Airport Security

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I'm going on a trip (by myself) and for the first time in a very long time I'll be traveling by plane. This is probably stressful for anyone, but I am determined to get through it. My biggest concern is actually that I have heard that the airport security people sometimes have to give pat-downs. I am trying not to worry too much, but I am rather touch-sensitive and if I am unlucky enough to require a pat-down I'm not sure how that will go. If someone touches me in certain places (there are lots of them), well it is not painful, just extremely confusing to my brain and I react in a way that is probably seen as weird. This could cause me to appear suspicious and then who knows what. I don't think I could just explain it away, so I just need to minimize the discomfort.

Have any of you been through this? How should I dress? Loose or tight clothing? Thick or thin clothing? I'm thinking thick clothing that is somewhat tight. Touch bothers me less through clothing than it does on bare skin, so I think that thicker would protect me a bit. I'm leaning toward tighter over looser so a patter would not have to grope a lot to find me inside it and they could just do their thing and get it over with.

Any other ideas?

I'm asking you guys because I think you will understand my concern. I need a plan soon, because I have to buy some clothes.

First, if you can, get a letter of diagnosis from a doctor or other social service agency that you can carry with you. Make sure the letter describes the tough triggered responses that you are likely to exhibit should you have to undergo a patdown. If your responses are normally loud or in any way physically combative - they must know ahead of time. Request a pat down that is in private. Bring a social service assistant with you - the airlines have people who help disabled travellers. This will help in case you face trouble. Also, let your doctor or some other professional know ahead of time that you are traveling alone. It might be risky, because (you never know how they will react) - but either you, your doctor or a travel agent could even call the TSA ahead of time and let them know your situation. If you do get chosen for a pat down, hand them the letter so that they will know that a touch triggered response is not a cause for alarm on their parts. Carry an extra copy in your hand luggage.

Wear clothing that makes you feel comfortable...if tights and a leotard like a dancer wears works okay, this would go a long way in protecting your bare skin. Wear loose and light garments over the tights and body suit (leotard onsie ) so your look relatively normal ...and make sure you have no metal on your person when you go through a monitor - cause that is what usually triggers off a closer inspection.

Good luck on your trip - I hope you do enjoy everything else, and that it all works out okay.

I have traveled several times on my own. I have a letter written to TSA agents that states that I am on the autism spectrum. I ask to not queue in the never ending security line (instead going directly to the front). This also details sensory difficulties.

I have had no problem and most agents are very nice and understanding when presented with the letter. I also have letters for flight attendants if I go mute.

Thanks for the responses. I do not have a formal diagnosis, so a letter from a doctor is not possible. I'm not sure what a good alternative is.

I do not show them a letter from my doctor, just a handwritten (or typed) letter written by me.

As above, preparation will make this a lot easier and the smoother it goes the better.

Arrive at the airport early with plenty of time, to avoid stress for yourself, which then may be interpreted as suspicious behaviour.

Take with you books, music, snacks/fruit and water or something to drink. Remember that fluids are not allowed through security so don't take a favourite drinks bottle in your hand luggage. This may be confiscated even if it's empty.

Pack your luggage as detailed by the authorities, regarding fluids, electronics, anything sharp etc.

Print a card listing what your specific issues are, keep it short and to the point, and then laminate it.

Keep this card together with your passport and boarding card in an easy to access but safe place.

I would think that wearing thick clothing may create suspicion that you are trying to hide something which could result a more intensive pat down.

For your base layers wear clothing that will not hide much visually but that you are still comfortable to be seen in in public. Remove outer layers when approaching the person doing searches, put these through the x-ray machine and make sure all metal is removed too including belts with metal buckles etc, be prepared to remove shoes for x-ray too.

If your issues are severe and liable to cause a meltdown then you may want to ask about the possibility of using a private room, where the search could be conducted visually rather than physically.

Try to be polite to them even if you are feeling stressed.

I feel that wearing tight clothes over loose ones will look a bit odd and attract attention.
Enjoy your trip.

I have to say I was really worried about this last year but to my surprise the airport security people were excellent, at least in Canada. They were always polite and courteous and seemed to almost sense I was a little 'off' and really put me at ease. Their attitude was essentially "I know you are a good person so let's get this done and get you on your way." My luggage triggered a red flag and they just politely explained why and how to avoid it from happening again. Not what I expected that's for sure.

I've beeped at the scanners a few times and only once had a pat down, it only took about 20 seconds and was just a gentle pat down round the outline of the body. The other times I've beeped at the scanners they've used a wand that beeps at metal.

I always make sure there's nothing in my pockets, no jacket or hoodie on. I usually have to take my shoes off. No belt either though I don't wear those.

Airlines have a assistance thing that you can use. I think it varies airline to airline but usually you can get someone to accompany you through the airport and get pre boarding if necessary and someone can meet you at the other end. I don't think you need a diagnosis for this.

What happens is, you put carry on luggage, watches and things on a moving belt that takes it through an X ray machine where somebody can see an image on a screen to ensure you are not carrying a knife or a gun.

Now you will not fit through the x-ray machine so you have to pass through a metal detector that will bleep if it detects metal, but it cannot tell the operator what the metal object it detected is, thats why you then get a physical search because the metal detector has warned you are carrying something metal, and the operator must now satisfy himself that its not a weapon that you are carrying.

So, whilst it wont prevent random checks, the following advice will insure that you dont automatically 100% definite get searched...................................DONT CARRY ANYTHING METAL!
That way the metal detector wont go off so the searcher wont have to search you unless he really wants to.

What might you be wearing that is metal?
Watches Jewellery, coins a belt buckle, high heel shoes a chastity device, a wired bra, even some zippers or studs on jeans, depending how sensitive the scanner has been set, hair clips, bolts in your neck holding your head on.

Start at the top of your head, think of any metal that might be anywhere on you as you work you way down to your toes and dont wear it that day.

Also look nonchalant like you are not that bothered because you have nothing to be worried about,, but dont be overtly friendly either, nobody likes being searched, you are hiding something if you act like you find it a pleasant experience.

I wouldn't wear thick clothing either, too easy to hide things like a cheese wire in, they will just have to search you even harder to make sure.
You would be better off wearing the thinnest see-through garment you feel comfortable in where it looks impossible to hide anything.

Some airports have full body scanners instead of xray scanners. However I cannot stop my leg from shaking, and that cues the body scanner. So I specifically request the xray machine.

Why would you think they'd accept that?

Anyone could write or type such a letter.

Anyone could write such a thing, but they do accept it. I also do not come across as "normal" in the high sensory environment of the airport.

You didn't say where you're flying from and to, but if it's to the USA - you can count on a pat down. I don't know about flying within the USA.

Assuming you're not flying to the USA, as Nambo said, make sure you have nothing metal on you as you go through the metal detector. If you have to go through a full body scanner (rather than just a metal detector) then also make sure to remove anything under your clothing that might look suspicious. Eg. a money belt (with no metal) is fine to leave on when going through a metal detector, but will show up on the full body scanner, so they'll just tell you to take it off and put it through the X-ray machine anyway.

I think a letter is a good idea, even if you write it yourself. It might explain things better than you can explain them verbally, especially under stress.

I wish I had known about the accommodations that BornThisWay mentioned. I travel frequently and it never even entered my mind that Aspergers could be accommodated for (I'm guessing it can in the UK as well as the US). I have been given a "pat down" search a few times-the last time I had one was particularly traumatic but that was more because it followed spending the whole day at the airport as my boyfriend was refused entry to the Czech Republic due to not having a visa (he is not from the EU) even though he had been assured by Embassy officials that he did not need one. We were not allowed to leave the airport for obvious reasons and then our flight got delayed by another 5 hours on top of the 9 hours that we had already had to wait. Take someone with Aspergers, put them in a chaotic and very loud airport for 14 hours and then give them a pat down search and the result is not good. Luckily, although it felt absolutely horrendous, I managed to keep calm. The whole situation was made ten times worse when a drunk guy in front of me then vomited repeatedly on the gangway (I can't stand hearing people vomit). At that point, I think anyone could tell I wasn't your average person as I dropped my cabin baggage and clenched my hands over my ears and wouldn't move until the drunk guy did. That counts as the single most anxiety inducing day of my life.

I might try for one of those letters, particularly as I set metal detectors off a lot even when I don't think I have anything metal on me and have emptied all my pockets. I will read through Nambo's list before I travel next time. The only thing that worries me about a letter like that is how much it will be understood in other countries. I know Aspergers is fairly well recognised in the UK and the US but I am not sure how they would have reacted to a letter like that in the Czech Republic, for example, or Hong Kong when I travelled there as I just don't know how much credence they would give it or how well recognised Aspergers is in those countries. When I experienced that stressful day in Prague, I was doing anything to try and prevent a meltdown as none of the officials spoke much English and I don't speak Czech and I thought that they'd think I was suspicious if I lost control of my emotions. I always feel like I won't qualify for airport assistance for some reason.

Whatever else you do, you should notify them that you are touch-sensitive, and you might want to explain that you have autism or give them an autism-alert card. That won't stop them from searching you if you get flagged or randomly selected, but it will warn them that you might be jumpy or get overloaded, and will help explain your atypical behavior.

I believe that most places also have private cubicles for searches, and that you could ask to use one of these. It might cut down on the sensory overload.

Most airport security people are just regular people doing their jobs--you shouldn't get any real nastiness from them. If you do, you have the option of complaining to their superiors. Note that being selected for a pat-down is not "real nastiness", but being yelled at, belittled, roughly treated, or abused in any way is unacceptable. They are supposed to be professional; if they aren't, they aren't doing their jobs.

Get there ahead of time. If you go into overload or even shutdown, you will need some time to find a quiet spot to recover in. If you are still "presentable" (shut down but not likely to yell or throw things, and still able to respond to people who ask you if you need help) you can go to an unpopular shop or a corner of the waiting area. Otherwise, you might have to shut yourself into a restroom stall.

I just found this: TSA Notification Card

Probably just what I need.

This is exactly my problem! I tend to jump/squirm because it is so uncomfortable. I will take the above advice to remove everything from my pockets.