My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

AIBU that I should really 'report' this?

55 replies

pinkglitterandallthatjazz · 26/07/2018 23:27

Hi

I'm not one to make an issue out of things normally so would appreciate advice from MN posters.

I frequently fly and every single time I set the alarms off going through security - I'm made to take shoes off, hold hands above head in an x-ray cubicle and then 'frisked' by a female security officer with the x-ray 'wand' - sorry not sure of the official name ha!

I was flying out a couple of months ago and while the female security officer was 'frisking' me she definitely felt longer around my breasts/bra - in so far as actually 'cupping' my breasts and running her fingers across the whole breast, rather than a quick feel of the bra underwire bit.

I'm by no means traumatised by it and absolutely appreciate the need for extensive security measures - just felt this was not the norm I'd experienced and whether I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill Confused

Has anyone else experienced the same? And if you have would you report it?

OP posts:
Report
TrudeauGirl · 27/07/2018 00:05

I haven't had experience of being frisked but maybe you could YouTube videos of airport frisk searches to see if that search is the norm.

If it isn't, it may be hard to report as it was a few months ago. But I'd talk to somone who is familiar with the procedure of frisking as it may just be a standard procedure.

I'm sorry it made you feel uncomfortable. Hopefully it was just standard, if it wasn't then I'm sure there is somone you can tell.

Report
Blostma · 27/07/2018 00:09

I had exactly the same recently, and her hand down inside the waistband of my jeans. I was travelling with DH and we were a bit WTF, but decided it was probably ok.

Report
PurpleFlower1983 · 27/07/2018 00:09

I had this before at Charles de Gaulle, the woman was very focused on that area but I put it down to my padded bra and the potential for stashing something untoward.

Report
ConciseandNice · 27/07/2018 00:10

I fly every week to various airports and i always set alarms off. I have never experienced this. It’s very odd.

Report
ManyCrisps · 27/07/2018 00:44

There’s nothing you can do if you did report they probably wouldn’t take it seriously just take it as a compliment.

Report
Mymycherrypie · 27/07/2018 00:53

Had she recognised you setting off the alarms before if you are a very frequent flyer, and this is a step up frisk from the usual frisk but still within normal range IYSWIM?

Report
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/07/2018 00:55

Two types of people airport security are told to look out for.
Frequent flies
Lone travelers.
That'll be why you're always getting stopped.
However If I were examined in the way you describe I'd be calling it highly inappropriate.

Report
Mymycherrypie · 27/07/2018 00:55

Maybe there is an airport security policy you can download/ask to see and if it’s not in there, report.

Report
FASH84 · 27/07/2018 00:58

I was frisked at Marrakech airport, it was very thorough, I wanted to ask her if we were now in a relationship after...

Report
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/07/2018 00:58

crisps, getting touched inappropriately is the furthest thing from a bloody compliment.

Report
thegreatbeyond · 27/07/2018 01:02

Crisps, honestly, what the actual fuck?

Report
Beingthere · 27/07/2018 01:05

I’ve had this years ago, when j was s teenager. It felt inappropriate and I did wonder what to do, but ended up doing nothing.

Let’s face it, there will always be someone who tries, succeeds even, to get into a certain role for nefarious purposes. How anyone can find out the truth and/or prove it, I have no idea.

I know that on the few occasions I have been searched since I am rigid and mistrustful, am sure it would put anyone off who wanted do it again.

Report
MVLipwig · 27/07/2018 01:14

I’ve found they always spend more time around your breasts tbh? I always forget to take out my hair clip so get pulled aside far too often. While it is uncomfortable it’s definitely the most obvious place to stash sometjing

Report
Chrissy93 · 27/07/2018 01:15

I know they don't like it if you wear a dress or skirt, as that makes it difficult for a frisk. I don't know whether that attracts extra attention or not? It feels like it does

Report
DiegoMadonna · 27/07/2018 01:18

It could just be that this person is more thorough in their search than others. I've been frisked various times and each person is different in terms of the level of attention their paying, to be fair.

I almost never set off the alarm walking through the scanner though. Do you have a metal hip or something, OP??

Report
flatulencebythebucket · 27/07/2018 01:20

Total mountain from mole hill.

Report
blueyacht · 27/07/2018 01:26

I was once thoroughly frisked by a woman who loudly declared ‘that’s nice, you’re wearing suspenders!’ I went bright red Blush

Report
Leatherboundanddown · 27/07/2018 01:40

I always set them off too. Every time. Traveled twice recently and felt the frisk was much more indepth than in previous years. I don't have big boobs though so can't say I felt too violated.

Report
Leatherboundanddown · 27/07/2018 01:42

Also the last one I was traveling when I had a bad knee injury and they made me put my legs up on a little step thing so they could do my legs I think. I really had trouble doing it because of my injury but they didnt care. I had to use the staff member to steady myself it wasnt v nice

Report
Stillme1 · 27/07/2018 01:52

They are supposed to use the back of their hands to do a frisk so that they can not be accused of cupping anywhere. If they are still suspicious they can authorise a body cavity search

Report
Candyflip · 27/07/2018 02:01

I always set the alarm off too! I find that they are different at every airport. I don’t think it sounds bad at all. In the US they are very throrough, and in Italy they barely touch you, for example. I would not complain.

Report
BlueBug45 · 27/07/2018 04:28

I had my (bloated) stomach patted down 4 times by a puzzled looking security person when I was in early pregnancy. I was amused and would have told her I was pregnant if she did it again.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

LellyMcKelly · 27/07/2018 05:08

I have big boobs and was told it was the underwing that set off the alarm.

Report
Stopyourhavering64 · 27/07/2018 05:43

I always seem to set the alarm off when I fly from Manchester airport...last time I was frisked and had to go through scanner and security guard asked if I was wearing a marks and Spencer bra.....I was!
Next time I fly , I'll be making sure it's a non M&S unwired bra!

Report
TrudeauGirl · 27/07/2018 05:46

There’s nothing you can do if you did report they probably wouldn’t take it seriously just take it as a compliment.

If she has been touched inappropriately and it wasen't standard procedure...how on earth is that a compliment???

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.