This study investigates the impact of distraction on reliance upon advisors during a two-person visual search task, specifically luggage security screening. Distraction and advisor status and performance were examined in relation to participant accuracy and decision-making. Results revealed that distraction significantly impaired accuracy, particularly for inexperienced participants. Interestingly, distraction influenced participants’ tendency to second guess choices, especially when paired with a novice advisor. Experience mitigated the negative effects of distraction, suggesting potential strategies for coping with interruptions. The study underscores the importance of uninterrupted practice and highlights the nuanced interaction between distraction, advisor expertise, and decision-making in real-world visual search tasks. Implications for training and the potential role of automated advisors warrant further exploration. Overall, findings contribute to understanding how distractions impact performance and decision-making dynamics in collaborative visual search scenarios.