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!

It kind of sounds like you are being obtuse about vests.
Yes you can wear a cami or strappy top or even string vest as a top that is seen in public.
But plenty of people wear these items as vests. Not to be seen in public. In my case I wear a cami top so that a few tops do not show lots of cleavage. My cami top looks awful by itself and I would never wear it to be seen in public just as I would never wear my bra to be seen in public. Even though some women do walk around in public showing their bras.

Technically, they can ask you to take off any layers.

I had an experience where this happened for me. Stripped down to my
Camisole top. I saw the two male guards exchange a look as the officer touched my back and felt my bra strap. There was just something about it that made my skin crawl.

I now choose my traveling clothing very carefully. I shouldn’t have to change my clothing to avoid predators, but the reality is that it’s all I can do.

@S1naidSucks have you come across the sunflower lanyard scheme? Might be worth looking into for your daughter.
www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/assistance-at-heathrow/hidden-disabilities

the whole purpose of it was so that he could look at you. he likely wasn't copping a look, he was, looking for the things he is supposed to be looking for.

I didn't know about the sunflower lanyard. That's such a thoughtful scheme!

Don'tpresssendtoosoon - a large ferry can have up to 3000 people which is similar to 9/11 deaths. I am just struck by how lax it is on ferries. The death toll may not be in the same region but still significant numbers could be impacted.

@jewel1968, i think the thinking is, if a bomb carried on a person goes off on a ferry, it will kill people and injure people but not sink a ship. If it damages the ship enough, then they have immediate access to life rafts for all people on board, ferries are usually in distance to shore where straight away life boats and other boats can help, and if not other boats are normally on scene quickly when a distress call goes out. Same with trains, lots may be killed but you're not far from emergency services and can evacuate easily.

But on a plane if a bomb goes off, you're all dead, you're 30k feet in the air, so even if the bomb doesn't kill you, the high speed crash, loss of cabin pressure as you plummet with massive holes in the airframe will, and planes quite often fly iver remote areas with no emergency services being able to quickly reach for the possibility of survivors

a thought - maybe because you are well endowered he thought it might be necessary to check in case you weren't & you were actually hiding something as fake boobs?

I have a stoma, going through security one of the guards obviously spotted it, even though I didn't set off an alarm. Had to go into a cubicle and prove I had a bag of shit attached to my stomach.

I'd take removing a cardigan and exposing a vest any day of the week.

I should've added that although that ^ wasnt the most pleasant experience in the world, security were only doing their job and I totally understand why it was done.

I was once flying through Manchester airport, I was flying to Belfast for a funeral and took then 4 month old baby ds with me. I was on my own and as I was only going for 2 days a cousin was lending me a pram and car seat on the other end so I had the baby in a sling. They asked me to take him out but then refused to hold him whilst I went through the scanner so I had to lie him on the floor, go through the scanners then go back and get ds.

Anoni but a boot full if explosive material surely would do significant damage? I am no engineer but I imagine it would be possible to sink a ship?

@s1naidSucks I don't know if all airports in the UK do this, but Google 'Manchester airport sunflower lanyard'

I hope you get to take your daughter somewhere lovely :)

Yes, yabu

Really annoying when people call out airport security...

I am with you, OP!!! I travel a fair amount and once got asked to remove my cardigan, when men who wore a hoodie (travelling on a weekend, so lots of those) were left to walk through the security gate undisturbed in their hoodies. I pointed that out, so a manager was called, he decided there was no need for me to remove the cardigan and apologised. Your experience of having to remove it AFTER the metal detector is NOT appropriate or acceptable but probably no point writing a complaint - just refuse to their face next time and let them call their superior. Sorry to hear this happened to you

If you are not comfortable wearing something don’t wear it through security.

I have been asked. I don't like it either when I'm not wearing much but I would comply with any safety rule as I appreciate them so much and the importance of these rules is bigger than the importance of me feeling comfortable!

Very very common practice.

Women can dress however the fuck they like and shouldn’t expect to be oggled

She wasn't "oggled", the security guard was just doing his job. But why let that get in the way of seeing offence when there isn't any.

Better a moment of embarrassment than a moment of a bomb bringing your plane down.

Were you in America? Their security is the worst.

No, turn that around, the US Homeland Security is the best - they want to protect their people from vile individuals and groups who would jeopardise peace and freedom and would be happy for a rerun of 9/11. Wouldn't you want that much security for you and your family when travelling?

I always wear a cardigan and have never been asked to remove it and I’ve flown countless times over the years. I have disproportionally large boobs and the tops of my arms are quite big compared to the rest of me. I’d have felt so self conscious and I’d have been mortified 😥

If you were already collecting your belongings that's really odd. You'd passed the physical check by that point.

I can't believe someone had a pat done that involved hands inside knickers. Do we have a security troll on here by any chance?

I until recently travelled a lot. My standard travel attire is a pair of trousers, a tight vest top and one of my many thin cardigans worn like a jumper on top. In the UK I have probably been asked to remove the cardi every time in more 'recent years. I unfortinately had rather disproportionately large breasts(28ff) but was asked equally by male and females to take the top off. Unfortunately my big boobs used to get frisked every time though! I'm not bothered I'd rather be safe.

I would beer how much your self consciousness is making you think the guy had ulterior motives.... that's the issuer.