Airport Security as an AMPUTEE: What You NEED to Know
Vložit
- čas přidán 21. 01. 2020
- What is it like going through TSA - airport security - as an amputee, with a prosthetic leg? I definitely had a lot of questions going into it. This has been my personal experience!
TSA Information: www.tsa.gov/travel/special-pr...
#amputee #amputation #tsa
----------------------------------------------------
WANT TO SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL? //
Thank you SO much for considering supporting my channel! I use Patreon to offer further community and personal rewards in return for your patronage - check it out at / jobeckwith
If you’d like to chip in as a one-time donation, I truly appreciate that more than you know, and you can find the ability here: paypal.me/footlessjo
Lastly, if you’d like me to send a video message to you or a loved one saying whatever you’d like, you can find me on Cameo at www.cameo.com/footlessjo!
THANK YOU so much!
MERCH!
teespring.com/stores/footless...
----------------------------------------------------
CONNECT WITH ME //
Instagram: / footlessjo
Twitter: / footlessjo
Facebook: / footlessjo
Tik Tok: @FootlessJo
My Website: www.footlessjo.com
My 2nd Channel: / jo2am
----------------------------------------------------
CONTACT ME //
MY P.O. BOX:
Jo Beckwith
3578 Hartsel Drive #615
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
E-MAIL ME:
www.footlessjo.com/contact
----------------------------------------------------
MY STORY //
Fourteen years of pain and failed ankle surgeries brought me to 2018, when I made the difficult decision to become a twenty-seven-year-old below-the-knee elective amputee. This channel is to document my journey of amputation surgery, recovery, and reclaiming my life.
MY PROSTHETIC LEG:
I use the Ossur ProFlex XC Torsion foot/ankle with a direct socket with passive vaccum suction.
MY AMPUTATION STORY - IN VIDEO:
Why Did I Lose My Leg? • HOW I BECAME AN AMPUTE...
How I Said Goodbye To My Leg: • COME WITH ME ON A GOOD...
Seeing My Amputated Leg for the First Time: • Seeing my amputated le...
Day in the Life of an Amputee: • A Day in the Life of a...
----------------------------------------------------
MY EQUIPMENT //
Camera - Canon EOS M6 (Video Creator Kit): amzn.to/2OVcjim
Camera Mic - Rode VideoMic: amzn.to/33FPanU
Sitting Mic - Blue Yeti Mic: amzn.to/33GJOsW
Gorilla Pod: amzn.to/32oGWjU
Ring Light: amzn.to/2nTRBEr
CONTRIBUTE SUBTITLES! //
Want to help my videos become more accessible to viewers around the world? Use this link to contribute subtitles and translations!
czcams.com/users/timedtext_cs_p...
MY MUSIC & CREDITS //
The music contained in this video can be found at Artist.io - artlist.io/Jordan-293378
The End Credit music is “Summer Snow” by Low Light/Nick Kingswell
Thank you so much for listening - you make a real difference in my life, you enable me to be able to do what I love, and I am beyond grateful!
Some of the links above may contain affiliate marketing
![Finally Telling the REAL Story: The Lawsuit Over My Amputation [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xNTBF2JTx7U/mqdefault.jpg)
“Can’t ask someone in a wheelchair to stand up” literally airport security asked me and I was at the time mid passing out and they insisted I had to be out of it so my dad carried me through... honestly people are messed up
I was gonna say this.
I was on a wheelchair for almost year and a half after being operated on my feet and legs to fix a congenital deformity.
This happened to me. With a leg full of cast...
not surprising, TSA is mostly useless and incompetent, on top of that they don't care about basic human welfare at all
That's messed up
Huh why are people so dumb now I mean your in a wheelchair for a reason
This is opening up a Can of Lawsuit, imho. Pain and Suffering is real thing and can be won in court, especially if the pain and suffering is visibly apparent, such as in your case, and the other who was in the cast.
I had an above knee amputation when I was 12 and I currently have a prosthetic leg, anyway when I was on my way to France with a class field trip, I was not aware I had to tell them about my leg (I was 13 and had never been on a plane before) anyway the sensors started going crazy and TSA and an officer were right there patting me down and all the sudden the TSA says “what’s up with your leg?” And I said “oh it was cut off last year” and the officer and TSA looked at me with utter shock and let me continue walking......😂😂 funniest experience
thats halarious!!!
Badass
Haha, that was an awesome comeback, and sooooo true. Love that the truth helped you out more than any story you could have invented could ever have. 😁😁👍👍
Showing that good natured, but brutal honesty can be the best option!
never underestimate childish naïvité, awesome comebacks are quick and even honest.
When the setup is practical, I take off my leg and throw it on the conveyor with the other shoe. Then I hop through the screening. TSA isn't allowed to say that you can do this, but they appreciate the time saved.
That’s good to know! Thank you!
Hahah, I started reading this comment and go to "throw it" and starting thinking "Throw it at them" 😜🤣 on the conveyor is a lot more practical 😉
@@korishan same
Also heads up for potential travel outside the US: in other countries they can ask you to take a seat and give them your prosthetics for scanning (has happened twice to my boyfriend, both times at the super tiny (2 open gates) airport in our home town in Austria, I guess they were bored or didn't know how else to deal with it).
Nobody:
The security gaurd: why tf is there a leg on the conveyor?
youtube recommendation: what you need to know as an amputee going through airport security
me, has all my limbs and rarely travels: ah yes I will watch this
Hahaha CZcams recommendations...who knows how it works! 😂 Thanks for watching!
Travis same 😂
gotta love that YT algorithm
Same
Google knows your future, soon it will be your reality
You say they aren’t allowed to say we have to remove our legs... I was traveling from LAX to Canada in 2014 and got into an argument with TSA that ended in me being detained and missing my flight. The guy from TSA had demanded I remove my leg (I’m an above knee amputee) and told me he needed to dismantle the hydraulic cylinder of the prosthetic knee because he didn’t know what was in it. I refused to strip down and take my leg off and also flatly refused to allow them to take apart (it was a brand new Ottobock Genium and I wasn’t going to have them take apart my 65K$ knee and void the warranty!!). He got mad and called his superego sided with him. The argument continued and then I was handcuffed and taken to a detainment room for “being uncooperative”. After six and a half hours I was finally put on a flight home. It was not a good experience and filing a formal complaint got me nowhere. Not even a simple apology.
That’s awful! I hope if you have flown again you have had a much more positive experience.
That's terrible! Sounds like you got a couple power tripping. It may also have something to do with LAX but I have my doubts. I flew from SC to Mi and back in 2016 with a brace that ran from foot to knee. In both places when I showed them the brace they were very respectful, did not ask me to remove it or anything and had me go to the side for personal screening that only took a few minutes. I wish you had had a better experience.
Uniformitus or TSA syndrome...everybody's got to be somebody. SMH
Formal complaint to the airport? No no no, thats a legal matter.
@@blueturtle3623 not being American it’s extremely difficult to do anything more from outside of the US. I’m not about to spend a fortune on a lawyer over something like this. It’s a crapshoot, at best.
Former TSA Agent here: The full screening is really unnecessary. They can wand you over the rest of your body and then do the chemical test on your leg. The only reason you are getting the full screening is a BS internal quota that each airport has. They have to do "X" amount a month to justify their existence.
I was about to say that the search looks super excessive... Thanks for confirming this
I always seem to be selected for " *random* additional screening" when I fly. I've wondered whether it has something to do with looking _nothing_ like any terrorist I've ever seen pictured on the news. I'm an utterly safe target with no grounds to claim I'm being profiled.
Exactly it's security theater
I've not flown a lot, but I've only been subject to body searches in the US. I remember the first time I was wearing skin tight leggings and apparently it was necessary to feel my legs in particular. What was the point of that? I don't know.
Bullshit.
I have been asked to stand up from a wheelchair before. One of my legs is paralysed and I can sometimes use crutches, but I was recovering from an injury in my "healthy" leg and was fully chairbound. They forced me to crawl through the metal detector. Most dehumanising and demeaning experiences I've had in my life, I'd say. Didn't get assistance to get back into my chair, either.
Oh dear LORD, I'm so sorry that has happened to you. I hope other experiences have been less negative...
Holy fucking shit. That deserves a lawsuit, and you deserve compensation. I’m not saying lawsuit to punish the people who put you through that, but to ensure it never happens again. That was a massive violation of rights.
WHAT THE FUCK. How is this shit legal? Do they drag quadriplegics through it by their hair, or what?!
I once saw clips of a video of a wheelchair bound child being groped under her clothes by TSA agents. I stopped flying because of all the horror stories I've read about. I'll drive or take a cruise ship before I fly anywhere.
@@deydraniadiancecht8298 WHHHHHAAAAAAAAT. WHAT?!?!?! OMFG. Hell fucking no. I'd be suing EVERYONE if I was the parent.
I’ve had 11 spinal surgeries. Although I’m not obviously physically impaired, I carried a letter from my Orthopedic surgeon stating that I’d set off the airport metal detector due to my steel implants. The last time I flew I was accosted at the check-in gate by a woman with the wand that detects hidden metal on passengers. I told her my story, showed her my letter, and expected the normal routine of having the wand run over the metal laden area then allowed to board. She refused and told me I was lying. It was summer … I had on shorts and a tank top … so I’m not sure where or how she thought I was smuggling a metal ?something? in my spine. I was going to miss my flight so I asked to see her supervisor. Refusal was immediate. In order to get to my mother’s funeral I had to endure this person lift up my top in front of other passengers so she could look for whatever. She wouldn’t even try to provide a more private place! I was embarrassed and angry, but wasn’t going to fly if I didn’t give in to the “search”. Not quite like your prosthetic limb, but I haven’t flown since. It’s cheaper to take the train, where you’re not accused of packing lead. Thanks, Air Canada!
Sounds like the bag was after a twisted thrill - one of those fat dogs with a blokes look alike head ¿?
Good to know... I have a fair bit of scaffolding in my lower spine and left thigh.
I dont even have massive scarring either.
The last time I flew... UK to LAX.. LAX to UK
I went thru the metal detector both times in the UK and USA and they found nothing.
Reassuring isnt it? :-/
Air Canada doesn't do airport security! The Canadian Air Transport Authority (CATSA) does. It's Canada's version of TSA.
@@masterseems8005 I don’t care who exactly was working in Toronto’s terminal at the time. Regardless of the company they were paid by, they were manning the entry gates at the terminal. My treatment was embarrassing, rude, unjustified and unnecessary. Properly educated and trained staff are more capable of making intelligent decisions. I know I’m not alone in this perception.
Jeez! A friend of mine has had several spinal surgeries and has at least one bat in her back- I don’t think it’s ever been an issue though. Although I expect the big-ass scar that starts up on the back of her neck probably helps.
I am going to have to ask her about it now.
1:09 going to push back on that. There's a lot of research and evidence showing that TSA and flight security doesn't make us safer. It makes us feel safer, but does a very poor job at actually catching threats
Exactly correct. TSA fail almost constantly when they're tested by the Fed or Airport with actual volatile chemicals, explosive materials, knives and firearms. On. The. Regular. It isn't even trading freedom for safety, it's trading freedom for feelgoods.
It's only going to get worse, too. People will line up for it, salivate for it, pant and beg for more-more-more of the same. Disgraceful behavior.
Yeah, you just keep thinking that but be sure to take your tin foil hat off before you go to the airport next time…
@@sammoore9120Dealing with the U.S. government in any capacity is horrid, especially when it comes to anything regarding safety. I absolutely love the contrast between traveling in Europe or Canada and the U.S.
You can say a lot about the conspiracy theories abound but there's little to doubt that each day we cede more autonomy to bureaucracy and corporate oligarchies.
@@sammoore9120 ahyes, the dismissive nonargument of someone who is ill informed about a topic but must take refuge in what they have been told, so parrot back what they've heard.
Bravo, truly.
@@SoulSoundMuisc oh yes I recognize the instant response of the ignorant. Throw around a few big words that you don’t understand in an attempt to belittle the other person. Instead why don’t you try a little research like looking into the numbers of weapons the TSA confiscated in a typical week… the numbers will astound you.
I have a friend who refers to that type of search as the "third date pat-down."
My Asperger's son was 13, but looked 18, mustache and all..when he first flew. I would not let him go thru the scatter machine. They patted him down and he laughed like Beavis and Butthead the whole time. He thought it was hilarious when they grabbed his crotch. It is ridiculous.
Karen Lamb
What the f is wrong With tsa
In November 2002, I flew from Seattle to Orlando to spend the holidays with my mother. I had broken my femur and had enough internal fixation to build a small car. I had a feeling that with that much steel I was bound to set off any bells and whistles they may have.
So... I wore shorts to the airport (of course it was snowing when I left, that's my kind of luck) and brought my x-rays. That way they could see the scar, have something to compare it to and note where their wand would beep and where it wouldn't.
Just as a precaution, I loosened the laces on my shoes and used one of their wheelchairs instead of my cane. Though walking unaided was difficult, I was able to stand for them to wave that wand. It went quite well.
But I must say, that since then security has gotten tighter and tighter. I take trains now. Sure it takes longer, but the views are incredible and you don't have to get groped.
Totally agree - TRAINS are the way to go!!!
Tina Patterson and trains are ecological too!
If I needed to travel I would prefer trains.
you made me laugh ....
"had enough internal fixation to build a small car"
Security in every other country I've been to is so peaceful. You go through the scanner, they check every single item in your carry on bag, the yahoos who packed actually shady things like guns or hunting knives are taken away for further questioning and regular tourists just trying to travel get to move on without being molested. It's a great system every other country has.
Sadly the reasons the US is so intense with their processes make sense, after 9/11 TSA got really really paranoid and started implementing processes to try to keep it from ever happening again
Plus they have to look for drugs and things that can be hard to detect, it's ridiculous and slightly scary how some things are snuck in
Airport security in Paris and Rome were a breeze. There was almost no line and I didn’t have to go through anything unnecessary.
But one time at SFO I had a jar of peanut butter confiscated because according to them, peanut butter is a liquid.
@@love9999909 the intense US TSA line catches less harmful items than other countries security, so it's less helpful and less safe all while stripping the rights from minorities and disabled people. I don't want worse outcomes for my security screening just because it emotionally feels more secure, do you?
@@love9999909 what doesn’t make sense is the fact that numerous investigations and tests have shown the TSA is horrifically incompetent and will miss many, if not most, properly concealed weapons or hazards. Despite roughing up minorities constantly.
Unfortunately, as a wheelchair user, I am asked to stand up going through security. They usually ask me if I can stand and walk through the scanner, which I can. The problem is that after I walk through the scanner, I'm forced to stand on the other side, without mobility aids, while they swab down my wheelchair, which is borderline impossible for me to do. I've tried telling them a few times "I can walk, but I can't stand on the other side." and that just confuses them, so now I just elect to stay in my chair and have them pat me down, even though, like you said, it's an awkward experience.
I learned the first time to just stay in my chair. If you so much as briefly stand up they think you can stand and walk all day.
People can't comprehend the difference between leg move-y and still-support. I shocked people while using my two canes to go to the washroom, but if I had to stand in line that way.... no thank you. I moved fast because open space and I needed a wall close by in case my legs decided to give out. When stamina is questionable, it's best to rely on speed.
Well, they worded that incorrectly; they're not supposed to ask if you CAN stand, they're supposed to ask if you're able AND willing to do so. You can always say no to that, and they have alternate methods of screening (such as an in-chair pat down, but that's not the only option). Or if you are willing and able to stand and walk through the detector but can't stand on the other side, ask for them to have a chair to sit in while they screen your wheelchair. I was trained to do precisely that in that sort of circumstance.
@@VelaiciaCreator It's why it's important not just to make clear what you can do, but what you can't do.
How hard is to have a fouldingchair or even a stool ready to sit down on while you wait? This should be possible at an airport i should think. People dont use a wheelchair for fun...so why dont they think about it and antissapate on it. This would be a learing point on the service department i would think. It would be wise to have a special course that teaches them to understand such things.
I travel with a wheelchair a lot. A shock for me was when I traveled to the EU. They checked my wheelchair to my destination and provided gate-to-gate wheelchair service, including priority boarding, and a cordoned-off area for all of their clients in the center of the airport for access to everything. They went and got food for me once, and wheeled me to the food kiosk another time.
isn't it insane how countries that aren't the USA treat people with compassion?
@@shinjisan2015 It's because some of the TSA agents are power hungry (like some cops) and feel the need to express it!!
@@jim.h In other words they're the biggest Douchebags you possibly can encounter anywhere?
Passengers with disabilities and medical conditions can utilize TSA Cares and have a Passenger Support Specialist assist through security. Call in advance or ask at the airport. Extremely helpful.
You can also go through a nexus pass if you live in the US or Canada. It pretty much is a massive background check and long interview process but they make sure that you won’t do anything and then you can pretty much just walk through like it’s pre 9/11 just be warned it’s really expensive and they dig into your life more than anyone should. They will also ask you that stupid question about which is not a phone number you have had, they also ask this question for the background checks doctors have to get and my mother alway has to review before hand because she says she is getting old can never remember the day of the week much less her home phone number from when she was six.
Here in the EU we have a “Prosthesis Passport”. It’s a card filled out by our prosthetist that says which limb has been replaced, what device we use, what the battery supply is and helps answer most of the questions. It can’t answer the multitude of truly stupid questions I’ve had from TSA but it answers anything and everything they actually need to know and is printed in multiple languages. Very helpful.
"TSA Cares" Holy shit, that is one of the worst oxymorons I have ever heard of. "Extremely helpful?" Doubtful.
@@badbiker666 yeah, it's def an oxymoron and a real reach attempt at rebranding. However, it was extremely helpful. I applaud you not needing to use it.
I'm really glad I found your channel. I'm not an amputee but my boyfriend is. He lost both of his legs at the knee and I want to understand what he goes through better. I feel like when I ask too many questions that I hurt his feelings sometimes, so you being so open and honest is really nice.
That's so sweet and supportive of you
Francine Kuri I’m in the same boat as you exactly
Francine Kuri this is soo sweet
@Joe Kinchicken
Missing a limb still makes you a human being who can enjoy life, love and be loved!
Missing a heart makes you dead.
@Joe Kinchicken Sick comment, sick commenter.
My dad is an amputee and he went on a cruise, almost every port he got off at he wore shorts and after setting off the medical detectors was asked if he had any metal anywhere. He said he couldn't help but stifle a laugh every time but knew it was protocol and was happy to put aside the extra time floor his searches ☺
It’s so interesting to hear you say you’d virtually never been hassled at TSA pre amputation because as a visibly Muslim woman I get patted down and tested for bomb residue every single trip regardless of if I ring up on the scanner. I’m always the sideshow attraction at tsa 🥴 I’m getting a service dog soon so that’ll be a real treat lol
Ah yes. These are often referred to as 'random checks'. They are not random. Any person of color is more likely to be stopped for a random check. Im so sorry this happens to you.
As a white cis woman who miraculously never gets "randomly" checked. I hate that this is the way this system bworks for now. But I see you. And hope you found that service dog. 🙏
was thinking about this the entire video... I'm visibly muslim as well and literally every time I travel either me or one of my family members gets 'randomly' selected for a pat down lmaoooo
I am from a ‘suspicious’ country, and every time I fly through Vienna, I get randomness checked (keep in mind i fly through Vienna multiple times a year. a hassle)
I am a cis white male but different looking and I get randomly selected almost everytime even bring me into a back room and take everything out of my carry ons. Sometime I get preapproval though and walk through without even having to take my shoes off. Never get the normal experience even once. Either full search or no search.
My whole amputation started on a trip to the US (I live in Saskatchewan Canada) I had to fly home immediately after getting 3rd degree burns to the bottoms of both feet. After a gong show at the airport to get a ticket, another story for another day, I was booked as an assisted flight. I currently wore AFO braces on both lower legs. (they are a thick polimer/plastic type stuff, similar to what prosthetics are made from, with metal buckels and velcro to attach them. My legs were thouroughly wrapped in soo much gauze from the stop at the hospital as well. They wheeled me to the gate and from there I had to go down a flight of stairs and walk out on the tarmac to the plane (a whopping 20ish seater) and struggle to get up the little stairs with the bungie cord type rails (ok, I had a hard time with stairs before my burns and amputation due to nerve damage..) This was a nightmare for me. I felt like I was flyin out of hicksville somewhere tiny or something....it was the Penneylvania Inernational Airport at Harrisburg...ugg. Made it to Toronto's Pearson Inter. Airport. Get down the stairs....to be left out in the middle of the tarmac alone with no clue where to go (as the swelling had increased and I was in sooo much pain and was moving sooo much slower now) everyone was gone by the time I hit the tarmac, a creepy odd feeling to say the least. I started slowly limping along to the only door I could see...we were NOT close to the building. Finally a wonderful lady saw me and shouted to stay put and returned with a wheelchair. I showed her my ticket and she made a few radio calls and we were finally getting somewhere.
Inside I was handed off to someone new who took me to the beginning of security, but from there said I was on my own to get through untill I could get to the benches on the other side where a golf cart would pick me up. ugg some assisted flight....
so after trying to explain and handing them the note from the ER doc, I finally got them to understand I couldn't take off my shoes and braces (dr wrote to leave them on till reaching hospital at home, basically they'd swell too fast to get them back on). Then they told me I couldn't use my cane...my legs were litterally shaking and I was ready to collapse at this point. It took 25 mins for them to finally "allow me" the benefit of a ski pole type thing to hang on to while they dismantled and checked mine. They made me take off my belt, which I get, and literally undo my jeans...talk about invasive. After another 20 mins of bullshit not listening that the wand was going off where the buckles on my braces were, and pulling my pantlegs up to show them (might I add, they didn't care about the large bag of perscription meds or any of the odd medical supplies in my purse and carryon) they finally let me do up my jeans and procede to that glorious bench...which I ALMOST made it too. Fell on the floor about 5 feet short when both legs finally gave out. Ironically it was just as the cart was pulling up and the driver and another person passing by helped me up and on to the cart. The man asked if he could stop me somewhere for food on the way to my gate as I had 2 hrs till advance boarding...it was now 1pm and I hadn't eaten since 10am the day before, well other than the granola bar a janitor at the airport gave me the night before, did I mention I slept on a bench all night at the airport because the 3 outboud to Toronto flights for the evening had been cxl'c? Hadn't even realized in my pain and exhaustion just HOW hungry I was....I thanked him so much and he helped me off and stood with me in the A&W line and helped me back on the cart. Dropped me off at the gate and sent me on my way...
From there I only had to walk to the plane and sit and fly home, get off and out of the airport, and wait for my ride to the hospital.
In short...security can be absolute HELL,and that was BEFORE my prosthetic....thanks to those few who truly made bigger differences than they will ever know though. I hope no one EVER goes through something like I did....and trust me this is the quick undetailed version...
oh yah, and it was my birthday...whoopee!
OMFG - I am so, so sorry you had to go through all that! That's truly shocking - and utterly disgraceful! I'm also pretty sure, that not only was that immoral - and cruel! - but illegal too... may I ask, if you felt able to make a formal complaint? and if so, was there any resolution? Just hearing it second-hand makes me both 😡 and 😭, so I can barely imagine how awful it must have been for you, to actually have to go through that sh*t - I am glad though, that you came across some beautiful people who did what they could to assist you, as it might otherwise have been all too easy to lose any faith you once had in humanity! But anyways... I'm seeing this is an older post, so even if you *do* see it, don't worry about replying - just know that I'm sending much love (and apologies for all the exclaimation points, lol!) to you, just the same!❤💐💕🇬🇧💗
Jesus Christ. I need some counseling after even READING that! :( :( :(
@@Tricia_K Honestly I just felt so unwell and so shaky I just wanted to collapse on my bag and cry through most of it. At the start there was a 4 hour cab trip of multiple stops to try to get a gift card type VISA to pay for my flight online (that airport didn't sell tickets) and I had no credit card (VISA/Debit wasn't really a thing in Canada till after I got home ironically) forgot to get out money to pay the damn cab bill. After all his help he asked what I did have on me in cash (it was a $95 ride) I had $20 USD and $50 CAD. He smiled and said he'd take $40 of the Canadian if that worked for me lol. There was also an amazing man, Clarence, that helped me a lot at the PA Airport.
Honestly, I had so much to worry about with my feet and all the stuff with them, I didn't even think of it till an American friend said I should sue the park (where the burns happened) and the airlines. I'm Canadian...sueing isn't in my vocabulary. I just know if I EVER travel again, I'll pray I'm well and making arrangements ahead of time and I can nail all this kind of detail stuff down. Along with a call to TSA to see what I can do to make things easier for that security check.
@@SilverFlame819 no worries I got some at the hospital and from a good friend who is a counselor by profession. Glad I didn't go into the long version...it might have traumatized a few people for life lol. (Also...soo glad I had travel insurance as the sticker shock of my 10hr hospital stay, for a Canadian who doesn't pay for hospital stays, would have done me when THAT bill arrived at my house a couple months later!)
@@samarawaldner5134 I mean... Can an American company garnish the wages of a Canadian for a hospital bill? If not, I'd just skip the bill. Our medical is INSANE here. Nothing but greed and bullshit.
i am a survivor as well, and my first flight in five years was my first pat down ever.. going between my legs was so very unpleasant.. i was SO cranky. SO upset. I eventually got over but it took me a good week to feel sane again.
It only takes one to do something stupid and cost many lives.
@@who6339 What does, what you said, have anything to do with what Kate said?
Sounds like US airport security has lost the plot! I went through international security (returning to Australia from New Zealand - on a British passport) and when Mum and I both set off the metal detectors they waved the wands over us and asked a couple of questions. Mum has a knee replacement and I have plate and screws in my femur, both of us were wearing shorts and able to show our scars which was enough for a pass.
The degradation that the TSA puts you through is, frankly, harassment and I'm surprised that it hasn't been called out as infringement of personal rights.
Putin-level psychosis.
Most of the TSA people are like that.
What's even more infuriating is that the TSA fails around 90% of penetration tests. All they are is security theatre and professional minority harassers.
They never had the plot. The whole point is dehumanization.
I've had my wheelchair taken away from me 3 times!
It's a serious problem because it wasn't just me. It's literally some airports policy.
I want to do something change this but I don't know how. Any ideas?
One of those times was, because of their "rescheduling", was a 9 hour layover (ended up being 11). They were like "This is your gate. I'm taking the wheelchair now". I was like "Do you expect me to sit at this gate and not move for the next 9 house? What if I have to go to the bathroom? Do I drag myself there?" She responded by explaining that the "layover wheelchair services" were something you could only get once you were there and that I would have to stand in line for. I asked if I could use the wheelchair long enough to go through the line to get the other wheelchair. She said no. So, apparently, the only way to get a wheelchair for a layover is to STAND in line... Anyways, even after ending up unconscious, they claim it wasn't their fault because I didn't hit my head hard enough to get a concussion.
wow...that's all I can say. I'm soo sorry to hear this happened. My trip was pretty aweful too, I posted a very long post about it, though it's the extremely short version of the happenings.
Sadly the people who make these damn rules just don't understand, they need to spend a couple days having to get around dealing with their rules and see how it works then.
I’ve had them try to take my wheelchair before I’m physically on the plane. I flatly refuse to get out of it. They really can’t just take your personal chair away.
It is illegal for them to take your wheelchair in the US. They have wheelchair storage on the plane that your wheelchair must go on. If there's anything besides mobility aids in the wheelchair compartment, they legally have to be moved do your wheelchair will be on the plane with you, so you are never without it. The ACLU has some info on it, I can try to find it if you like?
@@HmmmmmLemmeThinkNo No but thank you. I already have access to the laws on it. I just don't have any way of making a change. It turns out if someone breaks a law and you go to the authorities, even if you have proof, they don't do anything (I didn't in this case but I have multiple other times for more serious ones). I also can't get any lawyer or prosecutor to give me the time of day. And when I went up the chain in the airline, they all said that they wouldn't do anything because I wasn't seriously injured. I appreciate your response and suport on this!
@@minreie I hate ableds. I'm sorry you have to experience this :(
As a person in a wheelchair I find it hilarious (and somewhat sad) that airport security has never figured out better ways of working with people with disabilities.
They can and they have those protocols in place.
They CHOOSE not to. You're an easy mark. You're a tick in a box on their monthly quota checklist.
So fun story! I have a rod in my tibia and I screw through my pelvis from a car wreck and I tell officers at airport security this before I go through the metal detector. Well last time I flew out of Orlando international they maybe didn't listen or just didn't care and pulled me aside for a pat down. Earlier that day I had been feeling gas cans because there was a hurricane on the way... When they swabbed my hands for chemicals there was still gas residue... I failed their little test. Then they pulled me aside again for a complete search of my bag, a complete pat down, and another swab of my hands... I feel your pain.
Surgical implants do not set off the metal detectors because surgical implants are not magnetic (that’s why we can still have an MRI). If the detector went off you likely forgot something small in a pocket. Otherwise they swabbed you bag and found traces of a concerning chemical (likely that petrol you were using earlier).
@@merandareast2552 Not necessarily. The higher end metal detectors at certain hub airports have a decent chance of detecting 316L/surgical stainless steel, especially given large enough amounts of it. Even at smaller airports (much lower end), my father's ankle implants set it off maybe... 1/3 of the time?
Strictly speaking, it's not magnetism that's being detected, but the electrical conductivity of the metal. It generally takes more power to detect non-ferrous metals, and airport security will often be set to ignore the tiniest pings (which is why metal dental work doesn't usually trip them). A big enough hunk of titanium can sometimes set off the aforementioned high-end scanners, but it's considerably less common.
@@c.m.mccormack8902 I have endo-exo in my thigh. This is a massive metal implant all the way up my femur (the entire femur from the hip all the way down) that also sticks out the end of my leg. It’s a huge metal rod that connects my prosthetic leg to me and the entire implant, with the parts that extend out through my muscle and skin, weigh a little over 1.8 kilos. This is a truly massive amount of metal implant material and includes surgical steel, titanium and 24ct gold. The body scanners have hissy fits and can’t figure out what I am but metal detectors don’t notice me.
My coworker analyzes fertilizer, so she joked about needing to pull out her work badge at the airport.
@@merandareast2552 I triggered the millimeter-wave detector pretty badly, to the point where i was ordered to stand against the wall with my hands over my head and my legs spread... All because of a shirt with glitter on it. (I was traveling with my notably older partner and was sick of being mistaken for their son, so I wore a tshirt with "Cougar Tamer" in giant sparkly red letters on it. Fun times.)
I know they have to do it but as an amputee when I get the full search it makes me feel wretched. First time it happened I walked away and burst into tears. It has prevented me from flying within the United States. In the fall I flew to London, England
I was dreading going though the airport security on the way back. However they did not do the full pat down. All I had to do was go through the 3D scanner and then they checked me with the wand and then did the swab to check for illegal substances. It was much less harrowing.But as someone else said earlier the bonus is you get to pick your seat ahead of time at no extra charge and no chance of being bumped. So at least that is a bonus😊
I was having a complete panic attack because it was my first flight ever and I was convinced I was never going to go on a plane in my life and was totally fine with it . Anyways it’s a miracle my family got me even into the airport . I’m 28 now probably 25 then and I don’t have a license. Anyways my hard copy of my ID card hadn’t come in in time so I only had the paper . And they told me they stopped accepting it . So I’m like freaking out like so does my family leave without me how does this work . They decide to let it go but I had to get the full pat down . Remember I’m already freaking out . They ask if I want a room , and again because it’s my first time and I have no idea I say no I’m fine . No it wasn’t fine . They did there thing which was actually pretty traumatizing and humiliating to me . And my family’s all on the other side not knowing what’s going on. And as soon as I was done I burst into tears as well and ran to my family sobbing . I was already having a panic attack and then to go through that it was just terrible
No. They don't have to do it. They fail every metric of excellence; they're useless and will not, can not keep you safe. They are incapable of it. Every time they're tested by Fed or Airport with chemicals, explosives, firearms or knives they FAIL.
They do it because you let them.
Footless Jo I've only ever had 1 experience with airlines and I was asked to get out of my wheelchair and when I said no I was told that if I don't I was going to be arrested
My children were with me and my mum also my girls were only 10 and 13 just turned it was the day after her bday
So when my mum saw what was going on she informed them that I can't stand they decided to get a woman officer take me into a side room where I could lean on something so I could be checked I was very upset as I could hear my daughter's crying outside of the room
But after about 2 hrs we all managed to get on the plane and enjoyed the holiday in USA Disney
Wow! That's even worse than when they took my wheelchair away from me. How is this legal?
It isn't legal. It violates ADA.
Sadly, people faking or using wheelchairs as a convenience, even though the number is minuscule, ruin it for those who need them. Especially those with "invisible" disabilities.
@@sarahelizavoldy this person flew from the U.K. The ADA is purely American so does not apply in the U.K. This is also not legal in the U.K. but the ADA has absolutely nothing to do with it.
I see that the clock on the wall has finally moved. Does this mean it's a real clock and you finally changed the battery? Wow! Eyeliner looks great!
THIS!!! Did someone send batteries? Also, eyeliner ;)
Joe Kinchicken You dont have to be gay to point out something stunning. Does it make you gay for saying George Washington’s painting looks well?
I had to take an airplane home after a fairly intense ankle surgery a few years ago. I couldn't walk, so I had to use a knee scooter; security was stressful and they made me stand for around an hour before they got to me to do my swabbing (which was painful because you know .... balancing most of my weight on one leg). But on the topic of airports in general being inaccessible, the real problem was getting to my seat on the plane. I spoke to the staff prior to boarding to make sure they knew I wasn't able to walk, and they said it totally wouldn't be a problem. When it came time to board, though, I made it down the ramp and then was asked to hop the length of the plane on one foot to get to my seat. I was terrified of jostling my foot and prolonging the healing, so I asked the crew to get the aisle weelchair to help me get to my seat. They then said the entire aiport didn't have one. I asked if they were certain, because people who can't walk have to be able to get onto the plane somehow. During this very condescending and confusing conversation, boarding continued behind me, so everyone just stared as I tried to anxiously stutter my way into insisting aisle wheelchairs have to be on-hand somewhere.
They did eventually find one, and they strapped me to it and then slowly wheeled me to my seat while everyone already sitting down stared at me and the person wheeling me down complained about having to do it. I definitely cried the entire time they pulled me to my seat lmao
I’m almost always searched like that. I’ve never had a bad experience. Most of the time the officers are very understanding of my situation. I’m diabetic and I have severe joint issues. So I wear a ton of braces and KT tape. I also wear an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor. Every single time I’m searched they always ask if there are any places they need to be very gentle with. Occasionally (mostly after a procedure) it is too painful to touch near the site. So I always make sure that if there is a spot like that, I wear clothes that show or can easily show it. Everyone has been so kind and respectful. As I am a minor, they make sure to be polite and offer separate rooms, etc. it was really embarrassing the first couple of times but I have gotten over that. I travel a lot to see family.
I see you as a kind friendly person who’s been through horrible things but has overcome. I don’t see sunshine but learning about her is cool. ❤️
I went through airport security one day after dyeing my hair. Of course, the tests went off, because of the chemicals used in hair dye...
THAT is just how STUPID the TSA are!!!
OOOF noted!🤣
So, what was it - a no. 1 cut so they could arrange for barnet testing ¿?
"You know, for me, before I had my amputation, airport security was really never that big of a deal!"
me: *laughs in North African descent*
I think you mean ascent
@@somedude2492 he said what he said
Oh hi where are from ?
@@aben4628 I'm American, but my ancestry is about half Moroccan :) I'm also Kurdish on the other side of my family.
Wow that's so rich dna u got there. I loved how u said north african and not Arabic descent. I'm algerian
Thank you for telling me we do NOT have to take off our shoes to go through airport security. I did not know this. I have mobility issues and sometimes it's so difficult to get my shoes on and off. I just thought it was mandatory.
I was wondering about that too. I was glad to hear that you don't have to take them off.
If you do keep shoes on, then they will have to do the pat down and swab. I always sit in a chair to take my shoes off; usually there is one already there. Then, I can't put my feet on the yellow footprints in the body scanner, so they pull me aside and do the pat down and swab anyway...
Most airports I’ve been in have had signs saying like heels and shoes with thick souls need to be taken off but regular shoes are fine, I have no problem taking off my shoes if I need to but I’ve never had to while traveling
Having to take shoes off is a pretty uniquely US thing and outside of the US I have never been asked to take shoes off once
I’d make sure to have a letter from your doctor as well, but I’m pretty paranoid!
I wear a leg brace, and when I've flown, I always get taken out of line for the search. Everything you've described it so true! I make it fun for myself and try to make things subtilty awkward. Maybe mumble that their hands are cold, but soft and caring, or maybe a light moan as they search. I did find out that carbon fiber doesn't alert most metal detectors, though.
Hey Jo! I’m not an amputee, but I am a Latin person living in Europe so I also get the extra check every time I travel. I have to travel a lot for work and this doesn’t happen to any of my coworkers. I have to considered extra time when I travel as well. It’s super embarrassing to be touch in front of everyone, specially cause it’s super obvios this random selection is totally racially biased, but whatever. Sorry you have to do this extra step now, but how awesome it is that you’re finally walking around in sunshine ☀️
As someone who works regularly in nuclear plants, getting wanded and patted down by security is a normal daily occurrence because I always set off the metal detector. So when I go through the airport it's pretty much expected.
My tip is wear leggings and a tight shirt and they'll give one look at you and realize they really don't need to feel you. I once saw the cogs in a tsa agents mind wondering if they really NEED to with me.
Anais S. Every time I’ve been searched I’ve been wearing leggings, a tank top and flip flops 🤷🏻♀️
@@Jalopygofar hmm
Dallas Backus- “I once shoplifted a watermelon wearing nothing but a tank top and a pair of a Daisy Dukes” 😂
Although now I can’t remember what movie/TV show that’s from or if I got it 100% correct! 🙈🤷♀️
You'd think they'd skip searching if you wrar tight clothing. When I went through security on my trip from Portland to Vegas I was wearing a tshirt that was a little tight due to me being overweight. (I tossed that shirt after that trip because it became too uncomfortable). You could see my bra clasps through my shirt and so it was very clear I couldnt possibly be hiding anything on my back. When I went through the security they stopped me and firmly felt all over my back. I dont see any reason to do that other than to inappropriately touch me. I am also not very attractive and so them choosing to do it to me just confused me even more.
@@Dorkskitty grossss. in retrospect I think a lot of it had to do with me looking like I was a teen. Because I was wearing the same outfit when I was asked "are you under 12" as a 24 year old.
Also like... This was never meant to be genuine advice, just a joke about how I saw the cogs in a tsa persons mind trying to decide.
Hey Jo! I know that I dreaded airport security the most when traveling that it would sometimes take the fun/excitement away from getting to go somewhere new. Often times when I was younger, I would have my dad tell the TSA that I use a prosthetic leg before going through the metal detector but there were a few times when this just made things worse. I did experience more than once when I had to take my prosthetic off so they could run it through the conveyer belt. This was quite traumatizing for me as a child because not only was I already self conscious of using my a prosthesis but this would often take more time and people behind us would be watching waiting for us to be done. Obviously I know these security measures are put in place for a reason and for our safety, but as a kid having to go through this every time I traveled put a damper on the fun of traveling. I appreciate you Jo for shedding the light for what new amputees can likely expect to happen when going through airports❤️
Forcing you to take your leg off was not for security and made nobody safer. It was also not legal. I’m sorry you’ve been through that. It’s been demanded if me multiple times as well but I am an adult and know I can (and I do!) refuse.
They don't make you safer. Numerous repeated studies have shown that the TSA misses up to 95% of weapons smuggled in airports. They were harassing a child.
I am so sorry that happened to you. It is not acceptable.
Wait wait wait! When I took my grandma to Hawaii I requested wheelchair assistance. They made us check her wheelchair. And through TSA they made her stand up to search her 😳 however thanks to Chicago airport we almost missed our plane because the wait for wheelchair assistance we got to the airport 3 hours early and it took 2 hours to wait for a wheelchair since they made us check hers. But when we flew back from Hawaii they didn’t request her to stand up. Just watching your video you said “they can’t make you stand up” it just made me think of my grandma.
I work for TSA and people bring their personal wheel chairs all the time, there are no rules against that. It must have been your airline that made her do that. It's true that you don't have to get out of your wheelchair, you'll just be checked in the chair. The process will be faster if you can stand while we check the chair so we may ask if you are able to stand for a moment, and many people are able to stand without a problem, but if you can't, that's fine as well.
@@zeldacuz it is illegal (in the US) to force a wheelchair user to check their wheelchair unless the wheelchair cupboard or whatever is already full with a wheelchair. I know many wheelchair users who travel with several copies of the law with them.
I'm one month out from my double amputation and your videos have been helping me. Thank you!
As someone who’s never been on an airplane this lowkey sounds terrifying
Brittany Woodman If it helps, new things are terrifying. I haven’t flown since the new rules but once you fly and go through it, it’ll just be annoying.
I like to fly, it’s beautiful and The people you meet are very interesting
It's not, just a little annoying. But hey, they do their job to keep you self so it's good!! Flying and traveling the world meeting new people and new cultures is so rewarding!!!
Lucía Frau Really glad i clicked on your notification! I’m dyslexic and read it’s not annoying.🤦🏻♀️ Trying to AVOID conflict not create it😂
Brittany Woodman i have flown all around the world, tons of quick european flights or at least 6 flights a week in China.. every aiport is a little bit different with handling travelers but my first flight alone was from berlin to paris when i was 16 and since then I’ve flown everywhere on my own and grew to love it.. you can expieeence so many people going to vacations, home, family, business and just a thousand stories in one place.. even the security was fine.. technology is also advancing im from the Netherlands and flew a lot through schiphol (giant overlay and international airport) and there you just stand in a machine that scans you in 2 seccond from head to to, leave your shoes on, put your coat and bag in a basket without taking out anything of your bag bc it can handle electronics in a bag now and done.. love it
I know this scenario quite well. Flew twice with my leg in a cast, and got the whole swab down thing, though I did not remove my cast shoe because I wasn't risking damaging my cast and being away from home. Wife has pain stimulator implanted, and even with medical device card stating this, still gets extra attention.
Conspiracy theorist in me says it is just a way to relieve airport congestion, because any distance I can drive in 4 to 6 hours is easier than flying by the time I have to arrive early at the airport, go through screening, wait on a flight delay or have to make a connection, then wait for my bag (hopefully, not lost). Plus I have a car with me when I get there.
So I appreciate the attempt at security, but the TSA has been shown over and over to care about things that don't matter and not care about things that do.
This is supposedly an attempt to prevent bombings, but who would send an amputee to do the bombing, especially with the bomb in her leg? Literally no one. How many bombings have been attempted by an amputee concealing a bomb in her prosthetic? This is basically the definition of security theater.
The last attempted bombing of a US aircraft was in 2010, and was a cargo plane with a package bomb inside (the attempt failed). The last attempted terrorist passenger airline bombing originating in the US was Richard Reid (the shoe bomber - he's why we take off our shoes in airline security now) in 2001. The underwear bomber attempted to fly into Detroit from Denmark in 2009. As far as I'm aware, the TSA has never actually caught an attempted bomber (passengers got the underwear and shoe guys), and in previous published tests, missed 95% of fake threats (tests by the TSA itself, in which their agents tried to sneak stuff, like simulated explosives and guns, past security). The agents themselves are doing the best they can, but this security model is a complete failure, in addition to being a hassle for everyone and a special hassle for anyone who has any noticeable differences from "the norm". For that, we paid $8.6 billion in 2021, and about $120 billion since it was founded in 2001.
Sorry, that was a bit of a rant; if you read this far, thanks for paying attention :-)
As someone with an insulin pump(that I’ve had since I was 13) and a service dog for a couple of years I completely understand what you go through at the airport. The worst was going with a service dog because I had to walk through with just her collar on her and then stand there leaning down holding her for so long. I’ve also had the residue tests every time and only failed once presumably from some sort of medicine
They're not allowed to ask you to take off any of her gear, shes medical equipment. I've seen handlers go through TSA by putting their dog in a stay, person goes through the metal detector, then they call the dog through. The dog will likely beep bc of what its wearing so they'd give her a pat down
@@normal4810 I didn’t even put mine on stay. We went through together and I allowed a pat down but was very strict what they were allowed to do with my dog. They could check his harness and swab it but they were NOT allowed to pat/pet him. Period. I often had idiots with TSA try to tell me “no pets allowed through her, the dog has to go in cargo”. Even with a huge service dog harness and our photo ID. Nope. Not gonna happen.
Flying has really become a pain in the neck. Whenever I have to fly, I prefer to be there at least two hours before boarding. Mostly it is overkill, but the one time I thought „nah, it’s gonna be totally fine if I leave home an hour later“...what do you know, I got stuck in traffic, had to walk about a mile from the parking space to security, and then the place was absolutely packed. I made jt just in time with two other guys.
The other occasion was at O‘Hare Int‘l. Chock full right in the middle of the summer holidays. I was traveling with a bunch of photo equipment and BOY, did the TSA guys take their sweet time checking it. They were nice and polite all the time, but then I did not want to kick up a fuss because there was still a slim chance that I’d catch my flight. You know those PA announcements you hear all the time at the airport about „This is the final call for Johnny Whatshisface booked on flight 123 to Nopetown“? The ones that you never see anyone reacting to in any obvious manner? Well, the moment I stepped out of the TSA area, I was that person getting the „final call“. And it was probably the fastest quarter mile dash I have ever run, with that big camera case in tow. Doors on the aircraft were closed before I had reached my seat. Not an experience I want to repeat.
Now imagining that on top of being an amputee? Yikes. That sounds like something else entirely.
Thanks for your insights! While I am not am amputee myself nor have anyone in my life with this condition, I like learning about what other people experience. So I really appreciate the time and effort you put in those videos.
S'not a condition, its an effin imposition. With respect.
I've noticed that my backpack seems to be selected for a "random" extra manual check in the security check more often the last few years. But they already just take a very brief peek inside and give it back. The last time I finally figured out why, I think: it's probably my collapsible walking cane I've started carrying everywhere (since my hyper mobile joints often makes one foot or the other painful to put full pressure on). And I guess 3 long pieces of metal pipe looks very suspicious on an x-ray image, but when you open the bag and see the wooden handle it's probably very obvious what it is.
I'm not a amputee but I have like full armor on my legs that keep them straight. So airport's are really funny. They must check all space between and in this armor to check if I did have stuff there. And it can take more than 30 min!
It give me a lot of problems but I can use special line in airports and chose my place in airplane! So by the end of the day it's really helpfull 😎
My dad has the option to get steel rods in his leg or get a hip replacement which would be titanium. He chose the hip replacement because of the faster recovery time but he also said it has the perk of not setting off mettle detectors. Though he brings the medical work just in case because they will see it if he gets x-rayed and doesn’t want to deal with ignorant people thinking he is smuggling something because his femur reside at the age of 50 to start killing
Off blood supply.
Lol.... I live next to an open pit coal mine, and the particles from the explosives float in the air and in-bed themselves into things. Right after 9-11 I was going on a trip to California and my suitcase set the alarms off. They tore that sucker apart, and than I had to have family and friends vouch for me that I wasn't a terrorist, it was just because of all the coal mines. It was scary.
Ľuboš Rybanský But Trump says coal is "clean". silly man. ( not you, Trump.)
Sophie Robinson dude chill, given the right precautions coal is safe. Where i live they have mined it for hundreds of years and the people live to 90 or so
Ľuboš Rybanský they have to comply with lots of regulations, or they used to before trump revoked them. They also may need to comply with local regulations and “public opinion” regulations (people might protest/not support the mine)
During Paralympics I saw a Twitter post where during the flight an athletes chair was wrecked and quite a few people shared similar experiences - where those wheel chairs are custom made - and in case for the athletes meant they could not compete or others had their holiday ruined. This could ofc be affected by sample bias.
Traveling with any disability can be frustrating. I’ve had the whole body search, my service dog has been swabbed, my medications have been flagged, and one time I had my sole-nutrition formula questioned. I just know to alert the airport ahead of time through TSA Cares and plan extra time. Stressing doesn’t help!!!
Jo you’ll find this is your experience in the US. You’ll find other countries are not so paranoid and intrusive!
so you would like to loosen the protective measures? do you value some minutes of your time over peoples lives?
@@music-wd2yq intrusive was the key word. Security can be effective while also still being accommodating and making sure people are comfortable, because 90% of the time its just people wanting to enjoy spending time somewhere away from home or wanting to just get _back_ home.
Also, the one time I had to go to and from America, I don't recall if it was going or coming back but we got stuck in a 2 hour wait while they dealt with a guy who wasn't actually guilty of anything. So, not just "minutes" as you put it. And don't you have better things to be doing with your life or do you just value wasting "minutes" of your precious time complaining
@@CoRLex-jh5vx Id rather waste some hours of my life to support a system in which people are safe. i get your point but I think human lives value more than a little bit of my life time. and i also think the reason why 99% or more of the time is not happening anything dangerous is bc the strict controls are threating to those who think about doing anything ilegal regarding this context
@@music-wd2yq www.heritage.org/transportation/commentary/heres-how-bad-the-tsa-failing-airport-security-its-time-privatization www.vox.com/2016/5/17/11687014/tsa-against-airport-security
The TSA isn't effective. They dont save lives most of the time; they're just an inconvenience to everyone.
Steven Bird on the contrary, my experiences in other countries was much more invasive.
Half of my left leg (a little under my knee) has been amputated and that really helped me! I'm going to fly in two weeks and was really worried about the security check, cause i haven't flew since y amputation a year ago! That's how I found your channel today and I really appreciate your video! I will watch more of your videos and can't wait for new tips and tricks! I was really worried about being forced to take of my prosthetic because I kinda can't stand seeing my stump! I will follow your little guide and appreciate your effort making this video! You took some of my fear away today! ^^
This makes me feel old. I remember when the airport and flying experience was fun.
Me too! I remember going to the airport and straight to the gate to pick up my dad when he would return on business trips. Or family meeting us at the gate when we would fly anywhere! I loved it and now I dread it!
That must have been a long time ago. I have always been scared of airports, especially so after an encounter in LAX where a staff member threatened me.
@@orangew3988 well, 19 years. after 9/11 America went crazy
As a trans man it's so wild to me that you've had a mostly positive experience with the TSA, they have always been absolutely horrible to me (at least in america, thank you TSA lady in London who actually treated me like a human person) They have always been extremely invasive, ignored my explanations of things, and have *repeatedly* told me to strip in public because they thought my packer or binder were actually contraband. There have been times where I intentionally traveled pretending to be a cis woman because I knew if I went to the airport as myself I would be in for the same nightmare as always.
My son is trans, biologically a female and that has caused problems at airports. They don't care how you identify, they only go by what is on an ID. So I've looked shady to TSA and customs agents calling my kid by male pronouns when as a teen his ID said female. I'm just trying to respect my kid's identity but that doesn't fly with security. So last time I just played the game and apologized to him later that I was just taking the path of least resistance to get us out of there. Of course he understands but I hate having to do that.
Should the TSA just take your word for it when your chest alarms in the body scanner and let you go without verifying you're actually not a threat? You literally have something strapped around your torso and groin and you feel you should be just left alone? Should they just believe what everyone tells them or should they actually verify it? The bad guys know we are averse to checking peoples sensitive areas and they will use that to their advantage. I'd rather have a hundred million people be slightly inconvenienced for 10 minutes than have even one person die.
@@zeldacuz First off, TSA alarms only go off on trans people because they function on a poorly designed gender binary, rather than detecting inorganic material they detect material in places that gender would deem 'unusual' or more dense material in unexpected places. Second, the TSA doesn't actually do much of anything, it's mostly security theater. They aren't actually protecting you, they're making you feel protected. Having scanners that function differently based on your biological sex is a poor idea in the first place, the fact that they don't actually detect real dangers is just another nail in the coffin. Their machines and methods are outdated, crude, and ineffective. A 95% failure rate isn't something we should be supporting.
@@echosbento You’ve managed to ignore my entire line of questioning somehow. Once again, security discovers something strapped around your groin and wrapped around your chest, should they just let you go with your promise that you’re not a threat, or should they investigate further and verify?
@@zeldacuz Clearly my explanation didn't correctly inform you of how those machines actually work. Those machines are not notifying security of something "strapped to my chest and groin" they notify security of a *lack* of matter in an expected area, and more dense matter in an unexpected area. Pair this with a tight shirt and wow, you've literally only got one possible explanation because the kind of deadly weapons you think those machines detect (they don't) aren't flat. I know you'd rather sit back and let everything stay the same under the guise of protection, but I'd like our world and systems to actually improve instead of staying statically terrible. Or, mediocre at best.
I just got back from going on my first “big trip” so it was also my first time ever flying. I had no idea what to expect and I had no idea as well that we could request wheelchair assistance. As an amputee I wish I could’ve seen this video sooner, but now I know for next time!! I love your videos and I’m glad to see that I can relate to you in so many ways!
This why I love your page! You share so many thinks people are afraid to ask but wonder
Thank you for posting this. This is one of my biggest apprehensions with traveling and probably why I haven’t gone anywhere yet. Good information!!!!!
I'm so happy to help! Thank you for watching!!! I totally get the apprehension with traveling, especially without information. Overall I've had great experiences and I hope you do too!!
I was so nervous flying the first time with my cane/having mobility issues, especially since I was travelling by myself. That time I did request wheelchair assistance in advance and they were so amazing, getting me exactly where I needed to be and at security I just put my cane through the xray machine and they had a wooden one I could walk through the scanner with. The second time I travelled I was also by myself but opted not to get a wheelchair and all the staff was again amazing. They let me go in the accessibility line so I didn't have to stand as long and this time I had to go through the scanner that has the small ramp going up into/out of it and the TSA agents help me with the ramps since their wooden cane was way too big for me
I flew for atlanta to tampa about a year ago and I had a broken ankle at the time, so with my walking boot the same measures as you went through I also went through so also this video applies to anyone in a walking boot or brace or cast. including your arms and such
Hi Jo.
I'm from the UK and our laws are pretty much the same as yours when it comes to airport security. Here in Europe if there needs to be a frisk search you are offered the opportunity to have it done privately. I think I'd rather it was done in public though.
With regard to prostheses, they cannot by law here ask for it to be removed. As you said, it's a part of you. And also if they're going to ask someone to remove a leg, would they ask someone who has had a mastectomy to remove their prosthesis?!
Here, the security absolutely must be able and allowed to see and touch or test the leg.
I am waiting for an above knee amputation and as I see it, it will be a learning curve for security officers as well as myself. I also think it may be easier to wear shorts when I fly (only ever between Birmingham, UK and Alicante, Spain) but it remains to be seen xx
Birmingham airport have a great special assistance desk and staff are lovely. Wishing you the very best with your AK operation coming up, I’m a fellow AK from Mcr UK so understand how daunting it can be. Sending my best wishes 🤗
My mom had one breast removed and if she was ever asked to remove that prosthesis she would probably throw it in their face just because.
I have been asked to remove my glasses and then do a test where I definitely would have needed to see, I told them my eyesight is shit but only after getting louder they finally understood that they will not get any kind of test result unless they give me back my fucking glasses. I can take them off, yes I'm not blind without them but at - 4 everything is just a blurry mess of colors without them.
I also feel incredibly uncomfortable without them or contact lenses in public and it's just unsafe.
Im not an amputee but I find your videos helpful and the song at the end makes me feel like i can do more than I can think.
Interesting information!! When I broke my leg while skiing in CO, I had a metal implant done and then had to get home to Atlanta. I was in a wheelchair and the delta airlines station manager at Eagle County Airport escorted me and my family through security. I only got the chemical pads and that’s it (lucky me) Six years later I still set off security when they do the newer machine. In my case it went smoothly because first off it’s a regional airport, and second because the station manager helped us out. She was awesome and made that experience ten times better. Also to make things funnier, they carried me up the stairs to the airplane in a special wheelchair
Thank you for this video, I have aspergers syndrome (learning difficulties and social difficulties) I find airports quite intimidating and I rarely relax in them, even though I know the staff will usually do their jobs correctly it can still be a daunting experience. but I never thought about how different it would be for someone who uses a prosthesis or has an amputated limb thank you for sharing some insights into this. I have found UK and EU airports are quite accommodating and follow Disability discrimination guidance really well so have always been fortunate enough to be able to take myself to places and have gone through checks before but as I do work the doors sometimes at pubs I know why they do searches which makes it less intimidating but I must admit I loved how you're prepared and make preparation for things that most would never think of. thank you.
I am flying for the first time this weekend. I am a below the knee amputee and I am a bit nervous about the process as an amputee but this video gives me some peace of mind. Thank you for taking the time to make this.
Ive always wondered what happened with amputees keep up the great work jo your amazing
They did that testing when I had a cast around my arm... and it did go off: I had been wearing a glove over it at work, so the little test reacted to the powder in the gloves 😝 I have had times I was on crutches when going on flights. If you ask when you check in, will get you help in the States, but also in Europe. You can also ask a flight attendant if they can let the destination of your flight know to please have a wheelchair waiting for you. That's really helpful if unsteady, you don't have to walk down the ramp. Also they can arrange a golf cart or other transportation to take you to the exit or the gate for your connecting flight. I had in Minneapolis St Paul that someone wheeled me from the aircraft to Immigration, and on to connecting flight. Just give yourself extra time between flights.
Gah I love your channel so much! Hearing you talk about your journey and everyday struggles is inspiring. I’ve been in a REALLY bad depressive episode and your channel makes me feel like it’s possible to get out of bed and keep going. Thank you so much.
Brilliant video Jo. As a traveller with disabilities, deaf and Stroke survivor, I need great support getting through Airports. Without exception I've found airport personnel more than willing to guide and support through the chaos that is airports. It helps to wear a lanyard telling people I'm deaf as it's an invisible disability and can cause misunderstandings when I don't react as hoped.
I'm not sure if I'm right but much more disabled people seem to be flying, companies have woken up to be the best for aged and disabled passengers. Top marks to Jet2 for being the best. 💘
I have an odd experience with airports, and they're all different.
Context: I was in a traffic accident where my arm was saved, but I have no shoulder, more specifically, no shoulder blade, or any of the muscles that make up the joint (it's called an incomplete traumatic amputation of the left shoulder). Meaning, I cannot lift my left arm, or bare weight on it, etc, etc..
Most airports, the metal detector doesn't even react to the metal plate inside of my shoulder, but some of the machines are the ones that rotate around you, where you have to hold your arms up, which I cannot do. So I have to explain, I can't lift my arm for the scanner, so my arms stay a little out at my sides. And then comes the full body run over with the handheld detector and a thorough pat down. The amount of times I have to ask them to be gentle with my shoulder, because yes, I get it, you have to search me.. but it is VERY tender and easily disturbed by rough contact. But most are understanding and will be very careful on my left shoulder and let me on my way; I've thankfully never been detained in any airport (UK, Canada, USA, Spain, etc.)
It's times like these I half wish that I'd had my arm amputated at the shoulder to avoid this inconveniences, or the pain I get the majority of the time (it likes to dislocate itself often, and by that I mean it's never really in place.. because there is no true socket for my arm to sit in). But I watch your video and realise.. I'd still go through this crap xD
My wife uses a wheelchair and gets searched every time (and sometimes gets asked to stand up). Once her own wheelchair was transferred to our next flight automatically against our wishes and she had to have an airport wheelchair. When we go to the lounge area the wheelchair was taken off us and then it wasn't possible for her to get to the toilet/bathroom. The next time we went through that airport I had to fight for her to be able to take her wheelchair onboard the aircraft so that she would have it in the terminal.
Hi Jo, thanks for this it was super informative!
I’m not an amputee, but I use a walking stick and occasionally a chair for other reasons, so I watch your vids to learn more and broaden my knowledge!
I am constantly fighting to try make things more accessible everywhere so knowing what others deal with and how it can affect other differently abled people just gives me more info :)
Thank you
You are such a great resource for writing an informed and respectful amputee character
eeeee! the clock has changed! it's running! thank you! very good info on airport security 🚨!
Hahaha I'm so glad you're excited about the clock!!
One of the best things that work for me is getting approved for pre-check. I travel with my son (who is disabled) often and it makes things so much easier. You don't have to remove any clothing or take out any electronics for inspection. It's a good investment if you travel a lot.
Thank you Jo, I appreciate what you do! I am sure you are helping folks all over the world with your experiences and insights. Keep up the great work, and awesome storytelling!!
This is super interesting to me. I was in a motorcycle accident and broke my wrist and arm. I did not have to amputate but I did have extensive surgery with many pins and plates added to my arm. I have also been searched and rubbed down for chemicals on multiple occasions. I find it super interesting that even metal inside your body needs to be tested, but I think it’s something that is important to note! Any metal in or on your body will require you to have additional searches.
Thank you for your positivity, Jo! I recently stumbled upon your channel, and even tho I’m not an amputee, your story has resonated with me and I just think you’re an amazing person. All the best to you and your family!! 💕😘
I remember when I dislocated my knee cap and the security people had to carry me though the metal machine 😂
I got searched my first time flying when I was 12, really freaked me out because I didn't understand what was happening or why it was happening. I've only flown once since then and I absolutely dreaded the security
Thankyou young lady, you have just educated a lot of people with the knowledge of what goes on in life for amputees who travel. Good knowledge for everyone to share to others who dont have computers etc and there are lots who dont have this luxury
Heyyy... So I'm not an amputee and just recently found your channel... you have been so inspiring to everyone!!! So I was rather fortunate to be involved in volunteer works with the Paralympics and that means seeing how the athletes go through airport security. There are a few of them who are amputees but mostly paraplegic (for the sport I'm involved in). We live in Malaysia and sometimes people aren't exactly the most accommodating. What the amputees do is they just take out their prothetic leg and put it on the conveyor thing. After that they just hop through the scanner. I feel that they are way too used to being demanded to take off their prosthesis that they just want to save the hassle and go ahead with it.
Keep up the good work!!!
Your make up looks soo pretty!
All of my TSA experiences as an amputee have been positive except for one. Most ranged from kind and caring people to Bros that were quick to smile and empathize. The one exception was with two Jackasses at the Orlando airport. It was not long after 911 and I expect these two answered TSA help wanted ads off of Craig's List. Just a bad experience for me, wrong people, wrong time. I shook it of and focused on all of the TSA folks that are pretty cool and really helpful.
I have just started watching you. As a person that also lives in the Springs, it is very nice to have someone like you living here.
Hey Jo! Haven’t commented on one of your videos recently but I just want to say you’ve got so far since you’re operation and I’m so glad you’re doing well. :)
Totally unrelated, but I love the wall behind you!
My son uses a stroller in lieu of his wheelchair. They always pat him down and swab his braces. Yes it's so sad that we've come to that.
Joe for a second I thought you were talking about his dental braces… now that would have been REALLY awkward!
@@Nina-te6uk I thought the same and have a bizarre image in my head now
@@Nina-te6uk To be fair, that is a constant issue for me and my family when I'm talking about my wrist braces. I even confuse myself sometimes when referencing braces, and have to remind myself that I have never had dental braces and I am 100% referring to my wrist braces (or ankle braces, but most commonly its in reference to my wrist braces)
I don't fly often so I really don't think much about the screenings until I actually have one done. Traveling with a prosthetic has actually never crossed my mind, so I found your video very interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience!
A pal of mine had his leg taken off at a really young age (some kind of really gnarly paediatric bone cancer) . I think it helps him that he had the surgery at such a young age, because he got consistently great support as he grw up with it. We go camping and do weekend-long field adventure events, so it's good to have a better understanding of what he needs from our camping setup!
@Footless Jo I've been through an airport as both someone on crutches with poor mobility and as someone who is wheelchair bound. I wear splints and take a lot of medications. I have a feeding tube and a catheter but I'm yet to fly with these, although I do know a little about flying with these.
I wear splints and that is where the problem is in security. I wear two full ankle AFO splints and a full knee splint. As a splint user I always end up having my knee splint swabbed for substances as it's opaque, whereas my semi transparent ankle splints are always fine as they can see there's nothing hidden in them. Fun fact, apparently drug smugglers have taken to wearing splints and faking injuries or health problems because they've worked out that they offer really good hiding places, hence why airport security now check them.
I've had my crutches x rayed, I knew this would happen so when flying back home after being on beaches and things on holiday, I made sure to take them apart and get the sand out of them prior to going to the airport as I've heard stories of people having sand in their crutches and it being mistaken for drugs as they look the same under x ray. So to avoid problems I'd recommend if you've been anywhere sandy then to get the sand out of your crutches prior to arriving at the airport. As a sidenote, crutches must be stored in the overhead lockers during a flight, so if you can reduce them to the shortest setting before they get stowed in the lockers then they always appreciate that due to there being limited space in the overhead lockers. You can however take them out and use them once the seatbelt light goes off after take off, but during bad turbulence and before landing they need to be stowed away again; generally whenever the seatbelt light is on you can't use them, but it's fine whenever the seatbelt light is off. I wouldn't like to take my chances on crutches during bad turbulence anyway to be honest, I'd fall on my face for sure.
As a full time wheelchair user and being unable to walk flying is a little more complicated. I was in a manual wheelchair and as at the time I didn't need any fancy seating, I opted to leave my wheelchair at home and had pre arranged a hire wheelchair in the country I was flying to. Quite often wheelchair hire places abroad are cheap, it was something like €2.50 a day for a standard manual wheelchair which is approximately £1.75 I think; they also had electric wheelchairs, ones with more support, comodes, shower chairs/seats, crutches, walking frames, various electric scooters, and a huge collection of mobility aids, but obviously each item had it's own tariff. This just meant that I didn't need to worry about baggage handlers destroying my wheelchair with their less than gentle handling; however if I were to fly now then I would need to take my own wheelchair.
In UK airports you generally need to pre book wheelchair assistance, the wheelchairs always come with an assistant to push you and help you out (they'll even carry bags/pull cases) as after check in you need to go to the special mobility assistance area and check in there after going through security, they'll give you a time that you need to return to that area by as you need to be there before your actual flight gate opens. I found that once I had checked in there my parents were allowed to take over pushing me and we were able to go and get something to eat, shop and have access to the usual things in an airport. At the airport I usually fly from they fast track wheelchair users through security for free, and they also fast tracked my parents who were with me as they didn't want to separate us which I was very relieved about. Being fast tracked in security meant that I got to skip the queue, so even though security checks take longer for a wheelchair user, it probably took the same time as everyone else if you include the time it would take to get through the queue for security if I wasn't fast tracked. In security they swabbed my knee splint and had to pat me down as obviously with a metal framed wheelchair, and the metal in my splints going through a metal detector would've been pointless. Prior to the pat down I told them about my Autism and that I hate being touched and they were careful to do the necessary pat down but to give me time if I needed it to calm down before continuing and also explained beforehand what they were going to do prior to touching me to alleviate some of the fear, they were really gentle and asked me if I was ok throughout. All of this really minimised the trauma of the search and I was very appreciative of how sensitive they were as I have had a very traumatic experience of being searched at another airport. Of course my knee splint was swabbed as always but I'm used to that.
In the country you're flying to meds can potentially cause issues, I'm on fentanyl and morphine and I know that in some countries such as Egypt, fentanyl is illegal and can't be brought in even as a prescribed medication and carrying it would lead to arrest for bringing in an illegal substance. Before flying check the rules surrounding meds that the other country has, particularly check what meds they don't allow in, rules surrounding controlled drugs and whether any of your medications require things like doctors letters. I have a lot of medications, I put the boxes with the prescription labels on them in a big zip lock bag (or rather two big zip lock bags as they don't fit in just one) and I make sure to have the prescription labels for every box facing out so that by glance they can see what every med is and that it is prescribed; I also put a copy of my repeat prescription lists (that the pharmacy put in with every med order) in each zip lock bag of medication as this makes the whole process so much smoother and security staff are always appreciative of the effort taken to make their job quicker and easier. I always put my meds in my cabin carry on bag because if they stowed in the hold and they lose your case or you're separated from your case then you'd be without all of your medications; at least in my cabin bag I know where they are and I'm not separated from them. Check your airline's policies surrounding medication prior to arriving at the airport as most airlines have policies on where the medications have to be stored (cabin carry on or checked in to the hold), if your medications are in liquid form then some airlines treat them in the same way as other liquids, meaning that you'll be restricted in the amount of liquid medication you're allowed in a cabin bag.
I haven't flown since needing a catheter (I've been in hospital for 2 years) but the catheter company in their welcome pack advised that some airlines let you have an extra bag for medical supplies but you need to speak with your airline about whether they do this ahead of travelling. I have a feeding tube now too but I would've thought that if your airline allows an extra bag for medical supplies then feeding supplies could go in there. However I do know that people have had problems with getting bags/bottles of feed/fluids on flights because of the restrictions around the amount of liquid you're allowed, so these may need to go in the hold, so speak with your airline ahead of travel. I've heard of some bizarre incidents of bags/bottles of feed for tube feeding being swabbed and bizarrely testing positive for explosives and it taking ages to sort it out, with some people having feed seized, but most being allowed to keep the feed. Someone who I know that is tube fed is on a blended food regime, where instead of having bottles of formula feed, they blend their own food and put that through their feeding tube instead; they recently flew and had all of their pre prepared tubs of blended food seized because security were unable to establish the contents. This isn't uncommon for those on a blended tube diet as this is still not widely known about and security personnel assume that everyone who is tube fed recieve bottles/bags of feed and don't know what to do with people who have blended diet supplies.
If you are unable to walk up the steps to board the plane then you need to inform the airline ahead of travel so that they can make the necessary arrangements. If you are a wheelchair user then the assistant helping you will take you to the area where you need to wait for special assistance to board the plane (generally the special assistance area) or you make your own way to this area. When your boarding gate opens someone will come and collect you as people needing assistance will board the plane ahead of everyone else. The airport have special vehicles which raise up and connect to the plane. If you are a wheelchair user you'll then be transferred into an aisle wheelchair which is smaller than regular wheelchairs and is the only chair narrow enough to fit down the aisle of the plane. From this you'll then be transferred into you seat. Getting off of the plane is done in the same way.
I hope this helps!
Abigail Ash you wrote a lot
That is all very good advice but I’ve never had to store my crutches. I’ve always kept them with me at my seat (they always put me in a window seat so I stash them next to the wall out of everyone’s way). I HAVE had some arguments regarding pushing my wheelchair… I always take my own chair. It’s an active manual chair and has no handles or push grips for an aid. This means either I self propel or someone is pushing in the middle of my back. I don’t allow them to touch me and they don’t like me self propelling but I don’t really give them a choice. Lol. I’m friendly and polite but I WILL leave them standing there arguing with themselves if I have to.
Why bother flying, just stop at home, less bother for you, less fun for them.
I have a brace on my leg and have to go through the same thing and taking off my shoes is hard to do. You can ask for a wheelchair at the ticket counter. The other thing is the person doing the search has to be gender specific.
I thought the person doing the searching always needs to be gender specific regardless of circumstances.
@@stuchly1 that is what I meant by that, thanks.
@@stuchly1 not in Denmark (I haven't been searched anywhere else, so don't know if this is the only place), but you can request a gender specific employee. I always do, those pat downs are uncomfortable enough as it is.
What if the gender specific person is LGBT, and in the rare chance is also pervy? Do they do background checks for that sort of thing?
I have shared it to my FB page to spread the word and understanding of what you go through.
My S.O. has spina bifida and is fully reliant on his wheelchair. I want to thank you for your channel and sharing your experiences. You've really helped me to understand my S.O. so much more and teach how to be kinder.
I'm not an amputee but my grandfather lost his arm when my mom was very young. That is the story of how I believed everyone had a grandfather with a missing limb as a 4-year-old.
My mom thought as a child that all aunts are in a wheelchair because her aunt was. And I tought that grandparents always live abroad because mine did and I was very surprised and confused when my childhood best friend told me she was going to visit her grandparents this afternoon. Just one afternoon and in the same city xD It's funny how such things influence our perception of the world :D
I have a friend (Nepali) who was flying home when he was checked by TSA who discovered he had tubes of medicines for a skin condition in his carry on. Seeing this on the screen they asked him what was in the bottom of his bag, he told them they were balms. Suddenly he was surrounded by unfriendly faces pointing guns at him. He says he learned a new English word that day, ointments.
Thank you for such an informative video. My poppy is a double amputee from the knees down so we have been wanting to try to get him to go on a trip somewhere farther that we can drive but he is nervous. You're tips will more than likely help him to feel more comfortable knowing what might happen and how to better prepare for it. Thanks :)
Hey! I love your videos and just want to let you know that you inspire me and help me get through things every single day. Keep spending postsitivity! God bless you. 💜
Just a heads up for anyone flying, if you do request a private search with security, you can request a travelling companion to be present as well to make sure everything is done professionally. I do this every time I fly and have to get an extra search and I've never had any problems.
That's really great to know - thank you!
My mom has a knee replacement (metal knee) so when we travel she always makes the scanner go off and has to be padded down separately bc she wears a brace and has the metal knee so I am familiar with airport struggles. I also sometimes wear a knee or ankle brace so I also get padded down extra.
My mom is part robot to and she just warns and she’s going to set it off because she has a metal hip and leg
They shouldn’t be setting it off. Surgical implants are not magnetic and don’t set off metal detectors. I’ve had metal in my body for years. Lots of it. I know have endo-exo (osseointegration) and even the big metal post sticking out the end of my stump doesn’t set off metal detectors. It freaks people out but no beeps. Lol
Doubtful that she sets off the metal detector. I have a double hip replacement and it doesn’t set the alarm off.
Thank you for this as I have been wondering what this was going to be like. I am a recent amputee (April 2019) and have not done the airport security thing. I really appreciate knowing about the shoe part. Taking my shoe off and putting it back on would be horrible. If I had to do it. I am above the knee and I basically have to do it with the leg off. Thank you so much for this!
Thank you for sharing these videos. I'm learning so much