Disabilities and Medical Conditions
To ensure your security, all travelers are required to undergo screening at the checkpoint. You or your traveling companion may consult the TSA officer about the best way to relieve any concerns during the screening process. You may provide the officer with the TSA notification card or other medical documentation to describe your condition. If you have other questions or concerns about traveling with a disability please contact passenger support.
You are required to undergo screening at the checkpoint by technology or a pat-down. If your TSA PreCheck® designation has been verified at a participating airport, you do not need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets during the screening process. However, if you are required to undergo additional screening for any reason, a pat-down may be required, which includes the removal of items such as shoes, belts, or light jackets. Also, TSA officers may swab your hands, mobility aids, equipment and other external medical devices to test for explosives using explosives trace detection technology.
Travelers with disabilities with TSA PreCheck® on their boarding passes will receive TSA PreCheck® on-person screening when screened in a standard lane for any reason. This may happen when the TSA PreCheck® lane is closed, for example. Carry-on baggage and other accessible property will undergo standard screening in standard lanes, including removal of laptops, 3-1-1- liquids, and CPAP/BPAP equipment.
Bandages, Compression Sleeves, DressingsInform the TSA Officer Inform the TSA officer if you have a bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing and where it is located before the screening process begins. You may provide the officer with the TSA notification card or other medical documentation to describe your condition. Screening in Standard Lanes Passengers with a bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing in standard lanes can be screened through the advanced imaging technology, metal detector, or a pat-down. If the standard lane does not have advanced imaging technology or if you are eligible for expedited screening, you may be screened by a walk-through metal detector. Your bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing is subject to additional screening, including visual inspection, and may include screening of the item and/or hands for explosives and/or screening by a hand-held metal detector on the non-metallic medical item. If wearing a bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing and you alarm during screening, you will be required to undergo a pat-down, to include the area where the bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing is located. Pat-downs are conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender. Screening involving a sensitive area may be conducted in private with a companion or other individual of your choice. You may request screening in private at any time. Screening in TSA PreCheck® Lanes Passengers with a bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing in TSA PreCheck® lanes can be screened by advanced imaging technology (if available), metal detector or a pat-down. You will not be required to remove your bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing, but these are subject to additional screening. If the bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing alarms during screening, you will be required to conduct a self pat-down of the bandage, compression sleeve, or dressing, followed by testing on your hands for explosives and screening by a hand-held metal detector for non-metallic medical items. If you are unable to conduct a pat-down of your medical item, TSA officers will test your hands for explosives and use a hand-held metal detector for non-metallic medical items. TSA officers will resolve positive tests using other screening methods including a full pat-down and inspection of your property. Pat-downs are conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender. Screening involving a sensitive area may be conducted in private with a companion or other individual of your choice. You may request screening in private at any time. |