Airport Temperature Checks: What To Expect When You Fly

Temperature checks at airports have been a topic of discussion and debate, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous outbreaks such as Ebola. While some airports have implemented temperature screening as a way to curb the spread of infectious diseases, the effectiveness and reliability of these measures have been questioned. Critics argue that temperature checks can result in false negatives and positives, and they may not detect asymptomatic individuals or those in the incubation phase. Additionally, the use of handheld thermometers and thermal readers has been criticised for their potential inaccuracy and the risk of contamination for TSA agents. However, with the resumption of international travel, airports are exploring various methods to maintain hygiene and social distancing guidelines, and temperature screening is seen as one of the tools to achieve this.

Airports using thermometers to stop the spread of Ebola

During the 2014–2016 Ebola virus disease (Ebola) epidemic in West Africa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented travel and border health measures to prevent the international spread of the disease, educate and protect travellers and communities, and minimise disruption to international travel and trade.

Airports in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone used thermometers to stop the spread of Ebola. Airport staff took the temperature of anyone trying to leave the country, looking for "unexplained febrile illness". The CDC advised these countries on their exit screening processes.

Other countries far from the infected region also screened passengers arriving from West Africa or with a history of travel to the region. These included Russia, Australia, and India.

Travellers who exhibited an elevated fever, generally over 101.4°F (but this varied by country), were stopped for further screening, which could include a questionnaire or medical tests.

Methods of temperature screening

Ear Gun Thermometer

The pointy end of the thermometer, covered with a plastic cap, goes into the patient's ear while the other end is held by the airport employee 6–8 inches away. The plastic cap is discarded and replaced after each use. The closer the thermometer gets to the eardrum without touching the fragile membrane, the more accurate the reading.

Full-Body Infrared Scanners

These scanners use heat-sensing abilities to turn the passenger into a heat map on a computer screen. They can assess a group of passengers without them having to stop to be screened. Passengers who show up as green and yellow on the heat map are cleared for travel, while anyone with a red forehead is stopped for further screening. However, these scanners measure skin temperature as a proxy for core body temperature, which is not always reliable.

Handheld Infrared Thermometer

From a distance of about 6 inches, the airport employee points the laser at the passenger's hand or forehead, and the infrared technology estimates the body's internal temperature. This method does not require touching anyone, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and infection. It is also less invasive than the ear gun and more thorough than full-body infrared scanners.

The International Air Transport Association's (IATA) necessity to take temperatures at airports

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been very clear about the need to take temperatures at airports in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the IATA, airport staff should be equipped with calibrated, non-contact infrared thermometers to detect passengers with a fever. If a fever is detected, the staff should then register the personal information of the passenger, notify the airport emergency rescue department to quarantine, and report to the local health authority.

This measure is necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, and protect the health and safety of passengers and staff. Taking temperatures at airports allows for the early detection and isolation of potentially infected individuals, reducing the risk of exposure and transmission.

There are several methods that can be used for temperature screening at airports. One common method is the use of handheld infrared thermometers, which are pointed at the passenger's forehead or hand to estimate their body temperature. Another method is the use of ear gun thermometers, which measure the temperature of the eardrum, closely mimicking the body's internal temperature. Full-body infrared scanners are also used at some airports to assess a group of passengers without the need for individual screening. These scanners use heat-sensing technology to create a heat map of each passenger, with those displaying higher temperatures being stopped for further screening.

While temperature screening is an important tool, it is not without its limitations. Critics have pointed out that fever can be suppressed by medications, and there is a risk of false negatives and false positives. Additionally, the accuracy of temperature readings can be affected by various factors, such as dust, air current, and humidity. Despite these limitations, the IATA and other health organizations emphasize the importance of combining temperature screening with other measures, such as visual checks for signs of illness and multiple temperature checks throughout the airport.

The unreliability of temperature screenings

Temperature screenings have been used at airports to prevent the spread of diseases. However, critics have pointed out several flaws in this method.

Firstly, fever can remain dormant for up to 21 days in infected individuals, and low-grade fevers can be masked by simple medications such as Tylenol or Advil. This means that infected individuals may not exhibit an elevated temperature during the screening and can unknowingly spread the disease.

Secondly, the accuracy of temperature readings can be affected by various factors. For example, the ear gun thermometer, which is commonly used, often does not get close enough to the eardrum to provide an accurate reading. Other factors such as dust, air currents, and humidity can also impact the accuracy of infrared thermometers.

Furthermore, full-body infrared scanners, which are used to assess a group of passengers without interrupting their flow, measure external body temperature, which may not always correlate with core body temperature. These scanners can be easily fooled by external factors such as splashing water on the forehead or consuming an alcoholic drink.

Additionally, there are concerns about false negatives and false positives. False negatives can give infected individuals a false sense of assurance that they are healthy, while false positives can send healthy individuals into areas with contagious people.

Lastly, the effectiveness of temperature screenings is also questioned due to the dynamic nature of fevers. Fevers can fluctuate, and an individual might not exhibit an elevated temperature at the time of screening but could develop one later.

In conclusion, while temperature screenings at airports may provide some level of reassurance, they are not a foolproof method for preventing the spread of diseases. Relying solely on temperature checks can lead to a false sense of security, and other preventive measures such as visual checks, questionnaires, and medical tests should be employed in conjunction.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) considering checking temperatures at airports

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering checking temperatures at airports in the US. This move is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and would be implemented to detect possible coronavirus infections. The TSA plans to check the temperatures of passengers and other individuals entering airport sterile areas.

The TSA's plan to check temperatures at airports has been met with some resistance. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, has stated that he cannot find any law that gives the TSA the authority to perform temperature checks. Thompson also argued that the administration should not put frontline workers in further danger and that any measures put in place should be based on the guidance of medical officials.

Despite this resistance, the TSA has continued to consider implementing temperature checks at airports. A pilot program for temperature checks was run at Washington Dulles International Airport in April 2020, and the TSA has been urged by airlines and a Senate bill to conduct temperature checks.

The TSA's temperature checks would likely use a mix of tripods that can scan multiple people at once, as well as handheld devices. Individuals with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will be flagged and turned over to officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While the TSA's plan to check temperatures at airports is still under review, it is expected to cost less than $20 million to implement. The specific airports that will be used to test the new scanning procedures have not yet been announced.

The different types of thermometers used at airports

In recent years, airports have increasingly been taking the temperatures of passengers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Thermometers are used to detect "unexplained febrile illness" and prevent infected passengers from boarding planes.

Handheld Infrared Thermometers

Handheld infrared thermometers are pointed at a passenger's hand or forehead from a distance of about six inches. The infrared technology estimates the body's internal temperature without touching the passenger. This method is less invasive than other types of thermometers and helps reduce the risk of cross-contamination and infection. It is also quick and easy to use, making it ideal for the fast-paced environment of airport screenings.

Ear Gun Thermometers

Ear gun thermometers are pointed at the passenger's ear, with the pointy end covered by a plastic cap to ensure hygiene. The device measures the temperature of the eardrum, which closely mimics the body's internal temperature. However, critics argue that these thermometers do not get close enough to the eardrum to provide an accurate reading. They also require plastic caps to be replaced after each use, which can be expensive, and the same thermometer is used on multiple passengers, potentially spreading contamination.

Full-Body Infrared Scanners

Full-body infrared scanners are cameras that turn passengers into heat maps on a computer screen. They measure external body temperature and can assess a group of passengers without them having to stop. Passengers with normal body temperatures are cleared for travel, while those with high temperatures are stopped for further screening. However, critics argue that these scanners are too easily fooled, as external factors like rushing to catch a flight or consuming alcohol can affect external temperature readings.

Non-Contact Infrared Thermometers (NCITs)

Non-contact infrared thermometers are pointed at the forehead to read the skin's surface temperature. They are highly convenient and efficient, as they can take temperature readings without physically touching the passenger. This type of thermometer was widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce contact and prevent the spread of the virus.

Face Recognition Thermometers

Face recognition thermometers combine thermographic precision temperature measurement technology with visible light face recognition technology. They can automatically eliminate factors that interfere with human body temperature measurement and superimpose temperature readings onto true-color face images. This technology can detect numerous faces per second, greatly shortening detection time and improving efficiency.

Spot Infrared Thermometers

Also known as pyrometers, spot infrared thermometers are compact handheld devices that measure surface temperature. They are often used to measure the temperature of distant, hard-to-reach, or dangerous-to-touch objects. While they may not be as commonly used for passenger screening, they can be useful for checking the temperature of objects in airports, such as conveyor belts or ventilation systems.

Frequently asked questions