You're allowed to say no to TSA, Here are 5 examples of when you can
Monday, October 16th, 2023.
Gate Access
Challenging authority figures could be intimidating. These individuals can be viewed as dictators sometimes and shouldn’t be questioned. However, regarding personal beliefs and security rights, there’s nothing wrong with saying no to an order. Here are five things you can say no to when going through airport security.
The Body Scanner
The AIT (Advanced Image Technology) is the preferred and primary passenger screening machine. This machine was implemented to speed up the screening process and decrease the need for full-body pat-downs. Although The Office of Health Affairs has deemed this machine safe, some passengers may feel uncomfortable utilizing this machine—especially pregnant passengers. If you feel uncomfortable, you can opt-out and receive a full-body pat down by an officer of the same gender.
Jackets or Sweaters
“Jackets, sweaters, scarfs, belts & shoes are coming off” is probably the first list of items you hear airport security officers telling you to remove. But do you need to remove jackets or sweaters? The goal is to remove as much as possible from your person to increase the effectiveness of the AIT. Some exceptions exist when certain anomalies (alarms on screen) are in place. If you’re wearing a bulky jacket or sweater with no clothing underneath, you are not required to remove it unless the officer cannot clear the alarm while you’re wearing it. Wearing only a bra underneath is grounds to say you’re not wearing clothing underneath.
Large Beverages
Liquids, gels, and aerosols larger than 3.4 ounces cannot pass through airport security unless medically needed. Although this topic can go down a rabbit hole, let’s focus on beverages. My grandmother is diabetic, and because of this, she’s allowed to take a large Coke right through security without issues. Of course, this leads to additional screening procedures and has some limitations. E.g., the beverage must be in a translucent bottle.
X-Ray
Did you know all items, carry-on and checked, are screened by X-ray machines? What if you have an item you don’t want to go through an X-ray, like a film camera? You can request an officer to inspect a particular item by hand. Kindly notify the officer at the beginning of the X-ray process and ask them if they can check this item by hand.
Headwear
Do you remember the viral video of the passenger who removed her hat and simultaneously her wig because it was connected? Even though she was a great sport, that was pretty embarrassing. If you are wearing headwear you’re uncomfortable removing, you don’t necessarily have to. You have several options. Some of them are self-inspections or private screenings. Similar to the previous mentions, this request has its limitations. A self-inspection is when you pat down the area and allow the officer to swab your hands. Although this is not the preferred screening method, it is available.
Here’s a quick tip to decrease the chances of officers patting down your hair. If you are wearing a ponytail, bun, jewelry, or anything similar in your hair, your hair will most likely alarm the AIT machine. To decrease this, you should go through the machine with your hair down and free from jewelry or accessories.
Something I Found Interesting
Will we soon be able to connect our wireless headphones to airplane entertainment monitors? United Airlines is showcasing how airlines can benefit from Bluetooth-enabled planes. As of today, the airline has Bluetooth availability on over 100 airplanes and anticipates having it available on nearly 800 planes by 2032.
Have You Booked Your Holiday Travel
Holiday flight bookings should be done by the end of September. Once October hits, the prices skyrocket, making it extremely difficult to find an affordable flight. If you find yourself in this situation and want to be somewhere for the holiday, sometimes flying on the holiday can save you money.
Disclaimer: The content presented in the Gate Access newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and should be viewed as guidance, not definitive advice. While our articles are crafted by skilled and seasoned professionals, we would like to encourage readers to conduct their own follow-up research.