Security since Sept 11

[Pax Vobiscum]

At UK airports (LHR and I assume all others) we now have to check-in 1 hour earlier for European flights (i.e. dep - 02:00). I'm all in favour of this if enhanced secure is the result, but in my experience the only change to security procedures is that I now have to show my boarding pass at the aircraft door. As (I sincerely hope) it's very difficult for a bad guy to insert himself into a stream of pax between the gate and the aircraft, I'm not sure how this helps. Can anyone enlighten me?

I only ask because I want to know ...

[Herod]

I suspect a lot more is going on behind the scenes than any of us know, and we won't be told for the obvious reason.

[Avman]

:mad: Aviation related security is to a large extent a joke. It may deter your average nutter but not a determined and suicidal terrorist. Bottom line, their is NO effective security against terrorism. Doesn't stop me from flying though cos at the end of the day it's still much safer than driving in Belgium! :D

[radeng]

Hherod,

You've more faith, and considerably less cynicism, than I have.

[Pax Vobiscum]

Herod

I'd like to believe you're right (and I certainly wouldn't want or expect any security secrets to be revealed in this public forum), but I'm struggling to think of what security measures that require my presence might be going on while I cool my heels for an hour in the lounge .

PV

PS. That wouldn't be Herod Antipax would it? ;)

[PAXboy]

Pax Vobiscum, the extra hour of 'heel cooling' is to help BAA offset the loss of revenue from fewer pax. So remember to buy lots of expensive drinks and food!

Sorry to be so cynical but the day BAA became the UK's largest retailer, was the day I knew that we had the worst company to manage our airports.

[Bigmouth]

The by far most effective new security measures are all the passengers onboard who know that being passive equals certain disaster. Defend your aircraft and crew at any cost.

[GalleyWench]

PaxV, I am based out of LHR and have certainly noticed security improvements . The carryon baggage is receiving a more thorough screening- often mobile phones, electronic items etc are removed from your bag and sent through the x-ray again. At my carrier pax are now receiving an additional bag check as well as a pat down at the gate. I certainly feel RELATIVELY confident that no weapon-type objects are boarded on my flights out of Heathrow. Even as crew we are checked and double checked, IDs being verified at 3 different points before gaining access to the aircraft. The security out of the US is another story. Sadly most of the improvements are mere "window dressing" and not addressing the real security breaches going on in many US airports.

[Avman]

You could have checked I/Ds a dozen times on September 11th and it wouldn't have prevented what happened. They travelled in their own names. So what's with the multiple I/D checks then?

[ExSimGuy]

GalleyWench,

I think the security situation "across the pond" is improving quite a bit (it surely needed to!) and my daughter, who's in the same business as you, complains about staff being checked and rechecked. (I have tried to explain to ther that the security peeps are on our side!)

It'll never be perfect, anywhere in the world, but the impression that I got, flying out of LHR 3 weeks ago, was definitely of a higher watchfullness.

Avman,
"Doesn't stop me from flying though cos at the end of the day it's still much safer than driving in Belgium" - You wanna try diving in some of the capitals of The SandPit :D

[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: ExSim ]

[Avman]

Yeah, I have had the experience actually, but, unlike Belgium, only on a few occasions thankfully.

[brockenspectre]

I have just returned from a flight to Florida (I was staying with friends there) and flew with Airtours. On the outbound flight from LGW I was happy with the security. I was frisked twice and my carry-one hand-bag was emptied and swept with an explosive sensitive cloth once and checked thoroughly a second time before boarding. I didn't show my boarding pass as I knew where my seat was and wasn't askd to produce it.

On the return? Well, good old US of A didn't check anything. I had a debate at checkin about changing my seat, the aircraft didn't have my dietary meal (off topic, sorry) and at no time was I aware of heightened security apart from a couple of very young fully armed military-uniformed guys looking extremely embarrassed at the gates...

I don't think WTC has done anything more than make UK more secure and US think it is doing something for security but as my friends who live there (and are in the military) it will take a generation for folks there to realise what is necessary to ensure genuine security and to stop dealing with folks who smile as being friends!

:cool:

[PaperTiger]

A charter flight out of Sanford is probably classified as a low risk. Not unreasonable IMO, particularly the return leg.
Unless the terrorists wanted a last p!ss-up with their mates in a Florida bar first.

[flapsforty]

Pax Vobiscum (great handle btw :D ) I am 1 of those FA's that has to ask each and every passenger for his boarding card at the aircraft entrance. With three legs a day, about 150 pax a stretch, you can work out for yourself how much fun that is. :(

And like you I think that it's very difficult for a bad guy to insert himself into a stream of pax between the gate and the aircraft, I'm not sure how this helps. Can anyone enlighten me?

I don't think either you or I will ever find the answer to this riddle..................

So if you just keep showing that boarding pass and I keep irritating the sh!t out of 2600 passengers a week by asking for it, we'll both be doing our bit for "security". :rolleyes: :mad: :rolleyes:

[DX Wombat]

To all involved with trying to ensure that the likes of myself eventually arrive safely at the intended destination - Thanks for your efforts. I would sooner be stopped, searched and questioned a hundred times before I board if it means I stand a better chance of arriving safely. My first ever flight was with El Al and was a real education. Check-in 4 hrs before departure, close questioning by crew and other security people (they even wanted to know why I had a small amount of shampoo with me!) my luggage opened and searched twice, and several requests to look at my passport whilst waiting to board. Others in our group were un-nerved by it to some extent, I was just happy that they were bothering to check. A further incident when QF was still flying into MAN: we had landed at LHR and passengers for MAN were asked several times to stay on board, along came the new crew and did the traditional head count, twice then a third and 4th time with the same result 4 people short! A fellow passenger remarked that the missing people hadn't looked like terrorists! "What" several of us commented "did he think a terrorist looked like? Surely the whole point was that they blended in as far as possible?" The point was taken and the missing bods arrived back just in time to find their hand luggage being removed. Their protests were treated with a marked lack of sympathy by those of us who had stayed on board. I think they got the point. Anyone know what the current feeling is about carrying cameras in hand luggage (it used to be recommended as safer)? I'm off on my travels again shortly and will happily put up with any supposed inconvenience caused by increased security measures. :) :)

[RATBOY]

The old gouge was that most all film and such could be safely xrayed, and since they were just snaps of Aunt Irma it didn't matter if they were a little fogged.
Check the Kodak company web site and they tell you to be more careful.

When I have wanted to be "pure" in air traveling I've brought the camera "unloaded" to allow for a physical check as desired and in some case sbought and processed my film there so there was no possibility of it getting messed up. Turns out Aunt Irma is pretty well off and it pays to be nice.

[DX Wombat]

Thanks for that. I'm not too bothered about the film, I have taken plenty through the scanners with no ill effects, it was more a case of whether or not we were still recommended to carry them in hand baggage to prevent them sticking to dishonest fingers if put in hold baggage. Mine has a part-used film in at present but I can always try to use it up before I fly. :)

[PaperTiger]

Depends how much your camera cost. Check it and you run the risk of it a) being stolen b) being damaged c) being lost forever. Mine always comes into the cabin with me and is normally loaded. Never had any film problems (up to 100 ASA) and I'd say about 60% of the time it passes the X-ray with no fuss. Do watch closely if they hand-search it, I once stopped one dolt just as she was about to open the back !

[ 26 October 2001: Message edited by: PaperTiger ]

[JetAgeHobo]

Just completed my first flight since 9/11, also sent 15 year old nephew on usa domestic.
Kind of bizzare. Security screener looks at 15 year old, then boarding pass, and asks "is this you?" that was the extent of that.

As far as leaving for the international flight, not much more security, kind of a bored looking Nat'l Guardsman armed with a 3 ring binder.

One question, they were making a lot of people take off their shoes and run them through x-ray. What's the deal with that? Just normal run of the mill dress shoes. Someone have a foot fetish?

This was LAX.