Has anyone had troubles at the airport?

[J.T.]

I have to travel to the US in september and was wondering with the new body scanner if you can actually ask to be body searched by a security officer instead of having my privacy violated with that scanner?

Not all airports have the new body scanner, but if they do you CAN refuse and instead they will do a body patdown.  Don't ask for the body search, which is different!  All they can do is pat you down unless they have found "something".  They won't pat your crotch as that would be sexual molestation.  Don't know how thorough they get in the patdown as my airport doesn't have the body scanners yet, thankfully.

I highly recommend everyone do this (refuse the scanner) in America.  The more people who refuse the invasive body scanner, the better.  From my understanding you can't refuse in the UK or you're not allowed on board.

[Arch]

I've seen a few body-scanner pics of people, but I'm trying to figure out how a packer will show up, especially since there are different kinds. I have a regular gel-style packer and a GV packer with the firm core. Anyone know how these look on the scan?

Is it established in the U.S. that we have an absolute right to opt for a pat-down instead of a scan?

[J.T.]

I've seen a few body-scanner pics of people, but I'm trying to figure out how a packer will show up, especially since there are different kinds. I have a regular gel-style packer and a GV packer with the firm core. Anyone know how these look on the scan?

Is it established in the U.S. that we have an absolute right to opt for a pat-down instead of a scan?

From everything I've read, yes...

and the packer will come off as looking like a "detached" part of the body, which will raise alarm and they will pull you over.