Yep.... I can confirm all this several times over. The Airlines flying within the USA have not apparently learned anything from Lockerbie and beyond. The attitude seems to be that it is a Domestic flight, therefore it is beyond sabotage and attack.
I beg to differ with that attitude big time.....I (And most airline people) could get a bag easily on board a US aircraft at the connecting point. I won't put the method in writing here, but I am sure that all of you get my drift. I have, twice now, had the experience of sitting at the gate on United (At the same airport) when the Gate Agent has come on board and made a PA, to the effect "would all passengers please be seated immediately. We wish to knowhow many seats are free for the standby's" And here was me thinking that US carriers used DCS.! There seems to be a lot of guys in uniform of various agencies, but the ground procedures are slacking.