How do airport scanners work?

If you're wondering how airport baggage scanners work, there are two different types of scanners used at airports. First up are full-body scanners known as mmWave scanners, which can create moving images like we're used to seeing in movies.

X-rays are designed to reveal hidden objects under clothing or luggage. They can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, from guns to food and plastics. Some airports no longer use backscatter scanners because they are seen as an invasion of privacy, but they are still used at major US, UK and European airports.

The scanners can make the body under all the clothes look clearer. They eliminate the need for pickup, so many tourists prefer them. In the US, passengers are allowed to choose between a scan and a body search, but the UK Department of Transport does not allow passengers to fly without being scanned. The scanner can detect steel and non-metallic objects on the outside of the body.

Contrary to popular belief, they cannot see internal cavities or diagnose disease. The new ATI scanners are designed to give passengers more privacy by showing only a generic silhouette (no indication of gender or body type). However, other forms of scanners are much more detailed.

If you're traveling through an AIT scanner, you can rest assured that the security process will be less intrusive than in the past. Your security officer will see an image that resembles a paper doll. In airports that still use explicit scanning, people viewing images are kept in separate rooms so that travelers and scanners are never in direct contact.

What Do Airport Baggage Scanners See?
Airport X ray baggage scanners are clear enough to extract detailed images in luggage, which is why many of us wonder "what can airport luggage scanners detect?" They can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, including most organic materials. This means you may not be able to get away with smuggling prohibited food in your suitcase.

Luggage scanners rely on X-rays to see through the surface of luggage to obtain detailed images of the contents of the luggage. Security personnel can calculate the density of each object, giving them the information they need to spot contraband. They may not be able to figure out what every item in your luggage is, but if something suspicious is detected, your luggage may be searched. You are advised to be aware of the regulations regarding all prohibited items in carry-on and checked baggage.