Fear of flying with new scans and "enhanced" body

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Well, personally I am relatively lucky here. I've always liked flying/airports (and that's my future career), so I don't really have a problem with it. Though TSA is getting a lot of bad press now... Just a heads up, you know that those backscatter x-ray scanners are called x-ray for a reason.... Not very well proved safe. But the MMwave scanners seem to be safe for now. For those wondering, the flat panels you stand between are BackScatter XRay, and the circular booths are MMwave scanners (correctly known as millimeter wave scanners). I had no problem traveling to Canada in august, though I forgot my (metal) belt and therefore got wanded and "zapped" (MMwave scanner) thanks to that o_o. Though at that point Saint Louis did not have scanners yet, so easy going there. And customs went great (like, we were extremely lucky and had no line, no problems). If your kid has a problem, try to calm them, and try to use the scanner (though you might want to stay away from backscatter XRay ones). I must warn you all, the TSA is now going to use MUCH more invasive patdowns, so be careful if traveling with your kid, and try to meet your kids needs. Hopefully this info might have helped.

EDIT: Toronto has scanners too, a few Canadian airports gave them. Toronto had MMwave scanners.

Call the airport and ask what kind of accomodations they can make for special needs children. I am sure they have plenty so you can avoid all the hassles and go right through.

BTW - I personally will never allow myself or my children to be scanned. Ever. I will just not fly if there ever comes a point where you cannot choose between a pat down and a scan. I am freaked out enough already by EMFs and the effects of all things technology, that I am not interested in trying out new full body scanners that are 'safe'.

Hmmm......Seems like a lot of people are anti body scanners, yes, I know why. I am actually afraid of pat downs, so I would choose the scanner out of intense fear. They would think I was hiding something if they did the pat down because I would be so nervous.

I don't have a fear of the pat down or scanners and wouldn't mind either, but I agree they should come up with another method that is less invasive for those who do have concerns or fears.

If I went through a scanner would they still have to pat me down? I don't think I'm overly concerned about the xrays. I'd rather go through a machine then have someone touching me. I've never been on a plane before but might need to one day.

I imagine airports are very crowded places which also worries me, along with lots of noise. I might search around here and see if there are other threads about what we do to cope with airports...

They I just going to far now!, have a look at the latest where the TSA unveils thier new scanner "Genital Visulizer", Iam not doing this!

Sorry about the adverts in the first 45 seconds.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrIJr-klDv8&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]

I have not flown for the same reason. I had one horrible experience from some moron TSA agent a few years back...even AFTER I told him my son was autistic. Now? I told my husband if we do fly, I will teach my son to FART...and that's what we'll all do...should make that darn pat down much quicker...or be stopped completely...haha...and yes, I am serious. >:

I have not flown for the same reason. I had one horrible experience from some moron TSA agent a few years back...even AFTER I told him my son was autistic. Now? I told my husband if we do fly, I will teach my son to FART...and that's what we'll all do...should make that darn pat down much quicker...or be stopped completely...haha...and yes, I am serious. >:

I'm getting a bit nervous about this. I am going to Hawaii next week and I am going through an airport with the scanners.

I normally don't have problems with air travel, but the new scanners and procedures have made me more reluctant to fly commercially. The local airport here is a smaller regional airport and does not have the scanners or invasive pat-downs (yet), and last time I went overseas, I went through there and getting through security was fast and painless. Coming back I was picked for SSSS at the other end (meaning extra, but not invasive pat-downs) and then going through the body scanners once I landed back in the US, which I was uncomfortable with, but it was either that or the pat-downs.

Once I get my PPL, I will be able to fly with much less hassle, even if it is a bit more expensive

I hate, hate, hate to be touched. I'm also freaked out by the scanner, but now I guess I'll have to deal with it because they are NOT going to touch me. I haven't had a meltdown in several years; that would bring it back so quickly.