A TSA officer will perform a patdown if a passenger opts not to walk through a metal detector or an Advanced Imaging Technology screener. However, even passengers who pass through these screeners may be patted down. If a passenger sets off the metal detector or if a TSA officer performing an AIT screening notices something on the passenger's body that appears unusual, the passenger will be subject to a patdown.
A TSA officer of your gender will perform your patdown and you can opt to have your patdown performed in a private screening area. You may also bring one member of your party to the screening room to witness the patdown. If you have difficulty standing during the patdown, a TSA officer will provide a chair for you.
Take all metal objects out of your pockets before passing through the metal detector to avoid setting it off. If you're wearing jewelry, remove it before passing through the scanner. Don't wear clothing with a high metal content, such as an underwire bra or a top that has metal embroidery adorning the garment. You can also opt to pass through the AIT scanner, more commonly known as a full-body scanner. This device can detect medical implants and prosthetics that would set off a metal detector and necessitate a patdown.
Passengers who opt to pass through the AIT scanner may have a detailed digital image of their body created, including genitalia, which is examined by a TSA officer in another room. However, newer AIT models, which only display a generic outline of a human body, are being installed in some airports throughout the United States. Many travelers find the standard TSA patdown to be excessively invasive, as the TSA officer will feel your breasts, buttocks and upper thighs during the patdown.
