X-ray backscatter security scanners

[Koronin]

My sister actually has a medical card that states she cannot go through the X-ray machine and actually could not go through the old machines either. Plus she has a pacemaker in her bladder (reason she can't go through a medal detector thing) and I'm sure the pat down people won't understand that one even though she has medical cards. (She also is bi-polar, has Crohn's disease and a couple other medical issues).

Oh and I've heard that Charlotte Douglas airport is looking into kicking out TSA. They haven't done it yet and they are trying to determine if they should go with a private company OR go with their regular security police force as they feel either would be cheaper, more efficient and have better customer relations.

I hate flying to begin with and this whole new thing makes me hate it even more. The worst part is that I'm now 12 hrs away from my family instead of 8 so if/when my grandmother passes away my parents are planning on having us fly there for the funeral. So the plan is go through Raleigh (a good bit cheaper than flying out of Jacksonville, NC), so I'm sure I'll have to deal with this ridiculous stuff at some point.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm unclear on something with all the hoo-ha about ll this on the news. Will I have to go through the body scan x-ray or patdown if I don't set off the metal detector? Or are those more intrusive measures reserved for people who do set off the regular detectors?

Surprisingly, even with a stainless steel plate and 4 pins in my pelvis, I don't set off the regular detectors, thankfully.

[colby]

I'm unclear on something with all the hoo-ha about ll this on the news. Will I have to go through the body scan x-ray or patdown if I don't set off the metal detector? Or are those more intrusive measures reserved for people who do set off the regular detectors?

Surprisingly, even with a stainless steel plate and 4 pins in my pelvis, I don't set off the regular detectors, thankfully.

The backscatter machines (they are about 6.5 feet tall and you stand between two "walls" and hold your arms up) are the new normal scanning procedure in place of the old x-ray machines. They take a picture of your body (basically going through your clothes) where anything on the outside shows up. Sometimes they pat you down really quickly (might only be if they see something in the scan).

If you opt out of the new machines you can go through the old style x-ray machines, but then they do a more extensive pat-down on you, possibly with the x-ray wand thingy, and usually with their hands.

I am pretty sure if you set off the backscatter machine, you ALSO go through the other machine AND you get the more extensive pat down, too.

[Koronin]

Hmmmm, wonder if these new machines are at the smaller airports like our local one? Maybe if they aren't it would be worth the extra money (100 to 200 per ticket) to fly there instead of going to Raleigh.

[colby]

Hmmmm, wonder if these new machines are at the smaller airports like our local one? Maybe if they aren't it would be worth the extra money (100 to 200 per ticket) to fly there instead of going to Raleigh.

They seem to be rolling them out across all airports, but I'm not sure what the conditions are.

This link: http://studenttravel.about.com/od/pl...ackscatter.htm links to this page: http://studenttravel.about.com/od/pl...y-Scanners.htm which seems to be an unofficial list of which airports have it as of roughly October.

[Koronin]

They seem to be rolling them out across all airports, but I'm not sure what the conditions are.

This link: http://studenttravel.about.com/od/pl...ackscatter.htm links to this page: http://studenttravel.about.com/od/pl...y-Scanners.htm which seems to be an unofficial list of which airports have it as of roughly October.

It lists Jacksonville International which has to be Jacksonville, Florida. I'm pretty sure the local one here is not an international airport.

Hmmmm, maybe I can find a flight that leaves from Jacksonville and ends up in Akron and then fly home that way as well as neither one have the body scanners. Yes both are tiny airports......hmmmmm and I'm sure going to be much more expensive, but might be worth it. Jacksonville would be NC not Fla. Akron would be the Akron/Canton Ohio airport.

[pumpkinpony]

It lists Jacksonville International which has to be Jacksonville, Florida. I'm pretty sure the local one here is not an international airport.

Jacksonville is indeed named an 'international' airport...
http://www.airnav.com/airport/jax

Airport authorities frequently like to add 'international' or 'regional' to their names for better publicity. I've seen many name changes to add such wording. They seem to think it draws people in better...

Most of the smaller airports don't have the backscatter machines. I'm willing to pay a bit more and drive a bit more to fly out of a smaller airport at this point.

Edit to add, here's another list with more info. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14968662-post1.html. While screening through these is 'random', it's fairly easy to pick the lane without the machine at some airports. NoS, in case you don't know, is Nude-o-Scope.

[ny biker]

I've been groped by too many strangers in my life. Just one was one too many, but it has happened more than that. So no, I do not ever ever ever want someone touching me at an airport.

But there does not seem to be any way to be sure to avoid it. If you go through the machine, they might decide to grope you anyway.

So I'm done with flying.

I think about people who have been raped, especially teenagers who have been molested. It must be traumatic for them.

And the terrorists are howling with laughter at all if this, because they've achieved their goal.

[colby]

PS: All this talk of the backscatter risks reminds me of the Futurama where the professor uses an F-ray device.

Short sample: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/11248/

[KnottedYet]

The backscatter machines (they are about 6.5 feet tall and you stand between two "walls" and hold your arms up) are the new normal scanning procedure in place of the old x-ray machines. They take a picture of your body (basically going through your clothes) where anything on the outside shows up. Sometimes they pat you down really quickly (might only be if they see something in the scan).

If you opt out of the new machines you can go through the old style x-ray machines, but then they do a more extensive pat-down on you, possibly with the x-ray wand thingy, and usually with their hands.

I am pretty sure if you set off the backscatter machine, you ALSO go through the other machine AND you get the more extensive pat down, too.

The old machines are not x-ray.

They are magnetic induction (or something like that). They pick up the electromagnetic distortions caused by metal going through the field they generate. Metal detectors, not x-ray.

I don't get why airports are suddenly putting in the x-ray backscatter when the other new option (mm wavelength machines) are just as accurate, cheaper, and have no radiation concerns.

And I have no intention of stripping down to my skivvies like the dude arrested in San Diego (and why did they arrest the woman who filmed it on her phone?). I'll change to lycra shorts and tank top. Probably best if I do it in the bathroom, eh?

My everything has already been patted down multiple times. I always travel with a backpack instead of luggage, so I always fit some darn profile and get "randomly" pulled for stuff. Oh, and my underwire bras used to set off the metal detectors. That part was always fun, so I've started wearing sports bras when I fly.

[colby]

The old machines are not x-ray.

They are magnetic induction (or something like that). They pick up the electromagnetic distortions caused by metal going through the field they generate. Metal detectors, not x-ray.

I don't get why airports are suddenly putting in the x-ray backscatter when the other new option (mm wavelength machines) are just as accurate, cheaper, and have no radiation concerns.

Oops, sorry. X-ray is the plebian "I don't know what exactly that is but we generically refer to it as 'x-ray' version"