Airport security horror - alternate travel ideas?

[Love Duck]

Has anyone been keeping up with the recent updates to airport security? The full-body scanners that basically show you nude, and the pat-downs that some people have compared to sexual harassment?

I am seriously considering not flying anymore because of this new crap, unless it improves. Unfortunately, flying has been the only way I've gotten to see my SO thus far. We're 13 hours apart by car if what Mapquest says is correct. I imagine a train or bus would take even longer. Does anyone have any suggestions for which travel method might be best/cheapest? I really do not like driving much, and I seriously doubt I could stand to do all 13 hours in one day by myself, so I'd have to get a hotel room on the way which would cost even more. :/

[PaperbackWriter]

I was talking with my mom about this earlier. When I move, I'll be a 20-hour drive, approximately 1,000 miles, away from SO. That's a long time to be in a car- even spread out over 2 days. I imagine a train or bus wouldn't be much different- and I wouldn't trust a bus on some of those steep hill areas with the huge drop-offs on either side. So I'm left with either being irradiated, or patted down. I honestly can't decide which one I'd rather deal with- I've read that the radiation is concentrated just under the skin, increasing one's chances of skin cancer. But I also don't want someone (woman or not) touching my personal bits without a clothing barrier. So...cancer or molestation? Decisions, decisions.

Sorry I'm not much help, lol. I'll be looking at this thread too, to see what other ideas people have come up with, or if they have any concrete information about the safety of the scanners/procedure during pat-downs.

[DropkickDisco]

not ALL airports are participating in these crazy security measures.
however, if yours is let me just say that I take a bus to see my SO and he takes one to see me. he has to drive an hour to the bus station,ride the bus 4 hours, and then I pick him up at the bus station an hour from me, because both of our small towns do not have their own greyhounds. SO if you and your SO live in a small town, expect to add an hour or two extra travel to bus stations AND since your travel is so long, around an hour or more per transfer!
SO if you are TRULY against the flying thing, I would say drive. although this might cost a little more (Adding in a hotel if need be) you must consider if it's worth the extra money to preserve your dignity.

if you have any questions about buses, let me know! I'd be glad to help.

[sabby64]

I've never had a problem with them, but my teacher said she felt like it was sexual harassment one time and you can tell them to stop and ask for another person. :P I don't think the extra hours it takes is worth not going through just a few seconds of uncomfortable-ness, but's that's just me.

[PaperbackWriter]

One of the airports I'd definitely be going through security at is Orlando International, which does have the new screening processes. One thing (well, another thing, lol) that concerns me about the x-ray machine is that the image is stored. I don't know how detailed the photo is, particularly in the face. I'd rather some woman pat me down and then proceed to pat down 400 other people (forgetting about my love-handles and squishy spots), then have somebody take a detailed photo of me under my clothes and potentially save it to "enjoy" themselves later. At least with the pat down, you KNOW the gender of the person touching you!

[archangel]

Has anyone been keeping up with the recent updates to airport security? The full-body scanners that basically show you nude, and the pat-downs that some people have compared to sexual harassment?

As far as I know full body scanners are only used for flights entering the USA from international, like CAN to USA or UK to USA. Also I think only the major airports like LAX, VYR, Chicago, New York would have them.

[Riyko]

Just because the airport has the new x-ray machines doesn't necessary mean they use them on everyone or even use them. I fly all of the time and the airport I fly out of (Salt Lake International) has 13 of them and I haven't gone through the machines once let alone see them actually use them. Just something to keep in mind.

[PaperbackWriter]

Riyko, that's comforting. I'm probably just freaking myself out over nothing. My parents are flying out of OIA in a week or so; I'll get them to tell me, lol. Maybe I can convince one parent to do one, and the other parent to do the other option, so I can get both sides.

[Love Duck]

Just because the airport has the new x-ray machines doesn't necessary mean they use them on everyone or even use them. I fly all of the time and the airport I fly out of (Salt Lake International) has 13 of them and I haven't gone through the machines once let alone see them actually use them. Just something to keep in mind.

Hmm, that's a good point. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!

[Trethsparr]

My fiance flies out of LAX early Monday. Hoping he won't need the machines, as I don't fancy the ideas of complete strangers getting to see his private bits. (I'm a little weird that way, I guess.) He'll most likely comply with the scanners as opposed to the pat-downs (of course, I'm not a fan of him going through that, either.) I'll let you guys know if he ends up having to go through either of these methods.

[mllebamako]

As far as I know full body scanners are only used for flights entering the USA from international, like CAN to USA or UK to USA. Also I think only the major airports like LAX, VYR, Chicago, New York would have them.

I went through one in Oakland going to Salt Lake City, so it's not just for international.

The thing that bothers me more than the image, is the potential risk factors involved with the radiation.
Read these if you're interested:

https://gizmodo.com/5692198/a-tsa-success-story
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3685/cancer-ray-opt-out.pdf

[Caitlin2009]

well if i have to be sexually harrassed before i board a plane to make sure nobody else brings something on the plane to blow it up or whatever then i am all for it!!!! if its to keep everybody safe then i can be harrassed for a bit

[mllebamako]

well if i have to be sexually harrassed before i board a plane to make sure nobody else brings something on the plane to blow it up or whatever then i am all for it!!!! if its to keep everybody safe then i can be harrassed for a bit

These new enhanced pat-downs are not even proven to be more effective. They cannot detect if someone has hidden something inside a body cavity and a woman could pack a powder explosive into a menstrual pad.
This is just as big BS as taking our shoes off to go through security. They are always one step behind. Except this one violates personal space and could be traumatic for people who have been sexually assaulted or molested

[Caitlin2009]

oh.....well.....if it kinda helps im still all for it

[blankita719]

One of the airports I'd definitely be going through security at is Orlando International, which does have the new screening processes. One thing (well, another thing, lol) that concerns me about the x-ray machine is that the image is stored. I don't know how detailed the photo is, particularly in the face. I'd rather some woman pat me down and then proceed to pat down 400 other people (forgetting about my love-handles and squishy spots), then have somebody take a detailed photo of me under my clothes and potentially save it to "enjoy" themselves later. At least with the pat down, you KNOW the gender of the person touching you!

Agreed - I also fly through Orlando International and was concerned since I'm flying in just over a month. Howevr, it's almost a 24 hours drive to see my SO and I hate driving so I have no alternative oher than to fly if I want to spend any reasonable amount of time with him.