Another TSA Tale

I have never successfully boarded an airplane since my pacemaker implant without a pat down plus. It is getting to be an adventure seeing what they will think of next. On the way to our vacation I had to hold out BARE arms to the sides while they frisked those arms on the top and bottom. Were they looking for guns, knives, or drugs UNDER the skin? On the way home, they fondled both knees, put their wand on my left shoe and tested my hands for gunpowder residue. I must be a famous terrorist and don't realize it. AT least I can laugh.

6 Comments

Just curious

by 0300hours - 2015-07-19 01:07:59

I'm just curious. Do you look like a terrorist?

Wow

by Macabr - 2015-07-19 03:07:59

Do you show them the pacemaker card?

Same Thing Here

by Artist - 2015-07-19 05:07:18

I flew to Michigan 7 days ago. I told everyone I have a PM, showed my card and even pulled my collar aside and flashed my incision. I am 74 year old, grey haired retired, female USAF officer. I had a TSA preclearance. They made me take my shoes off and stand in some footprints while the woman ran her hands EVERY WHERE. When approaching those more "private" areas, she just turned her hands around and used the backs of her hands as though that made some difference. I just grinned like a demented fool and thought it was a hoot. So did my friend that was watching and had come to the airport to see me off. The other day I actually set the alarm off when ENTERING Sams Club and was trying to figure out why everyone at the entrance was frozen in place.

the beat goes

by knb123 - 2015-07-19 06:07:23

I have taken two flying vacations since my implant. The first time it was to and from Buffalo. I showed my incision; they did not ask to see my i.d. card. The TSA agent was extremely circumspect, told me what she was going to do before she did it. I neglected to remove my pedometer and of course she discovered it. (Forgot all about it!) She put it through the scanner and all was well.

The second trip was to Europe. Even though I pointed to my incision, in Paris the agent asked for my i.d. card and studied it (as if they don't see hundreds of PM wearers in an average day). Then, the agent who patted me down pulled my waistband nearly halfway down my hips. Sheesh. I guess this is the price of freedom when you're a US citizen supporting the EU economy. Still traveling and will pass through airports in Poland and Denmark before I'm done. We'll see how it goes!

triggers for searches

by flutetooter - 2015-07-19 08:07:16

The funny thing is that the trigger for the search is not the pacemaker, and is nothing that would have caused the normal metal detectors to go off. The telephone booth shaped detectors are much more fussy -- Kleenex in your pocket, a pocket on the rear of your jeans, arch supports in your shoes (shoes permitted on 75 yrs. and older), zippers, embroidery stitching on a blouse, a slight movement - whatever. It show up bright orange on a monitor with the outline of your body. They wouldn't tell me what they were looking for on my bare arms - maybe a gunpowder freckle?

searching

by Alma Annie - 2015-07-21 12:07:34

I always show my card on domestic flights, and have a pat down. No big deal. BUT when returning from UK many years ago, before pm, I was stopped for an intensive pat down search. No explanation given and the woman who did it was quite sharp with me to the point of rudeness. She found nothing. As my father had just died I was feeling miserable anyway so to make myself feel better I went to spend far too much in the duty free section!
AlmaAnnie.

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Member Quotes

As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.