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Original poster

can I wear an underwired bra going thru the metal detectors when we fly to America?

25 replies

cuddlesrus · 28/09/2008 07:51

or will I be stopped?

am too big to get away with non underwired, but have read the wiring sets off the alarm, will die of embarrassment, any advice anyone who has flwon lately?

OP posts:
DelGirl · 28/09/2008 07:53

I would have thought you'd be ok. Never had a problem myself though i've never flown to the USA

PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 07:55

LOL, I have not heard of that! I wear underwired bras and it has never been set off, and I have flown to USA lots!

Original poster
cuddlesrus · 28/09/2008 07:58

I knew I'd get a laugh

haven't flown for donkeys years and this is my latest worry, honest (gov)I did read it somewhere

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 07:59

you will think of lots more, I can assure you! I worried about everything| the first time I flew with DD, which was only the second time I had flown to USA.

I found it completely nerve wracking, but now, its a breeze!!

SqueakyPop · 28/09/2008 07:59

They will pass a wand over any bits that trigger the alarm.

PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 08:01

And, DH has been stopped with a penknife in his pocket, the plonker! It was in our travel bag, left over from our last camping trip, in a discrete side/bottom pocket, so even as they searched it, he could not find it as it had been there ages and he did not remember until they finally found it, with him going 'i had no idea, honestly!', they just confiscated it .

PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 08:01

not his pocket, travel bag pocket! DOH

Original poster
cuddlesrus · 28/09/2008 08:04

oh oh, how do we make sure we can use ds's mobile abroad, do we just take it? can it be recharged over there?

and what about tipping in the US?

getting in a flap now.............

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 08:08

cuddles - tip pretty much anyone that does anything for you, does not have to be much at all, but something. We did anyway.

Mobile - you need to have 'international roaming' on phone. Call the provider and ask. Then, it will just find local provider over there. BUT, it will likely cost you a lot to call, and it will also cost YOU to receive text messages. We called family from US airport, to another apart of US and it cost us like £35. And texts cost us around a £1.00 to receive I think, so we kept ours off. A friend of mine went on holiday and had a birthday, he received about 20 messages, did not realise, it cost him a fortune!!!!!

You can buy a travel us/uk plug for charging over there, you can pick it up at the airport, or at a hardware store over here.

SqueakyPop · 28/09/2008 08:08

If the phone is triband or quadband, it can be used in the USA. You can get a plug adapter for charging (the adapter should be dual voltage), or use your car charger if you are hiring a car.

Tipping in restaurants is 15 - 20%.

SqueakyPop · 28/09/2008 08:12

We didn't find the phone costs to be too bad when we were in the US (we are with Virgin and it just connected us with a local company automatically).

We didn't plan to use the phone, but when DS lost his glasses, DH spent ages trying to get an appt with an optician - he must have been on the phone for half an hour, on hold etc.

I thought the bill was going to be huge, but it was only about £10 extra.

Buda · 28/09/2008 08:16

I wear underwired bras all the time and sometimes they set off the alarm and sometimes they don't. Depends on the sensitivity of the machine. They will just pat you down and run a wand thing around you. Lady searching me once in Dublin was giggling away as I said to her that it was prob my bra and DH was behind me and said 'you mean your scaffolding' - cheeky sod!

Original poster
cuddlesrus · 28/09/2008 08:19

ha! I've got scaffolding too

thanks for all info!

OP posts:
Original poster
cuddlesrus · 28/09/2008 08:21

oh and what seats should I try to get on the plane (there are four of us, 2 adults 2 kids) I think its a boeing 747 we fly on, how about the back seats that have 2 and 2 behind, or is being near the loo's a bad idea? or is it bumpier at the back?

help!

OP posts:
canofworms · 28/09/2008 08:26

If it's a 747 then try and get the 1st 4 seats at the front (if you're in economy) as they will have a bit more leg room. I'd get the 4 in the middle as then you can all sit together

PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 08:28

how old are your children? With DD aged 0-2 we were able to priority book the bulkhead seats.

If you are able to, book the bulkhead seats at the front of economy, asw canofworms said. There is a row of four, and lots more leg room, and no-one in front of you.

I always find the back very bumpy myself, but only sat at the back on small planes. I found it horrendous personally.

SqueakyPop · 28/09/2008 08:31

Bulkhead is good. You don't really want to be near the loos with everyone queueing up next to you.

canofworms · 28/09/2008 08:35

BTW you have to be quick to book those seats - we were only to get 3 of them and that was checking in on-line 23 hours before!!

SqueakyPop · 28/09/2008 08:36

Can't you do your seat allocation at the time of purchase?

PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 08:38

If you have young children you are allowed to priority book seats, depends on age and who you fly with I think?

canofworms · 28/09/2008 08:45

I have got young children (1 is under 2 but others are 7 and 5)but still only got 2 out of the 4 - 1 had been allocated to a single chap no kids

Flew with ba

PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 08:47

can - oh how crap! I fly BA and have always got the seats requested, but, will see what happens now she is 2!!

Original poster
cuddlesrus · 28/09/2008 20:13

are the bulkhead seats the ones at the front eg. seats 33 onwards? my kids are well over 2!

OP posts:
SqueakyPop · 28/09/2008 20:14

They are seats with a wall in front of them instead of more seats. There are only a handful of bulkhead rows per plane.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/09/2008 20:32

With BA, you really need to check in online around 24 hours in advance of the flight departure. That is when their online seat allocation is fully available.

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