Flight Passenger, 106, Stands Strong Against Age Stereotypes at Airport Security

A 106-year-old Houston-area woman, Cretora Biggerstaff, is calling attention to what she describes as repeated frustrations with airport security, and she’s not holding back. Biggerstaff claims she’s often questioned about her age while traveling and is tired of being treated as though she doesn’t know "if she’s coming or going."

Biggerstaff, who flies twice a year from Texas to Gainesville, Florida, with her daughter, expressed her concerns in an interview with FOX 26 Houston. According to her, airport personnel frequently ask her to prove her age, even though her Texas ID complies with security standards and bears the required star stamp.

"People will say to me, ‘How do you feel?’ I say, 'How should I feel? I feel OK. I don't feel 106,'" Biggerstaff said, with a remarkable sense of humor that underscores her resilience.

Her frustration seems to stem from a systemic oversight. She suspects that the computer systems used by airlines and security agencies may not recognize ages over 100, an issue her friend Arline Thienel also highlighted. "I'd like to see the computers aligned up to 120 or whatever," Thienel said. "People live longer, so they don't have to go through all that stress every time they travel."

Taking matters into their own hands, Biggerstaff and Thienel have reached out to the U.S. Department of Transportation and airline CEOs at United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, urging them to update their systems to reflect the realities of modern longevity. The duo is hopeful that their advocacy will lead to meaningful changes, sparing other centenarians from similar hassles.

TSA guidelines require passengers 18 and older to show valid identification at airport checkpoints, with a few exceptions for those aged 75 and older. Seniors may keep their shoes on during TSA screening but are still required to remove light jackets for advanced imaging technology. If unable to stand, alternative screening methods are available. However, these policies don't seem to address the unique challenges faced by travelers like Biggerstaff.

So far, Fox News Digital reports that they’ve reached out to United, Delta, and the TSA for comment, but no responses have been received yet. In the meantime, Biggerstaff’s story serves as a pointed reminder that systems and policies need to keep up with the times—or, in this case, the ages.