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Showing 165 results | ||||||
| Status | Airline | Checkpoint | Date | Notes | Time | Wait |
| AA | 2013-06-01 | backscatter machines in use for almost everyone except folks in wheelchairs and passengers with babies-- they went through metal detectors instead. Didn't feel like putting up a fight, so I went through the backscatter machine, but was annoyed to be patted down afterward anyway... | 830p | |||
| WN | 2013-05-23 | 500a | ||||
| UA | T3 | 2013-05-21 | TSA female said scanner? wasn't an x-ray. No notices to opt out. Would have for health concerns if there were signs. | 130p | 5 | |
| DL | T1 DL pier | 2013-05-09 | MMW in every lane as primary | 1200p | ||
| UA | 2013-04-17 | 800a | ||||
| UA | Near gates 76-90 | 2013-04-02 | This was the checkpoint to the right of the stairs. Only one MMW, used for all. Line was slow, we were running close to time, so I chickened out for the scanner. | 100p | 15 | |
| B6 | International A | 2013-03-30 | Everyone through MMW, except children 12 years of age or younger, and one parent. WTMD covered with cardboard box. | 1000a | 5 | |
| UA | T3 | 2013-03-29 | MMW at all checkpoints I could see, all WTMDs blocked off. Lines moving very efficiently. I signaled to one of the agents monitoring the lines that I was an opt-out. By the time I passed my things through the x-ray, a female agent had arrived and the patdown was quick. She wasn't chatty but was polite and efficient. Did not touch my hair, but my hair's short and I'm a good foot taller than she was, so ymmv. Overall, as unobjectionable an experience as a professional grope can be. | 2p | 7 | |
| All | T1 | 2013-03-07 | No Backscatter used at SFO | |||
| All | T2 | 2013-03-07 | No Backscatter used at SFO | |||
| All | T3 | 2013-03-07 | No Backscatter used at SFO | |||
| VX | T2 | 2013-03-04 | The far left line is precheck (WTMD only). Since my last trip, the elite line funnels into the same line and the second-to-left lane has had its NoS removed. So now if you are elite and the far left non-pre line is open, you can avoid groping. I'm glad no terrorists would ever think of getting elite status! TSA is on the job. | |||
| UA | International G | 2013-02-26 | Either orange or red depending on time of day. There are both WTMDs and MMW machines at the checkpoint, but they only use both when traffic is high, otherwise it's MMW only. As far as I can tell, the high-traffic time is ~10-11:30AM. I arrived at 11:50 and had the bad luck to see them closing the WTMDs as I got into line. Politely opted out, genitals not touched during patdown. | 1150a | 10 | |
| UA | T3 (overflow, south of main T3 checkpoint) | 2013-02-25 | MMW and WTMD both in use at this checkpoint, though today the WTMD was blocked off, and both lines were being routed through MMW. I'm OK with MMW. As it turns out, they had me step in, then asked me to step back out as one agent announced "calibrate!" WTMD was then unblocked and I was then re-routed through it, along with everyone else. No idea how long the MMW was out of service, but they were routing everyone through it pre-calibration | 1130a | 10 | |
| AA | T2 | 2013-01-31 | Opt out. First pat down set off explosives detection. Second groin rub in private room. No option to do in public. Aloof and unresponsive to questions. | 510a | 20 | |
| WN | T1 | 2013-01-16 | 100% scanners and then patdowns if you happen to be wearing earrings.... Rude staff. | 1200p | 10 | |
| AA | t2 | 2013-01-11 | 3 magical beeps at precheck means I get to fly with dignity. The dude in front of me got two beeps, so off to the gropelab he went. MMW for everyone except precheck. | |||
| UA | Terminal 3 South C/P | 2012-12-23 | Two lines, one going to a WTMD. Checker tried to move me to other, asked if that was an order, he said no and let me be. SDOO achieved. | 740a | 10 | |
| DL | T1-C | 2012-12-15 | All WTMDs blocked off. Everyone through the MMW. | 700a | 15 | |
| Int'l | I | 2012-12-09 | 740p | |||
| UA | 3 | 2012-12-08 | Two lines. Wife was being prescreened for the other one, so I just walked over to her line to SDOO | 750a | 5 | |
| VX | T2 | 2012-12-04 | There is now a pre-check line at T2. If you are a good little non-terrorist and the machine beeps three times, you are sent to the magical wonderland of September 10, 2001 security, where you get to leave your shoes on, leave your laptop in the bag, and so on. Everybody else gets groped or scanned. | |||
| VX | Terminal 2 | 2012-11-21 | No luck at Terminal 2. MMW naked boddy scanners used at lines. Blue Shirts at SFO are not TSA/Government employees, but they have to abide by the same rules and are just as bad at the government employees. | 330p | ||
| UA | Terminal 3 | 2012-11-21 | 2 lines were open and both had MMW scanners. I chose to opt out and the agent repeatedly suggested that I go through the scanner while telling me that the machine did not emit radiation. I waited about 5 minutes for an agent to do a patdown. The pat down was not too bad and was professionally handled. | 830p | 15 | |
| UA | United, Terminal 3 | 2012-10-26 | There was one checkpoint for Premier members allowed you to easily self-select a metal detector. Upon return on Sunday morning the line was not available. | 330p | 0 | |
| VX | 2012-10-05 | Only saw 1 family with small kids allowed to use an otherwise blocked metal detector. Everyone else had to go through the scanner. I said I opt out, and was immediately told by an agent oh that machine doesn't have radiation. Once again I said I opt out. Again she said but it doesn't have radiation. She was really trying to get me to go through, which could be construed as harassment, since I have a right to opt out. Once again, I repeated my decision. I had to wait at least 10-15 minutes for an agent (punitive?) Once the search took place it was fine. | 130p | |||
| DL | 1, Gates 40-48 | 2012-09-24 | Everyone forced into scanner. No option for metal detector (except for flight crew). Opted out. Waited 5 minutes for pat-down. Agressive, angry female agent. Claimed I set off alarm. Excruciatingly slow review of all contents of my purse, which she removed item-by-item and placed on counter. I checked luggage so no liquids/toiletries with me. Still, told I must go into private room for secondary screening (RPD or Resolution Pat-Down). Refused secondary screening & was told SFPD would be called. Endured it. Was not as aggressive, invasive as 1st pat-down. Think the 1st agent set off alarm intentionally. Alarm did not go off after 2nd, private room pat-down. Frightening experience. | 400p | ||
| UA | international | 2012-09-23 | All passengers forced to go through a single backscatter/radiation machine. I told the TSA rep I didn't want to go through. She replied by saying I didn't have a choice...unless I went through the enhanced pat-down. I chose the enahanced pat-down and they directed me to another gate to walk through. The 2nd TSA rep explained he put on fresh gloves and that he would have to give me a full pat-down because I refused to go through the scanner. He said he would to a "one-two" down the back and then the front along the sides of my zipper. I asked him if he was going to touch my genitals and he repeated he would just to the "one-two" along the sides of my zipper. I said "ok". He commenced with the pat-down and touched me very close to my genitals. In the meantime, the 3rd TSA rep was removing every item from my carry-on bags and performing the chemical check. The rep even ran all my items through the x-ray machine again. From where I was asked to stand, I was not able to keep my eyes on my property the entire time. The rep was working extremely slowly during the baggage check. | 1100p | 25 | |
| WN | Terminal 1 | 2012-09-20 | Multiple lanes were open however the backscatter machine was being "calibrated" so the 4-5 people in front of me plus me only went through a metal detector. | 710a | 6 | |
| UA | International | 2012-09-04 | Line was almost empty. Had to say our name. I saw one guy go through WTMD, but everyone else was going through the MMW. I opted out with my fiancee and the woman officer tried arguing with us saying that we should have said something earlier and that we can't opt out. I said that I don't trust the safety of the machines and would rather get a pat down. Then the officer called for a male and female opt out. Make sure you know that you have the right, according to TSA, to opt out if the officers try to say otherwise. Be polite and curtious with the officers but firm if they try to say something contrary to their own rules. | 730a | ||
| UA | 3 | 2012-09-01 | There used to be one or two lines were SDOO was available. Now all lines lead to MMWs. The only option to use the WTMD was if you had a child who could walk. | a | 10 | |
| UA | 1 | 2012-08-23 | MMW used for everyone since only one line was available and airport wasn't that busy at that time. Got that cardboard covering the metal detectors. MMW has the new software with stick figure installed, decided not to opt-out because I'd rather not be groped. | 930p | 5 | |
| UA | United - after customs to connecting United flights | 2012-08-23 | MMW for everyone except for one guy with his young son. They opened up the WTMD for him. They let a few people go through when the scanner line right beside the WTMD got longer than 3 people BUT then they quickly closed it off with a piece of cardboard. I saw people exiting the scanner and still getting patdowns. Me (young female) and another young female after me opted out (we were both very skinny and small and hardly dangerous). We didn't know each other but were both traveling with other people so we were not worried about our stuff. The wait was about 3 minutes or 2.5. The lady that called for the 2 female assists had to call a few times but at least she kept trying. She ended up doing the pat down on me and another lady came for the other girl. The lady who called for the opt outs opened a gate for us and led us to a sitting area near the x-ray belt. She had me point out my stuff and put my bin on a chair beside me. She told me to wait while she went to get something and left me alone for half a minute. She was nice enough to put my shoes with the dirty side facing up instead of on my stuff, that was a nice gesture. she changed her gloves but I didn't see them from the box but they looked new. I forgot about asking but she did it without me asking. The pat down wasn't too bad, she did touch my hair and the other girl also had her hair touched as well. My person made me lift up my shirt and tank top underneath to feel my leggings waistband but she said to not lift my shirt too high. It was nice not to have to stand on the yellow feet since for a small person, that's like doing the splits. She did give me the speech and offer me a private screening, which I declined. The lines for the scanners were INSANE!! If you had a tight connection, I don't see how you could make it through customs, get your luggage and then go through re-screening area! There were about 3 lines and all led to the scanner. Me and the other girl were in the priority/first class line (on the right), which was the only line with a WTMD beside the MMW. Everyone in the priority line still got the MMW. It took so long for everyone to get through the scanners. I wonder how many people have missed flights? the lines went past the checkpoint area. Overall, opting out at SFO was okay. Too bad we couldn't have more privatized airport security. the lady didn't give me or the other girl attitude for opting out. It was nice not to have to opt out alone, I think the other girl did it a lot because she didn't look too happy and said it usually took a few minutes to wait. | 1030a | 3 | |
| UA | Terminal 3 | 2012-08-09 | MMW in use for everyone except mothers w/small children, opt-out quick and easy, no problems. | 330p | 5 | |
| VX | Terminal 2 | 2012-08-06 | Standard SFO name game at the ID check podium. The line was moving very slowly due to NoS being primary and only two lanes open. They had a large cardboard barrier that was blocking entrance to the WTMD. But one man was carrying a small dog and they allowed him to escape the NoS. After I made it through, the line was backing up even more and then the gatekeeper periodically allowed 7-10 people to go through the WTMD to speed things up. And an hour and a half later I have to take out my id to show it to the smurfs again in the jetway while boarding! Just silly. | 210p | 20 | |
| AA | 2 | 2012-08-02 | SFO AA used to be my favorite security experience, WTMD only. Now it's MMW for everyone except families with small children. What theaterical garbage. | |||
| US | Terminal 1 | 2012-08-01 | Cardboard was blocking the metal detectors. I opted out of scanner. Convenant Aviation Security staff forgot several of my items on the xray belt. Made me wait then proceeded with enhanced pat down. When they asked if they could pat the incide of my legs I responded "What ever turns you on". This resulted in a huge scandal with the actual TSA being called in to observe a new pat down. | 630p | ||
| DL | Terminal 1, Gates 40-48 | 2012-07-29 | Funneling everyone through NoS. Opted-out. Extremely friendly agent and non-invasive pat-down. Private contractors put the TSA to shame in terms of professionalism. | 720a | 20 | |
| UA | T3 overflow, south checkpoint | 2012-07-20 | Far right lane is WTMD only, but was closed off right before I could get to it (shift change?) | 940a | ||
| UA | T3 Elite | 2012-07-17 | Nude-o-scopes in use for everyone; because of which a short & smooth security check has become a long wait. | 510p | 15 | |
| UA | T3 (overflow, south of main T3 checkpoint) | 2012-07-10 | Line was shorter at noon than i typically see when i fly mornings, however, with only one lane open, the line moved very slowly, all being directed through MMW. As i got to the initial screening desk, more personnel arrived and an additional line was opened - directed to a WTMD. Easy to self-select from there. | 1200p | 15 | |
| VX | ALL | 2012-06-21 | ya NAILED IT. Glad I'm not the only one who sees a grave error in how this system is being operated. Rosa Parks all over again. Straight up age/racial/sexual orientation discrimination. Absolutely disgusting that this is happening in the year of 2012 and people are putting up with it. SFO IS RED. | |||
| VX | 2 | 2012-06-19 | Crew members (thanks for standing with us, guys -- oh, wait, you get the metal detector) and families with children under 12 are not terrorists. Children become terrorists on 13th birthday, and must go through the cancer-box. My officer began the conversation by threatening me with whether I was going to fly. I'm sure he is a constitutional scholar in addition to being a radiation safety engineer. | |||
| VX | T2 | 2012-06-08 | If you had a child, you got the metal detector opened up just for you. (ATTENTION TERRORISTS: PAY A CHILD TO TRAVEL WITH YOU!) Otherwise, you must opt-out. Opt-out wait was clearly punishment, since there were TSA employees standing around talking. Or maybe they hate groping passengers as much as we hate it. TSA employees still do not have radiation badges. | 640a | 35 | |
| WN | 1 | 2012-05-30 | Everyone goes through scanner, no avoiding except to opt out n | 930a | 15 | |
| B6 | 2012-05-27 | Most went through MMW, a few were allowed to walk through metal detectors. I refused the MMW and asked to be patted down. They asked me to take off my hat and I refused, so a female TSA officer felt up my head as well as my body. Ugh. | 730a | |||
| UA | T3 | 2012-05-27 | Memorial Day weekend: Line to the left, all MMW. Line to the right was families only, WWMD. | 640a | 20 | |
| VX | T2 | 2012-05-18 | ||||
| UA | T3 | 2012-05-14 | Nudies in operation now :( | 540a | 10 | |
| UA | T3 Overflow (near Group Check-in) | 2012-05-10 | There are now three lanes - two that share an MMW on the left and one WTMD only on the right. Fairly easy to choose WTMD, if it's open. Families were also allowed to choose that line directly. | 1050a | ||
| WN | 1 | 2012-05-09 | No Tsa at SFO.. Airport is privatized.. | 430p | ||
| UA | Premier Access T2 | 2012-05-08 | all MMW, which I dont mind, Back Scatter I opt out | |||
| US | T1 | 2012-05-07 | Everyone sent through MMW except flight crews | 800a | 5 | |
| UA | T3 | 2012-05-05 | Fxxk it, went through the scanner. They have ones with updated software so no porn. One MMW in few months won't kill me and I would save time to get to the snacks on the other side. | 600p | 5 | |
| UA | 3 | 2012-05-03 | Not sure why it took so long to get through security. I fly for business, and have never experienced such delays, not only that, the agents seemed really distracted? I would ask a question, and three of the four that I was trying to get information from, were very dismissive and vague. Almost missed my flight due to the really slow and what seemed like confused stated of the agents. | 200p | 25 | |
| UA | International Connections | 2012-05-01 | Everyone going through MMW units. This must be new, because I went through SFO from an international flight about a month ago and was metal dectors through the same checkpoint. They must have just installed these MMW. I was polite and respectful with the TSA officer letting him know that I'm opting out and he was polite and respectful with me. | 1100a | 15 | |
| AA | T2 | 2012-04-30 | Metal detectors all blocked with TSA placards that looked screwed on (not just a rope barrier). Only MMW being used, so the line was backed up. TSA staff was puzzled by opt-out request, and apologized that the checkpoint was moving slow since "new procedures" started this week. | 900a | 15 | |
| UA | 3 | 2012-04-29 | 1040a | |||
| US | 2 | 2012-04-27 | 640p | 15 | ||
| AA | T2 | 2012-04-27 | MMW scanners in ALL lanes now. Weren't there on April 12. | 720a | 15 | |
| UA | Premier access Terminal 3 | 2012-04-26 | Walk through metal detectors only. I got snippy with the moat dragon who was threatening me over the say-your-name game. Long lines. | 310p | 15 | |
| VX | 2 | 2012-04-21 | These scanners are new in the last few weeks :-( | |||
| UA | 3 | 2012-04-21 | shame on you SFO. I don't understand what the deal with covenant is. They were better in the past but seem to have no regard for our rights anymore. If you feel they are disrespectful or discriminatory (based on sexual-orientation), call an LEO. This is SFO after all. Put an end to their crap while we can. | |||
| UA | T3 Elite Checkpoint | 2012-04-21 | ||||
| US | Gates 20-30 | 2012-04-20 | Lines in the central (left) TSO checkpoint fed to the left-hand lane, which had WTMD only. Lines in the right-hand TSO checkpoint, off to the side in the little room, feed to the xray. No apparent choice as to which line you're fed into. | 400p | 45 | |
| UA | T3 | 2012-04-17 | No nudie machines at the frequent flyer checkpoint; although the other checkpoint now has MMW-ATR machines | 1230p | 5 | |
| UA | T3 | 2012-04-16 | Checkpoints in T3 were rearranged this week. The old "E gates" checkpoint closest to T2 is permanently closed. There are now two main checkpoints in the center of the terminal. The CP closest to T2 has one MMW and one WTMD, the other has 3 MMWs. The elite checkpoint is still WTMD only. | 1230p | ||
| UA | T3 | 2012-04-11 | New scanners are installed in main security. Not in use yet. Three scanners. Walked to the elite security check point, it was closed. Some activity is going on, but hard to tell if the scaneers are being installed there too. | 7p | ||
| UA | International G | 2012-04-05 | At 10AM on a Thursday, three lines were in use; the middle and right side had scanners but the left lane was metal detector only. Even though I started on the right side, I was able to sneak over to the metal detector line without arousing suspicion. Guessing the odds are best during high-traffic times of day. | 1000a | ||
| UA | Connecting Flights | 2012-03-21 | I arrived in SFO from an international flight, went through Immigration and Customs, then went to the Connecting Flights. There were no scanners when I went through the security there, only metal dectors. | 1130a | 5 | |
| US | Terminal 1 | 2012-03-17 | Everyone except parents with children sent through MMW machines. One of us received invasive patdown and bag search even after going through machine. Might as well opt out - the grope is just as bad if you choose the scanner. | |||
| UA | T3 | 2012-03-15 | No scanners! Regular line was quicker than the elite line. | 410p | 1 | |
| Int'l | International A | 2012-03-04 | Only one line open, all passengers had to go through scanner | 740p | 1 | |
| VX | T2 | 2012-02-26 | No scanners in T2 yet | 340p | ||
| UA | T3 | 2012-02-21 | Major congestion at the elite checkpoint. Good thing there aren't porn-o-scopes to slow things down. | 810a | 15 | |
| UA | Terminal 3 | 2012-02-18 | 900p | 8 | ||
| UA | T3 | 2012-02-14 | Flying from SFO-T3 there are no nudie machines | 830a | 2 | |
| WN | 1 | 2012-02-06 | This terminal's preferred method to Body Scan. When opting out at SFO, you must state the following "OPT OUT FOR ALL - side entry". This is your right! Otherwise you are told to go through the metal detector, then a pat-down. | 530a | ||
| UA | T3 | 2012-02-06 | WTMD only at main security line near UA check-in. Lines are long but move quickly | 100p | 12 | |
| DL | 1 | 2012-02-01 | Everyone was being forced thru body scan. Security was lax and pat down wasn't bad. | 1030p | 5 | |
| UA | T3 | 2012-01-27 | No nude-o-scopes installed in T3 | 750a | 8 | |
| UA | T3 | 2012-01-22 | Long lines for WTMD | 20 | ||
| VX | T2 | 2012-01-13 | Terminal 2 is still a groping-free, strip-search-free travel experience. | 700p | 5 | |
| DL | Terminal 1 gates 40-48 | 2012-01-07 | Couldn't see any lane that had WTMD as primary or only option | 720a | ||
| VX | 2 | 2012-01-03 | 1200p | |||
| DL | 1 | 2011-12-28 | please dont go here they are deviating from yellow. it was red today but they were nice about it. some agents better than others. | |||
| UA | T3 | 2011-12-28 | Nice to fly out of SFO T3... well behaved smurfs and no porn machines | 450p | 1 | |
| DL | 2011-12-25 | they supposedly were asking people to go thru MMW, even though they were in SDOO position? usually they are better than this....but they still are less hostile than other CA airports I do believe. | ||||
| UA | 3 | 2011-12-24 | New porn machines. Avoided by going thru regular security line near check-in. Porn machines located down the hall past the old American Airlines check-in point. They opened them up while I was waiting in the regular line without telling us that they were porn machines so mass migration ensued. Having made the trek only a few of us opted to return for the metal detection machines. | 30 | ||
| AS | Terminal 1 - Alaska Gates | 2011-12-22 | Middle lane has backscatter, with random selection between that and the nearby metal. Left or right lanes have metal only. Choose your adventure! | 100p | ||
| UA | T3 | 2011-12-18 | No porn machines at T3 | 200p | 1 | |
| DL | Terminal 1, Gates 40-48 | 2011-12-15 | Name game confirm first/last. Delta agents directing people to security lines. Elite line had only WTMD, all other MMW as primary. Elite lane roped off after ID check. Jumped in front of elite line after waiting in general security lane and was able to go through WTMD. | |||
| DL | Terminal 1, Gates 40-48 | 2011-12-12 | At a slow time, nearly all, if not all, passengers were going through the MMW. SFO is private (not TSA) and (at least at this checkpoint) different in a few ways. There was no behavioral detection today ("What is your name?") but, as usual, they enforced the bag size restriction, which never happens anywhere else. As an opt-out, they earn points for friendliness, but not for efficiency (this was a theme throughout the process). They seemed to be logging opt outs, too. I got the feel-up with plenty of time to make the flight. | 940p | 5 | |
| UA | T3 Elite Checkpoint | 2011-12-07 | There are three screening areas in T3; the elite and main checkpoints are clear; the overflow checkpoint closest to T2 has scanners | |||
| WN | Terminal 1 | 2011-11-20 | Actually arrived in SFO, didn't fly out, but had a look at the Terminal 1 main checkpoint as I exited. Time was around 11:30AM. There looked to be three lines; the first and third had metal detectors only while the middle one had a scanner of some kind. Not sure if it was possible to choose your own line. | |||
| B6 | 2011-11-18 | |||||
| VX | Terminal 2 | 2011-11-18 | No scanners visible (metal detectors only) at the Terminal 2 checkpoint for a 7:10AM departure. | |||
| AA | Terminal 2 | 2011-11-16 | The checkpoint is big enough to have pornoscanners and a grope-fest, but there are no scanners here. TSA wants to change that by 2014. | |||
| UA | T3 | 2011-11-14 | Great seeing that no porn scanners are at SFO T3 | |||
| UA | T3 | 2011-10-25 | Two out of three checkpoints have no body scanners in use. | |||
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