Cutting in on security lines

[cgichard]

I've never been aware of a priority line or lane for the elderly to get through security, though I admit my experience of larger airports is limited to Melbourne International, Singapore and Heathrow. At what age would one qualify? Or is a walking stick required?

Re getting everything ready, it would help to have better signage: do shoes need to be taken off on this occasion or only boots? I don't usually wear a jacket but I have been asked to remove a thin blouse worn for modesty over a tank top and, on another occasion, a silk scarf worn to cover a deep V-neckline. I don't like being forced to reveal my 76-y.o. scrawniness.

 

[GarrettM]

I tend to have a bit on me when I hit security. Watch, keys, wallet, phone, tablet, sunnies, etc, plus bag. Usually I grab a tray (or 2!) at the end of the conveyor. If people wanna jump ahead of me that's fine. I'd rather not hold the line up and just move on the the screening when ready to go.

 

[Pushka]

I tend to have a bit on me when I hit security. Watch, keys, wallet, phone, tablet, sunnies, etc, plus bag. Usually I grab a tray (or 2!) at the end of the conveyor. If people wanna jump ahead of me that's fine. I'd rather not hold the line up and just move on the the screening when ready to go.

Exactly how an efficient process is meant to work.

 

[medhead]

I've never been aware of a priority line or lane for the elderly to get through security, though I admit my experience of larger airports is limited to Melbourne International, Singapore and Heathrow. At what age would one qualify? Or is a walking stick required?

Re getting everything ready, it would help to have better signage: do shoes need to be taken off on this occasion or only boots? I don't usually wear a jacket but I have been asked to remove a thin blouse worn for modesty over a tank top and, on another occasion, a silk scarf worn to cover a deep V-neckline. I don't like being forced to reveal my 76-y.o. scrawniness.

A few comments like this here. There is no need to remove shoes in Australia, unless you know those shoes will set off the metal detector. Similarly there is no need to remove jackets. I don't even need to remove my watch, it doesn't set of the metal detector.

In terms of getting things together, I keep just about everything in my laptop bag - coins, keys, tablet. As I walk towards the security point wallet goes into the bag, still slung over shoulder, and laptop comes out. Zip up bag and I'm ready to walk straight through security, after a brief pause to dump stuff on the belt and grab a tray for the laptop.

 

[njba]

I must admit I do some prep: when I'm almost at the airport (either via train, cab or on the less happy occasion: skybus) I'll throw everything that would set the metal detector off into my briefcase/tote bag (I'd probably take out my Qantas card for check-in luggage/longue entry and put it in my pocket).

Then I just throw my bag on the queue and stroll through, the entire process done with great ease and calm. When I get into the longue and have found a nice perch I then repopulate my pockets as needed.

If you know something is coming up like this, why not prepare?

Fun 'fact': it is apparently bad for your spine to keep your wallet in your back pocket.

 

[medhead]

Fun 'fact': it is apparently bad for your spine to keep your wallet in your back pocket.

But only if you sit down?
All these monstrous devices are appearing on desks around me that allow people to stand up all day.

 

[serfty]

Absolutely. 90% of times I will jump ahead of someone if they appear to be sorting themselves out AND there's conveyor belt space AND my doing so will not cause them (or anyone else) any delay or time cost.

In this situation I do not think it is necessary to ask for permission.

I'm all about helping the airports reach maximal efficiency.

I agree with most of this, although I would ask.

 

[v1nce007]

Absolutely. 90% of times I will jump ahead of someone if they appear to be sorting themselves out AND there's conveyor belt space AND my doing so will not cause them (or anyone else) any delay or time cost.

In this situation I do not think it is necessary to ask for permission.

I'm all about helping the airports reach maximal efficiency.

Agreed. Surely if you are unloading into a tray you are not "in line". Perfectly acceptable for someone behind you to move into a gap in front if they are ready to go.

 

[Franky]

'There is no need to remove shoes in Australia' There are always exceptions. I have two replacement knees, and I always advise security of this and ask whether I have to do anything special before I go thru. They always say No. The alarm always sounds, and I get kicked back to the other side and told to remove shoes, watch, belt, wallet and anything else in my pockets, so I now just do it anyway. It is a great pain in the butt. Worst part is, when I'm on the inside sitting re-arranging my life, I am invariably then an easy target for the explosive detector person to get a further quick brushdown. Another oddity is that the newish XRay cubicle at Perth International only shows an image of one of my knees. Have been given a different answer every time I ask why this is so.

 

[medhead]

'There is no need to remove shoes in Australia' There are always exceptions. I have two replacement knees, and I always advise security of this and ask whether I have to do anything special before I go thru. They always say No. The alarm always sounds, and I get kicked back to the other side and told to remove shoes, watch, belt, wallet and anything else in my pockets, so I now just do it anyway. It is a great pain in the butt. Worst part is, when I'm on the inside sitting re-arranging my life, I am invariably then an easy target for the explosive detector person to get a further quick brushdown. Another oddity is that the newish XRay cubicle at Perth International only shows an image of one of my knees. Have been given a different answer every time I ask why this is so.

Please note the caveat that I attached to my comment. You would clearly know that you'll set off the detector and therefore need to remove shoes.

As for the x-ray thing in Perth. It shouldn't detect knee replacements at all. It is only suppose to detect things on the surface, not inside. the more important question is why does it detect any knee at all.

There is no need to remove shoes in Australia, unless you know those shoes will set off the metal detector.

 

[Franky]

Please note the caveat that I attached to my comment. You would clearly know that you'll set off the detector and therefore need to remove shoes.

As for the x-ray thing in Perth. It shouldn't detect knee replacements at all. It is only suppose to detect things on the surface, not inside. the more important question is why does it detect any knee at all.

I was aware of your caveat, and when travelling by aircraft I invariably wear deck shoes, so always know my shoes are not part of the problem. At Perth, the Xray picture which they show me has a rectangular image showing on my left knee. Only one of hundreds of security officals has told me that the item shown is on the surface, but then obvioulsy could'nt find anything on the surface of my knee. Perhaps it's a security requirement that the others say don't know, or when I ask if there is anything special I need to do before processing, they say no.

 

[medhead]

I was aware of your caveat, and when travelling by aircraft I invariably wear deck shoes, so always know my shoes are not part of the problem. At Perth, the Xray picture which they show me has a rectangular image showing on my left knee. Only one of hundreds of security officals has told me that the item shown is on the surface, but then obvioulsy could'nt find anything on the surface of my knee. Perhaps it's a security requirement that the others say don't know, or when I ask if there is anything special I need to do before processing, they say no.

I think it can get confused with clothes sometimes. I've had the middle of my back highlight at times with nothing there except clothing.

 

[cgichard]

I think it can get confused with clothes sometimes. I've had the middle of my back highlight at times with nothing there except clothing.

You said above "No need to remove a jacket": maybe so in Australia, but in Singapore, in my experience, you are required to strip off everything, however thin, that you appear to be wearing above the layer closest to the skin.
And on my recent departure from Heathrow, the walk-through machine highlighted with yellow patches the areas under both my arms, across the centre of my chest, around my waist and stomach and one of my knees, so I was extensively groped, yet I was wearing normal summer-weight clothing and had even taken the trouble to be sure I was wearing a non-underwired-bra.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've never been aware of a priority line or lane for the elderly to get through security, though I admit my experience of larger airports is limited to Melbourne International, Singapore and Heathrow. At what age would one qualify? Or is a walking stick required?

Re getting everything ready, it would help to have better signage: do shoes need to be taken off on this occasion or only boots? I don't usually wear a jacket but I have been asked to remove a thin blouse worn for modesty over a tank top and, on another occasion, a silk scarf worn to cover a deep V-neckline. I don't like being forced to reveal my 76-y.o. scrawniness.

The TSA has a '75 year' policy - passengers above this age qualify for expedited screening (no shoe removal etc). Asian countries are also pretty good at pulling my elderly folks to the front of the queue. Often this is proactive, but if not, and if there is a particular need, asking if there is a shorter queue usually gets them sent to a separate or priority lane (for example the crew lane).

 

[medhead]

You said above "No need to remove a jacket": maybe so in Australia, but in Singapore, in my experience, you are required to strip off everything, however thin, that you appear to be wearing above the layer closest to the skin.
And on my recent departure from Heathrow, the walk-through machine highlighted with yellow patches the areas under both my arms, across the centre of my chest, around my waist and stomach and one of my knees, so I was extensively groped, yet I was wearing normal summer-weight clothing and had even taken the trouble to be sure I was wearing a non-underwired-bra.

My comment was clearly limited to Australia. The stand in scanner is not detecting metal, so underwire or not a bra could be expected to show up. It's backscatter they are looking at, so very low energy beam and they look for the scatter return. I guess kinda like sonar it's the reflection that is important. an extra layer of thickness due to a bra must be enough to flag a difference.

 

[drron]

I always take shoes,jacket,belt and watch off because like franky I know I will be sent back to go through again when the light goes red.
If there is a body scanner I ask to go through that.The knee isn't a problem.but beware if you sweat profusely that causes problems and results in a pat down.

 

[JohnK]

Agreed. Surely if you are unloading into a tray you are not "in line". Perfectly acceptable for someone behind you to move into a gap in front if they are ready to go.

I lay out 2 trays and laptop bag on the security "line" and start unloading. If I don't already ask you through then ask nicely and I will let you through. Don't push past me. Totally rude and I will give you more than you bargained for at the time.

By the way I only have laptop and jacket to come off. Wallet and phone are already in laptop bag before getting to security.

 

[bad]

I lay out 2 trays and laptop bag on the security "line" and start unloading. If I don't already ask you through then ask nicely and I will let you through. Don't push past me. Totally rude and I will give you more than you bargained for at the time.

By the way I only have laptop and jacket to come off. Wallet and phone are already in laptop bag before getting to security.

Ooohhhh highly contentious stuff being discussed here. I have been at both ends of this game. I do agree it's nice to ask, instead of walking right pass. Sometimes the gap can be big depending on the people ( ie children can take time). My limited observations have shown me that nobody likes letting u squeeze in ahead even if there is a gap. Asking was nicely ignored instead, mostly with a quick closing of the gap just in case you might manage to get through. ��

 

[bad]

I think it can get confused with clothes sometimes. I've had the middle of my back highlight at times with nothing there except clothing.

most likely that was a knife stabbed into the middle of your back for cutting in earlier. You just did not notice. ( yet) ��

 

[MEL_Traveller]

. Don't push past me. Totally rude and I will give you more than you bargained for at the time.

But how exactly? A 'quiet word' and they'll pay no notice. Yell at them and you could end up being banned by the airline as potentially disruptive.