[QUOTE=Damman; 413997]Just flew in yesterday. I think, and who hell really knows. When going through the new xray machines, they make you empty your pockets of everything. No cash, billfold, nothing, the fuckin lint in your pockets causes problems. You place everything in a tray and you and your $ part ways while going through security. You get to pick your stuff up after you clear security and continue on your way.
See where flying in and out of EZE next Thursday could be fun. Close the highway to EZE.
[url]http://www.clarin.com/politica/conflicto-empleados-aeronauticos-amenazan-Riccheri_0_373162910.html[/url][/QUOTE]This process and the related efficiencies is going to metastasize into something pretty ugly. There is no shortage of stories where after putting one's stuff onto the conveyor belt and going through the metal detector, a traveler is for one reason or another selected for wanding and / or pat down and during the process, somebody grabs some of his stuff off the belt and disappears. While there are cameras and the like, there is no way they are going to break a sweat trying to help you get your $2k or your Rolex back after their process forced you to place it at risk.
I am a highly allergic to being separated from my passport, cards and cash. I also don't like being told what to do by authoritarian storm troopers. I have not been through a US scanner yet but I plan to follow my usual procedure when I do and will adjust or refuse accordingly.
I go for maximum efficiency and security when passing through security. I wear slip on loafers, a belt that I know won't set off the detectors. My carry on is set up to go: my laptop (nothing connected to it) and my 1-quart baggie with all of my liquids (shave cream, shampoo, gel deodorant, etc) are right on top. They go in the first bin, zip the carry on closed, toss it in front of the first bin (easier to push things along that way, shoes and jacket (phone in pocket) go in the second bin. In my bag, to facilitate inspection should the need arise, all cords and adapters are stored in a clear 1-gallon bag, similarly my extra phones and accessories are in another clear bag as are my meds and non-liquid toiletries. When taking off my jacket, I flip it inside out (not the sleeves) and roll it up so as to prevent anything from falling out and to keep it clean, I put my passport and boarding pass in my shirt breast pocket. I keep cash and credit cards in my pants pocket. Through the detector and collect my stuff. I never take my eye off my stuff on the belt and on the occasions when I get selected for extra scrutiny, I make it clear (in a polite way) to TSA that keeping an eye on my stuff is important and something on which I will not compromise.
In my opinion, it is best to smile, be polite and easy going and do absolutely nothing that might set one of these guys off or give them a reason to involve anyone else (supervisor) in the process because it will only slow you down.
If carrying more than a couple hundred bucks (while traveling internationally) I like to tuck it away in something like this:
[url]http://www.hikestop.com/lewis_n_clark_hidden_security_stash-744368.php[/url]
It is basically a small, zippered, flimsy, nylon baggie with a loop, through which you run your belt to hold it in place. You put your belt through the loop and then let it hang down inside your pants. It is not noticeable (so long as you don't stuff $20k in singles in it) when placed on the outside of you hip. You can put 30-40 crisp bills in it without creating much of a bulge, depending upon the cut of your slacks. You can also position directly in front. If you are going belt-less or expect that you will need to remover your belt, either connect the loop it to the button on the front of your pants (before buttoning your pants) or somehow affix it to one of your belt loops.
You may also like: [url]https://stashitware.com/pocket_underwear.html[/url]
With this one, the underwear, has a pocket right on top of your johnson.
If the TSA is telling the truth about the body scanners, that they are set to distort the passenger's genitalia, the item may be obscured. In any event, the scanner can see through both the bag and the cash and you should not be required to remove it. It is unreasonable that even the dumbest TSA employee could interpret the image to be of something dangerous. I don't know this for a fact but I would suspect that unless the item under your clothes appeared to be something that could be dangerous, you wouldn't get called out on it. Further, if your cash is directly over your doodle, in a pat down, the TSA agent will need to place his (hopefully her) hand directly on the little guy, a practice that I believe is reserved for the few, chosen for special screening.
Leaving the politics aside, this process is a cluster fuck, at best. There is absolutely no legal foundation upon which TSA can forcibly dispossess you of thousands of dollars of your cash and place it at risk in an open, unsecured environment. However, none of this means that you won't get called out on it. If discovered you might be asked what it is or to remove it. If and when this event occurs, I would politely ask which one of the TSA agents will be keeping custody and bearing personal responsibility for my property (something I am certain they will not understand.
