| |||||||
Enter a three-digit IATA code (e.g. LAX, ORD, JFK; look up a code) See the new abbreviation glossary |
SUBMIT a status | ||||||
|
Showing 122 results | ||||||
| Status | Airline | Checkpoint | Date | Notes | Time | Wait |
| UA | 1 | 2013-06-08 | Unfortunately, everyone except those sent through pre-check was sent through body scanners. There was only one regular lane in the terminal, and the elite lane fed to the regular lane. I tried to use the metal detector lane in terminal 1 first, but it was not open--this early in the morning, many of the security lanes were unfortunately closed. There was a really long line. | 430a | ||
| AA | Checkpoint closest to Spirit Airlines | 2013-05-31 | At this checkpoint (which may be more of a Spirit/Virgin America checkpoint, but all gates in terminals 1, 2, and 3 are reachable through this checkpoint), people turn right will encounter a WTMD, while people who turn left will encounter a body scanner. | 700a | ||
| AA | 7/8 T3 | 2013-05-12 | MMW for all passengers except Pre-Check. A few lucky ones go through WTMD when scanners need calibrating. Lines move slowly. | 530p | 20 | |
| UA | Checkpoint 3/T1 | 2013-04-24 | 1200p | |||
| Int'l | 5 | 2013-04-10 | odd Int'l 5 2013-04-10 WTMD in place at first and last station. Backscatter in middle. Requested metal detector and went through that line. | |||
| Int'l | International | 2013-04-05 | Only one MMW machine opened. NO WTMD. Opt Out, Got a pat down. | 830a | 0 | |
| UA | 2/T1 | 2013-03-27 | WTMD in use / MMW roped off | 1140a | 5 | |
| DL | T2 | 2013-03-18 | MMW now in use for all lanes except Pre-Check. However, sometimes you'll get lucky and one of the Pre-Check lanes is being used for regular passengers. Rule of thumb for ORD T2 remains the same - always stay as far left as you can. | 1230p | ||
| AA | Terminal 3, Checkpoint closest to Spirit Airlines counter | 2013-03-15 | After one's ID was checked, one could either turn left for a body scanner or right for a WTMD. | 520a | ||
| Int'l | T3/Checkpoint 7 | 2013-03-10 | One MMW was roped off until we got to the front of the line. | |||
| UA | Terminal 1 Far left checkpoint closest to Terminal 2 | 2013-02-13 | All lanes funneled to one checkpoint which had everyone go through the MMW Scanner. I informed the agent that I would be opting out and he had me wait until another agent came and escorted me around the scanner to the other side. He then had me empty my pockets and remove my belt while going through the speil of how he was going to conduct the pat down. He was very professional and was done in about 2-3 min. | 500p | 10 | |
| UA | T2 | 2013-02-10 | wtmd roped off - 2MMW in use. | 700a | 0 | |
| UA | 1 | 2013-01-23 | MMW in use for both lanes | |||
| UA | 1 | 2013-01-23 | MMW in use for both lanes | |||
| AA | T3 checkpoint 7 | 2012-12-12 | WTMD on right was being used. backscatter on left. very easy to select wtmd line. | 10 | ||
| UA | 1 | 2012-12-05 | Everyone was being sent through MMW. | 530p | ||
| UA | 1? | 2012-11-28 | Was connecting through the B concourse and saw the checkpoint right in front of the escalators that lead underground to the C concourse. All backscatter machines were turned off and roped off. Several MMW machines were installed where all passengers went through. It seems the backscatter machines are about to be shipped out to storage and the transition to MMW is nearly complete. | 350p | ||
| All | 1 and 2 | 2012-11-21 | 100% MMW except for "family" line and PreCheck | 1130a | ||
| Int'l | T2 | 2012-11-14 | MMW ATR in use for all pax. Leftmost lane for priority does not have MMW, but was roped off. | 1230p | 20 | |
| DL | 2 | 2012-11-09 | This is the first time I've gone through terminal 2 and not have the WTMD open. The line wasnt long and it wasnt as busy, so they were just funneling every one through the MMW. I opted out and was patted down by a TSA agent. The agent was very professional and was detailed in his explanations. | 530p | ||
| DL | 2 | 2012-10-26 | MMW have now been deployed to all lanes except Prchec | 610a | 2 | |
| UA | T1 | 2012-10-19 | Opt for center line and avoid radiation machine | 910a | 15 | |
| DL | Terminal 2 | 2012-10-11 | Terminal 2 was a piece of cake. Simple stay to the left and you can avoid the MMW machines - quick and easy WTMD | 410p | ||
| UA | terminal 1 | 2012-10-08 | There is a MMW on the very left side that was in use (on the side of first class line). There are many backscatter machines in between and one more MMW on the very right side. There are also metal detectors (WTMD) in every lane as well. The checkpoint was very busy with long lines and only the WTMDs were being used and the backscatter machines were blocked off. Amazing, all the planes screened with passengers using the metal detectors were safe last night!! I guess the NOS aren't neccesary. The MMW on the very left side was being used and people williningly chose that line even though they could have chosen another lane!! The MMW line was moving very slowly. Maybe the passengers feel safer using them but don't they already know if they are safe or not?!! It was retarded, most people at the checkpoint were using the WTMD (metal detectors). I don't understand the logic for the "anything for safety" crowd. I saw a few business guys in suits that clearly flew a lot and they all chose the WTMD line on the left side instead of the MMW on the very left of the elite line. One lady kept beeping the WTMD and they let her try to walk through a few times before they called for a "female assist, alarm" and she was herded off to the side. Security theatre? Do they turn off the body scanners when it gets crazy busy? I guess bad guys don't use the checkpoint when it's busy? Not one person opted out of the MMW on the lft side. It probably would have made that line even slower!!! | 600p | ||
| UA | 1 | 2012-09-17 | In left set of checkpoints, BKSX used for all in left-most lane; WTMD only in the other two lanes. In the right set of checkpoints, BKSX used in right lane; WTMD only in the left lane. | 300p | 15 | |
| AA | T3/CP7A | 2012-09-09 | CP7A has one WTMD (left) and two MMWD. Serf land was mostly MMWD with limited options to choose the left lane. Priority lane was the opposite; generally WTMD with limited risk of being put in the MMWD lanes (dawdling can help here). All the other T3 checkpoints appeared to be 100% MMWD. | 1030a | ||
| DL | 2 | 2012-08-27 | As usual, easy sdoo at T2. Chkpts in T1 looked to have some sdoo opportunities as well. | 950a | 5 | |
| UA | 2/1 | 2012-08-27 | security 2 at terminal 1 possible to choose wtmd (1 backscatter and 2 wtmd open) | 1130a | 3 | |
| DL | 2 | 2012-08-06 | Same old same old here. Stay left for no scanning, they won't direct you otherwise. No premium line, short other lines, works for all domestic flights. | 220p | 4 | |
| UA | T1 | 2012-07-22 | Got PreCheck - very civilized. No line, WTMD only, left everything in my bags. Sad to think this was the norm for everyone 10 years ago | 1130a | ||
| UA | Terminal 1 Checkpt 2 | 2012-07-21 | BKSX machines were mostly not in use. If you pay attention, you can find a line where the NoS is not in use. Security 3 looked like it was exclusively BKSX, though. | 300p | 5 | |
| B6 | Terminal 3 chkpt by TSA baggage dropoff | 2012-07-11 | There is a BKSX on the left and a WTMD on the right and two lanes for travelers. You will be randomly selected for one or the other, but I was able to dawdle with my bags until I saw that the BKSX was full and get to use the WTMD. | 510a | ||
| UA | Terminal 1 Premier Access | 2012-07-01 | Attempted PreCheck, denied along with 98% of other travelers. Lane led to BSKX only, so we moved farther down to a WTMD only lane. | 1200p | 25 | |
| AA | PriorityAAccess checkpoint between L and K, | 2012-06-21 | Most PriorityAAccess went through WTMD on left. Randomly pulled small number of people to backscatter on right. Stay Left! | 300p | 10 | |
| UA | T2 | 2012-06-13 | After ID check keep left. Only line on right has BKSX. | 350p | 10 | |
| UA | 2 | 2012-06-01 | No scanners; okay to use this checkpoint as a United passenger (all Terminal 1 checkpoints have backscatter) | 110p | 5 | |
| UA | Terminal 2 | 2012-05-29 | Two out of three lines had just WTMD, other line had BSKX. Agent was disagreeable about me standing where I could see my stuff. | 450a | 15 | |
| US | 2 | 2012-05-28 | Furthest left lines are wtmd; on the right is a mmw machine that appeared to be operational randomly for about half of travelers. Only two lanes open. | 700p | 10 | |
| UA | 2 | 2012-05-26 | Although the only open lane was BX, there was a very ald and disabled gentleman slowly preparing to go through it. As a result, the rest of us were sent through WTMD while they dealth with him. I use this checkpoint even when I am not flying United and it is never a problem. | |||
| AA | T3 | 2012-05-16 | WTMD only an option for priority access lane. Everyone else gets zapped. | 520p | ||
| All | 2 | 2012-05-14 | The two lanes at the far left were WTMD only. The one at the very left appeared to be for elite fliers at first, but after the travel document checker, they allowed everyone to move into that lane. It should be noted that I overheard the TSA person working the lane talking about how he had 3 minutes left for his shift. I asked him what would happen after that and he told me that he did not think that the next shift of workers would still be at the lane and that it was likely that the lane would be closed. I did not get to see what happened after then regarding whether the lane was left open, as well as the other metal detector lane. | 230p | ||
| UA | 1 | 2012-05-06 | Left lanes were slower but had only a metal detector in use. Other lines had WTMD and body scanners. I picked the slow lane! | 1100a | 25 | |
| UA | Terminal 1 | 2012-04-24 | While I waited, the TSO's randomly blocked the WTMDs or the NoSs. I got lucky and they were using the WTMDs when I went through, but five minutes earlier it was all NoS, and when I looked back after reassembling my stuff it was all NoS again. | 400p | 15 | |
| UA | 1 | 2012-03-26 | Unfortunately, everyone at this checkpoint was sent through the body scanner. TSA employees were standing in front of the metal detectors, blocking them. Fortunately, I have read that one can access this terminal by going through terminal 2 which has lanes without body scanners on the far left. | 430p | ||
| Terminal 2 | 2012-03-23 | Five lanes at this CP. Three to the left are WTMD only. Two to the right are WTMD/BSKX pair. TSA may "force" you to head into the right pair. Keep left to have a better chance of WTMD | 600a | 20 | ||
| AA | 3 (first class/TSA PreCheck) | 2012-03-20 | New TSA PreCheck opened today. Tons of execs in suit standing around watching. | a | 3 | |
| UA | T2 | 2012-03-15 | Left-most WTMD only lane at T2 is now for priority passengers only. Managed to talk my way into it, but... | 1120a | ||
| AA | T3 First Class Checkpoint (between Gate K1 and Concourse L) | 2012-02-26 | Mandatory backscatter for everyone but children 12 and under. Chat-downs at the ID checker. Everyone was very respectful. | 1030a | 0 | |
| US | 2 | 2012-02-23 | The far left lane at Terminal 2 was open. All of the terminals are connected beyond security (except the international terminal), so for most domestic flights, one can use this checkpoint. | 940a | ||
| UA | T3 | 2012-02-16 | Left side of the checkpoint is free of porn machines | 550p | 5 | |
| UA | 1 | 2012-02-15 | One lane out of service; otherwise WTMD if NoS in use | 540a | 6 | |
| AA | Terminal 3 | 2012-02-15 | As far as we could see all the machines were blocked. | 410p | ||
| AA | T3 | 2012-02-12 | 4 checkpoints at T3. The one left of 1st class check in was scanners, the one to the right of that was long wait Sunday pm, scanners and WTMD and then right of that was a checkpoint where the priority access lane fed to WTMD. Could not tell other lines. Another checkpoint near T2 was busy and I could not tell how lines were working | 1p | ||
| UA | T2 | 2012-02-07 | All WTMD checkpoints closed except the far right which has BXSC. Right at the 6 pm shift change, suddenly they start sending everyone though the WTMD only, closely observed by a tense bald white dude in a suit. When I got out, I could see workers checking in and sauntering slowly over to the observation booth. Brought to you by the brain trusts, indeed. | 600p | ||
| DL | E | 2012-01-30 | Stay as far left as you can. There is a backscatter on the far right, standard metal detector on its left, and also on the far left. In my required lane the tsa were selecting ppl for backscatter. | 900a | 8 | |
| UA | T2 | 2012-01-13 | T2 terminal has one central security checkpoint, which is divided into a left and right sections. On the left only WTMD were being used. On the right is an X-ray backscatter machine. After you pass through security, you can access Terminals 1 and 3 | 400p | ||
| Int'l | T5 | 2012-01-11 | All lanes had BKSX but one not in use | 1000a | 10 | |
| AS | T3 | 2012-01-03 | There were two lanes open, and everyone was being funneled to the radiation machines. They pulled people out at random to go through the WTMD, though (I watched one lady go to the WTMD, and TSA made her go to the line for the BKSX, then just before she got there he pulled her back out of line and sent her to the WTMD - go figure!), and fortunately both of us travelling together were selected to go through there. | 530p | ||
| UA | T1 | 2011-12-29 | Naughty smurfs with their nude-o-scopes zapping everyone | 640p | 10 | |
| VX | T3 | 2011-12-28 | Check #7, Check #9 had xray. #7 allowed SDOO. Check #8 (Elite/1st) WRMD Only. | a | ||
| UA | T2 | 2011-12-25 | Went to T2 and tried to stay left, but it was so empty, I was singled out and herded right into the backscatter lane. I tried to stay left and they swooped in asking if there was a problem. Then I was lied to by the agent telling me it wasn't backscatter, when it clearly is. All backscatters in use in T1, so still worth trying T2. At least there's a chance you can get into regular xray. | 1130a | 0 | |
| UA | T1 | 2011-12-21 | Naughty smurfs at ORD T1 were running their cancer inducing porn machines. Opted out. | 550p | 2 | |
| UA | T2 | 2011-12-20 | Three leftomost lanes using WTMD only. | 6a | ||
| UA | 1 | 2011-11-24 | ||||
| UA | T2 | 2011-11-23 | Arrived from Int'l T5, took train to T2 (even though my flight was from T1, SO worth it. Get off the train, down the escalator, go STRAIGHT AHEAD (that's the 'left side' everyone else refers to), and there are no machines there. The 'right side' is divided by a wall. Well worth the extra five minutes is takes to walk from T2 to T1, especially since all the T1 lanes were using the backscatter when I walked by. | |||
| AA | T3 | 2011-11-22 | At Domestic Checkin | |||
| CO | T2 | 2011-11-16 | Nude-o-scope was in operation... was able to avoid it by staying in the left lane | |||
| DL | T2 | 2011-11-11 | Right side was active. | |||
| CO | 2 | 2011-10-12 | Got the royal treatment this time... smurfs were having a ball with their porn machine | |||
| UA | T1 | 2011-09-28 | Porn machines are on for everyone and it was hard to avoid. | |||
| UA | T2 | 2011-09-28 | Porn machines in use... was able to dodge the bullet | |||
| UA | T2 | 2011-09-28 | Only one porn machine in use on the right. Move to the left and we were fine. | |||
| DL | 2 | 2011-09-26 | One can avoid body scanners by staying to the far left lane of Terminal 2. Note that all terminals at ORD are connected, so one can do this to avoid body scanners when flying on any airline out of ORD. | |||
| AA | T3, center | 2011-09-18 | Smurfs nuking passengers, line moved slowly. Opened three of four metal detectors, cleared out | |||
| UA | Terminal 1 | 2011-09-10 | This was a Saturday, only the first three checkpoints (left to right, as you enter the area) were open. All Backscatter machines in use, was used as primary. Radiation for all! | |||
| AA | 9 | 2011-09-09 | Everybody being put through the scanner. 9/11! 9/11! 9/11! 9/11! Too bad we can now tell Osama has won. | |||
| DL | Term 2 middle checkpoint | 2011-08-29 | Stay to left one pornoscanner on right side | |||
| UA | T1 | 2011-08-19 | At 6a | |||
| AA | Terminal 3 | 2011-07-30 | Early morning flight, all going through pornoscanner. By the time I got to the front of the line they were opening a metal detector in next line. I scooted over and no one seemed to mind. | |||
| AA | T2 | 2011-07-28 | All lanes at main security had metal detectors except the far right. Use T2 to go to other terminals. T3 has numerous pornoscanners | |||
| UA | T2, right by main entrance | 2011-07-21 | Only saw metal-detectors in use, self-opt out was easy from other checkpoint | |||
| UA | T2 | 2011-07-13 | Only backscanner at main security checkpoint is still to far right -- several other lanes open w/only WTMD. | |||
| AA | 3 | 2011-07-05 | Flight was boarding in 15 minutes, so they waved me to the front of the line. All checkpoints and all lanes appeared to be using scanners. Lines were not long. | |||
| AA | Terminal 3 | 2011-07-05 | 50% through the scanner. Opted for the pat down & TSA agent got it done in 3 minutes. Very professional. | |||
| UA | T1 | 2011-07-03 | I use for all passengers. Long lines. | |||
| AA | Terminal 3 | 2011-06-18 | In use for all passengers at T3 premium line. Massive delays and backups. | |||
| UA | 1 | 2011-06-09 | ||||
| UA | T1, 1-7, 5:30a | 2011-06-09 | Huge lines, all scanners in use at all ckpts | |||
| B6 | 2 | 2011-06-08 | I was randomly picked for a backscatter machine. I opted out and experienced the "enhanced" pat-down for the first time. It was a horrible, humiliating experience. | |||
| DL | 2011-05-05 | |||||
| UA | 7:30am,T1, checkpt 1-7 | 2011-04-16 | Lines, lots of people, busy. None of the scanners are on. | |||
| UA | T1, checkpoint 9 (all the way to the left) | 2011-04-16 | ~7:30am, busy,long lines. Looks like all scanners in use. | |||
| UA | T2, first checkpoints closest to left side | 2011-04-16 | ~7:30am. Normal civilized metal detectors for all | |||
| UA | B | 2011-04-13 | Gropes out in force | |||
| AA | Terminal 3 | 2011-04-10 | Flying Int'l FC went through the checkpoint near "E". Everyone was directed to the scanner. Passed by the other checkpoints on the way to H gate - seemed that all pax were directed to scanners. | |||
| DL | Terminal E | 2011-03-30 | No unconstitutional scanner seen. | |||
| UA | Terminal 1, checkpoint 1 | 2011-03-23 | Randomized screening, every x number of passengers. Only one in use. (Other line roped off.) | |||
| DL | E-F gates | 2011-03-17 | No scanners at these gates. Yoohoo! | |||
| AA | 8 | 2011-03-12 | When line at checkpoint 8 is short, all pax are "randomly" selected | |||
| AA | 9 | 2011-03-12 | Checkpoint 9 now has pornoscanners, so it is no longer safe as noted on January 29 entry | |||
© 2010-2011, Ari Ofsevit / tsastatus.net