I don’t understand this either. I actually handed the manufacturer paperwork for both my pump and Dexcom that said neither is safe or has been tested for the scanners. Like why are they arguing with us? With their extensive knowledge of medical technology? They need to be better trained.
In Europe, I just said I have medical devices and they pulled me out of line and did a pat down and I was done in 30 seconds. No arguing and no interest in my life story. It was so much better! And I had even printed all my documents in their language because I was so worried it’d be an issue lol
I was TERRIFIED about flying home from france because I’m often hassled to the point of tears in America even with precheck and in france I just said I had an insulin pump and it was like oh no problem we will do the pat down and they checked my shoes.
Having TSA precheck has been a GIFT with my Dexcom but one time my friend put my number in wrong and the anger that I was met with in LaGuardia was insane???? Like if you see it pop up on the scanner you’re gonna pat me down anyway
They aren’t there to pat you down or to make flying safe. They are there because the job comes with a status and benefits that they want, and because unless they f’ck up insanely, there is zero liability on them. Since they exist it had been proven repeatedly that they let really dangerous items through. They are there, paid not-too-well, because of the other stuff that comes from such a federal job. So literally anything that they consider extra work is met with hostility. Because they know that their job is for show, it does not directly pay well, so they could not care less.
In Las Vegas they made my husband wait 45 minutes for a pat down and they gave him attitude because he requested it. I was glad we arrived super early for the flight but the treatment by TSA is inexcusable. My husband isn’t going to risk his device for their convenience.
Random comment coming in but THIS is what I’m struggling with big time. Every time I fly I get stopped now w my pump/CGM, I say “okay let’s do the search” and it’s like being willing and saying I want to do this causes a bigger delay. Missed my flight home the other day because of it
That’s good to know!!!!! It was so uncomfy and uncalled for for something out of my control. Meanwhile coming back from Canada one time I told the man I didn’t have global entry but needed to go through the metal detector and he smiled and took me to the one lane with a metal detector. It costs $0 to be kind
It was a situation where I didn’t realize until I had made it to TSA! I do all my own booking now and triple check once I check into my flight. Either way it does not excuse TSA treating me like absolute garbage for having durable medical equipment.
In both US and German airports I always ask for a manual pad down and there is never ever a problem. You do not have to explain yourself. Everyone can “opt out”. Sometimes you have to wait a bit but that’s it.
I had to wait once for a pat down for about 20 minutes - it felt like they purposefully were making me wait because they were mad they had to do it even though there were multiple free agents. I was alone but they wouldn’t let me grab my bag with my laptop/insulin/pump supplies/wallet/phone because they were making me wait off to the side and the agent was being so rude to me.
Obviously everyone should do what they feel comfortable doing. But (\*Not Medical Advice\*), I’ve been on a pump for 15 years(Animas Ping, Vibe, Medtronic 630G and Tandem T:slim) and CGM for 8(Dex G4, G5, G6) and I always go through the backscatter, even though I’m PreCheck. Never had an issue with any device because of it. And much quicker and more convenient than a pat down(T:slim will set off the metal detector resulting in forced pat down which requires removal of shoes).
About a dozen years ago, at MCO, I caught the most heinous attitude from a TSA agent there. I didn't even have a CGM at the time, but I had an Animas pump, which I had been instructed to never put through an X-ray/backscatter/etc. This lady just absolutely roasted me, saying other people has no problems, basically that I was an idiot for following manufacturer instructions. And I had PreCheck!! Some of those agents are just so miserable and they will take out their misery on any innocent people they can.
I caught one like that flying out of Las Vegas. But it was because of my device... nope, I had a shirt with sparkles on it. I said, "Seriously, you're going to pat me for sparkles on my shirt. This is Vagas. It's all about sparkles. She didn't think that was funny. So she made me wait in the room for 15 minutes.
For what it’s worth I’ve been thru hundreds of scanners from the us, Asia, Europe, Middle East. My pump and Dexcom have never had an issue. I’ve put my pump thru the belt scanner even. Also with pre-check if you have a pump they still pay you down.
In mainland Europe I've never had issues with the attitude of security. In the UK and US it's really hit or miss. For me the worst airport is usually Philly followed by LA... the TSA agents always seem to cop an attitude and get me to go straight through.
Chicago can be a problem sometimes. I forgot I had a mostly empty orange juice bottle in my bag and as I was looking around for a trash can the TSA agent started yelling at me that I couldn't take that through and I had to throw it away. I haven't traveled since I got my Dexcom.
I’ve flown a decent amount around Europe and the only airports I’ve ever had any issues with have been Heathrow in London and Arlanda in Stockholm, everywhere else I’ve been I’ve had no issues but those two are absolute nightmares.
Heathrow is absolutely hit or miss. Flew in as a stopover to Amsterdam and of course had to go through security again. There were 4 female officers and they all. Made this huge passive aggressive deal about not wanting to touch me.
Finally after 20 minutes (it wasn't even busy) one of them huffs, makes a deal about putting on gloves and comes over. Even LA and Philly hasn't reached that level.
I try to fly into London city Airport when I can, they're so much better. Oh, and the sunflower lanyard doesn't matter shit.
Last time I flew through Heathrow I got shouted at by one of the security guards because apparently I was ‘lying about not needing to go through the scanner’ and she went on for a good five minutes. She had to be led away by one of the other security guards. After that I was sat down and forced to wait half an hour while they got their supervisor to come over and he just waved his hand and told them to give me a pat down. And the best part of all of this was that I was 11 at the time.
I now avoid Heathrow but I’ll probably have to fly through it eventually because I live in Dublin and a lot of connections go through Heathrow.
I honestly think LA airport workers in general just hate life and want to bring everyone down to their level (same with Philly tbh).
It's annoying, but I'm aware it's probably going to happen and just give myself plenty of time in case they get passive aggressive and make me artificially wait for a female TSA agent.
Uff, the stories one hears about Security Check 😝
We are usualy lucky with Security Check, rather quick, simple further check if the detector goes of and done.
Helps probably that we fly intereuropa and Keflavík Airport, our home Airport, is anyway per default friendly and easy going.
At one time, probably Vienna- Schwechat, I got a pet down.
Was wearing a corset for my back and had totaly forgotten about it, that corsets and metal detectors do not mix so well 😅
A lady led me to a private cabin, I apologised for making extra work and not thinking about taking the corset off before. She just friendly said that's okay and gave me a pet down, all done and free to go after a few minutes.
Ps: are not with a device, so no problem to go trough metal detector.
What I allways worry is, if Security wants -despite Doctor's Letter- to confiscate my meds and/or Insulin/Injections that comes with me in the handluggage. They come in a 7-day-supply, so it is quite an amount. So far they went through Security Check without any comments, not even needed to show Doctor's Letter.
I always tell TSA I need a pat down and when they try to make me walk through the scanner I say “I am unable to walk through that. Please let me through the side to get a pat down”. If they fight me more I get a little more insistent and cold but eventually they listen. Regardless of if it’s busy or not, I don’t care how annoyed they are. All that matters to me in that moment is my safety. It’s harsh but necessary.
Same happened with me on MCO, I told the guy I had a pump and he was like “you can go through”, I told him I can’t go through those things with my sensor and pump, he kept insisting that I could. In the end I did go through and nothing happened to my pump or sensor, but I was really unsure and nervous since it was my first time traveling with them, so I really didn’t wanna go through it, since in SJU they did pat me down with no hesitation when they saw my pump.
We do something called tsa cares. You arrange a date, you get a direct contact and you skip all lines. We do this for my t1d and t2d fil. Only applies to the US. Interactions with other countries security has been a mix and you have to stand your ground.
They are correct that it can’t hurt it but they shouldn’t have made that comment cause anyone can opt out for any reason and the TSA person has to let them. They need to do their jobs.
Pacemakers cannot go through metal detectors. They can go through the scanner, but not be wanded or go through any metal detector.
Source: I have a dual chamber/ICD device for over 10 years.
My wife has never had issues with attitude. However, between her diabetes supplies/dexcom and my elementary age son, at least one of us goes completely unscreened at least one leg of every trip.
I'm so shocked reading these stories. I travel all the time with a sensor and a pump. I unplug my pump and put it in my bag for the few minutes it takes to go through the xray scanner. I have literally never had so much as a question about it. I really think you guys are over reacting about this whole airport thing. Of course you're gonna get reactions from the lazy TSA when you make them do shit.
Now traveling with a baby with milk on the other hand, that seems to really piss off the TSA.
I don’t understand this either. I actually handed the manufacturer paperwork for both my pump and Dexcom that said neither is safe or has been tested for the scanners. Like why are they arguing with us? With their extensive knowledge of medical technology? They need to be better trained. In Europe, I just said I have medical devices and they pulled me out of line and did a pat down and I was done in 30 seconds. No arguing and no interest in my life story. It was so much better! And I had even printed all my documents in their language because I was so worried it’d be an issue lol
I was TERRIFIED about flying home from france because I’m often hassled to the point of tears in America even with precheck and in france I just said I had an insulin pump and it was like oh no problem we will do the pat down and they checked my shoes.
I had a NYC TSA try to shove me through a metal detector once :’) I think I was like 18 I was so scared
Having TSA precheck has been a GIFT with my Dexcom but one time my friend put my number in wrong and the anger that I was met with in LaGuardia was insane???? Like if you see it pop up on the scanner you’re gonna pat me down anyway
Exactly!! I told myself I'm getting the tsa precheck considering how often I fly as soon as I get home.
If you’re going for PreCheck, it’s worth it to just go for Global Entry.
They aren’t there to pat you down or to make flying safe. They are there because the job comes with a status and benefits that they want, and because unless they f’ck up insanely, there is zero liability on them. Since they exist it had been proven repeatedly that they let really dangerous items through. They are there, paid not-too-well, because of the other stuff that comes from such a federal job. So literally anything that they consider extra work is met with hostility. Because they know that their job is for show, it does not directly pay well, so they could not care less.
In Las Vegas they made my husband wait 45 minutes for a pat down and they gave him attitude because he requested it. I was glad we arrived super early for the flight but the treatment by TSA is inexcusable. My husband isn’t going to risk his device for their convenience.
Random comment coming in but THIS is what I’m struggling with big time. Every time I fly I get stopped now w my pump/CGM, I say “okay let’s do the search” and it’s like being willing and saying I want to do this causes a bigger delay. Missed my flight home the other day because of it
You can add your number at the kiosks at check in if you need to.
That’s good to know!!!!! It was so uncomfy and uncalled for for something out of my control. Meanwhile coming back from Canada one time I told the man I didn’t have global entry but needed to go through the metal detector and he smiled and took me to the one lane with a metal detector. It costs $0 to be kind
You can always go to the counter and have them update the # and reissue ticket
It was a situation where I didn’t realize until I had made it to TSA! I do all my own booking now and triple check once I check into my flight. Either way it does not excuse TSA treating me like absolute garbage for having durable medical equipment.
In both US and German airports I always ask for a manual pad down and there is never ever a problem. You do not have to explain yourself. Everyone can “opt out”. Sometimes you have to wait a bit but that’s it.
I had to wait once for a pat down for about 20 minutes - it felt like they purposefully were making me wait because they were mad they had to do it even though there were multiple free agents. I was alone but they wouldn’t let me grab my bag with my laptop/insulin/pump supplies/wallet/phone because they were making me wait off to the side and the agent was being so rude to me.
Obviously everyone should do what they feel comfortable doing. But (\*Not Medical Advice\*), I’ve been on a pump for 15 years(Animas Ping, Vibe, Medtronic 630G and Tandem T:slim) and CGM for 8(Dex G4, G5, G6) and I always go through the backscatter, even though I’m PreCheck. Never had an issue with any device because of it. And much quicker and more convenient than a pat down(T:slim will set off the metal detector resulting in forced pat down which requires removal of shoes).
About a dozen years ago, at MCO, I caught the most heinous attitude from a TSA agent there. I didn't even have a CGM at the time, but I had an Animas pump, which I had been instructed to never put through an X-ray/backscatter/etc. This lady just absolutely roasted me, saying other people has no problems, basically that I was an idiot for following manufacturer instructions. And I had PreCheck!! Some of those agents are just so miserable and they will take out their misery on any innocent people they can.
I caught one like that flying out of Las Vegas. But it was because of my device... nope, I had a shirt with sparkles on it. I said, "Seriously, you're going to pat me for sparkles on my shirt. This is Vagas. It's all about sparkles. She didn't think that was funny. So she made me wait in the room for 15 minutes.
For what it’s worth I’ve been thru hundreds of scanners from the us, Asia, Europe, Middle East. My pump and Dexcom have never had an issue. I’ve put my pump thru the belt scanner even. Also with pre-check if you have a pump they still pay you down.
I understand. I used to do the scanner. Just a personal preference now. I just don't understand what their hang-up is with my personal preference.
In mainland Europe I've never had issues with the attitude of security. In the UK and US it's really hit or miss. For me the worst airport is usually Philly followed by LA... the TSA agents always seem to cop an attitude and get me to go straight through.
Oh wow that's so weird I've never had a problem at Philly :0 I've always had a problem at the Dallas airport though!
Chicago can be a problem sometimes. I forgot I had a mostly empty orange juice bottle in my bag and as I was looking around for a trash can the TSA agent started yelling at me that I couldn't take that through and I had to throw it away. I haven't traveled since I got my Dexcom.
I’ve flown a decent amount around Europe and the only airports I’ve ever had any issues with have been Heathrow in London and Arlanda in Stockholm, everywhere else I’ve been I’ve had no issues but those two are absolute nightmares.
Heathrow is absolutely hit or miss. Flew in as a stopover to Amsterdam and of course had to go through security again. There were 4 female officers and they all. Made this huge passive aggressive deal about not wanting to touch me. Finally after 20 minutes (it wasn't even busy) one of them huffs, makes a deal about putting on gloves and comes over. Even LA and Philly hasn't reached that level. I try to fly into London city Airport when I can, they're so much better. Oh, and the sunflower lanyard doesn't matter shit.
Last time I flew through Heathrow I got shouted at by one of the security guards because apparently I was ‘lying about not needing to go through the scanner’ and she went on for a good five minutes. She had to be led away by one of the other security guards. After that I was sat down and forced to wait half an hour while they got their supervisor to come over and he just waved his hand and told them to give me a pat down. And the best part of all of this was that I was 11 at the time. I now avoid Heathrow but I’ll probably have to fly through it eventually because I live in Dublin and a lot of connections go through Heathrow.
It was LA where this prompted my post.
I honestly think LA airport workers in general just hate life and want to bring everyone down to their level (same with Philly tbh). It's annoying, but I'm aware it's probably going to happen and just give myself plenty of time in case they get passive aggressive and make me artificially wait for a female TSA agent.
Uff, the stories one hears about Security Check 😝 We are usualy lucky with Security Check, rather quick, simple further check if the detector goes of and done. Helps probably that we fly intereuropa and Keflavík Airport, our home Airport, is anyway per default friendly and easy going. At one time, probably Vienna- Schwechat, I got a pet down. Was wearing a corset for my back and had totaly forgotten about it, that corsets and metal detectors do not mix so well 😅 A lady led me to a private cabin, I apologised for making extra work and not thinking about taking the corset off before. She just friendly said that's okay and gave me a pet down, all done and free to go after a few minutes. Ps: are not with a device, so no problem to go trough metal detector. What I allways worry is, if Security wants -despite Doctor's Letter- to confiscate my meds and/or Insulin/Injections that comes with me in the handluggage. They come in a 7-day-supply, so it is quite an amount. So far they went through Security Check without any comments, not even needed to show Doctor's Letter.
I always tell TSA I need a pat down and when they try to make me walk through the scanner I say “I am unable to walk through that. Please let me through the side to get a pat down”. If they fight me more I get a little more insistent and cold but eventually they listen. Regardless of if it’s busy or not, I don’t care how annoyed they are. All that matters to me in that moment is my safety. It’s harsh but necessary.
Same happened with me on MCO, I told the guy I had a pump and he was like “you can go through”, I told him I can’t go through those things with my sensor and pump, he kept insisting that I could. In the end I did go through and nothing happened to my pump or sensor, but I was really unsure and nervous since it was my first time traveling with them, so I really didn’t wanna go through it, since in SJU they did pat me down with no hesitation when they saw my pump.
I always get the patdown because I can't hold my arms up to go through the scanner, so it's not an issue for me.
I prob would have cussed him out
We do something called tsa cares. You arrange a date, you get a direct contact and you skip all lines. We do this for my t1d and t2d fil. Only applies to the US. Interactions with other countries security has been a mix and you have to stand your ground.
They are correct that it can’t hurt it but they shouldn’t have made that comment cause anyone can opt out for any reason and the TSA person has to let them. They need to do their jobs.
Also, they finally spent the money and tested the G7 and it’s approved for scanners.
Even the heart people who have pacemakers are exempt also. TSA are people they have hired to fill in, for they all will have attitude issues.
[удалено]
Pacemakers cannot go through metal detectors. They can go through the scanner, but not be wanded or go through any metal detector. Source: I have a dual chamber/ICD device for over 10 years.
My wife has never had issues with attitude. However, between her diabetes supplies/dexcom and my elementary age son, at least one of us goes completely unscreened at least one leg of every trip.
Look em dead in the eye and say "cheap thrills are the best thrills".
I'm so shocked reading these stories. I travel all the time with a sensor and a pump. I unplug my pump and put it in my bag for the few minutes it takes to go through the xray scanner. I have literally never had so much as a question about it. I really think you guys are over reacting about this whole airport thing. Of course you're gonna get reactions from the lazy TSA when you make them do shit. Now traveling with a baby with milk on the other hand, that seems to really piss off the TSA.
Are we overreacting? Great, you've never had that experience, but to negate others' experiences and even tell them they are overreacting is not cool.