Shining Example, apparently...
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lone Star State
Age: 50
Posts: 288
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A terrorist would be unlikely to declare concealed weapons so reacting in this way is of debatable value. There's also a danger of creating a culture of fear over check-in: Pax will be less inclined to admit leaving bags unattended if they fear more than just an enhanced search.
That said, there's a downside to asking check-in staff to decide if the pax is a security risk or a stand-up comedian. Whenever judgement calls are made, there's scope for human error.
Perhaps the best option would be to better educate pax about the formality of the check-in procedure. Many airlines have leaflets explaining the security questions. How about a footnote such as "Your check-in declarations are legally binding, please take them seriously and do not make jokes" ?