Hi all, first time poster here so apologies if my post doesn’t match any normal convention, but I wanted to highlight a recent experience I had at Stansted Airport which has put me off using this airport going forward.
Quick context: I’ve had Type 1 for almost 30 years, been using the Freestyle Libre for about 7 years and switched over to pump therapy (Omnipod 5) 4 months ago. During my Omnipod training, I was made aware that the Libre cannot go through the big new airport scanners.
I’ve done 2 domestic trips to London since finding out this information. In the security area of Glasgow and Heathrow airports, a member of staff has simply swabbed my pod and done a quick patdown in the same way as if someone set off the metal detectors in the olden days. Sometimes they put my shoes through the luggage scanner, but no major inconvenience.
I travelled back via Stansted earlier this month. Expecting the same process, I informed the person at the scanner that my sensor can’t go through the scanner and asked for a manual search. She said she would call for someone. I then had to stand at the side of the gate for approximately 15 minutes while every other passenger wandered past me to go through the scanner, many gesturing for me to go ahead as they thought I was waiting, and the security official informing them that I was waiting for something. My luggage went through and was sat at the other end while I waited.
Eventually, someone came to get me and I realised why it took so long. I was escorted by 2 female staff members into a private room (while my luggage still sat in the retrieval area) to carry out a private search. They explained the search to me (slightly more invasive than the ones at other airports but nothing that required taking me off to a private room in front of thousands of passengers) and did what they needed to. I asked them why this was necessary and explained what happened at every other airport I’ve visited - one of the staff advised that they have asked about this but they’ve been told they’re not allowed to do these searches on the floor.
I was then escorted over to the luggage retrieval area (where thankfully my boyfriend had been keeping an eye on my belongings with no idea where I had gone - who knows who could have swiped them if I was travelling solo) and had to give them my passport number and boarding pass information before I was able to continue my journey.
Having diabetes comes with many challenges, but I can honestly say I’ve never been treated differently by anyone up to this point. The staff were professional and not rude at all - it’s not their fault, but whatever process Stansted have in place needs an urgent review. I felt embarrassed, as though I had done something wrong, and I was quite tearful afterwards.
Just wanted to share in case anyone else flies from Stansted Airport (in which case, I hope you have a better experience than I did!) I will be writing a complaint to Stansted as well so that I can try to ensure this gets reviewed.
Quick context: I’ve had Type 1 for almost 30 years, been using the Freestyle Libre for about 7 years and switched over to pump therapy (Omnipod 5) 4 months ago. During my Omnipod training, I was made aware that the Libre cannot go through the big new airport scanners.
I’ve done 2 domestic trips to London since finding out this information. In the security area of Glasgow and Heathrow airports, a member of staff has simply swabbed my pod and done a quick patdown in the same way as if someone set off the metal detectors in the olden days. Sometimes they put my shoes through the luggage scanner, but no major inconvenience.
I travelled back via Stansted earlier this month. Expecting the same process, I informed the person at the scanner that my sensor can’t go through the scanner and asked for a manual search. She said she would call for someone. I then had to stand at the side of the gate for approximately 15 minutes while every other passenger wandered past me to go through the scanner, many gesturing for me to go ahead as they thought I was waiting, and the security official informing them that I was waiting for something. My luggage went through and was sat at the other end while I waited.
Eventually, someone came to get me and I realised why it took so long. I was escorted by 2 female staff members into a private room (while my luggage still sat in the retrieval area) to carry out a private search. They explained the search to me (slightly more invasive than the ones at other airports but nothing that required taking me off to a private room in front of thousands of passengers) and did what they needed to. I asked them why this was necessary and explained what happened at every other airport I’ve visited - one of the staff advised that they have asked about this but they’ve been told they’re not allowed to do these searches on the floor.
I was then escorted over to the luggage retrieval area (where thankfully my boyfriend had been keeping an eye on my belongings with no idea where I had gone - who knows who could have swiped them if I was travelling solo) and had to give them my passport number and boarding pass information before I was able to continue my journey.
Having diabetes comes with many challenges, but I can honestly say I’ve never been treated differently by anyone up to this point. The staff were professional and not rude at all - it’s not their fault, but whatever process Stansted have in place needs an urgent review. I felt embarrassed, as though I had done something wrong, and I was quite tearful afterwards.
Just wanted to share in case anyone else flies from Stansted Airport (in which case, I hope you have a better experience than I did!) I will be writing a complaint to Stansted as well so that I can try to ensure this gets reviewed.
