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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be very angry in my grandmother's behalf?

20 replies

Midori1999 · 29/10/2011 09:08

My grandmother is 79. She flew up to visit us this week and to see her new great granddaughter for the first time. UK domestic flights.

On her way here the airport scanners went off at security. She explained she had metal pins/rods in her back and also feet and so they asked her to take her shoes and coat off. She asked for help with her shoes as there was nowhere to sit and the security person said they weren't allowed to help her. They then ran the hand scanner over her and asked her to come with them and took her into a side room. Once in there, she was asked to strip down to her bra and knickers. She did this, but was reduced to tears and very embarrassed.

She does have a letter from her doctor about the pins/rods but didn't have it with her as the airport staff always tell her they can't accept it apparently, although they have never decided to have her strip before. On the way home they didn't ask her to strip again and accepted her explanation as to why the scanner went off, just patting her down.

I know they have to be strict about security and the reasons for this, but surely asking a 79 year old woman who has a walking stick and obvious difficulties walking to strip down to her underwear is a bit unnecessary? Can't they use their discretion in these things as they obviously don't resort to asking everyone who sets the scanners off to strip down?

Maybe I'm wrong, I don't use airports very often, but I think my Grandmother should complain about her treatment. AIBU?

OP posts:

DoMeDon · 29/10/2011 09:11

YANBU - I work closely to this area - am disgusted.

scurryfunge · 29/10/2011 09:12

Metal pins do not set the scanners off normally. Mine don't.

ScaredTEECat · 29/10/2011 09:13

First of all, she should bring her doctor's note.

She can try complaining but I don't know how far she'll get as they can, indeed, say it was a matter of security. Unfortunately, the security personnel at airports are badly trained and useless.

NOTE: That last statement is my personal opinion and I am biased because I think most of them are jobsworths with no common sense.

TartyMcFarty · 29/10/2011 09:15

YANBU. Are there any other 'factors' that might have contributed to the decision to strip search your grandmother? Not that I necessarily think her age is a reason she should be given special treatment, but to refuse to help her is beyond the pale, and to then use her inability to co-operate to harangue her further is disgusting.

Flisspaps · 29/10/2011 09:17

I feel for your GM, I really do.

But there's part of me that thinks that the security is there for a reason - the fact that she's 79 shouldn't exempt anyone from following the rules. Security scans and searches are part and parcel of air travel whether we like it or not.

If a younger person had pins and rods and set off the scanners but was asked to strip to their underwear in a private room, in order to ascertain they really weren't carrying anything on their person, then I don't see that many people would have a problem with that. I'd be bloody embarrassed about having to strip down to my knickers, but I'd understand why it was being asked of me in this situation.

I do think at least a chair should have been provided though so that she didn't have to struggle in taking off her shoes.

Magneto · 29/10/2011 09:17

I think she should have had the doctors letter with her. I have found that security in some airports is lax (two incidents that spring to my mind include the abandoned brown parcel in the middle of the terminal in Barcelona which was ignored by staff and being told it didn't matter that I had a pair of nail scissors in my bag in Paris when I realised I had left them in my handbag instead of packing them in my suitcase ) but security in other airports is very strict.

Rules are rules IMO, and while i can see how awful the experience must have been for your poor grandmother, I have to say that if I were getting on a plane with her, I would want to be sure the metal detectors weren't going off because of some other reason.

troisgarcons · 29/10/2011 09:18

I've seen them demand a woman takes her pram to pieces so they can look down all the metal rods. Hilarious fun (NOT) when you have a babe in arms, a couple of toddlers and the paraphenalia that goes with that.

This lady really kicked up a stink - DM link used as it s the only one will still photos rather than a video

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334937/Tammy-Banovac-wheelchair-bound-woman-wearing-lingerie-gets-hour-long-airport-search.html

wonkylegs · 29/10/2011 09:23

There are rules but there is no reason to not apply them with some dignity and compassion. The airport staff seemed to have dealt with this badly ... Write a letter of complaint to the airport - you can't complain about being searched but how they dealt with it. It might not do anything but it may strike a chord with somebody and make a difference in the future. If you don't complain then there will definitely be no change.

LaFilleSurLePont · 29/10/2011 09:25

Which airport was this?

I have a metal rod and plate in my arm,and it never used to set off the scanners,but it did last time I went to CDG and Glasgow airport,everytime I went through the scanners the bloody things went off. I had no metal on me,once I'd removed my jacket and put it in the tray,not so much as a zip,or an underwired bra,so it could only have been the metalwork in my arm.

They patted me down,and let me go on my way when it was obvious that I wasn't carrying anything I shouldn't be.They didn't make me strip thankfully. I did say that I had a rod in my arm,and a bloody great scar to prove it to the security at GA,I didn't know the French for that,but they just waved me on too. I can't imagine how humiliating it must have been to be treated like that,and stripped down to one's underwear.
I'd certainly complain about their attitude.

diddl · 29/10/2011 09:26

Sounds ridiculous to me.

No, she shouldn´t be given special treatment due to her age.

I don´t understand why there was nowhere to sit or why they couldn´t fetch her a chair though.

It does sound as though the "stripping" was a "punishment" was for asking for help with her shoes.

If she ever flies again I suggest that she takes her letter & wears shoes that she can easily slip off.

diddl · 29/10/2011 09:28

Scanners have changed-I always set them off now-I think that it´s my underwired bra.

eurochick · 29/10/2011 09:45

The letter might have helped, but she really should have been treated more compassionately. I fly a lot and have had numerous pat downs and been taken to the "naked scanner" in a side room once but have never had to remove any clothing. I think she should have been treated with more compassion.

ontherocks · 29/10/2011 09:46

Totally agree that there are rules etc but your poor grandmother. I would definately complain at her treatment. My dads pins in his leg set them off too.

diddl · 29/10/2011 09:59

These things are so badly thought out, aren´t they?

Last time I set the scanners off-very small airport & was taken to the side where there was seating specifically for those pulled aside to take shoes/boots off.

I remember being at Birmingham-huge queues-& random people within the queue being asked to take shoes off & put in the trays with wallets/jackets etc.

How would that have worked for someone who can´t take shoes/boots off without sitting down?

PigletJohn · 29/10/2011 10:06

the "strip down to bra and knickers" sounds abnormal to me. I have metal plates and usually get a hand scanner run over me (they expect me to take off my jacket and belt, and empty my pockets).

I think you should write a letter of complaint.

I have no way of knowing if there is any exaggeration in what you say.

fluffythevampirestabber · 29/10/2011 10:07

I would be angry. Have these people no common sense or decency or courtesy?

I was "patted down" by a jobsworth at an airport in the UK in full view of everyone and even my XH thought she was feeling me up with her hands right in my crotch and lingering over my breasts

EllaDee · 29/10/2011 10:46

I think that's really nasty.

I've flown with my gran, and she got frisked but they were so polite and nice while they did it, and she wasn't upset by it because of that. Attitude makes a huge different. I don't understand why your gran could not have had a chair - I would have been worried about her falling if she tried to get down on the ground to take her shoes off etc. Not on at all. Is it not on shady ground with (the dreaded) health and safety they get so bothered about?

I expect if the stripping had really been necessary (if they really were worried she had something), it could have been much easier for her had they only bothered to be polite all through and explained there was no other way. As you say, doing it like this it comes across as a punishment.

SnapesMistressofFear · 29/10/2011 10:59

Try going through an Israeli airport as a young white girl travelling alone. I was strip searched, all my stuff was opened and run over to check it wasn't explosive (even unopened gifts) and was then followed by security guards until I got on the plane (over two hours).

Apparently young white girls are a security risk because we are easily influenced by Arab men.

SnapesMistressofFear · 29/10/2011 11:00

I was 20 btw going through Ben Gurion airport.

SharkieLeRouge · 29/10/2011 11:07

try being young, white and IRISH SnapesMistress. Apparently one of us was duped by Arab man and almost unwittingly blew up a plane twenty (?) years ago. El Al LOVE us :)

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