minneapolis to Atlanta. They just walked through the doorway things - no scanners or pat-downs.
Not that I'm a huge fan of being felt-up by strangers, but if it keeps us all safer then I'm willing to grit my teeth and just go with it.
Good luck.
I just flew to Texas - I only had to walk through the doorway thingy - no xray, no pat-down. They don't do it to everyone. They pulled one lady over for a pat down who kept beeping and they couldn't figure out why - so don't wear a lot of metal (like a heavy belt buckle, or watch.) And the lady they did pat down- it was pretty fast. I personally don't mind the extra security - it is worth it for a nice trip to florida!
I heard a scientist saying that the new scanners emit less radiation than one-hundredth of a cell phone call and the radiation is not strong enough to penetrate the skin. Also, I flew yesterday through a high-security airport and they just waved us through the old fashioned metal detector doorway. No scan, no pat down, no biggie. I think you're falling prey to the media hype.
For the record, I saw the list you linked to had JFK as having the scanners already, but it must be only in some terminals, because the article is dated Nov 15 and I flew out of there internationally from Terminal 4 on Nov 16 and they didn't have them yet -- just the usual metal detectors.
Hi Sam,
I travel almost every week for work and have for most of the last 20 years. I have two beautiful children, you really don't need to worry about the radiation. I have done the regular scanners, the full body scanners, an experimental "capsule" scanner that they tried for a while, and I have been patted down. They are all ok. Really. The full body scanner is a pain b/c it takes longer - but basically all they can see is an x-ray looking picture. I've heard that those folks are bored to death looking at hundreds of people every day - they're not looking to "peep". In terms of the pat downs, as one commenter said, it really is very quick and TOTALLY non-intrusive. They are not going to feel you up in front of hundreds of other passengers coming through. You can BET they'd have a lawsuit then. It's always another woman who pats down a woman. They typically pat the places you'd have something metal - waist where a belt would be, pockets, etc. It's a very light touch. I'd recommend going to the major airports - they are faster, the people are more experienced, you have more flight choices, you don't have to drive as far.
First time for anything is a VERY big deal. Just talk yourself through it. And please, really, try not to worry so much about the security. You'll see, it's like cattle moving through, it's so uneventful! :->
Have a wonderful time; I am thrilled that Josh is getting you away on a vacation.
Shannon
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