Comments on: Insulin Pumps – TSA Responds

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:56:29 +0000

Pump user for over one year. Have only gone through security six times. More annyoing than anything. All I do is let TSA know I have a pump and they pull be aside and do a pat down.

By: Ashleigh Munson

Ashleigh Munson — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:21:40 +0000

I wear my pump on my bra, where it is not visible to anyone. I’ve thought about just detaching it and sending it on the trays to avoid the whole mess, but I have no idea if that’s safe for the pump, or what the screener would say seeing it under xray.

By: Marshall Jackson

Marshall Jackson — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:40:47 +0000

Wow. I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Seattle is one airport where I am ALWAYS absconded for full secondary search due to the pump. However, I’ve certainly never been rudely treated because of it. If I’m casually dressed, I’m just going to disconnect my pump from now on when flying through Seattle and the other airports that routinely go overboard on pump screening. Ridiculous, I know, but I am not going to put up with the senseless secondary search.

By: E Towery

E Towery — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:24:07 +0000

Just flew for the first time since 1998. Wearing an insulin pump and both days I flew I showed my pump at security. Got my hands and pump swabbed for explosives in Knoxville airport. Minor inconvenience. Returning from Seattle, I was pulled aside, all my belongings swabbed, I was wanded and patted down and, yes, screamed at as I was cooperating. I have flown many many times and my gut reaction is that unless a family member is dying, airlines and airports will never receive another cent of my money. There is no pleasure trip worth going through the treatment I received in Seattle’s airport.

By: Marshall Jackson

Marshall Jackson — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:49:11 +0000

‘fraid not Angie. You can do like I recently did at Dulles and take the pump off and place it in a bin for x-ray. I certainly understand why many might not want to do that, myself included, but it saved me the hassle of secondary cavity search.

By: Angie Grant

Angie Grant — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:23:08 +0000

I have gone through additional screenings for setting off the alarms but on Friday October 8th I was pulled to the side and told specifically that I was going to be subjected through additional screening “because you are wearing an insulin pump.” by St. Louis, MO TSA- I don’t believe I set the alarm off. Everything I had was gone through, everything was swabbed down including my hands, shoes etc. My luggage was gone through while my boss stood behind me and watched. (Nothing like your undies & bras being pulled out while your boss stands there.) Is this not discrimination? I am all for them being careful, heck even pulling people at random; it’s a pain but it’s for our safety but when you actually tell me you are pulling me out because I wear an insulin pump makes me wonder what the TSA has against diabetics. Just a month ago I went through Denver airport & set the alarm off and they did a pat down and asked to look at the back of my pump but that was it, nothing like what St. Louis TSA did. Any suggestions?

By: Marshall Jackson

Marshall Jackson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:28:58 +0000

Jenny, thanks for commenting. I have received similar treatment at Phoenix. They were very polite about the whole thing, though. PHX is one of several airports where you are more likely than not to be subjected to full secondary each time you fly just because you wear an insulin pump. Be patient and polite with the screeners as they are only following a policy created by their superiors. But do complain to the TSA each time you are subjected to this wasteful exercise. A close inspection and swab of the pump and perhaps your hands are enough. Searching every square inch of your belongings is overkill.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:43:57 +0000

I just recently started on the pump and today was my first experience going through the airport with it. I flew out of Phoenix Sky Harbor. My three trays of belongings successfully went through the X-ray machine. I thought I would follow advice I saw online and told the TSA person that I was wearing a pump. As soon as I told her about the pump she had me walk through the metal detector and go to the glass bubble area. I did not set off the alarm as I walked through. However, I was then patted down, my pump was swabbed, and then every carry-on belonging I had was brought over and swabbed for explosives. I mean every single item i.e. my cell phone, my shoes, my meter, my kleenex, etc. This after the same items had already gone through the X-Ray machine and not been flagged. I was surprised that every item had to be swabbed after going through the X-Ray just because I was wearing a pump so I questioned the TSA rep at the customer service desk. He proceeded to tell me that TSA directives at Sky Harbor were that every pump wearing passenger not only got patted down, but every carry on item also had to be swabbed. I pointed out the inconsistency given that when I was not on a pump, the same items I had today went through the X-Ray and were never swabbed. The only difference was that I had a pump attached to my body…which did not impact my belongings. He was not at all receptive and told me that was policy. I honestly am shocked that I will have to go through this every time I fly out of Sky Harbor. I feel like I was treated like a criminal just because I was wearing a pump. I mean the patting down fine, but swabbing every item individually? I feel like I need to complain or do something because this will happen to me every time I fly as per the TSA rep…has anyone else flying out of Phoenix had this experience?

By: Pauline

Pauline — Tue, 11 May 2010 09:11:33 +0000

Hi Everyone
So glad I found this website. I too had a very bad experience at Phoenix. Security announced over the tannoy “insulin pump user female security” Three yes three large ladies rushed towards me. I was completely taken aback by this. All my belongings that had already gone thru the xray were taken. A fourth male security guard then went thru my handbag.
I was wanded several times it pinged constantly. I had shown my pump but it still pinged. Its probably my underwire bra I said. No response from the guard. More ping at my lower leg, “inplant” the guard said several times, no! its all me I meekly replied. At the pat down a wrinkle in my T.shirt caused excitement. “Whats this” I really had to concentrate very hard not to be sarcastic so I just said T.shirt. Finally half an hour later I was permitted to leave After my pump was swabbed. What I find confusing they didn’t seem interested in my pump at all.
I registered my complaint with the TSA and had very nice emails back> They confirmed that this was going to be the treatment to expect from Phoenix.

By: jack

jack — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:43:36 +0000

I travel often out of Phoenix. Phoenix requires that I go thru full screening every time I go thru a checkpoint. This not only includes wand and patdown but swabing of everything. I complain when they dump out my insulin and emergency needles onto unsterile carts and touch with their dirty gloves. But no other airport does this same treatment. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to find out why the special treatment. The published regulations say that insulin pumps and supplies are allowed. I believe they are discriminating in the Phoenix airport against diabetics. No other disability gets such thorough screening. Has anyone else found this unequal treatment. I have never been screen in National Airport in DC.