Travelers at airports around the U.S. this holiday season who hoped to avoid body scanners learned that isn’t an option for everyone anymore.
Travelers at airports around the U.S. this holiday season who hoped to avoid body scanners learned that isn't an option for everyone anymore.
Previously, the TSA allowed all passengers to opt out and get a pat-down instead. But with terrorism concerns heightened, the agency changed its policy.
"I think it's fine," said traveler Andie Fortune. "I don't see any problem with it. It's a security thing, so you have to do it, and it kind of seems suspicious if people say no, I guess."
The body scanners can detect potential weapons even if they aren't made of metal. None of the passengers necn spoke with had any issue with the change.
"Going through security and lifting my arms up and going through the [scanner] - absolutely not," said Donna Enichen of Raleigh, North Carolina. "If this is what they feel they need to do and it keeps people safe, it's just part of traveling."
"I think that whatever gets the line moving, gets people where they want to go," said Hadley Parker of Winchester, Massachusetts. "It's for a good reason ... they're not trying to invade your privacy, they're trying to protect you."
But there has been criticism that the TSA doesn't take any public comment before making changes. And some are still concerned about privacy.
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The TSA, however, says this isn't a sweeping change and they will still allow some passengers to opt out. They just want to reserve the power to decline a request.
"If they're choosing it as a protocol that keeps the public the safest, then I'm OK with it, because that's in the best interest of the public," said Freddy Garcia of Florida. "I don't really think it's invasive."
