A Better Airport Security Frisk

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I returned to the US yesterday, flying out of Haneda Japan and via Vancouver on my way to Portland, OR.

Some years ago, I wrote an email to TSA pointing out that both men and women do not like to be frisked by men. This seems common sense to me, a "well, duh!" sorta fact. I suggested, why not have female TSA agents do the frisking? Both men and women passengers would be much less stressed out, and more comfortable. Better for all concerned.

I never heard back from TSA.

Yesterday, coming out of Japan, I was frisked by a female security agent. Went through the spinning x-ray booth, and something set it off. I explained about my artificial knees, and the female agent got to it.

She asked my permission to frisk, I said, "Sure," and she gave me a thorough, competent, frisk. A better frisk, if I had been carrying contraband, than most male agents would have the nerve to perform on a well behaved , elderly civilian, at least in my experience.

And rather than tensing up and feeling uncomfortable, as one does when some strange guy lays hands on one, I felt relaxed. I think the way I reacted is just a biological, instinctive reaction for humans.
 
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Reminds me of my first haircut when stationed in South Korea.

All the barbers are women. My first time, nobody else was getting haircut. When she finished, I started to get out of the chair. She placed her hands on my shoulders, pushed me down into the chair, while saying "First time here GI?" She then proceeded to give me a neck, shoulder, and upper back massage. I would be lying to say that I wasn't more tense after that first time, but I soon came to appreciate it. IIRC, a haircut was $3.10 at the time, quite
a bargain.

Upon return stateside I visited my old High School barber. I asked him how business was, and he told me it was pretty bad. I told him that maybe he needed to hire some pretty girls to give his customers a massage. Not sure that they could do it for $3.10 though.
 
I returned to the US yesterday, flying out of Haneda Japan and via Vancouver on my way to Portland, OR.

Some years ago, I wrote an email to TSA pointing out that both men and women do not like to be frisked by men. This seems common sense to me, a "well, duh!" sorta fact. I suggested, why not have female TSA agents do the frisking? Both men and women passengers would be much less stressed out, and more comfortable. Better for all concerned.

I never heard back from TSA.

Yesterday, coming out of Japan, I was frisked by a female security agent. Went through the spinning x-ray booth, and something set it off. I explained about my artificial knees, and the female agent got to it.

She asked my permission to frisk, I said, "Sure," and she gave me a thorough, competent, frisk. A better frisk, if I had been carrying contraband, than most male agents would have the nerve to perform on a well behaved , elderly civilian, at least in my experience.

And rather than tensing up and feeling uncomfortable, as one does when some strange guy lays hands on one, I felt relaxed. I think the way I reacted is just a biological, instinctive reaction for humans.

I guess it all depends on the machine and the agent. In 2011 in San Diego, I went through the body scanner machine with my two artificial knees with no problem. Mrs. swsig, who is x-ray phobic, opted for a frisk by a female TSA agent. She was gone about 20 minutes, and when she emerged she was as mad as a wet hen. Apparently, the agent was enjoying herself way too much during the long, long frisk. My advice: X-ray or not, go through the machine.
 
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Before we were married my wife and I took a trip to Maui. The female TSA agent at LAX gave my wife a workover I don't think I'd managed in our relationship at that point. This was only necessary because LAX was (is still?) not fit for purpose as you could not stay inside security and move between terminals. Ghastly place.
 
Most frisks/pat downs are done to make it look good rather than to actually have a chance of finding something. Metal detector alarms are generally followed by someone using a detection wand rather than actual hands on. El Al excepted.

I think it was at Dallas/Fort Worth that I watched a young (to me) lady get wanded. The way she was dressed, that was a total waste of time.
 
After getting a pacemaker, cardiologist instructed me no metal detectors or wands. When flying to nieces wedding couple years later, politely informed the tsa lady i was under instructions NOT to go through the metal detector or wanding. She took it upon herself to yell out over loudspeaker "we got another one". After getting visibly irritated, a man very gingerly patted me down in full public view. Haven't flown on plane since.
 
I understand about the opposite sexes frisking or putting hands on you. I used to have a female doctor. She was the last doctor I have had, who actually put the glove on and did the prostate exam. She had huge hands.
I used to go see her a couple times a month until my insurance company said to stop.
 
Never been frisked in my life. It helps that the last flight I took was in 1999. Also, that I don't get detained by the authorities. But as far as the actual frisking goes, I would ask myself 2 questions. Is it professional and is it necessary. By professional, I don't mean good, just not how the frisker gets their jollies. And if I ever get on another plane, it will be necessary, if asked. Necessary to get on the plane, if nothing else, and that is the point of the whole thing.
As far as the sex of the person goes, either is fine for me. I used to pay a guy to hold my junk, even undressed for him. He was my doctor, but still, those hernia checks never hurt me, so I don't suppose an over the clothes groping will cause me irreparable damage.
 
Long ago, it was my birthday and two young ladies started frisking me. I was sitting down. Next, each was sitting on a leg of mine. At that point, their actions caused attention. I don't think one of them had limits.

It was so unfair when the wife stepped over and said, "That's enough, already." Sometimes you get more than what you pay for, I guess. If there is ever a next time, I will ask for more privacy

That said, frisking should not be done in the open.
 
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