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I'm emigrating from Canada to New Zealand and we're flying on Nov. 25.

Since I'm near the border, we're flying from Detroit to Fort Worth and then LA.. I am not looking forward to this flight.

I've already had dozens of medical x-rays in the past few months, and don't particularly want to get another dose, however low it may be.

On the other hand, opting out sounds really unpleasant. I especially don't want my wife potentially suffering that indignity at the hands of a male TSA agent (as some people have reported).

I don't think I have the balls to opt-out this time around.. I just want to survive the 48 hour trip intact, with all my luggage.. but this will likely be the last time I fly through the US.




I've opted out twice and it really hasn't been a big deal. It's slightly slower, but the security guys treated me fine. It was no more invasive than being patted down before entering a nightclub to make sure you aren't carrying anything pointy.

Given your health concerns, opting out seems like the clear choice (though bear in mind I'm pulling from a sample size of only 2).


What kind of nightclubs do you go to? I've never seen that before. The most has been to check for ID.


Welcome to Atlanta! ;)


There are two kinds of scanners. One uses low energy X-rays, the other uses microwaves. If you got the microwave kind, that would not add to your X-ray dose.

I understand pat-downs within the U.S. are by same-sex agents. This wouldn't be the kind of thing they would get wrong.


As though the gender of the agent had any relevance...




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