Turn Your Kilt Across Your Tummy

[cessna152towser]

Amsterdam airport is a major European hub and the staff are accustomed to seeing kilt wearers passing through security. Previously I have opted for the sideways technique, walking through the metal detector slightly sideways so that the buckle on one side of the kilt passes through before the other. It is easy to overlook to do this and to set off the alarm. I was reminded of the problem passing through the airport last weekend when the security officer instructed me to "turn your kilt across your tummy". So I spun the kilt round ninety degrees and walked through the detector with the pleats to one side and the apron on the other, so that one buckle was at the front and the other at the rear. No problem at all and pnce clear of the detector it only took a couple of seconds to re-adjust the kilt.

[kiltedrennie]

That's interesting. What you're saying is the detectors are setup to expect metal in the front (zippers, buttons, etc.).

[unixken]

The detectors aren't that smart. It's more likely that the detectors are set up to ignore a quantity of metal below a certain threshold passing through the detector at any one moment, to prevent such nuisance alarms as would otherwise be set off by zippers, etc. By walking directly through the detector (facing front), you pass all three buckles through the detector at the same time. By rotating the kilt 90 degrees (or walking through sideways), you reduce the mass of metal passing through the detector at the same time. However, I've seen enough detectors improperly calibrated such that even a zipper sets them off. Personally, I'd walk straight through. If the detector goes off, they can wand my buckles. In the states, we already have the "freedom grope", and make enough concessions already.

[Laird_M]

Interesting post.
As for incorrectly calibrated detectors, I once had one go off everytime I went through, only metal objects were my buckle, zip and watch, and even with watch and belt taken off it still set off the alarm, and joked to the security team that it'd probably still go off I went through naked.
They weren't impressed, but finally let me through.

[kiltedrennie]

Ah, I see your point. I didn't realize the metal detectors had that narrow a zone.
I wonder what someone looking at a scanner image would think about the buckles.

Last time I traveled while wearing bifurcated unmentionables I totally forgot about my belt. Got the wand and a freedom grope. I really hate flying.

[Chas]

I have a pacemaker, so all these automated niceties are beyond my ken. I have to rely on old fashioned analogue or manual.

[sailortats]

I have always found the security agents at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam some of the most pleasant around. Very polite and more than willing to give a helping hand. I am not surprised that they suggested the "Kilt across the tummy" approach.

[creagdhubh]

I have always found the security agents at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam some of the most pleasant around. Very polite and more than willing to give a helping hand. I am not surprised that they suggested the "Kilt across the tummy" approach.

I agree. I've gone through security there en route to Germany several times.

[TheOfficialBren]

Ha! The "freedom grope." Every time I fly it reminds me of Simon Sudbury and his ilk...

Seriously, though, I've had the zipper/buckle set it off. LAX was quite finnicky the last time that I was through there and judging by the staff's judgement I'd say that they were harrassing the wrong people. I'll leave that one right there lest I tread upon a rule ("freedom grope" or violate or whatever)...

[Creag]

I set off the detector at Heathrow in London with nary a bit of metal on me but the zipper on my pants. A very serious and imposing guard asked permission to search me. I replied "sure but you can't have my number". The corner of his mouth did quirk slightly.