SeaTac to begin full-body scans in September

Actually, you'll have the choice of a body scanner or the regular procedure. Of course, they warn you that the regular procedure may involve a thorough body patdown, so pick your poison.

Well, if I do have to make the choice (wouldn't be suprised if I did, since I've been asked to go through secondary screening a couple of times before)...frankly, I think it's a lesser invasion of privacy to be scanned by some person I don't see than to be physically touched by a stranger. Heck, I'd ask them to print me a copy if I could!

Anna, We've had a full body Scanner in place at our local airport for quite some time, but as far as I know it's only used for screening people on flights to the U.S. As with the SeaTac situation, the passenger has a choice between the Scanner or a "patdown". I been subjected to the "patdowns" before, but they didn't seem to be overly intrusive. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to try the Scanner in future. Cheers!

You may need to 'tac on' (heh-heh) an extra hour to your airport arrival time. These machines take longer, and I suspect many, many people will need at least 2 screening go-arounds due to forgotten tissues, lip balm, coins, etc. in their pockets. Or stuck in their bras...You know who you are LOL! And is your luggage just sitting on the conveyor belt while this is going on? I'm not enthused about my money belt (passport, ccards, etc.) sitting in a plastic gray tub. I, too, have gotten a pat-down years ago; depending on who's doing the patting, I might opt for that ;-)

Michael Chertoff, the former head of Homeland Security, and a big proponent of body scanners, recently gave an interview on CNN. He's still a big promoter of body scanners. It could because when he left Homeland Security, he opened up a "consulting" agency. Some of his biggest clients are the manufacturers of body scanners. Anyone surprised?

Oh, Frank II - the skepticism...It's just that he cares THAT MUCH for us...take the love, accept the love.

They are in the process of installing them at the Charlotte Airport. 3 are in and the 4th goes in next month. You have to remove EVERYTHING from your pockets- even a kleenex or a dollar bill will cause problems. When we were going thorough securtiy one morning, a TSA agent was standing by the line loudly instructing everyone to "remove everything from every pocket- even kleenex" she was also telling everone to be patient as the "new" machine took longer to "read you". The line got so backed up they started sending most people through the "old" dectors and just sending a few through the new ones.

We've been through this scanner in Salt Lake City. You have to completely take everything of your pockets. They pulled me aside for one pill that I had left in my pocket. They saw it on the scanner. Maybe with these scanners, the don't have to do intense searches on grandma in a wheel chair as I've seen them do on occasion.

Wow, rules and regulations motivated by financial interests? In the U.S.? Never!

I fly often and have been getting "pat-down" for years as I have a pacemaker implant whose manufacture says not to go thru those "hoops". I find it non-offensive and they only do patdowns with a TSA person of the same sex as I. At most airports I am directed into another line, often with the first class passengers, and always beat the person I am flying with thru security. Lately, I have been making sure that my belongings in those plastic tubs are caught by TSA or whomever it is overseas, and brought to where I am being "patted down" to ensure that nothing comes up missing. A good issue brought up by an earlier poster who questioned the delay at the new scanners and your belongings.

We have them at our airport.,but most people do not go through them, just a few people are pulled out.

Whenever I've had to go through additional screening, they made me bring my stuff with me to the screening area and a TSA employee kept an eye on it. This is strictly from my experience, so it may be done differently elsewhere, but they didn't want my carry-ons clogging the conveyor belt anyway. They did manage to drop my laptop though :(

I could give a crap less if they see me naked, but I don't really like it for my teenage daughter. I also don't like the time delay, so maybe I'll opt for the pat-down if our belongings come with us- I don't like being separated from them during the lag time.