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Original poster

Male security at LHR asked my 15 daughter to take off her hoodie when she was travelling alone

243 replies

sofato5miles · 17/10/2021 07:10

Am i over reacting? She was upset. She had a large but thin hoodie on and only a strappy top underneath. No female officers and she was properly unnerved by it. She was flying home alone for half term. She is a shy but capable girl. My gut feeling if she felt uncomfortable it was because something felt wrong. WWYD? Would you make an official complaint?

I have spoken to her about finding her voice before ( though in this specific case, requestiing a female officer). The hoodie was mostly zipped but you could see her straps.

OP posts:
Redredwiney · 17/10/2021 08:48

Oh come on! Explain to your daughter that it’s protocol rather than encouraging the mindset that anything a man does is predatory. He was doing his job!

MamsellMarie · 17/10/2021 08:50

AT Gatwick a male security person emptied stuff from a girl's hand luggage including her cap (contraceptive), opened the container and took it out (it was pink!) then put it back, plus several other tubes of makeup etc. There was several in a group all had stuff in hand luggage that shouldn't have been there, all were stopped. I think it was a transfer that had to go through security again, not sure where they were from.

RussianSpy101 · 17/10/2021 08:52

Why would it of made a difference if the security officer had bren female? If she isn’t happy or comfortable wearing a vest top, then she shouldn’t wear one.
This is completely standard procedure. She needs to learn to speak up for herself and wear clothes she is comfortable wearing.
The security have done nothing wrong here.

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Flying Holidays
NashvilleQueen · 17/10/2021 08:52

Make an official complaint?! Please don't.

It has been standard practice for about a decade now for people to be asked to remove coats and bulky jumpers to go through security. If she's flown before (and presumably she had to travel to wherever she was going in order to come home) then both of you will know this.

Also there 100% would have been a female security person around. There always is.

tiredoftiers · 17/10/2021 08:53

It’s just protocol. Similar happened to me years back, and I refused to take my hoodie off as I had hardly anything underneath.
Instead I was given a fairly brutal pat down by a female member of staff. I’ve always made sure I have a proper top on now.
At the end of the day they do it to maintain our safety.

grey12 · 17/10/2021 08:54

I don't understand this thread, maybe it's a language thing....

You said hoodie: I picture a thin jumper with a hood on, right? Why would security make you take off your jumper?? Hmm a big coat is different but a jumper? Flying during winter would be fun with everyone having to strip at security!!

But I do agree with PP, there is usually always a female officer around.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 17/10/2021 08:54

Yet another total non-event. This place really has gone a bit mad recently.

clockover · 17/10/2021 08:55

The hoodie was mostly zipped but you could see her straps.

This final comment in the OP has made me wonder if you are insinuating this man asked your DD to remove her hoodie because he saw straps from her top, which would be utterly bizarre. I am probably wrong (usually am) but I can't work out for the life of me what you are getting at, if not that.

Taytocrisps · 17/10/2021 08:57

I wear hoodies a lot and I'm always asked to remove them at security. It's not an issue because I don't wear vest tops and would always have a t-shirt on underneath. It did surprise me the first time I was asked because I class them as clothing, not as a coat or jacket. For me they're the equivalent of a cardigan - I mostly wear thin hoodies and I'd still wear a coat or jacket over them. But I assume the airport staff class them as outerwear irrespective of whether they're thin hoodies or big, thick, bulky ones.

DD often wears jumpers or hoodies without any t-shirt or vest top underneath. Seems a bit strange to me because if she gets too hot, she can't remove them as she doesn't have another layer on underneath. But when I asked her about it, I just got an eye roll Grin. Next time we're flying, I'll remind her that she may need to remove her hoodie.

RampantIvy · 17/10/2021 08:57

and I would prefer we increased the risk of terrorist attack than had quite a few of the measures we have in place

I can’t believe I’m reading this. I’m happy that these measures are in place to reduce the risk of a terrorist attack. Removing my shoes and hoodie/jacket to go through security is not much of an imposition IMO.

We usually fly from Leeds/Bradford or Manchester, and removing jackets, hoodies and shoes has been normal for a number of years. If you haven’t flown at all I can understand not knowing, and I can understand that a 15 year old would feel self conscious. However, she can chalk it up to experience and just wear something more suitable underneath her hoodie next time.

Dont, I think the damage caused by all the checks at air ports including on liquids is higher than the risk of catching a terrorist

What damage?

I am also tempering my protective response with being realistic and you have all reassured me that this was us dropping the ball and nothing sinister. Thank you

Well done for taking it on the chin @sofato5miles. I hope your daughter’s next flight is less stressful for her.

Mellowyellow222 · 17/10/2021 08:58

I do think you need to bring some reality to this situation.

The man’s request was reasonable within that context.

Projecting some unwholesome motive on to him is unfair. While yes your daughter needs to be live to unsafe situations,and know when to say no in situations which make her uncomfortable you also need to teach her what is reasonable and normal.

You assumed this man had sinister motives for asking your daughter to take her jacket off. You ignored the reality of airport security.

I think you both need a reset. You can’t see sexual predators everywhere, of you do your instincts are wrong and you can’t rely on them.and our instincts are so important, particularly for a teen girl.

OverByYer · 17/10/2021 09:00

Not sure what the issue is. It’s not like he took her in a side room to remove it. There would have been other female security nearby as well as female passengers

Nanananani · 17/10/2021 09:01

I’ve it was a hoodie with a zip down the front they will almost always ask for it to be removed in same way as a light jacket.

There’s always male and female available if a ‘search’ is required

Frlrlrubert · 17/10/2021 09:04

He's probably on semi auto pilot as well. Just says 'please remove your hoodie' every time he sees one, not thinking too much about what might be underneath.

(I nearly told off another teacher for going the wrong way around the one way system after school the other day)

Like others have said, wear more under it or speak up and say you're not properly dressed underneath seem to be the options.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 17/10/2021 09:05

Yes I was asked to remove my zipped up hoodie too at an airport, I was not happy, I was very obese at the time - since had gastric surgery - and was left standing in front of hundreds of people in little more than a bra like top with people sniggering.
Given my time again I'd have told them to get stuffed and have insisted upon being taken to a private room.
i was completely humiliated.

Indoctro · 17/10/2021 09:10

I wore a hoody through Glasgow sport a few months ago to Majorca

I was asked to remove it

It must be standard practise , at least she is aware now and in future can dress in a way she feels more comfortable with

Not her fault she didn't know but not the security fault either, airport rules are strict for a very good reason and he was just doing his job

StillWalking · 17/10/2021 09:11

YABU ... if she’s flown before she must have known the drill. Tell her to wear more appropriate clothing in future.

Benjispruce4 · 17/10/2021 09:11

I think it’s a teen thing and being self conscious but security is v important so lesson learnt and wear different clothing next time. I don’t think the security guard did anything wrong.

Benjispruce4 · 17/10/2021 09:12

However, a screen should be there for privacy.

OverweightPidgeon · 17/10/2021 09:13

Given my time again I'd have told them to get stuffed and have insisted upon being taken to a private room

Really? You’d have told them to get stuffed for doing their very important job ? They have no idea what people have on underneath and I’m sure they don’t do it to humiliate anyone 🙄

Clymene · 17/10/2021 09:13

@grey12

I don't understand this thread, maybe it's a language thing....

You said hoodie: I picture a thin jumper with a hood on, right? Why would security make you take off your jumper?? Hmm a big coat is different but a jumper? Flying during winter would be fun with everyone having to strip at security!!

But I do agree with PP, there is usually always a female officer around.

The word hoodie means a sweatshirt with a hood with a zip down the front. It is effectively a jacket.

You have to remove jackets at security. You've had to for years.

CharityDingle · 17/10/2021 09:15

As has been said, yes, it's standard, not just at LHR. There are recorded announcements at some airports as you go through the security queue reminding people to remove stuff, belts, jackets and so on.

A hoodie is, to all intents and purposes a jacket, so I would expect to have to remove it.

(I sometimes set off an alarm, despite ever being fine, and I have no idea why. That's by the by.)

CharityDingle · 17/10/2021 09:15

...everything being fine

Kindertonguehappierlife · 17/10/2021 09:18

This sort of attitude will make your daughter feel more anxious and uncomfortable in future. You need to explain to her that not everything a man does is a threat. Even if it’s an uncomfortable security measure that she doesn’t like.

PennyPooBags · 17/10/2021 09:19

Whenever I travel through Heathrow airport I assume that the security/immigration/customs staff are going to be rude and unhelpful, as that’s what I’ve encountered in the past. I also take off as much as I can to put in the tray, when going through security, I don’t wear a watch or a belt or boots, and make sure any electrical equipment is charged so it can be demonstrated it works.

Gatwick is a nicer experience!