MD...there was a recent announcement that no patdowns will be given to age 12 and under. Regarding your comment of El Al...i have friends and clients that have experienced it and although, yes, it's necessary to arrive an hour or two than usual...they seem to prefer that method vs the TSA's, in which one has to arrive just as early anyway. In contrast, the scan doesn't move the lines any faster. Several times i went through the medal detector without a patdown and noticed the same person was still in the scan room from when i was 4-5 people behind, in the medal detector lane.

I personally don't expect the TSA to keep me safe as a last line of defense in airline travel. What acts of terror have they managed to stop or foil in the last 10 years with their methods? I believe it requires the involvement of the intelligence community etc...or better trained personnel, as a start. If one thinks the TSA makes them feel safer in the air, best of luck to you and yours.