Why do airport security scanners not like me?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Okay here's one for the seasoned travellers, or maybe we have an expert among our number.

Why do I, more often than not, set off the alarm at the security scanners at airports?

When I walk through that arch I am almost certain the beep will go off. Funnily enough I got through three in a row without incident earlier this year, but since that the last three, at three different airports, have all screamed at me.

I always take off watch and belt and put them in my bag, along with phone, keys, money etc. The only metal jewellery I wear are a wedding ring and a signet ring, neither any larger than the average.

I always choose clothes for travel without metal buttons or any other metal bits other than on the trouser zip.

I've tried three different pairs of shoes, including one pair little more substantial than slippers.

Yet still I'm the one who ends up getting frisked.

Could it be my glasses, which only have a half frame and although that is metal are not excessively chunky compared to other people's?

Is it my tiny titanium tooth implant? (Other than that all other body parts are as supplied at birth).

Or just my magnetic personality?

Any bright ideas please because I'd really like to start my holiday without a body search.

[Boris+]

That's a horrid situation. I set off a scanner once - in Denmark - and it was not a happy experience.

Are you double sure about your shoes? I was pretty certain my shoes should have been ok (they were Clarks shoes), but it seems that's what did for me.

Good luck

Em

[Mervyn and Trish]

If it is the shoes I'm running out of options short of wearing plastic flip flops!

And in any case the three pairs I've tried so far are pretty ordinary average shoes so if it's them everyone should be getting stopped!

[colwill]

Since once setting off the scanners, I now take off my shoes and shove them through on the conveyor belt. Never had a problem since.

[Andrea S]

My OH has exactly the same problem. The thing that he hates is that he is always frisked by a male and he is uncomfortable with that. He does have a metal valve in his heart but they say there is no connection .

He is shortly having a ICD fitted which will trigger off the alarm but he cannot be frisked with the paddles they use so I can see him getting really uptight . He will be carrying a card so hopefully they will be gentle with him.

[Manoverboard]

There are a few possible reasons ...

a) Your glasses are deffo in the frame ...

b) Are you wearing an underwired bra these days ?

b) Your body shape turns on the airport security frisker / friskee

[Dark Knight]

probably coz you look right dodgy and they think you are a mule..or is that an ass?

[Mervyn and Trish]

There are a few possible reasons ...

a) Your glasses are deffo in the frame ...

b) Are you wearing an underwired bra these days ?

b) Your body shape turns on the airport security frisker / friskee

a) I'll try talking them off, though I may then not be able to find my flight bag

b) I'll try a softer one next trip

c) Have you seen me for goodness sake? They'd have to be desperate.

probably coz you look right dodgy and they think you are a mule..or is that an ass?

Thanks Batty. I knew I could count on this site to get to the root of the problem.

[jay-ell71]

Every time I went through the "arch" off went the bleeper. Like the OP I had removed everything that might have been causing the bleep.. The last time it happened it was suggested that it was the metal in the bra. Not wishing to take that off, I resigned myself to it happening every time, or possibly I might get a non wired bra for flying!!!

Three weeks ago, walked through "arch" no bleep. Great. BUT as my carryon bag came through the scanner, the officer pressed a button and it went off at an angle and I was directed to have by bag searched! Racked my brains as to what I could have packed inadvertently and had a mini row with OH about careless packing! Had to wait ages for someone's very large pair of scissors to be confiscated! Eventually, my case was re scanned and I was told "Just a random check Madam. No problem". I did not smile at her, I just took my bag an flounced off.

[Stephen]

Two trains of thought here.

It could be your money belt loaded with Krugerrands, or are you trying to smuggle some dodgy powder in a foil bag where the sun doesn't shine!

[Romig1]

I too almost without fail set off the alarm, despite my best efforts otherwise.

2 weeks ago, we went to Crete, and I somehow managed not to set off the alarm on the outbound journey....I was frisked anyway, and was told I was a "random pick" Needless to say, things had returned to normal and I triggered the Greek alarm and had yet another rubbing down. Wouldn't mind if they employed some nice girlies to do the rubbing...

[melsea]

Well on my trips up & down to Glasgow the past year & a bit I was nabbed by the arch in Glasgow but not at Gatwick. Worse though it was the arch that led to the body scanner. Having had to go through twice I decided to avoid it all together virtually wearing the same clothes and going through the arch down the line and never got lulled to one side again. Who knows why this happens.

[royalprincess]

Happens to other half all the time even when he's handed over everything metallic to me. Worse time was going to The White House when I thought he was going to be strip searched. Belt and shoes off. Still set it off. Both of us had to show passports to avoid him being strip searched. Once they realised we were on their side everything was okay. This was pre 9/11 so I dont know what happens now. I shudder to think. Must be his clothes I supposed. We don't really know what's in them do we.

[david63]

Must be his clothes I supposed. We don't really know what's in them do we.

Perhaps the give-away is the fact that it is a suit of armour

[melsea]

I had a bag once that every time I went in & out of shops it set it off. In the end I went back to the shop I bought it from and it seem that there was a tag lodged in the lining. They kindly dealt with it for no charge and logged the incident with head office as they have had others but didn't say why they hadn't recalled it. But hey ho that's life..