More Airports Installing TSA Body Imaging Scanners
Thursday June 12, 2008
The TSA has wanted to see what you're packing since Pan Am Flight 103 in 1989, but now they really, really mean it. Since 9/11, they've also
wanted to see your naked body -- and that's going to be even more possible when all 30 new body imaging machines go in across the US eventually. As of this spring, the TSA has begun installing the doomed to backfire backscatter / millimeter wave body imaging machines it's been testing for some time (Phoenix's Sky Harbor, LA's LAX) into eight more airports across the US.
Friends and family often comment on airport rules favorably, always (always) including in their remarks, "As long as it keeps me safe..." I'm among the multitude not convinced that's true, and convinced that this particular branch of Homeland Security is wasting millions of dollars on hasty decisions that become permanent policy with inconsistent, incredibly inconvenient implementation.
Okay... we'll just leave off the rant and tell you that you may see one of the new nekkid-picture machines at an airport near you and let you know that, should you be told you must march through it, you don't have to. If you've "qualified" (and no one but the TSA really knows why who gets singled out) for additional screening at airport security, you've also qualified for a physical pat down instead of the TSA's new walk of shame, and you do have the choice to take the pat-down instead.
You also have the choice to take the bus or train, which is more and more appealing to me in countries where airport screening is growing more haphazardly invasive (ok, like the US of A). Despite Amtrak's route limitations, it's a wonderful way to travel in the US (and perhaps cheaper than driving this summer, especially with an Amtrak student discount).
Overseas, the body imaging machines are only in use thus far in Amsterdam -- and I'd far rather take the train or river ferry into Amsterdam, anyway. As far as flying out of or back into the US and dealing with US airport security... maybe it's time start finding out more about freighter travel and slow boats to China.
More reading:
Related reading:
More related reading: Amtrak Trip Planning | Amtrak Student Discounts | Greyhound Student Discounts | Freighter Travel
Archived Air Travel News: But I don't want the TSA to see me naked... | London Terrorist Threat Causes Changes in Airport Security | Laptops and Airport Screening | Air Travel Escalating Into Hassle Travel | Services Mail Banned Airport Items Home
Image courtesy TSAStudent Travel blog home | Share on Facebook |
Friends and family often comment on airport rules favorably, always (always) including in their remarks, "As long as it keeps me safe..." I'm among the multitude not convinced that's true, and convinced that this particular branch of Homeland Security is wasting millions of dollars on hasty decisions that become permanent policy with inconsistent, incredibly inconvenient implementation.
Okay... we'll just leave off the rant and tell you that you may see one of the new nekkid-picture machines at an airport near you and let you know that, should you be told you must march through it, you don't have to. If you've "qualified" (and no one but the TSA really knows why who gets singled out) for additional screening at airport security, you've also qualified for a physical pat down instead of the TSA's new walk of shame, and you do have the choice to take the pat-down instead.
You also have the choice to take the bus or train, which is more and more appealing to me in countries where airport screening is growing more haphazardly invasive (ok, like the US of A). Despite Amtrak's route limitations, it's a wonderful way to travel in the US (and perhaps cheaper than driving this summer, especially with an Amtrak student discount).
Overseas, the body imaging machines are only in use thus far in Amsterdam -- and I'd far rather take the train or river ferry into Amsterdam, anyway. As far as flying out of or back into the US and dealing with US airport security... maybe it's time start finding out more about freighter travel and slow boats to China.
More reading:
Related reading:
More related reading: Amtrak Trip Planning | Amtrak Student Discounts | Greyhound Student Discounts | Freighter Travel
Archived Air Travel News: But I don't want the TSA to see me naked... | London Terrorist Threat Causes Changes in Airport Security | Laptops and Airport Screening | Air Travel Escalating Into Hassle Travel | Services Mail Banned Airport Items Home
Image courtesy TSAStudent Travel blog home | Share on Facebook |
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