Flying with Surgical Boot

[KLLund]

While I fly a fair amount, I have never been in this position before. Can someone explain to me how you go through airport security if you are wearing a sugical boot with metal in it? Do they just use the wand or do you have to take it off ? Can I leave all my items with my hubby .. perhaps a few people back in line so that they don't sit there while I am "taking care of business"? I can walk with the boot, but I am NOT allowed to walk without it so taking it off to walk through the metal detector will be my main concern.

Any information would be helpful.

Thank you

[cindep]

I haven't done the boot, Kathy, but I did fly Labor Day weekend with a cervical collar. The people at Charlotte were very nice, but I was pulled aside after I went through the metal detector and they did an explosives test on my collar. Depending on your airport, it may take a little bit more time, but shouldn't be a major problem.

 

Since you have metal in the boot, they will probably do a wand to make sure that the only thing that is beeping is the boot. Hopefully you'll be better soon. Report back on how things go.

[Francine]

KLLund,

We have just come home from a 17 day tour of China with my husband using a boot due to upcoming surgery. His boot also has an air bladder in it. We flew from San Antonio to San Francisco and then the next day from San Francisco to Beijing. We flew on five flights within China. We returned from Shanghai to Beijing to San Francisco to San Diego to (finally) San Antonio less than 48 hours ago.

I can tell you that every airport operates differently. We asked for wheelchair assists in the states, thinking that it would help us get through security more easily. This was not the case. If you use a wheel chair, they take you aside and check the chair throughly as well. Also, the person escorting you in the chair from the airline has to go through the security line, too. The boot did beep when he walked through the metal detector, therefore causing him to be wanded, which in some cases caused them to have him release the velcro straps. No airport (even in China) asked him to walk without the boot, but he did seem to be searched more diligently than I was. While his search was going on, I retreived his carry-on and back pack.

Just relax. They will search you carefully, but we found most of the TSA people were very helpful and understanding.

Fran

[KLLund]

Thank you very much .. I am most reassured that this won't be a huge problem. I hate Holiday travel anyway, and this was stressing me a bit.