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 type of body scanners that the OP is talking about - where you have to stand with your arms up, use millimetre waves which are non ionising radiation similar to microwaves, not X-rays.

I assumed the OPs concern was just about not being able to stand in the scanner, rather than being exposed to anything, not that it's anything to worry about anyway, unless she has an implanted medical device, but if they're sensitive to the metal detectors, then she needs a letter from her doctor and they'll have procedures to follow, because it will be a daily occurrence - but the metal detectors are likely to be not hazardous to modern medical implants anyway.

Radiation exposure from a metal detector?

Where are these scanners with doors? Not at any of the half dozen airports I've travelled through this year so far.

They wont make you go through the arms yp scanner. They will ask you to walk through if you are able while they scan the chair. Im not sure what they will do about the sling but likely they will scan you with the sling on with a hand held scanner. Despite everything security at airports are (mostly) helpful with accessibility stuff.

What’s wrong with going through the medal detector? The thing you stand in and the regular medal detector are different things.

Op you should contact the airport and ask your questions.

Also, with the utmost respect to the OP, if you are travelling (anywhere) in a wheelchair, the sad fact is very last thing you need to worry about is security.

Wheelchairs and medical equipment are swabbed,

I have also had a personal search when I go through airports I have a medical appliance attached to me so I've been carted off to a side room and checked over, as I said airports have alternatives and if you let security staff know they accomodate, it isn't always one way.

There are many things I would prefer not to do when passing through an airport but sadly for the convenience and safety of all other passengers and staff I have to submit to those procedures. The only way to avoid them is to charter a private plane and that's out of my league.

Yes this.

The notion that airport security routinely ask wheelchair users to get up and walk and demand doctor’s letters is daft. As if they had the time to read and check them.

I use a walking stick and have a variable condition. Most airports offer me a wooden stick to use through security at metal scanners and if body scanners are in use they ask me if I’m ok to stand in that position (I’m not always able to). If I can’t stand in that position, they do the pat down.

Friend in wheelchair has a metal rod in her back - simply goes straight to pat down and they swab parts of the chair. Takes a few minutes but no longer than the same checks on anyone who forgets to take a belt off and triggers the metal detector.

No drama, no letters from doctors, just normal procedures. Large airports tend to be more efficient but I’ve never had issues, even at smaller regional airports in developing countries (where pat downs are more common than hi tech kit anyway).

I’m not sure anyone has said they will demand she get up and walk, or that they will not work around all of her disabilities. They absolutely will. But that is very different from simply wanting to opt out of part of the process, there is no right to opt out.

They will have a protocol for wheelchair users, and you'll follow it. It won't require you to do anything you can't do - like walk - but it may require you to do something you don't want to do - like go though a scanner.

You won't get to choose how they deal with you. Even they don't get to choose how they deal with you. It's a documented process and if it's not followed, you don't get on the plane.

I can’t go through the metal detectors or scanners at the airport, due to a medical implanted device. I have an offical card with the details of my implant, a number to call to confirm legitimacy, and details of my surgeon/specialist. It is taken very seriously, and is a set process each time I fly.

Are you afraid of what will happen if a fly goes through it at the same time?

🤣🤣

I have the same but nobody has ever looked at the letter or done any additional checks.

I don’t know if you kick up enough fuss you can probably get away with it.

In Paris last year I witnessed an American woman have a screaming blazing argument with security that she wouldn’t go through the detector or have the wand waved over her as she was pregnant and they would harm her baby 🤯 it was really awkward as I was actually visibly pregnant at the time and went through next to her 🤣

But she eventually got through without it so who knows!

I’ve even had female security staff called back from their break as regulations dictate that a female security officer has to pat down and process a female passenger in my situation. They have all been lovely!

oh God you’ve unlocked a memory of the “pat down” I had at Katmandu airport, it was part pat down part internal exam , over clothes but crikey she was thorough.

You may request to opt out of the scan: https://www.gov.uk/airport-rights

Yes I agree with this ! Fortunately they are very good at their jobs and know how to deal with every situation . We have flown a few times with our daughter in a wheelchair, she doesn’t go through the metal detector but is taken through a side gate and is inspected very thoroughly but very respectfully. They are perfectly pleasant to her but there’s really no time for discussion, let them do their job.

I wonder how many people would fail a mental detector?

I'd find a metal detector less intrusive than being physically touched. But they won't force you to raise your arm if it's injured. I haven't flown since I had a metal plate and screws put in my leg so that could be a bit embarrassing!

You say that but I was watching officials from Border Patrol going through last week and they all had thorough body pat downs instead of the machines.