@Tiffany
Curious what issues you had with TSA in regards to the X2 ?
We have had TSA in different airports all follow exactly the same process for us.
Tandem t:slim X2 pump is worn into the body scanner. Obviously it is detected.
TSA pulls person with X2 to the side. Politely.
TSA does a hand pat down (TSA always ensures agent gender matches X2 wearer)
TSA does not touch the pump at all. Very specifically they do not want to touch it.
X2 wearer is asked to handle the pump and sort of rub hands liberally over the pump
TSA then swabs X2 wearer’s hands and puts the swab into the machine to check for whatever it is they check for. And it comes up negative.
Once we were directed through a metal detector instead of the body scanner. Other than that, everything the same as above as the X2 also is picked up by the metal detector. So no real difference whether body scanner or metal detector.
Extra process is less than 5 minutes.
I assume TSA agents can have a bad day like any other human but so far we have not encountered any problems or issues.
All of our other D related supplies are split between two carry-on bags and are sent through the X-Ray machine with all the other carry-on items. We take no special precautions and TSA has never given issue with the supplies.
I’ve never had any issues with supplies in my carry ons, with the exception of one time I had a bunch of insulin and a cold pack, but the TSA agent was nice about and took a quick look and let me go.
I travel a lot and am pre-check. I know the pump alarms metal detector so if you go through a normal scanner it will alarm. So I ask for a manual scan of the pump. Here’s how the difficult situations go (note my demeanor is also calm, I do not argue or yell at the TSA agents, but do advise I have a pump that needs manual scan):
I disconnect the pump prior to going through TSA.
I advise the agent I have an insulin pump that is disconnected for a manual scan, but I can walk through the metal detector.
They advise it can go through the metal detector and I can leave it on.
I explain it will alarm because of the metal.
They usually appear annoyed at this point and agree.
I walk through the scanner with no alarm.
They give me back my pump and tell me to go through the 360 scanner.
I explain I can’t go through the 360 device due to medical device manufacturers (pump and device on arm(Dexcom) advise due to potential damage.
There’s usually grumbling and berating comments by the TSA agents at this point about how I’m wrong about the 360. I’m generally just standing there. A common comment is in regards this girl not wanting to through the 360 and eye rolling and complaining to a TSA peer.
They will usually proceed at this point with a manual swab of my hands after I hold the pump in my hands.
—-sometimes at this time they’ll call their supervisor over to do a scan because they don’t know what it is. The berating comments are usually still continuing at this point.
—- Sometimes they will do a full pat down.
The worst airports (in order) I’ve found are ATW, DFW, and ATL.
I used to get the manual scan every time like through the process you mention, but now that I travel a lot, prefer not to do that because it’s not needed. They’d usually always tell me that I can go through the 360 instead as well.
I don’t even go through the scanner. I have pre-check and just ask for a hand search. Sometimes I have to wait a couple of minutes for a female agent. They just ask for me to show them the pump, handle it, they swab my hands, and do a pat down. Once the swab comes back clean I am on my way. Never have had any issues with pump or CGM supplies and insulin which I use a Frio pouch for while in transit.
Tandem specifically says NOT to take the pump into a body scanner. I disconnect my pump, put in the basket by the X-ray and tell TSA not to put the pump through. I request a pat down to avoid the full body scanner. I’ve never had a problem with TSA in these regards.
