Airline Travel and How to Preserve Your Privacy (& Dignity)

Airline travel wasn’t always like this. The militirazation and surveillance encroachment ramped up after September 11th, 2001 and the passing of the Patriot Act. These two events helped push the surveillance infrastructure in airports around the country.
It doesn’t actually stop terrorism. Anyone that is looking at the data can see this. its a wealth redistribution program veiled in a security benefits. It gives unskilled workers and companies that lobby for exclusive rights as “security tools”, taxpayer dollars to make travel more difficult.
It treats everyone as guilty until proven innocent. You aren’t a criminal. You’re forced to unpack your belongings and take your shoes off. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents on power trips yell at people to follow their rules, which differ from one lane to another. I’ve seen it first hand, one travel lane was told one thing, and the lane next to me was told the exact opposite thing. It’s completely arbitrary and the agents speak to people in demeaning ways . It’s as if the normal travelers know exactly what the TSA agents mean, even though nothing is uniform. you can understand why travelers are confused.
You aren’t a piece of cattle. The idea of being corraled and undressed to allow you to get on an airplane is lame. “You’re only allowed to transport a set amount of liquid in tiny bottles”. All of these decrees further add to creating a bad travel experience.
Bring the system to a halt. You can opt out and maintain your self dignity. An added benefit, If enough people opt-out or cause a large line to build, the TSA agents just let people go through the metal detector to free up the large queue. This proves it isn’t really about security. The metal detector does just as good a job as the full body scanner. This is a protest.

When traveling within the United States

ANYONE traveling in the United States can opt-out of the full body scan. This means US citizens or Internationals

When going through either the body scan (the large device that you enter and are told “put your hands above your head”.) Tell the a TSA agent that you’re “opting out” of the body scan before you enter the body scan.
- Be sure to arrive early for your flight. You will most likely need to wait for a TSA agent to do the pat-down. The agents dont like to do more work than they need to, and a full body pat-down means more work for them If you cut it too close to your flight departure time, you may be put in a position where you’ll say “I need to get to my gate, I’ll just go through the body scan”. This defeats the purpose of this post, set yourself up for success.
- You’ll get a full body pat-down instead. You’ll be asked a few questions along with asking if you want to do it in a private screening room. This is your choice.
- Keep an eye on your belongings. While you are waiting for the TSA agent to come and give you a pat-down, your belongings will have left your posession on the conveyor belt to be x-ray scanned and arrive on the other side.

Only US citizens are allowed to opt-out from the Entry scan, but its worth trying to opt out anyway.

When entering the United States from international travel, you go through Customs and see a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agent. They have everyone scan their face. US citizens can opt-out of the facial scan and have the agent just review their documents, like how they used to.
- Certain CBP agents, as mentioned before can also go on power trips. Answer their questions truthfully, certain agents may question you more because you’re doing something contra the rest of the travelers coming through (while also making them do something out of their normal routine).

Only US citizens are allowed to opt-out from the Exit scan, but anyone should try opting out anyway.

Opt-out of the facial scanning when boarding your flight. When getting on flights (either domestic or internaitonal) CBP has now begun to deploy facial scanning to board flights (not everywhere, but at certain airports)
- You can opt out, go to the gate attendant when you arrive to your gate and mention that you’ll be opting out from the facial scan. The agents at the desk will check your ID instead of putting you in front of the facial scanner, like they used to.
- Get to your gate early to avoid any timing issue you’ll have. Many of these gate attendants don’t know the protocol, and don’t think critically. When someone tells them something that the attendant hasn’t dealt with before, it doesn’t quite register so they need to ask a supervisor, etc.

There is facial scanning popping up now that’s located as you first get your documents checked before you get into the queue for the body scan.

Tell the agent you are opting-out of the facial scan
- The TSA agent will turn off the facial scanning machine and will review your documents manually, like they used to.
  - You may even see placards that have materials that reference opting-out. This is helpful for you to reference if the TSA agent gives push back.

When Traveling Outside the US

When traveling through other countries, survey the line going through security. See if there are certain queues that route around the body scan and just go through the metal detector. Get in those lines.

Your Travel Attitude

Certain TSA agents think you may be an auditor thats testing their procedures, so they want to do everything by the book
Other TSA agents just want to get the pat-down & touching over with and rush through the pat-down protocol
Have a good attitude, the TSA agents can go on power trips, like anyone in points of authority
They may ask you “why dont you want to go through the body scan?” or they assume you believe their is some radiological danger of the device and suggest “its not dangerous for you”, stand firm as they have to offer an opt-out option.
- You can also have an excuse in the back of your mind, but remember to stay firm if they have an answer to your excuse.

Final Notes (TL:DR)

This post is only a primer. There are resources that exist to confirm my statements here. It’s important to know exactly what the airports and TSA consider “OK”. Read them and understand them. You’ll have to be able to speak to these if there is a TSA agent that is giving push back. Many TSA agents speak confidently, even if they’re completely wrong. Remain calm and explain your self clearly.

There are examples when TSA agents claim “We can’t do that” only to be corrected by a supervisor moments later. If you don’t know what you CAN do, you’ll go along with whatever the TSA agents suggest. Know what you can do, and stand firm. Many TSA agents are perfectly fine people, other TSA agents, just don’t want to do any extra work, and also find you as an annoyance. Keep a positive attitude while going through TSA security, you catch more flies with honey, than vinegar. If you come off like a jerk, these agents will wield their power and can be much more of a hassle.

Know what you can and can’t do when it comes to opting out of facial recognition and body scans
Have the resources available if the situation arises. Bookmark the web pages, if the TSA agent gives you a problem, just refer to the website. (See RESOURCES)
Stand your ground and be confident in your delivery
Keep a positive attitude
While you still have the choice, opt-out whenever the chance and at any facial scanning site that comes up

RESOURCES: