Air travel in the post 9/11 age has become an increasingly painstaking ordeal. Especially when travelling internationally. This is a story to share, and a bit of advice to lend, in order to curtail the inevitable delays with those pesky metal detectors, and their operators.
At A Glance Author denjb Contact [email protected] When A week ago Location Ft. Lauderdale, FL In addition to several random lobe piercings, I have three body piercings. A 10ga nipple ring, a 10ga scrotal, and a 4ga PA. Usually when I travel, I simply remove my PA, and have no issues whatsoever when passing through the airport security checks. There have been previous flights, when I've forgotten to remove the PA, and have still passed through with no troubles at all. This is not one of those instances, however.
Last week, my boyfriend and I were returning from our vacation in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. As usual, one we arrived at the airport, I made a quick pitstop to the men's room to remove my PA and put it in my carry-on luggage until after we passed through security screening. And, as usual, as soon as we passed through, I returned to the men's room to place the ring back to it's rightful spot. We left Mexico without a hitch, and had a fine flight back to the US, where we had to land in Ft Lauderdale, Florida to go through customs and catch our transfer flight on to Washington DC. Immigration & Customs were not an issue, as they rarely are. However, once through those lines, I didn't realize that we were leaving a secured area, passing on to the general arrival / departure area of the airport. We re-checked our luggage, and were instructed to follow the masses of people to the terminal from which our flight was leaving.
Down a narrow corridor and around a few corners, and what do I see? Metal detectors! For a split second, I thought I should turn back, and find a men's room, so I could remove my PA. But then I thought again about the few times I've passed through with it in, and there have been no problems. My boyfriend concurred, and we began removing shoes, watches, bracelets, and anything else that would set off the metal detector. He passed through, and I followed behind, and was stopped. As soon as I was stopped, I informed the officer that I had body piercings, and I'm sure that's what was setting it off. He instructed me to walk through again, and once again, I set off the detector. He told me that it was registering something that was below the waist. I agreed, and once again told him that it was body piercings. He asked where, I pointed to my crotch, received a look of disgust and was told to wait in a gated area to be screened.
So okay, a look of disgust, I can handle. But I seemed to have created quite a buzz among the safety officers working that day, all of them running around asking each other if they were aware of the "situation with the gentleman in the screening area". After about five minutes I was approached by the officer whose duty it was to screen me. I told him the "situation" and asked him if he just wanted to see it, so I could be on my way to catch my connecting flight. Instead, I was told that he had to "wand" me. Let me tell you, being "wanded" isn't nearly as exciting as it sounds. As I suspected, his wand beeped when being passed by my chest, and my crotch. He patted my chest, felt the piercing, then asked what was in my pockets. I reminded him what the "situation" was, and elaborated that the piercings were indeed in my penis and my scrotum. After I was instructed to sit again, he consulted with another officer who then informed me that I was subject to a "private screening". Again, not nearly as exciting as it sounds to be.
About 15 minutes had passed now, and we were unable to check on the status of our connecting flight. Upon my screener's return, I was led to the "private screening room" accompanied by an additional agent. The door closed, and I was asked yet AGAIN where my body piercings were. I offered yet again to show him, but he insisted on an answer. Of course once I answered, I was informed that he would need to see them. I replied that I made that offer almost 20 minutes ago, and unzipped. Once he finally was able to view the cause of all the commotion, he looked at me with a scowl on his face, appologized for the embarassment, and told me that I was free to go. I told him there was no need for him to appologize, considering the embarassment was on his part, and proceeded to gather my luggage and leave.
Thankfully our connecting flight was delayed. Bottom line - take out the jewelry. It will save time in the end, and will prevent you from being treated like a criminal. Having to show my piercings isn't an issue, but the manner in which I was treated because of my choice of body adornment is unacceptable.
Thanks for reading my rant, and hopefully it will help save you some time and frustration in your travels.