Humiliating airport security check

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I am a 73 year old male US citizen with OAB and bladder leakage. Recently I was flying home from a family cruise vacation in Amsterdam. I was wearing an overnight pull-up for the long day of travel. For an unknown reason, I was selected for a “pat down” after being scanned by the back scatter machine. The security officer ran his hands lightly over my upper and lower body and said “are you wearing a diaper?” I replied yes and expected that this would be sufficient to be excused as it is in the US. The security officer said “you must show me your diaper, we will go to a room with a curtain”. He escorted me out of the area and I was led to a small compartment by him and another very large security guard. I was told to go inside and was accompanied by the first officer. The door was closed and he said “show me the diaper”. I unbuttoned my pants and lowered them enough to show the top of my pull-up. He said that he needed to see all of it and instructed me to drop my pants to the floor, raise my shirt and hold my hands over my head. I stood for what seemed like minutes with my pants at my feet shamefully exposing myself while the security guard visually examined my incontinence pull-up. He then declared that I could dress and I was led back to the security line to collect my wife and belongings. I was so shocked and humiliated by this treatment that I was speechless throughout and did not ask any questions. The security guard was courteous but provided me no information as to what was happening and why. My wife initially did not know why I had been taken away but another security guard finally told her I was taken for “a diaper check” and if I had urinated in the diaper it would have shown up on the machine. My pullup was completely dry as I had put it on a couple of hours earlier and I had not yet experienced any urine leakage.

 

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You could probably sue! That’s messed up. I had a pat down at an airport, I was wearing a diaper and they found explosive material on my shirt. They never made me take off my pants or show them or anything. They made a comment about me wearing “padding” though. I think they did, I don’t really remember. But, they may have acknowledged it in someway. But they were professional about it with me.

 

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Oh this was in Europe? Oh man, makes me greatful to be here in the States

 

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Wow. That’s awful. I’ve been patted down plenty of times and had to explain it, but never went to the extreme that you went to.

 

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I’m so sorry. The guards should be reprimanded. I’ve gone through security multiple times with a very well padded diaper. I’ve never been treated like that. I was singled out in Tokyo on a mission trip to China. They gave the once over but ever so professional. I had the teams controlled substances. Maybe they sniffed them? They did not look in my back pack.

I’ve needed to escalate my coverage and routinely wear plastic snap on pants and a tee shirt with snaps to hold everything together. I wonder if 17 metal snaps on X-ray will be judged a threat?

 

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I also was picked out but nothing like your deal.

 

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Thanks to all for the supportive comments on my unpleasant experience. I found an email address for sending complaints to the management of Amsterdam airport security and I sent them a detailed email on Tuesday. As yet I have not had a response. I have thought a lot about the incident since it happened on Sunday. I am not a person who usually accepts what I perceive to be maltreatment of any kind without responding but this time I was so shocked that I just melted and complied. The presence of the second guard (he was enormous) to escort me to the booth also put me on the defensive. Perhaps that is the deliberate methodology used to put pressure on the "suspect". I know that my legs felt quite shaky while I was standing with my pants at my ankles and my hands over my head. At that point I fully expected to be commanded to undress completely.

 

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Once I was late for a flight, and wet pretty bad on the 2 hour ride to the airport. I was wearing a 247 with stuffer beneath a Birdseye cloth and plastic pants.

I was expecting to make the 8 hour trip door to door, without incident. However, last night’s bladder decided to have a standoff until I was mid-route.

Upon check-in, I rushed to security where the nudeoscope flagged me for anomalies in my groin. They started to Pat me down, and noticed the diaper.

I requested a private screening, where I was pat down by three different TSA agents. They asked why it was so stiff and I explained I had severely wet myself on the way there.

They told me they could get a drape to hold up, to have me remove the diaper, x-ray it, let me change into a fresh diaper and then I’d have to dispose of the wet one after being cleared.

I sat for 5 minutes, freaking out that I’d miss my flight.. when the supervisor returned and told me they were straight out denying me access to the terminal point due to the saturated brief.

My ultimatum was to exit the security zone, going back into the airport lobby and remove the diaper in the public restrooms. Only then could I re-enter with a fresh clean diaper on.

I got stopped again for an abnormally wearing my clean diaper and was patted down at the scanner since I had no intention on going to a private screening room again. So I sucked it up.

When he hit my 247 waistbands with his thumbs beneath my shirt after stepping out of the scanner, I was coldly asked by the 2nd nudeoscope agent what I had on underneath. He asked me back loud enough for others to hear “you’re wearing a diaper?”

I bashful obliged, losing two points of my dignity.. and was granted access to the terminal, only to miss my flight. I travel a lot and have heard such horror stories, but assumed they were fap-fap tales.

I travel by air at least twice a month but have never been this late with a soaked one. A word from the wise is to never enter TSA when you’re borderline leaking at the seams.

 

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Unfortunately when in other countries you are under there laws and rules and even though you aren't doing anything wrong, most place aren't or don't have to be as polite as North America.

Depending on the severity of your problem you may be able to go through security without any protection on but bring your adult diapers in your carry-on and change into them on the plane. When I say "adult diapers" I mean make sure they look like diapers so there is no question as to what they are.


I only went through security wearing protection a handful of times and only got questioned once. They were discreet and just asked me to go into a room with them. They did not yell out that I was wearing a diaper or anything.... just asked me to a private room were they investigated that I was telling the truth. Took like 5 minutes. I was wearing attends plastic backed.... and they look exactly what the general public thinks diapers should look like. I also had the original bag with a few spares in my carry on.... and yes they checked them as well... looked at the bag and what I was wearing.... and said I was good to go. They never said anything about it other than in the private room.


It was embarrassing but I feel they handled it appropriately and it is there job to question anything that appears odd to them. My advise is to not wear any thing that's more out of the ordinary than an old school adult diaper from a name brand. Keep the original bag in your carry-on so if there is any questions.... they can just look at the bag.

Also, I don't think it needs to be said..... but go through dry and clean!!! I mean it takes 5 minutes to go into the bathroom and change before going through security.

 

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@bdsilver

Sorry to hear of your experience. Guess you never know what might happen.

A little less then a year ago I posted a questions asking about TSA and wearing. As background I have issues only at night with occasionally bedwetting. I had a very early morning cross country flight with a layover and was concerned that if I fell asleep on the plane I might wet. Received a lot of great advise and in the end decided to wear an adult pull-ups through the TSA check instead of trying to deal with putting it on after the check.

One thing I did do was go to the TSA website dealing with flying with disabilities. They had a PDF card that you can download and put your medical issues. The intent is that if questioned you hand the card to the TSA agent and they are made aware of your condition. This possible would be enough to prevent further inspection or if more was needed to alert the TSA agent to be discreet.

Doesn't sound that such a card would have helped you out, but might be worth considering carrying a card. I can't hurt and might help the situation.

 

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@Jaytee
I carry the same card, and have gone so far as adding my recent medical documents stating my bladder issues.

The card has surely helped whenever I've handed it to a supervisor, but is useless with the every day TSA Agent. Transportation Security Advisor turnover is one of the highest in the security industry.

Bottom line is, you're dealing with folks who barely passed high school or immigrated to the US and have a limited vocabulary. So unless you've known somebody like a grandparent, or owned an old pet, the word incontinence is in one ear and out the other with a blank stare.

I hate to say it, but the best idea without having to risk a leak - is to wear a lighter product (pullup/pad) that will sustain your needs, and change out once you get through the security zone.

It's a shame that we have to jump through the security theater hoops to travel, but that's` NWO America for ya.

 

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I just went through security on Wednesday and was wearing a northshore supreme. I have a pain neurostimulator so I am unable to go through the machines. I was thoroughly patted down (including my crotch and butt), had 3 extra diapers in my backpack and didnt even mention to the TSA agent that I was wearing a diaper. I don't know if it's because I'm visibly disabled (I walk with crutches and use a wheelchair at the airport) but I had no problems. I have a feeling for the OP it had a lot to do with the fact that they were out of the country. Hopefully I don't run into any problems on the way home on Tuesday but I've traveled a few times without incident.

 

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@matttyco Sorry for your issues. It is frustrating. I don't fly much so maybe if I did more I might have an incident at some point. The card you showed is the care I printed for me. I put I was enuretic and wore adult pull-ups.

I fly out of a smaller airport. Wonder if that has anything to do with the ease of TSA. Or maybe since my adult pull-ups was dry it never even register on the scan. Just looked like normal underwear to them. (Depends Real Fit for Men is what I wore). I've flown since last year and wore again with no issues with TSA. Probably airport specific to some extent.

 

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@justej

Glad you went through with no issues. Hope with you that the return trip is the same.

 

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Thanks jaytee. And yea I'm sorry other folks have had such bad experiences. I was flying out of DC and fully expected to have issues. I guess I lucked out and had a professional TSA agent. I have a card for my implant but don't have anything for my incontinence. But again I guess maybe because I'm visibly disabled that they were more empathetic. It's sad the way people treat others. And I agree with matttyco. These agents are usually not well trained and there is a high turnover. I've noticed a lot of them are on power trips.

 

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Old thread, I know. I wear 24/7. I have a doctor's letter explaining my diapers. I've used it twice out of about 8 trips through airport security. Hope it helps others.

 

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I only had a airport diaper inspection once. The guy was very polite and apologetic. Yes they led me to a private room and he simply asked me to slightly pull down my pants so he could see it was actually a diaper. No big deal.