- Visibly perspiring may trigger the need for a wand screening or extra security at airports.
- Added moisture from a person’s body can alter the density of their clothing, according to the TSA.
Heat waves are sweeping across the world and the summer sizzle continues in the United States, so it’s not unexpected travelers may get a little sweaty when traveling through the airport. But it turns out, getting too sweaty might actually cause delays and trigger the need for extra security screenings.
In fact, a passenger who is visibly perspiring might trigger the need for a wand screening or extra pat down, according to a report from CNN.
“Added moisture from a person’s body can alter the density of clothing, so it is possible perspiration may cause our Advanced Imaging Technology machines to alarm,” a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesperson told the network. “If this occurs, the passenger may need to undergo additional screening, such as a pat-down in the area of the body where the [machine is] alarmed, to ensure there is no threat.”
But while pat downs may make an already stressful environment even more so, security lines at U.S. airports might start to move a little faster now that the TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they pass through security. And that change may leave travelers with a lot less to sweat about.
“Ending the ‘Shoes-Off’ policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation’s airports,” Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. “We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.”
Noem added: “Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards.”
A week after that announcement, Noem said she had started “questioning” the TSA’s current liquid limitations in carry-on bags. But despite her comments, it may actually be years before travelers can take large liquids with them. Currently, travelers must limit liquids, gels, creams, pastes, and aerosols in their carry-on luggage to 3.4 ounces or less and store them in a quart-sized resealable bag, which may need to be placed separately in a bin.
Travelers who are part of the agency’s expedited security screening program TSA PreCheck are also limited to 3.4-ounces, but they are not required to remove liquids from their luggage during screening. Similarly, these travelers were not required to remove their shoes during security screening even before the new rule went into effect.
