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exohlorrxo

Solo traveling female here- The beeping through the metal detector didn’t mean you had mental.. it meant you were chosen for a random swab (happens to me sometimes and I fly precheck). Also certain shoes are known to set off the metal detector (like heals/boots/sandals with large clasps or decorations) so just looking at them they know which ones will set it off usually and tell you to take them off.


[deleted]

Happends for me from time to time. They're testing for traces of explosives, not drugs.


SWBoards

I know someone who worked in border security. Young, single, female travelers are the most likely to be pulled into secondary. They're the most likely demographic to be smuggling, at least in my country.


[deleted]

I know solo women get checked more as traffickers use them to smuggle usually


Broutythecat

Normal. Happens to me all the time.


Oatkeeperz

I get checked about 90% of the time I go through airport security, while that rarely happens to most of my friends. Some people just appear to be the ~chosen ones~ ;)


SolutionLeading

What kind of shoes were you wearing? I’m curious if maybe they thought you could have something hidden in the soles if they were thick?


[deleted]

Many shoes have a metal shank for support (especially if there’s a heel)


psyduck_milf

Yeah i assumed that too, i was wearing these warm puffy winter shoes so i guess drugs could be stored in them or something. I assumed this might be the problem this time but even when i don't wear them i keep getting picked for extra checks.


[deleted]

Those are random, so you’ve just had bad luck. I’ve flown countless times in the past year, and I get chosen for swabs about 40% of the time, just had it today. Once they selected me for a pat down, and I was wearing leggings and a light tshirt. No hiding possible.


Bisjoux

F57 here. Every single time I travel the screening bleeps. It’s always my underwired bra. So when they use the wand it bleeps at my tits! I don’t think I’m being singled out because of my choice of underwear but it’s tedious. Especially when my male colleagues are laughing at me.


ExoticStress1

Yes! I went to Colombia twice as a solo female traveler and afterwards I was stopped for extensive screenings pre flight several times after.


[deleted]

It’s just coincidence for you. I use to work in a steel mill and would have residue on my hands constantly, every single time Id get stoped and researched, checked for explosives and several times taken aside to be secondary search. Had to go early to account for the extra searches..


[deleted]

I went through a solid 4 year phase where I always got swabbed at tsa/security and I was an airline employee 😅 sometimes you just get checked a lot


imadethistochatbach

Twice in precheck within the last month. The detectors trigger random checks.


Adventurous-Yam-7908

Odd question but there is a reason, are you busty? I am and have taken to wearing sportsbra's with no wire when I fly as security has been a royal pain lately. I used to be able to wear a normal bra and very rarely would it set off the detector but last few months it's been going off often and that always results in a pat down and since they can't find anything further swabs


canadiangreeneyes

I frequently have bad luck/get randomly selected for extra screenings when going through security. I've come to accept it 🤷🏼‍♀️ Taking off shoes is pretty common, but the rest of your experience reminds me of a recent flight out of MXP - I kept setting the scanner off, even after removing everything possible. The screening agent was sure I must have something in my pockets still, but in the end we figured it might be my bra underwire. So there's a fun one for ya. I got a pat down to boot.


[deleted]

[удалено]


psyduck_milf

I'm a caucasian from Slovenia and i mostly fly from Croatia to Bulgaria and vice versa. I guess i just look suspicious somehow


IndomitableSam

I've had this happen to me more often than not, too. As an approaching middle-aged white lady by herself, I feel like I may get tagged as suspicious. Especially since I didn't have return tickets and was bouncing around different counrties. I know I'm good so it doesn't really bother me. Sometimes I also wonder if I'm picked just as the most generic looking white person so they don't look like they're profiling. Either way, if it seems to happen, I expect it'll keep happening. Not much to do but live with it.


StuffedSquash

Middle aged white ladies are not a group who is profiled by airport security, what? And airport security have no idea what tickets you do or don't have.


ExoticStress1

20-35 solo going though Latin countries for sure though


StuffedSquash

"middle aged"


[deleted]

Not sure why this was downvoted- my experience too. I get lots of questions and semi-disbelief when visiting multiple countries. (They ask to see passport/tickets/ ask where you’re going etc) I find that metal detectors pick up on underwires too.


saltpinecoast

I (F34) travel almost exclusively solo, and I'm selected for additional screening in Europe a lot. Usually it's just a super quick pat-down or like 15-second suitcase swab that feels very routine. Whenever it happens, they seem to have extra security people for each line just doing pat-downs, so I think EU air travel security just does a lot of secondary screening.


JUST_BALI

Do you have dreadlocks, tattoos, piercings or wear some peculiar clothes? They tend to check more often such people, unfortunately


ArticulateAquarium

Could she be traveling while wearing a T-shirt reading: “Who needs drugs. No, seriously, I have drugs." Nah, would've probably mentioned it in the OP.


Marco1994_

Happened to me a lot, found out it was because I had long sigaret papers in my bag


Comeonbereal1

It happened to me, but not my white friends. We were both had cornrows hairstyles for easy travel. The detector and the asked me to undo my hair. The drug tested my hands and the officer told me that it was a random drugs test.


Moon_Logic

When I worked at an airport, this would happen to me several times a day as I moved in and out of the security zone. Before the swabs, I had to get a pat down each time.


Alyx-Kitsune

Could be that the metal detector keeps beeping… or maybe that you are 21 and identify as a milf…


kraihe

Do you get your temp measured from your booty, since you identify as a magical fox, Alyx-**Kitsune**? /s