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Airport Security Scanner

  • Thread starter Thread starter NicolaB70
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NicolaB70

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hi, I wonder if anyone can help please. In Augst I am going on holiday and will be flying to the USA. As this will be the first time flying since having titanium plates and screws in my leg, I am wondering if anyone knows if I need a doctors note or anything and do they generally set the alarms off. Thank you in advance
 
@NicolaB70

They may, they may not .... depends on the screening sensitivity of the walkthrough. Just take a simple note from the doc to make sure.

Tell security prior and they may pass a discrete hand held wand if you don't want the attention.
 
My mother-in-law had some screws put in her wrist a few years back and they invariably set off the alarms. She has a note from her Doctor and tells Security as she goes through (it tends to save time): as Mike says, they give her the once over with a wand rather than making her walk through the arch, and it's always when they reach her wrist that it warbles :)

Airport security staff are used to stuff like this, so don't worry about it.
 
Hi, Nicola!
I have a fair amount of titanium in my leg, too, and it invariably sets off the scanners. I used to carry a note from my doctor, but it rarely got read so I don't both with it any more. It's not a legal requirement or anything and, as other posters have said, if you tell them what the issue is they are used to dealing with it. Some airports will use a hand scanner instead, and some just resort to a 'pat down'.
Have a lovely holiday in the US!
 
Last edited:
NicolaB70 said:
hi, I wonder if anyone can help please. In Augst I am going on holiday and will be flying to the USA. As this will be the first time flying since having titanium plates and screws in my leg, I am wondering if anyone knows if I need a doctors note or anything and do they generally set the alarms off. Thank you in advance
Click to expand...

Curiously, Nicola, we were having this very conversation a couple of weeks ago with a bionic friend of ours. The poor man has had (that I know of) 2 new hips, 2 knees, spinal rods and fusion in lumbar and thoracic areas and pins in one shoulder. Naturally, with that load of metal work, he's always picked up. He just smiles and talks them through it without any issues. He travels extensively.

I wouldn't worry at all about this. When you consider the number of hips go through these scanners.....

Any, let's face it, you could always she them your scars!
 
Here in the US we would make you remove your leg before flying. Standard procedure.

(Not serious)
 
Thank you very much for all your helpful replies. I think when I go and get my travel vaccinations done I might mention it to the nurse and see if she can write a quick note but failing that, as @AndBreathe said they will be able to see my two big scars on my leg. My son has a small handheld kids metal detector and that beeps when run run over my scars, hence why I asked.
@TorqPenderloin if removing one leg is standard procedure, I dread to think what a special one would be ;) :D Lol
 
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