airport security

Yes -- In the old days -- last year -- you could get away with but the underwear guy ended that.

marie, As the others have said, IT IS a good idea to remove your Money Belt prior to going through security. I'd suggest leaving it in your carry-on until after you've boarded the aircraft. Even at my smaller "local" airport, something as small as a Money Belt will likely show up in the metal detector (metal zippers), and as Frank mentioned this could result in a "vigorous" secondary search in a closed room! I've heard from a few people that the situation is more extreme for those going through the full-body scanners. If anything is detected, the resulting procedures are not pleasant!

And at the pat-down in European airports, you'll have to take it off.

And at most European airports they ask you to empty your pockets completely.

I have never taken mine off, or been patted down. Travelled in and out of Frankfurt last September.

Consider yourself lucky. We passed through Frankfurt in Oct 09 and had always worn our money belts through security. After going through the mag detector everyone was receiving a secondary pat down. When they found the money belt, she was escorted by two agents to a private room and nearly stripped search. So wear it through security knowing that it could cause extra problems if detected.

I think what got Judy out of the pat-down was that she's from Australia. As far as I know, the secondary security check is only for people flying to the US or Israel.

Also, I have told more than once in Europe: "You have to empty all pockets, you have to remove your belt", etc. before going through the metal detector. A money belt has not explicitly been mentioned, but I think it falls under the same category.

(Regular) Belts are removed because of their (usually) metal buckles... FWIW, I've never removed my moneybelt - in the USA nor in Europe. And except for a zipper, there's nothing metal in it to set off an alarm. My clothes are covered in zippers...and they don't set off the alarm, either. I haven't been 'frisked' in 15+ years, darn it ;-)...and THAT was due to a metal belt buckle...:P Apparently, Your Mileage May Vary on this... You'll WILL have to remove it if you've refused a pat-down and you're 'chosen' for the scanner machine.

The money belt zippers are made of plastic and won't set off the metal detectors. Until last month I've always worn my m. belt through the security checks, and never had a problem....even with the pat-downs. With more airports installing body scanners it's not feasible anymore...even paper has to do removed from your pockets.

I have been getting "pat-downs" forever, at least since 9/11, since I have a medical implant in my chest. I ALWAYS take and use a money belt when I go to Europe every summer and always take it off and put it into my carry-on just before entering security and I make sure I can see it going thru the machines and I have my wife ahead of me to grab my carry-on once it gets to the other side while I wait for my "Pat-down". It also helps if you can push it down to the bottom of your carry-on so at least the TSA or whomever, have to work at getting it out.

If you have a carry-on backpack, put the moneybelt in that when going through the screening. I tend to just leave it in there at airports most of the time.

"Pat down" is too polite a term for "grope." I have not been through AP security since they implemented the new screening policy, but I would be tempted to wear the hidden pocket money pouch in front instead of on the side and then opting out of the full-body scan. That way the TSA groper would be in for a surprise. But I am neither that brave nor that foolish. So, like everybody else, I will put the money belt/pouch in my carryon until I get through security.