My family of four recently did a three-night sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas on Disney's newest cruise ship, the Wish.
27.07.2023 - 18:41 / smartertravel.com
If you’re selected for a TSA pat down at airport security the next time you fly, expect to face a more hands-on physical inspection than you’re used to. The TSA has implemented a new “Universal Pat Down” to replace the varying types of physical screenings it previously used. Some travelers are calling the new practice invasive.
‘More Involved’ TSA Pat Down Screening“Effective March 2, 2017, TSA consolidated previous pat-down procedures into one standardized pat-down procedure at airport security checkpoints and at other locations within the airport,” the TSA said in a statement.
According to Bloomberg, the change is in response to a Department of Homeland Security investigation that found widespread failure by TSA to seize weapons from undercover agents. Bloomberg also reports that the TSA is notifying some local police about the change in anticipation of increased complaints about “abnormal” frisking.
“I would say people who in the past would have gotten a pat down that wasn’t involved will notice that the [new] pat down is more involved,” TSA spokesperson Bruce Anderson told Bloomberg.
Related:The TSA Has Been Spying on YouA traveler who experienced the new procedure told NBC News that “seasoned travelers might take it in stride but infrequent travelers will be embarrassed and shocked.”
What Is the New TSA Pat Down?The TSA hasn’t publicly specified what exactly these new pat downs will involve. Anderson told Bloomberg that “knowing our specific procedures could aid those who wish to do travelers harm in evading our measures.”
Opting out of body scanners or alarming a member of the canine team will result in a pat down. Other “unpredictable security measures” can also call for them, the TSA said in a statement. The current protocol for pat-down screenings states that agents primarily use the backside of their hands when touching sensitive areas of the body like genitals, but may use open hands “in limited cases.” The TSA has told SmarterTravel that its agents learned the new “Universal Pat Down” in instructor-led classes.
Related:Can the TSA See You Naked? What Are Your Rights?If you’re worried about being screened the next time you’re at the airport, prepare yourself by knowing your rights. Specifically, officers of the same gender as the traveler must perform pat downs with another agent present, and passengers can request a private screening and bring along an individual of their choosing. If you are selected for a TSA pat down as these changes become clearer, consider taking advantage of a private screening with a travel companion present.
What do you think of the screening changes? Comment below.
More from SmarterTravel: Congress Worried About Security Gaps at Airports Global Entry vs.My family of four recently did a three-night sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas on Disney's newest cruise ship, the Wish.
Season two of "Below Deck Down Under" is full of drama, but last week the Bravo series made headlines for a shocking scene in episode seven that spilled over from episode six. One clip garnered a fierce reaction from fans and critics alike, gaining over 92 million views and 146,500 likes as of Sunday.
Spirit Airlines wants to help travelers make sure they squeeze in a summer trip a sale that has one-way fares starting at just $40.
A United Airlines passenger flew two hours across the US after the airline failed to reunite her with her bag.
Southwest Airlines is already preparing for spring break next year with new flights to Belize, Los Cabos, and San Juan.
America’s busiest airport is now accepting reservations for its first-ever private luxury terminal opening this September. The new terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International will offer a premium pre- and post-flight experience, where for a hefty sum, travelers can fly in and out of the high-traffic airport without ever stepping foot in the hectic main terminal.
It’s the end of an era for plastic water bottles at the Los Angeles International Airport.
American Airlines will add a pair of new flights from Phoenix next year, flying to Mexico and Washington state for the winter.
The TSA has been in the news lately, and not for a good reason. As you may have noticed, the security lines at most major U.S. airports are ridiculously long—so long that many people are actually missing flights despite arriving at the airport within the typical two-hour window.
For $85 and a little bit of legwork, TSA PreCheck lets you skip the airport security line on domestic flights. It’s a nice service for frequent travelers wanting to save time, and a privilege, you’d think, worth paying for.
It’s been almost 15 years since Richard Reid, better known as the shoe bomber, failed in his attempt to bring down an American Airlines flight with an explosive hidden in his shoe. And yet here we are, all these years later, still shuffling through TSA checkpoints in our socks or bare feet. Why, you might ask, are we still forced to do this?
An incredible, unsettling report from the ACLU, using the documents obtained from the TSA, details patterns of racial and religious profiling, dubious tactics, and shaky science in that agency’s behavior detection program.