My sister may be the most innocent looking human being. Petite, blond and an incredibly fast walker, she is not what you call a “suspicious looking” traveler. This past week, she went through security and that all changed.
Security Magnet Sister
As she walked up to security, she is pulled over for the full body scanner. Not knowing you can “just say no” to these “how are they legal” machines, she went through. After putting her hands in the air and rendering all sense of privacy, she was then put through a pat down, as was every other person that went through the scanners. Questioning how well these scanners work if nearly all of those going through them had to be subjected to another pat down, she bit her tongue and went through the first pat down. Then, the officer wiped her hands with a papery item and put it through a device. Explosives were detected on her hands according to this machine. Taking her computer off, a second pat down commenced and after 15 minutes, she could finally be on her way. That is, until realizing she had left her computer back at security due to all of the confusion.
Having traveled myself last week alone as a female, I watched as a man in front of me put a computer through security. The agent grabbed his computer and gave it back to him. For me, he took my computer to a desk. I met him there and quickly got the sense he just wanted some female interaction. However, no matter your gender, if these full body scanners warrant a pat down in addition, how great of technology are they? What are they doing for security? Preventing petite blonds from making their flights? Solo female travelers may not be the most targeted group, but I have noticed a pattern with airport security that is both alarming and disturbing for women traveling alone.
Not happy about being violated at airport security
You’re Alone
I have only been stopped when traveling alone, which is about 90% of the time. Only once, have I been subjected to the full body scanner. At the time, they were not used as much so I didn’t really know what it was. After the fact, I felt extremely exposed. Usually if you are alone and a female, you must be a security threat.
You’re Attractive
Not to give myself a compliment, but usually women I see getting pulled over are attractive. Talking with a guy friend about my laptop experience he said, “Those guys are just looking for any sort of female interaction, even if it is hassling you.” Those words tend to ring true anytime I am in an airport. Recently on Flyertalk, a pilot traveling with his 18 year old daughter reported hearing a TSA agent radio to his buddy, “hey, I’ve got a cutie for you”, just before she went through the scanners.
You Look Put Together
I never wear sweat pants to the airport. I usually try to look somewhat respectable. If I am flying overseas, I may change this somewhat, but generally when I am asked to be screened additionally, I look put together, dressed well and hair in place. My clothing is never loose when I am pulled over. Apparently you can conceal something in legging jeans and a t-shirt.
You Look Like You’re In a Hurry
If you are late for a flight and just want to get through security not violated, you may have that look on your face the TSA love, “I’m in a hurry”. Power can do a lot to people and if you have the ability to make a person late or detain them and you yourself aren’t the greatest of characters, you will. Give someone the power to see you stripped of everything just to travel and they will take advantage.
Do you have an airport security story as a solo female traveler? Male or female, what has been your experience with full body scanners? Love them or hate them?
Things are getting so disturbing with the whole airport security thing these days. It has been in the news today about the new enhanced patdown TSA are applying. Some people feel that they have been sexually assaulted it is so intimate! I have noticed the patdowns have been getting more and more freaky, but what this woman described was just horrible.
Your poor sister… it can be so frightening getting pulled aside at the airport.
I just found out about this today in case you are interested:
http://flywithdignity.org/
Yet again the bad guys win…one dope runs through the line with a chemical in his shoe and we are all tossing our shoes on the belt. These scans are ridiculous.
One of these days they will require us to strip and put down a hospital like gown and transport our clothes and belongings separately — sigh
There was an article in the news today that even though the gov promised not store the scanned images from the whole body scanner, they apparently do.
There goes my trust on everything else they’re saying about this new security mesaure.
Maybe next time I travel alone I just won’t shower and shave for a week beforehand… hah, maybe they won’t be patting me down so thoroughly then :p
Oops, the linked article above was not the one I read this morning, here is the correct article:
Website Publishes 100 Pictures Of Federal Security Body Scans
I just blogged about airport security issues and linked to your post Suzy.
http://www.withsparkles.com/say-no-to-gate-rape/
I flew earlier this week (alone and female, as usual)and didn’t happen to have any trouble. Knock on wood, I haven’t met the full body scanner yet. This really does seem to be a disturbing trend. It bothers me how TSA just adds regulation after regulation like bandaids, seemingly without ever assessing if the extra rules add any value. Anyway, hope you and your sister don’t have any more trouble.
Great post! I travel alone often but with a dog most of the time, I get skipped by all the extra screening
I haven’t flown in the US since these machines were put in, and not out of any UK airport with them either. Honestly, I’ve begun to really avoid flying if I can help it. Even at the cost of not traveling!
Yes, the bad guys have won…
I haven’t flown since all these new procedures, but will be traveling like crazy over the next two months and I’m interested in see how it affects me since I’ll be going through big and small airports. I’ll also be traveling with my dog, so I wonder how that will affect things, as well.
I’m not sure why they feel the need to send you through a scanner and then also touch you… I agree that the technology then doesn’t seem up to speed. I know when we were in Asia, we were stopped and screened several times at each airport. Maybe it was racial profiling… i’m not really sure- but we were the only white people on a plane of all asian people, so it seems to be that way. It’s definitely interesting as all the horror stories unfold.
My worst experience was in Bogota, Colombia. Knock on wood, I’ve never had any issues in the States.
You hit on the nail on the head with this one, I’m sad to say. I’m sorry your sister was subjected to both the body scan & the pat down – that sucks. Now I don’t know if this your style, but I did come across a video with suggestions to make farm animal noises during the pat downs. (I myself am going back & forth about this one . . .) In short, great post!
When my ex first arrived in the US for her working visa, one of the Border Control agents tried to find out where she was staying – as in, get her number and go out for a date. Welcome to America,
right?
Slighly different than the TSA situation, but just another example of corruption – or at the very least, immoral behavior by those in power representing the US.
I’ll be testing the new scanners on my upcoming trip back home to the US for the holidays. BUT, I have a lot of experience traveling solo and, so far,the worst experience EVER has been at the Tel Aviv airport in which I was questioned, hassled, interrogated, questioned again, patted down, stripped down to my underwear, violated with a metal detector, searched and -of course- severly pissed off. Why? They found a postcard from Palestine in my carry-on luggage.
I’m traveling with my four-year-old over Christmas and I have to admit, I’m a bit nervous. What if they make her go through the scanner, is it too much radiation? What if I get pulled aside, who will watch her? Maybe I’ll wear a catsuit just so there’s no doubts about anything going on beneath my clothing other than a muffin top.
A pat down after the scan??? I thought the scanning was instead of a pat down? As you can see, I haven’t had the luxury of experiencing the new security scanners. Totally agree with all of your points. I rarely ever travel alone, and 99% of the time am with my boyfriend…yet he has never had a problem with security and I am always the one pulled aside! It also seems they don’t realize we’re together until they see he’s waiting for me, which sometimes speeds things up – I guess suspicious people don’t travel in pairs?