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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU at airport security asking me to remove cardigan

347 replies

Saavhi · 08/06/2019 12:03

Yesterday I went through security at Stanstead and was asked by a staff member to take off my cardigan in order for him to check me. I have never been asked this or seen anyone have to remove an item of clothing. I was wearing a very strappy form-fitting top with a cardigan on top. I felt extremely exposed when stood there as my tits/side boob were basically on show (had used top buttons for modesty). I'm not sure why this was necessary as I had not set off the machine and in no way could it look like I was concealing anything.

I have disproportionately large breasts which I have always been very self-conscious of so I accept that I may have been oversensitive. AIBU to think it was odd? I wasn't pat down or anything!

OP posts:
RoseReally · 08/06/2019 13:03

I fly quite a bit but haven't been asked to remove a cardigan before (hoodies/ coats/ jackets - yes). I was asked to take off my cardigan at Luton recently though. I am fairly heavily pregnant and was wearing dungarees, which set off the metal detector. I was then asked to go into the bodyscanner, and if I'd be happy to remove my cardigan. I was then also padded down. Was a bit pissed off but I think that's just because for some reason (while pregnant) I'm even less tolerant of randoms touching me.

I would try not to get too worked up over it OP, but I can understand why you'd be a bit annoyed!

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:05

Of course he had to check my body, I accept that.

The cardigan in no way could be considered outerwear, it is fairly tight and matches the cami I was wearing (as part of a set). It didn't set off the machine.

I don't think every male in the population ogles me but I just felt a bit weird about it all - rightly or wrongly.

Thanks for the input, I now know it isn't that outlandish of a request. Will dress more appropriately next time.

OP posts:
WindsweptEgret · 08/06/2019 13:05

YABU. A cardigan is considered outerwear. If you just have a bra or something underneath you wouldn't wear on it's own then you can request a room.

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:07

outerwear to me is jackets, coats etc

OP posts:
Lost5stone · 08/06/2019 13:07

I know nothing about airport security but you say your disproportionately large so maybe they thought you were hiding something?

jennymanara · 08/06/2019 13:08

A cardigan is not outerwear anymore than a jumper is outerwear.

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:08

Lost5stone - perhaps!

OP posts:
TakeMe2Insanity · 08/06/2019 13:09

Always been asked to remove cardigan - they have no objection to jumpers 🤷🏻‍♀️

carrotflinger · 08/06/2019 13:11

First of all, even if you don't set the machine off they do random checks on random passengers. This has happened to me before a couple of times. One of the times the woman told me that it was a random check.

Secondly, I am surprised that it was a male who carried out the check. I have never seen this before - if an additional check after the machine is needed females are sent to a female and males to a male. Was there no female staff member around?

You say he didn't pat you down or anything. So what did he do? Just ask you to take the cardigan off and looked at you and then sent you on your way?

If it has bothered you, you could contact Stansted airport and mention it.
It's probably nothing as I would imagine they are always getting directives - ie. this month you need to ask people to remove cardigans to be sure they are not concealing anything. Next month it's a blitz on shoes etc (I haven't been asked to remove shoes, even my hiking boots, for a long time)

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:11

Okay, now I know it's not an odd request. I think being self-conscious coupled with the fact that I was the only person around me asked to remove an item of clothing made me paranoid.

OP posts:
WindsweptEgret · 08/06/2019 13:12

To me outerwear is anything normally worn on top of anything that is not underwear. So bra (underwear), t-shirt, jumper (outerwear). I could just be in a bra under a hoodie but airport security wouldn't know that, I'd have to let them know.

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:13

I had gone through the machine fine and was picking up my bag/sorting myself out when the man approached me.

OP posts:
Shequakes · 08/06/2019 13:15

Its basically layers. They may not ask everyone. They dont just use scanners. They use their experience

And copping a look is very likely to be doing a visual check.

userabcname · 08/06/2019 13:18

I had this before - it was winter and I had a vest top under my normal top (just a bog standard long sleeved t-shirt) so had to remove it!! I felt v exposed so now always make sure not to wear vest tops at airports in case it happens again.

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:19

He looked at my breasts for longer than I felt necessary and it made me uncomfortable. That's just my opinion and experience. It could be completely unfounded.

OP posts:
Theredjellybean · 08/06/2019 13:20

'It was my insecurity then, the guy did cop a look but I mean my top was exposing'

this seems very odd from the OP
I thought that all patting down/physical inspections had to be done by a female security officer for female travellers.
I asked at stanstead last yr if i could have bloke do it as queue was building for the one female on duty ..and was told no.

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:21

I was not pat down by him.

OP posts:
Jsmith99 · 08/06/2019 13:21

When I was at the airport a few weeks ago a young woman in front of me in the security queue was asked to remove her jacket. She was wearing a loose white vest top underneath, and it was very obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra. She was very exposed but she didn’t seem the slightest bit bothered. Security are just doing their job.

Theredjellybean · 08/06/2019 13:22

had gone through the machine fine and was picking up my bag/sorting myself out when the man approached me.

this also seems very very odd...i travel most months through airport security and have never gone through machine without the security staff being on other side watching and if they want to inspect you further they do it there and then.

never ever been approached after walking through scanner and going to belt to pick up belongings

Yabbers · 08/06/2019 13:22

Why didn’t you just tell him it wasn’t outerwear, you were wearing clothes it was inappropriate to be seen wearing in public underneath I.e underwear? Or ask to be dealt with by a female agent, which you can also do.

Theredjellybean · 08/06/2019 13:22

oh ok OP...so what actually happened then ?

Original poster
Saavhi · 08/06/2019 13:26

Theredjellybean - so if it hasn't happened to you it's impossible.

I walked through the scanner, no alarm was set off. I proceeded to pack up my things when I was asked to remove my cardigan from a man standing at the side. Yes very very odd.

OP posts:
Sedona123 · 08/06/2019 13:27

YANBU. Similar thing happened to me at Stansted Airport too. I was wearing a very thin cardigan over a cami top, and security insisted that it was a jacket, and must be removed. I wasn't even flying, but being let back into the baggage area to pick up a missing suitcase that had shown up.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 08/06/2019 13:27

He looked at my breasts for longer than I felt necessary and it made me uncomfortable. That's just my opinion and experience. It could be completely unfounded.

Was anyone with you who you could chat to about this? Just to help you navigate it. It's horrible feeling over exposed and it can easily make you feel like everyone is looking at you. My bra strap broke going through security once and although I'm sure nobody noticed; it felt like everyone was looking at my weirdly bouncy boob!

If he was inappropriate; that's worthy of a complaint.

Are you off on holiday or coming home? Don't let this ruin your trip, if you're on your way out. Just grab a t-shirt for security on the way back Smile

jennymanara · 08/06/2019 13:27

yabbers I once asked for a female agent and got told no, I could only request that for pat downs.