AIBU at airport security asking me to remove cardigan

[Saavhi]

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!

Standard practice for me to have to remove my cardigan at some point in a security check.
My boys have to remove their flannel shirts as well.
Usually at Singapore, to be fair - Sydney aren't that fussed and Heathrow are a bit hit and miss about it, but at Singapore, they want all jackets/ cardigans/ overshirts removed.

Belt had to come off at Heathrow last journey home, that was very irritating as putting it back on as well as picking everything up was a real fag. We travel with sandal/croc shoes on so we don't have to remove those - the boot thing I did once, that was enough.

Jewellery :Not a chance, to explain

only one ring will come off (ant that's with a fight), one chain bracelet, none of the five bangles are coming off without snips

I am extremely vigilant about watching "my" tray go through security anyways but that's usually containing items that would not be easily pocketed, but it's not always possible to keep it and any wannabe tealeaves in sight, so no, my jewellery is not coming off.

It's standard. But they choose a certain number for closer inspection eg fifth person through etc

I am a 32 f despite being slim and wearing size 10 jeans.

What's the relevance of you being slim?

I'm with you on this OP..

A 'cardigan' can basically be your top, with a cami vest being underwear underneath.

Outerwear is designed to be taken off - some cardigans (50's styles, for example) aren't.

I've had had the same happen to me, when travelling with colleagues. It was extremely embarrassing (and unnecessary) as my cardigan (basically a top with buttons) was so fitted there was nothing to be hidden underneath.

What's the relevance of you being slim

that my boob size is disproportionate (and something I can be self-conscious of)

Why is security so much stricter when flying compared to sailing? I hadn't flown for years until recently and was surprised and the full on security checks. Contrast that with taking a car on a ferry and nothing. You could have anything in the boot of your car and yet no checks. Am I missing something?

But you being self conscious about your boobs has nothing to do with security doing their jobs properly.

Any time we've traveled we all had to take off jumpers, cardigans, hoodies, jackets, any loose outer clothing. This is for any airport we've gone through. One time traveling through Gatwick the guy told me to take off my jumper, it was a one piece, it had a V neck with a sewn in piece of material to make it look like a 2 piece. When I told him I only had my bra underneath, he didn't believe me and he was saying I needed to remove it and I'd have to wait to be searched in private, but with renovations going on and shortage of staff I'd have to stand aside and wait, meaning I'd miss my connecting flight, after asking him what I could do to make my flight he told me to remove my top, which I did and stood there in my bra, he then told me that he'd have to get a female to search me, eh, I was practically naked you could see I'd nothing hidden. A female finally came over and handed me my jumper and told me never to do that again.

Of course she would not wear just a vest on the plane. And she bravamisso is not as great as some claim on here.

Why? Do you mean as underwear with no bra underneath? In which case I’d have asked for a side room.

As Bravissimo girl myself though I would never wear an “exposing” vest top without a bra underneath (unless it was one of their underwired vest tops). Wouldn’t want to scare people.

But you being self conscious about your boobs has nothing to do with security doing their jobs properly

but being self-conscious may have caused me to overthink this whole thing

A female finally came over and handed me my jumper and told me never to do that again.

Told YOU never to do it again? 😳 Or told the male security guard not to?

By vest I mean a vest as underwear with a bra underneath. Vests are not supposed to be seen in public.

I fly enough that I'm that person in the security queue that already has everything ready to pull out, hops around taking my shoes off and had my belt off by time I hit the trays.

But with no alarms, I've been patted down, put through the body scanner, drug tested.

It's random sometimes and it's just what they need to do.

OP to fair, your body proportions are probably why then?

I know that's not nice or fair, but if you are slim with a large bust, that could raise a flag?

Yup its the security striptease as I call it, I'm a frequent flyer and like a PP pride myself on getting it all off, on the belt, through and back on again in minimal time. And then I can get through duty free to costa to get some coffee and brekkie.

Jewel have you any idea how much more destructive a bomb on a plane is compared to a bomb on a ferry? Have you never heard of 9/11?

I had to remove my cardigan last time I went through security at Luton

Told YOU never to do it again? 😳 Or told the male security guard not to?

Told me

I've had to remove a zip hoody and jackets but not a thin cardigan or pull on hoody/jumper.

Re shoes - these days is normally only shoes with thick soles or heels. Or shoes with places to conceal stuff.

I do wish there was a consistent approach though. It's not even consistent within the UK. It seems to vary between airports and sometimes between terminals themselves!

You never know what you need to take from your case - small Kindle or not? Some want your phone but not all. Some make me unpack my SLR camera and lenses but not all.

Also some want your watch off and others don't.

It just varies so much and the signs are rarely very clear to see in advance. It does slow down the whole process at times.

You do mot have to set alarms off to be asked for further checks. They do random checks every so often. Not everyone is chosen if they look suspicious.

Haven't read whole thread but would it be possible for a flat chested woman to disguise a bomb or something as a pair of large boobs? If so, then of course they need to check.

Watch, belt, shoes, cardigan, scarf. Even 8 yo ds

It is possible that, because you yourself have said you're disproportionately large breasted, he needed to check that it was 'boob and not bomb'. After all it's perfectly normal for smugglers and bombers to try to hide stuff in their clothes so if you looked very top heavy he may have needed to check it was actually you and not what you'd stuffed down there!

Yes I agree with this. Every time I fly I get picked to be patted down, I have quite big boobs, I had already figured they think I could be hiding things in my top / bra. I accept it and don’t mind because I’d rather be searched for 2 minutes and know they’re being vigilant and that we are all safe..

I wear a cami top under tops that show too much cleavage otherwise. No way would I want to be stood wearing only the cami top.