Screening of your person

Screening of your person.

There is no question that screenings of the person are the most controversial of the procedures designed to ensure the safety of airline passengers and crew. Independent of the method employed, screening of the person is necessary to ensure that a passenger is not concealing explosive devices (or parts of explosive devices), weapons or items that can be used as weapons, or hazardous materials on their person. In this section, I will give an overview of the screening of persons. In subsequent sections, I will describe each method in more detail.

There are three methods used for screening of the person:

The metal detector (frequently called the “mag”, short for magnetometer, by TSA personnel
Full body scanners (frequently called AIT, short for Advanced Imaging Technology)
The pat down (which has three variations – targeted, full standard and resolution)

The metal detector is considered the least thorough of the personal screening methods. It detects metal items in pockets, on the body, and in the body (such as metal plates and screws, artificial knees, artificial hips). Small amounts of metal such as rings, glasses, light jewelry, most watches and small belts can usually pass through the metal detector without setting off the alarm.

The full body scanner is considered to be more thorough than the metal detector because metallic and non-metallic items in a passenger’s pockets or on their body. Prohibited items that may not set off the metal detector (like ceramic knives or explosives) can be detected by the full body scanner. The AIT detects anything in a passenger’s pockets or outside or underneath his/her clothing.

The pat down is considered to be the most thorough personal screening method. Since the (clothed) body is touched with either the front or back of the hand, anything hidden on a person can be detected.

As a passenger, you always have the discretion to choose a more thorough method of personal screening but you cannot choose a less thorough one. For example, if you are directed to the full body scanner and do not wish to be screened using this method, you may choose to receive a pat down instead, but you cannot choose to be screened with the metal detector. However, if you are directed to the metal detector and you have a knee or hip replacement and don’t want to set it off, you may elect to go through the full body scanner instead. And, of course, anyone may choose to have a pat down as an alternative to screening with either the metal detector or full body scanner. People frequently ask why they can’t choose to go through the metal detector instead of the full body scanner. The answer is simple - if someone had something to hide, they would choose the least thorough method of screening hoping to evade detection.

Ideally, the TSA would prefer for everyone to be screened using the full body scanners. From a practical standpoint, that is unlikely to be possible unless significant changes are made to the overall screening process. So, after your carryon items have gone into the x-ray enclosure, you will be directed by a TSO to either the metal detector or full body scanner. The TSO will generally try to direct as many people as possible to the AIT.

Very few people have a problem with the metal detector. People are used to the equipment and generally feel that it is safe. More people have a problem with the full body scanner, either for safety or privacy reasons (I will discuss both in the section on the full body scanner). Most people would prefer not to receive a pat down but when necessary, there is no alternative other than not to fly.

Unfortunately, screening of the person is where TSOs encounter the most friction from passengers and where passengers most frequently feel that they have been improperly screened. As with all TSA screening procedures, personal screening procedures are specified in great detail and TSOs must follow them completely. However, if you feel that you are being improperly treated or screened, you should ask for a lead or supervisory TSO.

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Disclaimer: This material was written by a private citizen hoping to be helpful, not as a representative of the Federal government, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority or of the Transportation Security Administration. Any opinions expressed as well as any inaccuracies are solely the author’s.