to ask to prefer a “pat down” at airport?

[AragornIsGorgeous]

Hi, I will be using wheelchair assistance when flying abroad shortly, and my arm will still be in a sling.

I’m told that usually a traveler is asked to walk through a contraption (with arms raised?) instead of the traditional pat down.

As I will be in a wheelchair and arm in sling, can I ask for the pat down, or can I be “made” to go through the machine thingy whatever it’s is?

sorry I can’t be more specific, I’m not an air traveler in general.

Thank you for reading, and I would appreciate all (kind) replies.

The ones at Manchester don’t, they’re just an open archway

We shouldn’t NEED to assume! The OP should give us the courtesy of an answer!

It's not just about you OP.
Security have to keep everyone safe.
If it's a "need" then they will obviously accommodate it, but a "want" is just a preference, so I think it's wrong to ask for preferential treatment.

Some medical devices are sensitive to magnets. A friend has a pump fitted and it comes with a card to present to security.

Last time they had an MRI it stopped the pump and there was a tense call with the US support team on how to get it restarted as it seemed to have failed to restart automatically.

My grandmother isn't allowed through the scanner due to medical devices. They just give her a more thorough scan with a hand-held wand and swab her shoes etc.

She did have a little card to say she isn't allowed through the scanner on medical grounds.

The last time I flew I was in my own wheelchair. I was patted down, had a wand waved over me and my chair was also subjected to a very thorough examination, including having the wheels swabbed.

There seems to be some confusion here between metal detectors and body scanners. Metal detectors do not expose you to x-rays. Body scanner do - they expose you to roughly the same amount of radiation as you will receive in one to two minutes during your flight (or about three to nine minutes on the ground).

You don’t get to request what type of security checks you have. It will be adapted for medical or mobility reasons but you don’t get to choose. I wouldn’t advise refusing any kind of check, you may find your pat down is a little more thorough than you’re expecting if you do!

Why don’t you want to go through the body scanner? I would imagine they’ve got every right to insist if you want to fly

No, you don't have a right like that.

Security will likely be very aware that wheelchairs, or other apparent medical devices, could be used to smuggle drugs or explosives. Any attempts to avoid security is likely to be viewed with suspicion. Any ‘jokes’ about carrying a bomb or smuggling something would likely get you arrested.

Ultimately, you can refuse to go through a scanner for whatever reason. But equally, the airline can refuse you access through the airport / onto the flight for any reason. You don't have a right to fly.

I don't think the op suggested avoiding security and definitely no "jokes". It is perfectly acceptable for a disabled or a person with medical conditions to ask for alternative security checks it's a reasonable request that airport security can accommodate.

I hope they put you through the metal detector. Anyone behaving suspiciously needs checking and expecting special treatment and banging on about your “rights” is suspicious in my book.

As for the radiation comment 🤣🤣 really?!

I can't raise one arm above my head and they were fine, just did a pat down. You're on dodgy ground if you try to insist you won't go through the metal detector, though. I had to go through it and then have a pat down.

Thank you for all the comments, I will come back, just not able to right now —- apologies

Not at any of the airports I’ve flown from recently

I know it's a typo, but I did chuckle!

OP - even if they let you not go through the metal detector due to being in a chair (I presume there are other reasons for being in a chair, rather than just an arm injury!), they will want to wave the metal detector wand over you. They'll likely also do a pat down and swabs for drugs/explosives.

As others have said, you likely won't have the ability to ask for such concessions on a return flight. I went to Majorca recently and was subjected to a drugs wipe on my way back.

They are doing this to ensure the safety and protection of everyone flying and on the ground.

Kindly, if you don't want to be subjected to security checks, you need to rethink whether you want to fly at all. It all comes with the territory and for good reason.

You don’t have any right to opt out of any part of airport security I’m afraid, flying is not a right and complying with security is one of the conditions of carriage. It’s unlikely you can opt out of the metal detector, either the arch, a hand held wand, or the full body scan. They do need to work around any disabilities, so if your arm is in a sling you won’t have to raise it above your head. If you have any medical devices affected by scanning you should bring a letter from your doctor or the device manufacturer.

You can ask for a body search instead of the full body scan, and in the UK they will probably do that, but be aware that in the US for example they almost certainly will not, and you may end up being delayed for a long time as a result (and they will not care in the slightest if you miss your flight as a result).

If you could avoid security, or be put under a lower level of security, due to being in a wheelchair (or if there was a belief that this was the case) then smugglers or terrorists would immediately seek to benefit from that. They would have no compunction about employing disabled people, posing as disabled, or even actively disabling someone, if they thought it would make their trade easier.

And yet will be travelling on a plane…

Why does the metal detector bother you so much. It’s for everyone’s safety.

I’ve travelled through both hemispheres recently, with lots of international and domestic flights, none of the scanners had a ‘door’ as such but were open spaces, wide enough for a chair. I watched as one person was wheeled through the scanner and then scanned with a handheld device on the other side. You will be going through something, one way or the other, regardless of whether you will be wheeling or walking through.

Yeah, preferring not to have “unnecessary radiation” really isn’t going to cut it, especially as it’s so much lower than what you will get on the flight. Nor is “I just don’t like the idea of them being able to see through me”

is it my right to have the pat down INSTEAD of the metal detector?

No, you have no 'right' to evade airports' mandatory security measures. Good grief.

And even a vague attempt to do so will likely be viewed with suspicion and put your ability to travel at all at risk.