Over the top US style full body scanners in smaller airports now?

[Viridis]

Sorry folks, but better get used to it. I've been told there are laws in place that require most Australian airports with RPT traffic to 'upgrade' to the body scanners.

This whole process is stupidly slow and seemingly unnecessary especially at a domestic level.

I'm no apologist for airport security but I'm not sure why you'd distinguish between International & Domestic. The 9/11 attacks were all domestic flights IIRC.

We don't have to remove shoes, we don't have to ditch our liquids so why this level of paranoid scanning?

The policy on shoes seems unfathomable & inconsistent; it varies between airport and operator (even at the same airport!). LAGS is reviewed periodically for domestic flights so careful not to speak too soon. I believe it's PLAGS now, too - 'powders'.

Airport security is invariably elaborate and expensive theatre intended to make people feel safe. I'd liken it more to the Stanford Prison Experiment

 

[zig]

Every time I go through the body scanners I am required to wait for a pat down. Hot spots everywhere - seems to be a different place each time though.

 

[jb747]

Sorry folks, but better get used to it. I've been told there are laws in place that require most Australian airports with RPT traffic to 'upgrade' to the body scanners.

The scanners are bad enough, but the officious people that they bring with them make walking an attractive alternative.

I'm no apologist for airport security but I'm not sure why you'd distinguish between International & Domestic. The 9/11 attacks were all domestic flights IIRC.

Quite correct, though I think you’re in much more danger from the decisions made by the management(s).

The policy on shoes seems unfathomable & inconsistent; it varies between airport and operator (even at the same airport!). LAGS is reviewed periodically for domestic flights so careful not to speak too soon. I believe it's PLAGS now, too - 'powders'.

Moronic, inflexible, and pointless are terms that come to mind. Plus I think some are meant to simply be annoying. Why else would they have chosen 100g as the maximum, when the smallest toothpaste tube is 110g. And if 101 g is so dangerous, why are you allowed multiple tubes.

 

[justinbrett]

In the case of the TSA they deliberately change the rules frequently, even at the same port.

Maybe seeing how pax react to this kind of stuff is itself part of the screening.

 

[smckay]

Dubbo use the full scanner and they are very official with it.
I wear boots that just touch my ankles and they have to be removed each time.
I just glad they are on the case

But why does Sydney have nothing but Xray when you would think it is the prime place to boost a jet for evil doings.

 

[Warks]

Dubbo use the full scanner and they are very official with it.
I wear boots that just touch my ankles and they have to be removed each time.
I just glad they are on the case

But why does Sydney have nothing but Xray when you would think it is the prime place to boost a jet for evil doings.

That's why I got the feeling they were rolling it out in smaller airports first before the full roll out. Not as expensive to get rid of it all if it's a failure maybe? There just wouldn't be room in the SYD terminals for the queues as the scanners are so big they'd take the place of two metal detectors by the look of it. So you'd reduce the throughput unless they could somehow make them work faster.

 

[Viridis]

There just wouldn't be room in the SYD terminals for the queues as the scanners are so big they'd take the place of two metal detectors by the look of it.

Already in Qantas domestic ……

 

[Warks]

Already in Qantas domestic ……

Not in T2. How long have they been in T3?

 

[Viridis]

Not in T2. How long have they been in T3?

Don’t know exactly, but measured in weeks though

Best of both worlds at the moment. New bag scanners so no “laptops out” but don’t have those stupid body scanners yet

Can’t last forever but good whilst it does

 

[JohnK]

Interesting time at SYD international security Friday morning.

Elderly man in front taking long time past the body scanner. Elderly lady waiting behind him and me waiting behind her.

They let dozens behind me through the walk through body scanners. My things just waiting there as people grab their things.

Lady in front got into body scanner and out other side. She didn't understand but they wanted her to take shoes off and do it all again. They're still forcing me to wait through this stupidity. You can see me turning red by now.

She's finally through. And then my turn. She does the same to me. Forces me to take my sneakers off and come back through. By now I've totally lost it. My belongings not in sight. Anyone can walk off with my jacket and wallet. One of the security staff heard my mumblings and went and got the tray with my jacket.

Meanwhile dozens more still going through the normal body scanners. I finally got through. By the way first time there were about 8 yellow boxes including 2 around ankles. Second time I didn't see but I was still patted down front and back. Felt like a long time. It was a long time.

I don't get it. Are they doing this intentionally? What's the point of causing this stress on some while the majority are off scott free?

Please don't ever tell me security does anything important. Waste of time money and now long delays at airports all around the world.

 

[jakeseven7]

. By now I've totally lost it. My belongings not in sight. Anyone can walk off with my jacket and wallet.

This is my biggest issue.

My boss had his laptop stolen at airport security because he was separated from it on one side.

I now refuse to pass through any scanning until my possessions are on the way out of grabbing opportunity.

Got screeched at in the T4 budget terminal in Melbourne to ‘move though’ while my buckets were still jammed airside basically politely told them to go jump until the bags went through I’m not moving.

 

[gaz0303]

Full body scan set up in Armidale. The requirement to remove the belt, then hold both hands in the air and turn around reveals more than desirable sometimes.

Frustrating that in ports with these scanners, you need to remove shoes (RMs), belt and suit jacket. Surely technology is better?

 

[Franky]

Full body scan set up in Armidale. The requirement to remove the belt, then hold both hands in the air and turn around reveals more than desirable sometimes.

Frustrating that in ports with these scanners, you need to remove shoes (RMs), belt and suit jacket. Surely technology is better?

Each time I've been the the new systems there always is a hotspot around my left shoulder, which then requires the full pat down. And that's with 2 knee replacements which don't get a mention. I'd rather go back to the old ones...

 

[jpp42]

The requirement to remove the belt, then hold both hands in the air and turn around reveals more than desirable sometimes.

This talk about scanners that require you to turn around is really strange. Is this a cut-rate Kmart version that doesn't have the motor inside to move the scanner around the person? The original versions widely used in the US had an obvious motor-driven arm that moved around, and you had to raise your arms over your head, but stand in one position while the scanner moves around you. The newer ones that I've seen in Australia just require you to turn sideways with your arms out away from your body. What's the go with the having to turn around?

 

[gaz0303]

Here it is in action - jump to 45s. Low passenger numbers so lowest cost system.

 

[Seat0B]

CBR has one of the new scanners and I love it. You just leave everything in your bag and on your body except for winter coats and scarves, and stand still for a short scan, and then off you go. As a person with 2 knee replacements that used to get fully searched and patted down EVERY SINGLE TIME, I have now made 3 trips through this scanner in the last 6 weeks without having to be searched at all. Very happy with it. In fact it has been quite interesting to see the negative reactions of people being patted down (which I used to endure all the time) because something has registered. Yes, it is intrusive and annoying, isn't it! And yes, you do feel anxious about your phone, wallet and computer, don't you! I love the new arrangements.

 

[jase05]

CBR has one of the new scanners and I love it. You just leave everything in your bag and on your body except for winter coats and scarves, and stand still for a short scan, and then off you go. As a person with 2 knee replacements that used to get fully searched and patted down EVERY SINGLE TIME, I have now made 3 trips through this scanner in the last 6 weeks without having to be searched at all. Very happy with it. In fact it has been quite interesting to see the negative reactions of people being patted down (which I used to endure all the time) because something has registered. Yes, it is intrusive and annoying, isn't it! And yes, you do feel anxious about your phone, wallet and computer, don't you! I love the new arrangements.

Went through CBR on Sunday and forget to remove my wallet. Got the pat down and then security took my wallet and walked it back to put in the tub. Only trouble was by now there were about 8 passengers behind me with tubs on the belt so my wallet sat unattended on a tub on the belt for several minutes. Gave me a few anxious moments.

As for the ADL scanner, been through 3 times last week and despite only a handful of people in the priority line it would have been far quicker to go in the pleb line as they were moving through far quicker. Every single person I reckon registered a hot spot

 

[JRN71]

They appear to create a lot of false negatives- usually at extremities like bum groin breasts etc causing a lot more unnecessary touching- overkill, officious and unnecessarily creating touching by staff in more intimate areas. Hate them.

 

[gaz0303]

Agree with you @JRN71 Just went through TAM with the full body scanner that requires a pirouette sans belt. Despite only wearing a watch (rubber banded), I had to get a full body pat down due the number of false negatives. I never have issues with false negatives at the major ports. Are the machines just rubbish or are they turned up to high sensitivity due to the relatively inexperienced operators?

 

[Vic]

Late to the partywhat i find holds up the queue are people who dont realise there are 4 spots on the x-ray bag dump section, and queue up waiting for one person to unload their bags.

In terms of the body scanners. I almost always get pinged for a sweaty back. I always tell them "that's my sweaty back, make sure you got gloves on".

I can't imagine why there would be any need for the pax to spin around, that seems completely stupid