7 ms·

One time, a TSA official told me "never take off your watch in an airport unless you want to lose it" -- which is how I learned that you can wear your watch thr

One time, a TSA official told me "never take off your watch in an airport unless you want to lose it" -- which is how I learned that you can wear your watch through the metal detector just fine, which I've now done dozens of times. Until a few weeks ago when a another TSA official berated me for thinking I could walk through a metal detector wearing a watch...

basisword 1mo ago
I was told this about my passport and wallet once. Then the other day asked if I could keep a tissue in my pocket and was told to put it in the tray. I think it depends on the scanners (if you’re going through a metal sector it’s fine, if its one of the more fancy scanners they need everything off your person.
rrrrrrrrrrrryan 1mo ago
Proximity is the issue. If the watch or bracelet wrist is very physically close to the detector, it will set it off. You're supposed to the watch/bracelet, but you do have to hold your wrist close to your body. You kind of want to hold your hands in front of your body as if you're about to grab one of your wrists with your other hand. Watches and other jewelry are basically right at the cutoff of detection. They want to detect small knives but not earrings. This is all absolutely tribal airport knowledge. I had been traveling for work for years, taken hundreds of flights, but I only found this out when my partner tried to go through a metal detector with a semi-permanent bracelet that requires a small screwdriver to take off, and the TSA person mercifully told her exactly how to pose as she walked through the detector.
triceratops 1mo ago
I just put my watch, wallet, phone and other loose or pocket belongings in my backpack or jacket that's already going in the tray. No chance of losing anything.
BobaFloutist 1mo ago
My wife and I just habitually empty our hands and pockets into the bin. Most recent flight we took, she couldn't find her passport for the extra security check right before the gate. It took us about half an hour to get around to having the security open up the (now closed) bag scanner, which lo and behold, had somehow eaten her (securely places in the bin) passport. The tech was shaking his head, saying "See, this is why you don't put your passport loose in the bin" as if that's a normal thing everyone already knows specifically to avoid.
sandmn 1mo ago
At some point I grew tired of taking my belt off in airports so I bought one with plastic buckle. I still had to take it off in some European airport because their new advanced scanner scans volume instead of metal...

basisword 1mo ago

I was told this about my passport and wallet once. Then the other day asked if I could keep a tissue in my pocket and was told to put it in the tray. I think it depends on the scanners (if you’re going through a metal sector it’s fine, if its one of the more fancy scanners they need everything off your person.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 1mo ago

Proximity is the issue. If the watch or bracelet wrist is very physically close to the detector, it will set it off. You're supposed to the watch/bracelet, but you do have to hold your wrist close to your body. You kind of want to hold your hands in front of your body as if you're about to grab one of your wrists with your other hand. Watches and other jewelry are basically right at the cutoff of detection. They want to detect small knives but not earrings. This is all absolutely tribal airport knowledge. I had been traveling for work for years, taken hundreds of flights, but I only found this out when my partner tried to go through a metal detector with a semi-permanent bracelet that requires a small screwdriver to take off, and the TSA person mercifully told her exactly how to pose as she walked through the detector.

triceratops 1mo ago

I just put my watch, wallet, phone and other loose or pocket belongings in my backpack or jacket that's already going in the tray. No chance of losing anything.

BobaFloutist 1mo ago

My wife and I just habitually empty our hands and pockets into the bin. Most recent flight we took, she couldn't find her passport for the extra security check right before the gate. It took us about half an hour to get around to having the security open up the (now closed) bag scanner, which lo and behold, had somehow eaten her (securely places in the bin) passport. The tech was shaking his head, saying "See, this is why you don't put your passport loose in the bin" as if that's a normal thing everyone already knows specifically to avoid.

sandmn 1mo ago

At some point I grew tired of taking my belt off in airports so I bought one with plastic buckle. I still had to take it off in some European airport because their new advanced scanner scans volume instead of metal...