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Original poster

Nervous flyer - what did I do / use that was wrong to get repeated swabs

44 replies

Coldnovember · 07/07/2023 14:30

Are there any airport staff / security that can reassure me? I’m a nervous flyer and yesterday I had a frightening experience at a Greek airport whilst coming home.
I went through the body scanner at security and an alarm went off. I was asked to stand aside where I thought I’d have the usual Pat / scan down.

I was asked to show my hands and the guard swiped a paper over my hands / dress. She came back and said wait and next thing I was being re swabbed on hands / clothes and inside and outside of hand luggage. Next thing I’m being brought off to one side and questioned about what I have on my hands, there’s a lot more security around me. The only thing I could think of was Odomos mosquito repellent cream that is applied over my hands / arms and legs that morning.

I was then carefully scanned over with a hand held scanner whilst she said ‘mosquito eh…’ but then she said ok you can go.

What could have been the issue? What are they swabbing for? Would it have been the mozzie repellent? I don’t want it happening again, o was quite frightened as they became very serious very quickly.

Any idea? I’ll be afraid to fly again in case it happens again 🫣

OP posts:
bellac11 · 07/07/2023 14:31

Im always swabbed. And I beep when I go through the scanner. It just happens OP

Kiitos · 07/07/2023 14:33

Glycerine can apparently raise suspicions at airport security. So maybe a hand cream or similar with glycerine as an ingredient? No idea if this is true or not but I’ve read it a few times. I used to be nervous like this but the bottom line is that if you don’t have anything you shouldn’t have, what can they do?

Hillrunning · 07/07/2023 14:37

This really isn't something to fret over. People get swabbed often.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Flying Holidays
Antoninus · 07/07/2023 14:39

I got swabbed in the US, it’s not unusual

ComputerInitiateJump · 07/07/2023 14:45

It's just part of travelling nowadays and you'll be a tiny fraction of the people who will have exactly had the same experience that day. I once had everything turfed out of my carry on and was patted down and swabbed because I accidentally left half a bottle of water in my bag. It was an uncomfortable few minutes but it's to keep everyone safe.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 07/07/2023 14:57

Swabbing for explosive residue. The first time it happened to me they said it was c4 they were looking for. Now it always happens to me on leaving the UK. I moaned once and the guy swabbing shrugged and said I had "the eyes of a psychopath"! I might still be indignant about that years later.

grass321 · 07/07/2023 15:19

I flew back from Kos airport last weekend. The lady on the bags scanner had turned round (with her back to the screen) and was chatting to her friend for a good five minutes while I was there. Nobody's bags being checked, just totally pointless.

I found out on the plane that I had two cartons of water in my bag that I hadn't realised. Weren't flagged by security. A very different experience to Gatwick and Heathrow.

PuttingDownRoots · 07/07/2023 15:22

My then 3yo DD got flagged for random explosive screening. It happens.

Stickybackplasticbear · 07/07/2023 15:23

I understand people feel nervous about flying but I don't really understand why that experience was frightening.

primoseyellow · 07/07/2023 15:27

I have had my shoes swabbed after my legging set the scanner off, I had gold detailing on leggings. My bag also got pulled off at Houston TX and wheeled off in a wheel chair and when I received it at the other end it was soaking wet and everything was chucked back in randomly. I think just tell yourself that this happens to lots of people and there is really nothing to be frighted of.

it makes it safer for everyone.

LMNT · 07/07/2023 15:33

I’ve lost count of the number for times I’ve been swabbed or my bags have been swabbed. It’s a pretty standard airport experience.

Original poster
Coldnovember · 07/07/2023 15:54

I understand that it’s random that you are checked but what set off the scanner to prompt her to check and what was failing the swab test each time?

OP posts:
TwoBlueFish · 07/07/2023 15:56

They’re swabbing for explosives. I had the same thing, I’d been cleaning just before we went and apparently bleach can sometimes set things off.

notimagain · 07/07/2023 15:57

Coldnovember · 07/07/2023 15:54

I understand that it’s random that you are checked but what set off the scanner to prompt her to check and what was failing the swab test each time?

You're not going to get a definitive answer because nobody knows.

I'd agree with many pp that it is one of those things that happens to all/most of us occasionally...it's a PITA when it does happen but that's pretty much it.

Peony654 · 07/07/2023 15:59

I've had it done a few times, they're looking for explosives residue. Please don't be worried, you only need to be worried if you have something to hide! They are doing this for your safety.

FartSock5000 · 07/07/2023 16:01

@Coldnovember happened to me as well at Kos airport.

I don't do drugs or make bombs but they swabbed me twice. I did have some Bodyshop Pear handcream and maybe leftover sun screen on my hands but you'd think I was stashing a kilo of coke up my bumhole the way the agent eyeballed me.

Dunno if it will help you, OP, but your GP can prescribe Diazepam to help you with the nervous jitters when flying out and back. They're usually happy to give your a prescription for 6-8 tables depending on your GP and area.

I find 2 valium and some headphones makes it so much easier.

AromanticSpices · 07/07/2023 16:02

By "swabbed" do people mean with a cotton bud type thing? I've not flown in a few years so this is new to me!

crumpet · 07/07/2023 16:03

Coldnovember · 07/07/2023 14:30

Are there any airport staff / security that can reassure me? I’m a nervous flyer and yesterday I had a frightening experience at a Greek airport whilst coming home.
I went through the body scanner at security and an alarm went off. I was asked to stand aside where I thought I’d have the usual Pat / scan down.

I was asked to show my hands and the guard swiped a paper over my hands / dress. She came back and said wait and next thing I was being re swabbed on hands / clothes and inside and outside of hand luggage. Next thing I’m being brought off to one side and questioned about what I have on my hands, there’s a lot more security around me. The only thing I could think of was Odomos mosquito repellent cream that is applied over my hands / arms and legs that morning.

I was then carefully scanned over with a hand held scanner whilst she said ‘mosquito eh…’ but then she said ok you can go.

What could have been the issue? What are they swabbing for? Would it have been the mozzie repellent? I don’t want it happening again, o was quite frightened as they became very serious very quickly.

Any idea? I’ll be afraid to fly again in case it happens again 🫣

They will have swabbed hundreds, if not thousands of people on the day you traveled. Try not to worry

Antoninus · 07/07/2023 16:10

AromanticSpices · 07/07/2023 16:02

By "swabbed" do people mean with a cotton bud type thing? I've not flown in a few years so this is new to me!

They wipe your hands

notimagain · 07/07/2023 16:17

AromanticSpices · 07/07/2023 16:02

By "swabbed" do people mean with a cotton bud type thing? I've not flown in a few years so this is new to me!

One's I've seen are usually a bit more than a cotton bud, they are usually sort of paper pad (maybe 3 or 4 cm in diameter) that is clipped into the end of a plastic wand.

That gets wiped over your hands and/or bits of your hand baggage and whatever is in it then placed in a sensing unit which reads the result.

Maraudingmarauders · 07/07/2023 16:17

I've had this lots of times, and last time I had to put my feet in a weird scanner which I'd never had before.
I've also had my car swabbed on the ferry and a bomb disposal mirror and dog go over it.

notimagain · 07/07/2023 16:20

@Maraudingmarauders

last time I had to put my feet in a weird scanner which I'd never had before.

Quite a few European airports use dedicated shoe scanners ...the officials let you keep your shoes on through the archway but will then scan the shoes (with you wearing them), either on a random basis or always if they are thick soled.

MermaidEyes · 07/07/2023 16:25

I've never been swabbed but this year when i got my suitcase back there was a nice little note inside saying it had been searched and nothing untoward was found. Hope they enjoyed pawing through my dirty laundry and half used toiletries!

ChineseFakeaway · 07/07/2023 16:26

Women travelling alone are also more likely to be chosen for a “random” check as we are higher risk for someone (read: a male partner) having planted explosives in our luggage.

Lovely world, isn’t it.

bellac11 · 07/07/2023 16:28

How do they get the cases open, mine has a padlock