Flying, Airport Security

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I am in the process of being officially diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. (Apparently there's a waiting list.) Anyway, I will be flying from nc to tx tomorrow, Sept. 12th 2011. In general I am very anxious about flying, and am even more anxious about the fact that it's the day after 9/11. Now I am even MORE anxious b/c I assume security will be increased and the security personnel will be all hyper-alert and suspicious. I was researching airport security so I will be prepared for all the rules and procedures, and I discovered that there may be Behavior Detection Officers observing passengers at the airport who are watching for suspicious or unusual behavior, and if they think you seem suspicious they might try to start a conversation with you. So, I've been told on numerous occasions that my behavior looks unusual or suspicious, especially when I am anxious, and it gets even worse when I open my mouth. Somehow I usually pick the very worst possible answer to every question. (Not purposefully.) So I was wondering if anyone here has had an experience with TSA behavior detection, am I overreacting, (ok I probably know the answer to that one already), is there some way for me to figure out the non-suspicious answer if they do ask me a question? Should I make like a Wiley Coyote sign for myself? When I answer a question I ALWAYS break eye contact, which I only recently learned makes me look sketchy - when I try to control this I just end up rolling my eyes around and looking even sketchier. I would appreciate any feedback on this.

Though I am loath to suggest it, you might consider just telling them you're autistic. Sure, they'll only know the stereotypes, but if you're anxious enough, you'll likely be showing those kinds of symptoms anyway. From what I've heard, authority figures are less suspicious of you when they think you have some "mental disorder." Or at the least, they will then know the real reason for why your eye contact is lacking and you seem very nervous.

Being that all my flying experiences have been UK to Europe, this may not be accurate exactly to what you'll experience, but I've found on two occasions when I needed to mention my autism, the staff were helpful. One was with long queues at Gatwick, and the supervisor let me jump the queue to the speedy boarding - didn't even ask to see my disabled railcard as proof. At Heathrow, which is the most horrible atmosphere for people with AS, I got permission to go sit in the quiet waiting area where disabled passengers who need assistance sit. Again, didn't have to have any proof.

I realise that the US is very much on high alert at the moment, but if you think of security as a routine of sorts, and take it bit by bit, you'll be fine. Just focus on each stage and do what everyone around you is doing. I hate airport security much more than I hate flying, because I'm convinced I'll forget to do something important or set off the alarms because I've forgotten to take off something metal - but each time it's been fine so long as I follow the crowd and do as they do.

Also, if you have such a thing as an autism alert card or anything of that nature, make sure you have it with you.

I have never heard of an autism alert card. Can you make your own? I would like one that says "I have Asperger Syndrome" on one side and "You need to communicate more clearly" on the other, for everyday use.

I act autistic, never told anyone, and never had any problems at the airport. I fly mostly into the States as well, so I am speaking from experience. No one has ever followed me, or questioned me, or seemed suspicious that I know of. I've never even been asked to walk through the security booth thing they have for "random people".

I go to the airport a lot and I don't get the security gaurd's attention just because I'm Autistic.

I fly a lot, both domestically in the UK and internationally (especially USA, Canada & Central America). Often alone.

Unfortunately, though I follow the procedures as everyone else does (and often more efficiently so - there's nothing worse than being stuck behind someone at security who hasn't bothered to prepare for it and is rummaging through their pockets, taking off their belt etc) I do get "randomly" searched quite regularly. I'm not sure why - possibly because my eye contact is appalling so that probably makes me look a little suspicious in the absence of any other visible sign of autism or any other disability, and if I am stuck behind the character described above that makes me a little restless which probably doesn't help.

But I just keep quiet, answer any questions as briefly as possible, let them get on with it, say thank you when they're finished and go on my way. I keep calm by reminding myself they are just doing their job and trying to keep people safe. I wasn't diagnosed until recently, so have never disclosed my ASD in this circumstance.

Once I've gone on my way I usually end up in the restroom in the quiet of a toilet cubicle for some time in order to "recharge". But it's OK ... I love travelling, so it's worth it.

Hmm, last few times I went thru TSA, it was a simple process. Observe and get in the metal detector line (I get exposed to enough carcinogens via work that I don'T want to go thru the backscatter machine) Laptop out of it's bag, arranged wtih wallet and cell phone in one tray, laptop bag in another, boots and belt in a 3rd, and hand my epipen to the screener and inform them that due to the photosensitive nature of the drug, I prefer it not go thru the x-ray. Step thru the metal detector. Collect belongings except epipen, put boots and belt back on. Throw electronics and wallet in laptop bag. Step over to the explosive swab machine for my epipen to be cleared, possibly open the case for them to swab the epipen itself, and while the machine is checking the swab, explain what an epipen is, what it is for, and how to administer it if needed (really, this is something that everyone should know how to do, even if you don't carry an epipen. A person with severe allergies may not be able to do it themselves if they have a reaction.)

You likely won't have any problems. I've never flown on a plane but I have been through airport security (long story) and it's minimally invasive. The less luggage you have the easier it is. It really is no big deal, I can be very "shifty" and suspicious-looking and I didn't have any problems.

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If it was me about to get on a plane and go through the TSA I go to the airport bar and do a couple shots first.

For security reasons, the only thing before TSA is airline check-in, and possibly restrooms and car rental places. The airport bar would be after TSA, especially since they would be hoping to get passengers on layover as well...

I guess that shows how long it's been since I've flown.

I've never had any problems with security and i fly probably once a year, but I'm only 17 and still fly with my non-suspicious looking family so I guess that throws them off me.

anyway if it's just getting through security it's actually not as bad as everyone says, even here in the US. all you have to do is put all of your stuff in a bin they give you and hopefully you remember to take off all of your metal. even if you do set off the alarm they let you remove anything you've forgotten and they swipe one of those magnet sticks over you. It only gets serious when the swiper goes off but that shouldn't happen unless you really are carrying something. If you're still nervous just look forward that after the check there is ussually a small mall at the gates and lots of bookstores

There is acting anxious, and then there is acting anxious in a suspicious manner

If I were you I would watch "Lie to me", the first episode where they recruit a natural body language reader from security and watch the fear smile the boss shows her...in any situation like that most people stand stock still and stare into the distance like they expect it to disappear at any moment, very rarely do they keep fiddling with their hands and keep watching the security guards.

Security personnel are trained to look for these little signs, and they know that people get naturally anxious so tend to look for what others will not easily see...like the group of Japanese tourists in that Tom Hanks film (The Terminal, 2004) where they are all wearing Disneyland shirts but not one of them has a camera...

They look less at signs of anxiety and more at the little things that do not quite fit, like it being 50c outside and you wearing 20 woollen coats (that also happen to be beeping furiously)

If all else fails you could ask them directly to explain simply because you have aspergers...and comply with whatever they want to look at. Who cares what they think, in 2 minutes they will have forgotten you

I tend to get singled out and questioned, and even pulled aside for a senior TSA agent to come out and question me further. They ask all kinds of loaded questions, and stupid questions. Last time, they acted like they were going to arrest me (I thought they must have confused me with somebody else). The wanted to know how long I had been in Los Angeles (where I was flying from that day), and when I said I was born there, they got mad. They wanted to know exactly how many hours I had been there on that particular occasion, and I had no idea since it was about a year since I had flown out. Then, they asked me who the governor is, and I was nervous and forgot we had just elected Brown, so I said Schwartzenegger. That opened up a whole new battery of questions, and they sent my drivers license up to the office to be examined. Then they wanted to know the last time it snowed in Los Angeles, and I said 1989 (which is accurate in my memory), but they didn't like that either. Finally, they let me go through, and warned me "we are watching you VERY closely, and you WILL be arrested if you make one false move, and we do not have to charge you with any crime in order to arrest you and keep you in jail for years!! !!".

That's the last time I flew anywhere, and honestly, I'm driving for now. Not worth the anxiety to fly, even though I love the actual flying part. I love airplanes, and actually have taken flight school and passed the FAA exam. I didn't get my general aviation license because I couldn't afford the cost of the flight instructor and plane rental for the 40 hours within one year's time allowed, at the time I pursued it.

Charles

I realize this is an old topic, but I think it's important.

I am undiagnosed and am probably a 1 or 2 out of 10 on the spectrum (if that can be quantified), but I frequently deal with cops, CBP, TSA, etc for various reasons. I find my experience dealing with cops varies by region, most NYPD cops (of various rank) I've dealt with have been cool and simply appreciate that I get to the point and don't waste their time, but in backwater jurisdictions they have more time and are more focused, and sometimes seem to get the impression that I am nervous or evasive when I am neither. I am also hard of hearing and I find that simply announcing that I'm hard of hearing tends to clear the air and provides an explanation. I'd imagine announcing you're autistic or have AS could also work. CBP is more focused on behavioral indicators than typical street cops, and I ALWAYS explain myself in the beginning, before even starting an interaction with CBP. As hard as I try, I only have a 50/50 rate of successfully coming off as "NT" in an interaction with CBP and I don't want to risk getting sent to secondary inspection, I'm a busy guy. Of all police and security organizations, TSA cares the least, and it doesn't matter how you behave with them. If they're dicks to you, you can mouth off to them. It doesn't matter. They are just trying to keep the line moving. El Al has security that is more like CBP than TSA, and that's a different story.