For some travelers cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages are not enough to overcome their concern about facing an invasive patdown when going through security at the airport.
Recent news stories about diapered seniors, young children and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld being singled out by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials for additional screening has some potential travelers wondering how challenging it is to get through airport security checkpoints.
Airport security patdowns occur in less than 3 percent of the passengers going through security, according to the TSA. In most cases such pat-downs are the result of passengers triggering alarms when going through a metal detector or a full body scanner.
Although there is no way to guarantee that you will not be subjected to a pat-down at the airport, there are steps passengers can take to minimize their odds of being selected for this procedure:
Passengers who are prepared for screening and do not (set off) alarm(s) for prohibited items are less likely to require additional screening, according to the TSA.
Make certain that you take everything out of your pockets, including your wallet before going through security. Take out any jewelry, spare change, belts or other metal objects that could set off a metal detector before going through security.
Some passengers make a point of wearing tight fitted shirts to the airport so there is no question as to something being hidden.
The better you behave going through security, the less likely you will stick out and potentially be pulled aside for additional screening. Complaining loudly or audibly questioning the competence of TSA officials increase a passengers odds of being pulled aside for more invasive searches. www.cheapfares.com