Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

A little x-post from the pregnancy board since apparently all of LI is no longer breeding.

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If you've flown while pregnant, did you opt out of the airport scanners? We're flying to Disney next month and I'll be 17 weeks at the time and I've heard it can either be easy breezy or they can give you a really hard time at airport security. If it makes any difference, I'll be with my 2 y/o as well. Does she go through the scanner or are we automatically routed elsewhere since she's little and I'm pregnant? We're flying out of JFK if that makes a difference.

Message edited 9/10/2018 1:41:02 PM.

Re: Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

I just traveled to a wedding on a plane...I was 27 weeks...I chose not to go through the airport scanners because I don't trust that they would know or tell us if they aren't good for us. I had a pat down instead. They were nice both times...I did have to wait a bit (like 10 minutes both times), but it wasn't horrible. The TSA agents were all pleasant and friendly. Some people were being sent through the x-ray machine instead of that scanner thing, but I would not do the x-ray machine no matter what because of the radiation. I think your 2 year old would be sent through the x-ray machine automatically.

Re: Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

Thanks for your reply! I definitely don't want to do the x-ray, but I know they really push the scanner and *claim* it's safe, but really, who knows? We always get there super early for flights, but I've heard horror stories about people being delayed until they almost missed their flights so that's my fear. I'm hoping whoever I get at security isn't cranky that day. I guess DD can go through security with DH or my sister since I'd prefer to do the pat down. I know they won't separate a child from their parent and make them go through alone.

Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

Just have your husband go through well before you, or well behind you, thus putting you alone with your 2 year old. Then you will go through the metal detector. I travel alone with my 2 kids all the time, and always go through the regular metal detector since my daughter is 11.

Re: Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

I’ve flown a few times pregnant (including international) and they were always very accommodating to allow me just the metal detector at my request.

Re: Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

I haven’t gone through the scanner since my first child 8 years ago.

They single you out if you have a small kid and you just go through the metal detector. They make walking kids walk through them before you. Hubby always went through scanner.

I also did the TSA pre check last time which was awesome. No shoes off, short line. No scanner (but I was with 3 kids).

At one point I asked to go through pat down because I was pregnant. I think that was first pregnancy. It was fine.

Re: Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

My dd is 8 and we just travelled Saturday and they do not make her go through the scanner still. Just tbe netal detector and one parent gets to go through with her and skip the scanner. Just do that

Re: Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

Posted by Momma2015

Thanks for your reply! I definitely don't want to do the x-ray, but I know they really push the scanner and *claim* it's safe, but really, who knows? We always get there super early for flights, but I've heard horror stories about people being delayed until they almost missed their flights so that's my fear. I'm hoping whoever I get at security isn't cranky that day. I guess DD can go through security with DH or my sister since I'd prefer to do the pat down. I know they won't separate a child from their parent and make them go through alone.

Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

In all of my years of flying, both pre-DD and with DD, I have never been asked to go through a scanner. We always go through the metal detector. I flew once while pregnant and I told the TSA woman and she said not to worry cause I was already set to go through the metal detector.

Re: Air Travel while Pregnant (X-post)

We fly a lot, and in my experience, they definitely always make everyone go through the body scanner that doesn't have kids or a disability. In recent months at JFK, LGA, ISP, LAX, MCO and West Palm everyone was directed to the body scanner..only kids and disabled not. My son is an adult and they always steer him to the body scanner until I explain he has Autism and won't be able to follow their "arms up" directive very well. I'm surprised at those who have been given an option!