TSA Security Tips for Females
As you know, Jeanne and I like to look nice when we travel, preferably in heels and dresses. And it’s not just for looks, it’s our best option when opting out of the body scanners.
Some of the most invasive moves of the pat-down is when they run their hands under your waistband and collar and when they move up your leg until they “meet resistanceâ€.
So you might think jeans are best, but as one TSA employee told me in Miami last week, dresses are the most airport friendly.
If you’re wearing a dress, you take a slightly different stance, like the beginning of a lunge, and they pat the front and back of your thighs through the dress rather than risk lifting your hem line too high. Versus jeans or pants where they’ll go right up until they meet “resistance.â€
So when picking your airport garb, consider a collarless, beltless dress and save yourself some time and molestation.
Also consider a pair of pumps or strappy slip on sandals, which are much easier to doff and don than laced shoes. Of course that has it’s pros and cons too – either plan ahead with a small pair of socks, or bring sanitizer for afterwards. You will get a great calf work out tip-toeing barefoot through security though!
And on a related note, make sure your ID, ticket, wallet and jewelry are tucked into something else out of site when going through the X-ray machine. That reduces the temptation for someone else to just grab them off the top and walk away while you’re still in line.
If you are wearing a strapless, though, like the one in the picture, if they do not ask you if you would like to hold the dress up… request that you can. The rubber clothes “stick” to fabric really easily and a strong patdown can turn into a nude-o-scope type experience!
My zipper also once snagged on a rubber glove and the agent wasn’t paying attention. I quickly grabbed it. But just as long as you keep these possibilities in mind, you’ll be ready!
I do think it is really sad we have to go through this. I have not been happy since the Nude-o-Scopes started and I think it is awful.
But I found the dresses make things easier and less humiliating for the pat down. I just wore pants for the first time since the scopes were implemented through security. Oh my gosh, the waist band search. I never want that again.
Easiest solution is to just do the scanner… Prefer that 100 times over hands on me, although admittedly I don’t care much either way as long as I get through quickly.
Clearly I am not qualified to understand this, but would pants be more comfy and less fussy during a long flight?
The right dresses (like, jersey material) are so comfy for flights 🙂