Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

Flying for the first time with kids, 3yo and 1.5yo. DH told me we can "opt out" with them and they don't have to go through the scanner, don't have to take their shoes off? I asked a friend and she said no, they will make your kids get out of the stroller even if sleeping, take off their shoes, walk through the scanner, etc. Not sure what to think.

We'll be flying out of MacArthur where they have those new xray scanners. I definitely don't want to put my kids in there, will they make an issue of this? I don't love the option of a stranger groping them.

Can I have a bottle of milk for DS to drink on the plane?

What happened with security when you flew?

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

I know for sure they do not have to take shoes off and in pretty sure you have to have them walk (or carry them) through the scanner without the stroller
Check the tsa website for more Info
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-children

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

We just took a flight in July and DD had to walk through those scanner things (she's 2).

She didn't have to take her shoes off.

They let me take a sippy with milk on the plane. It was Delta.

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

we always fold the stroller to put through the scanner and walk through. One time I was wearing dd and they made me go through the old detectors and checked me that way. I think they waved the wand over me since I was wearing dd.

DD1 was able to walk through with me. she did not have to take off shoes.

I think if you are holding your little one and holding hands witht eh older child, they will make you go through the old way

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

We've flown a few times. WHen the boys were little I carried them through. I had them in the stroller till we walked up to the scanner then took DS out (once he was asleep I carried him through asleep while DH closed the stroller and put it through the scanner and then put him right back in the stroller when we got past security... he never woke up).
They walk through themselves and the guards have always been nice. I go with them shortly after or with them.
For babies you are allowed up to 2 bottles of water. THey just do this light test to check it. I always buy a milk after security and give it to them on the plane.

ETA - under 12 you can leave the shoes on.

Message edited 8/8/2014 9:26:56 AM.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

I just brought my 2 year old last week through Mac Arthur. She had both of us walk through the traditional metal detector. He kept his shoes on. It actually lit up for him, and she thought it was his light up shoes, but it turned out he brushed the sensor, so we had to walk through a few times. Other than that no big deal.We did have to get out of the stroller, and the stroller had to be folded and go through the scanning machine. After the metal detector he got back in his stroller and then we gate checked. Everyone is very helpful when you have a toddler with you lol.

ETA: We actually bought milk at the little bakery place there once inside. I bribed him with a giant chocolate chip cookie there too

Message edited 8/8/2014 9:27:36 AM.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

The have to go through the scanner, or get a pat down. You cannot just "opt out" of a security check. They cannot let anyone on a plane, child or adult without being checked. They will make you choose one of the other.
I chose the scanner because I did not want someone touching my kid.

They do have to get out of the stroller because that has go through x-ray with your carry-ons, but they can keep their shoes on.

You can bring milk, they may open it and stick something in it to test it. I just bought stuff at the airport.

We flew out of JFK, but I'm sure it's similar. Definitely be prepared for your children to go through the normal security clearance procedures.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

Funny... I have to add that the carseat got checked and we had to wait bc the scanners went off when it went through. Turns out that it was from the sunscreen I put on them. Guess it comes off in the carseat from sitting on it... I lather them up.

I got a bag for the stroller which makes me feel better.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

When I was at JFK (without DD) I saw toddlers going through the body scanner.
They will have to go through something for sure.

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

The kids will have to go through some sort of scanner - when we've flown, they just went through the old fashioned one.

They changed the rule a few years back that kids don't have to take their shoes off anymore. We were travelling at the time and they had to take their shoes off on the way there but, not on the way back.

They will have to get out of the stroller - which will be scanned separately - our double needed to be hand scanned because it was too big for the regular scanner.

You can bring a bottle of milk for your DC. They are lax with liquid rules related to kids. It will most likely require extra screening though. Sometimes it's easier to buy the milk after security.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

I just flew out of JFK with DS (19 months). He didn't have to take his shoes off; I had to collapse the stroller and they put it through the belt scanner; I carried a car seat with me; they had to manually use the rod thing to check it since it wouldn't fit in the belt scanner. I walked through the regular metal detectors. They did have people go through the full body scanners; but I just said the the guard I don't have to go through that with him right? And they just had us walk through. Even though he left his shoes on I still had to remove mine.

I brought 4 bottles of milk with me; and a sippy cup with water. They just tossed them through some machine to test.

on my flight out of Florida I had the same experience. Except they just had me go on the TSA pre check lane so I never had to remove my shoes ( I don't have TSA pre-check). Also I carried an un opened bottle of water (full size) with me and they said that was ok as long as it was for DS. Plus 3 apple juices cartons that were left from our week stay that I didn't want to throw out I was able to carry.

Sorry so long!

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

They were asking kids old enough to walk. They did not make them remove their shoes. I was allowed to stay with them. They took us into that per screened lines both at LGA and MCO. They walk through the metal detector but none of us had to go into that scanner.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

I had to take my 3 month old's shoes off. You cannot opt out

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

We flew out of JFK, but I had to take my DD out of the stroller, fold up the stroller and put it on the belt. Then they let DD walk through the scanner with me. Neither of us had to take off our shoes.

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

We just flew out of JFK, I was allowed to hold my DS as we went through the metal detector and the stroller went through the scanner. He did not have to take off his shoes.

We came home out of Raleigh and he had fallen asleep in the stroller. I still had to take him out and they made him walk through the metal detector (shoes on). We did not have to go through those new body scanners.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

The kids didnt have to take off their shoes but they did have to walk themselves thru the scanner i couldnt carry them. They were 4 yo and 21 months at the time.

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

I travel solo with my kids all the time. Have yet to be subjected to the body scanner. How a toddler could even follow the directions in the body scanner is beyond me. Have yet to see any kids in those.

We always go through metal detector.

Message edited 8/8/2014 4:09:47 PM.

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

We travel a lot with AJ
Shoes stay on.
She does have to walk through the metal detector.
I always dress her 'softly' to avoid any issues.
We all dress soft to travel.
Never had an issue

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

We flew out of JFK with my 5.5 year old and almost 2 year old. My younger one didn't have to take off his shoes and I carried him through the metal detector. I'm pretty sure my older one kept his shoes on too and he walked through the metal detector. In the other airport, my little one walked through on his own. Neither place did a pat down, but they tested my hands.

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

Shoe policy has changed in recent years, 12 and under can keep them on now.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

Shoes on for kids. Kids walked through.

Umbrella stroller went through scanner like our luggage. When we take the double stroller, they swab it.

Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

I was told everyone with a child or animal gets tested for explosives. So they tested my hands. On the trip home I freaking tested positive for explosives! I had literally showered like 2hours before and was clean. They pulled me aside w my carry on, stroller, diaper bag, dd and made me wait while this woman who had no idea what to do kept calling people. Finally another hate guard was like test her again. They argued for 5m and finally tested me and I passed. I almost missed my plane. Cleary I wasn't carrying explosives! Also they tested dd's sippy cup w a tab strip.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

When I traveled with dd, they guided me towards the old school metal detector walk through instead of the full body scan thing. They did this on both ends of our travel, without me even asking. I was prepared to ask for this anyways, but didn't come to that point.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .

We fly with our kids at least 4-5 times a year since they were babies (they are 5 and 7 now) and they have NEVER gone through the scanners. They always get guided through the old school metal detectors no matter what airport we have been at. I have no problems with the scanners but it has never even been suggested to us.

Kids do not have to take off their shoes but they do have to walk through even if they were sleeping. The stroller has to be folded up and put through the X-ray machine.

Re: Talk to me about airport security with kids . . .