I’ve been trying to get a clear answer from someone who has experienced this - if going through TSA security you end up in the full body scanner, will you then also be forced to submit to the aggressive pat-down because of what they see on the scanner image (i.e. the Pod)?
I do not want speculative answers, please. I’ve gotten nothing but speculation everywhere. I really only want answers from people who have been through the full-body scanners at a TSA check. Not metal detectors, not the air-puff machines, but X-Ray backscatter or millimeter-wave machines only. I am trying my hardest to become an informed flier when it comes to the TSA procedures, but I cannot find this information anywhere. And if I am going to be subjected to that miserable pat-down anyway, there is no reason for me to step foot in one of those machines and have some dude checking out my naked body somewhere.
Oh, and if anyone has any experience flying out of the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam since the whole underwear bomber thing, please let me know.
Thanks in advance!
The Tulsa airport has the millimeter wave technology scanners in place (and has had for several years now). Any time I fly, I usually end up going through one of those (they usually have two of those running and only one metal detector). As I step into the machine, I tell them I have an insulin pump (and point to it) and if I’m wearing the CGM, I tell them about it (and point) as well. 99.9% of the time I have to stand off to the side afterwards while the surveillance guy reads the scan and communicates back to the agent who is manning the machine that I have been cleared. It’s a mixed bag after that, b/c sometimes they don’t immediately clear me. Sometimes they give me a pat down around the device(s). Sometimes they tell me I’m free to go. A couple times they’ve done the spectroscopy machine (the “sniffer” machine that analyzes things for explosives, etc). They wipe a swab on the pod and run it through. Obviously there’s never any issue w/ that, so then I’m free to go.
I flew recently for a race in NC, and I had the TSA agent give me an additional patdown that was longer/more thorough than any I had received in the past. Prior to this time they’d just pat down only around the device (although I never really understood what good that did…I mean, I lift my shirt and show you the pod and then you want me to put my shirt back down and then feel around for it blindly? What does that do, exactly? Wouldn’t it be better to visually inspect it? Maybe? lol. Whatever.). This time they did the whole ‘back of the hands across my crotch’ and then a full search down both legs and across my whole torso and arms. It was mostly more annoying than anything, in my opinion.
I won’t speculate any about how agressively others will be searched, but I would conservatively anticipate at least an extra pat down like I received.
On a related note, here’s a video of a young boy who was basically strip searched / patted down after going through a metal detector (makes you really want to take the family flying doesn’t it!?) :-/
About a week ago I went through a backscatter scanner and it did detect the pod (at least, I assume that’s what caused the TSA agent to follow up with more pat-downs). I explained what it was and like Bradford, they did the residue swab test. After that, they did a full body pat-down and swab-tested the agent’s gloves afterward.
All said and done it was neither traumatic nor embarrassing; it added less than 5 minutes to my journey through security. I wrote about it on another discussion here a few days ago, and I’ll repeat my advice: just be up front about the little companion(s) you have attached to yourself; the fewer surprises they encounter, the smoother your time with the TSA will be.
Here’s my remarks from last week: http://www.tudiabetes.org/xn/detail/583967:Comment:1345190
I agree with what Eric said: disclosure of the device is only going to make for a smoother process. It was less than 5 minutes worth of my time, and not traumatic.
Besides the small amount of extra time, I use it as an opportunity to educate others (by talking about the pod and how I really like it better than the other insulin pumps I’d used in the past–and they all seem to know “insulin pump” as some tubed thing that you wear on your belt 
So, hopefully as others with pods come through they will encounter an even smoother and more streamlined process b/c the TSA agents will “know” about the pod and how to react to it (not that I travel everywhere, but I’d say every little bit of education is helpful).
I agree. Disclose under the current circumstances. Wear the Pod on your upper arm on the day you will be flying so that you can easily show it.
I have had the same question and made speculation on my own so I won’t add speculation here.
I would like to add this question:
I wear my Pod and Dexcom on my legs frequently, I’m I going to have to drop my pants for TSA? Has anyone experienced this?
I am flying to Amsterdam this weekend. I will let you know how it goes. I’m abit concerned about how it will go.
This is encouraging Eric. I’m flying out of LAX in a few weeks and I’m not a good flyer under the best of circumstances. This will be my first trip with the Pod. I think, as long as I don’t have to waste a pod by removing it just to get past security, or go through too much of a hassle trying to explain what it is, then I’ll be happy.
I’m seriously leaning towards not wearing my Dex for the flight out or back. I’m looking at my calendar now to see how to best space out my usage so I don’t waste a sensor by going less than 7 days.
I think that there’s no need to disclose because a vital medical device should be considered an integral part of your body. They can tell from the scanner’s image that it contains no explosives (different colors). Otherwise everybody with dental fillings, bolts, screws, plates, replacement knees, hips, etc would be patted down. I have plenty of metal in my left knee and never tell them. I’ve gone through a couple of those scanners already and nothing was said. Whether you tell them or not you’ll be patted down, so I prefer to take the chance. Just my opinion…
I flew last evening from STL to OMA (brief 1hr flight). Security lines were short, airport was quiet. I thought I had positioned myself in a line that was just a standard metal detector, but I was eventually scooted over and asked to go through the new machine. I told the TSA worker as I walked in that I was wearing an insulin pump and glucose monitor (oPod and Dex) and asked if he’d still like me to go through. He said this machine was the best place for me? Never thought they’d say that! So I stood with my feet an obnoxiously large distance apart (I’m 5"6’ so I can’t imagine it being any easier for those who are more vertically challenged…), my hands by my ears, staring at a plain blue wall. Fewer than 20 seconds later, I was told to walk out and stand in line. A female TSA agent stood at the end of the line and was receiving instructions via ear piece about who needed further inspection. When it was my turn, she asked if I had anything in my pockets or a belt on. I said no but pointed to and explained by lumpy my stomach (left side Pod, right side Dex). She said okay, did a very brief and unobtrusive torso pat down and told me to have a good Turkey Day. Doesn’t get much better than that. I spent a total of 5 minutes going through security.
My question is this: why put the Pod through the scanner at all? Can’t you just say, “I am wearing an insulin pump and would not care to go through a scanner, but I will show you my Pod (I intend to wear it on my arm) and you can do a full body scan”? I am hesitant to even go through a scan for fear of what it will do to the Pod. If everyone who goes through the scanner ends up getting patted down anyway, why subject the Pod to any electronic or x-ray devices?
If u opt out of the scanner then you are going to have an intrusive hand groping.
“I agree with what Eric said: disclosure of the device is only going to make for a smoother process. It was less than 5 minutes worth of my time, and not traumatic.”
I don’t necessarily agree, with my Cozmore and Animas pumps they would never comment so neither did I. I would just walk through with no alarms. This past summer I was in Phoenix (with a 2 hours layover so I had time to kill) and told them ahead of time I had an insulin pump, showed them where it was, etc. Then I had to get the dusting of the pump and the body search. I am not opposed at all since if they find or keep away one terrorist I’m good with that but it did take much longer.
I don’t know about currently but then I learned to just keep my mouth shut.
Just to clarify, I never say anything to TSA about wearing pods when I am just going through the metal detector; the pods aren’t detected by those so there isn’t any need. But with the backscatter “x-ray” scanners and/or a hands-on pat-down, it seems inevitable that a pod will be detected; that’s when I suggest mentioning it up front prevent any surprises for the TSA agents.
Unless you know for sure you’ll be going through a scanner, don’t wear the pod on your arm. It just causes mass hysteria for TSA folks. I agree with the others, the only reason to disclose that you’ve got a pump on is if you are going through a scanner. Otherwise, they’ll never know and you won’t have to go through the patting down and swabbing. The only time I had an issue while wearing the pod was when I had a tank and cardigan on while wearing the pod on my arm - I forgot I would have to take the cardigan off and walk through the metal detector. The TSA folks freaked out about “that thing on my arm”.
I just flew through DFW to Europe and went through the full body scan. There were no issues regarding the Pod, I was expecting a pat down but the Pod did not register. I was on my right arm so it was easily viewable.
I hope this remains the case.
John