<p>I don’t want to come off as a jerk but there some things in this day that everyone must endure. To ask such things can be constured and what is answered can be taken as “What would a Terrorist want to know, and how would he/she find such information” </p>
<p>there is another thread somewhere recently about which college that gives instructional engineering courses on nuclear weapon making. Any Ideas?</p>
<p>I’ve never had birth control pills set off a metal detector. </p>
<p>Did have my carryon luggage torn apart looking for a 3/4 x 2 in. metal name pin that I guess looked like it might be some kind of blade on the x-ray monitor. At the same time, they missed the sewing scissors in the side pocket that I had forgotten about!</p>
<p>My pet peeve is that I often travel with a computer and video projector in a roller bag made to carry them. I know I must take them both out of the bag to go through the scanner. However, the projector has it’s own thin nylon case with a shoulder strap. Invariably, when I remove it from this bag as well, the TSA person tells me I don’t need to, and every time I’ve tried to send it through with the bag, one tells me I have to take it out. You can’t win.</p>
<p>LongPrime, I am just trying to make sure that I can do everything possible to have a easy trip through security. I don’t want someone performing a breast exam on me because I wore a bra that had an underwire. I also don’t think that my overprotective older brother needs to know about the medications I am taking. I am just trying to figure out if I need to check in certain things.</p>
<p>BTW, do medications need to go in the 1 quart plastic bag?</p>
<p>I appreciate your concern on a smooth flight but also you must appreciate the concern of others.</p>
<p>“I don’t want someone performing a breast exam on me because I wore a bra that had an underwire.”</p>
<p>Well if that happens to you I think you will have a lawsuit on your hands.</p>
<p>Ok…hate to admit it but my bra did set off the hand held wand detector! This was quite awhile ago when underwire truly was metal. There are very few that are metal now. A woman worker had to check out the bra…hmmm…it was embarassing but we all laughed when it was over. I was at an airport in Tennessee.</p>
<p>My underwire bras have never set off a detector… but sometimes [especially when travelling internationally] either someone in my group or I have been patted down even if we didn’t set of the alarm… just seems like they randomly pick people for a patdown… which can be awkward, but it’s not terrible.</p>
<p>Foil back med are fine in carry on bags. They might set off a detector if you carried them in your pocket, but why would you do that? Just leave the BC pills in your carry on luggage and they will go through x-ray fine. They do NOT go in the baggie since they are not liquid or aerosols.</p>
<p>Perhaps a call to the airlines, or a visit to their website could answer your questions? Victorias Secret is famous for their beautiful undergarments and the uplifting experience of their bras. Nevertheless, for the purpose of your privacy and comfort not to be singled out, perhaps a very cheap, disposable bra would suffice, as someone mentioned earlier, or maybe you already have a sports bra, or maybe you could go without for such a short time.</p>
<p>From the TSA web site: [TSA:</a> Travel Assistant](<a href=“http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/index.shtm]TSA:”>http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/index.shtm)</p>
<p>In addition, certain clothing and accessories can set off an alarm on the metal detector and slow you down. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal when traveling through the security checkpoints: </p>
<pre><code>*
Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
*
Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
*
Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
*
Belt buckles
*
Under-wire bras
<p>I think that I will just go buy a cheap wireless bra so I won’t have to worry.</p>
<p>^ If this really worries you that much, then it makes sense to take all the precautions you can. But as someone who travels frequently, I assure you that this isn’t worth inconveniencing yourself over.</p>
<p>Just think about how many women fly every day. If metal detectors routinely went off for underwire bras, no one would ever get anywhere. Obviously you shouldn’t make things excessively complex–no body armor under your clothing–but you don’t need to go to special lengths, either. </p>
<p>Getting pulled aside isn’t fun, but under normal circumstances, it’s not that big of a deal. The machines can be inconsistent, picking up entirely innocent stuff, and you can also be randomly selected for advanced screening. In other words, you can’t avoid all risk, no matter how well prepared you are, so just avoid the obvious and cross your fingers. Odds are that you’ll get through with zero trouble.</p>
<p>I agree with not stressing about over it. If you do get pulled aside (either because of something you’re wearing or something in your bag), cooperate, be civil to the TSA agents who are checking you, and leave extra time to allow for security. The last time I flew (with my mom and sister) was on the way home after I graduated from college. Our carry-ons were full with everything from my desktop computer to my empty water bottle. It took us extra time to get through security because we had to take out the computer, the monitor, and any other sizable electronic item I had (my hard drive, etc) and put them on the belt individually. And what seemed to be suspicious? My empty water bottle! We stood aside while a few of the bags were searched, and joked with the agent about it (“The only thing that needs to make it back into the bag is favorite stuffed animal”, things like that). Yes, it took a little longer to get through the security checkpoint, but we were fine.</p>
<p>NO, it’s not a big deal to set off the alarms. I do it every time, and I’d do it if I were naked, because I have a large internal piece of metal–a plate on my femur (thigh bone).</p>
<p>Here’s what happens after I set off the alarm. I look at the screener and say “I have a plate in my knee.” (If I didn’t know why I set it off, I’d say “I don’t know why it went off.”) The screener says “please step over there and wait for the screener.” “Those are my things.” (I point to them and they put them near me but out of my reach.)</p>
<p>I wait for a female screener. She asks me if I want to be screened in a private room. I say no. She tells me to stand with my arms up and my feet on the rug where the feet symbols are. She runs the wand over me. If it beeps in an area–and remember it’s set to be very sensitive–she touches the spot lightly to see what’s setting it off. Since I’m careful to wear no metal–the only thing she touches is my thigh (over my clothes). When she’s done, she says “Have a good trip, ma’am” and I say “thank you.”</p>
<p>The whole process takes about 2 minutes.</p>
<p>The only real issue is, if you are travelling alone, your purse and other items are now languishing at the end of the conveyor belt where anyone can take them. Yes, it can and does happen.</p>
<p>^ A fair reminder, but you can be randomly selected for further screening, so not wearing an underwire bra isn’t going to eliminate this risk. Staying appropriately calm/aware and keeping your eyes on your belongings should do the job. Unless you request a private room (which, under typical circumstances, you don’t need to worry about doing), you should be within easy eyesight of the conveyor belt and the path away from it.</p>
<p>But the OP has said she’s traveling with her brother (at least), anyway.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Which is why dmd77 said:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Whenever I’ve been pulled out for further screening, the security person has asked which stuff is mine and brought it from the belt and over to the screening area for me.</p>
<p>The broadway and movie actress Patti Lupone related a real TSA horror story about being searched in the breast area by a female agent. The search was conducted in front of everyone standing in the security line.</p>
<p>Can it set it off? Yes.</p>
<p>Will it set it off? Depends on how sensitive the detector is set.</p>
<p>Will you get patted down if it gets set off? Yes.</p>
<p>If you get the pat down it will be done by a female agent and you can request, and they are required to oblige, that it occurs in a private setting (if they don’t do that by default already).</p>
<p>They are also introducing the new ‘x-ray vision’ scanners at some airports. These are the things where you stand in a booth and the system bounces microwaves off your body and the screener then essentially sees a ‘naked’ you and anything else that’s on your body (e.g. a concealed weapon). The system is setup whereby the person viewing the images is in a separate location and never sees who they’re screening… so the person just sees a bunch of generic naked bodies but never sees who they belong to. The images are not saved. This gives people an alternative to being touched during a physical pat down and inspection.</p>