Airport Confusion

Posted by Bridget Lux Sep 27, 2006

Once again, the rules for what passengers can and can not take onto an airplane have changed. Chapstick, toothpaste and shampoo are allowed in limited quantities. Oh, and make sure you've got them in a clear plastic bag. Drinks bought after you've gone through airport security are now allowed. Certain types of batteries, however, are a bit no no.

As a travel writer and editor, I read a lot of travel stories ... and I can't keep it all straight. After being forced to check my backpack, which is generally home to my most valuable possession - my laptop, and putting said laptop into a grocery bag, I got to thinking about all the security.

A man in Europe took a flight from London to Amsterdam on his 2-year-old daughters passport. A 12-year-old managed to fly without a passport although one was "required" for his itinerary. I think it's safe to say that a lot of this was happening before the most recent alleged terrorist threat, but it's not getting a lot of publicity.

My question is whether all this new added "security" is really doing anything but adding time to our airport visits, creating cranky p

Once again, the rules for what passengers can and can not take onto an airplane have changed. Chapstick, toothpaste and shampoo are allowed in limited quantities. Oh, and make sure you've got them in a clear plastic bag. Drinks bought after you've gone through airport security are now allowed. Certain types of computer batteries, however, are a big no no.

As a travel writer and editor, I read a lot of travel stories ... and I can't keep it all straight. After being forced to check my backpack, which is generally home to my most valuable possession - my laptop, and putting said laptop into a grocery bag, I got to thinking about all the security.

A man in Europe took a flight from London to Amsterdam on his 2-year-old daughters passport. A 12-year-old managed to fly without a passport although one was "required" for his itinerary. I think it's safe to say that a lot of this was happening before the most recent alleged terrorist threat, but it's now getting a lot of publicity.

My question is whether all this new added "security" is really doing anything but adding time to our airport visits, creating cranky passengers, airport workers and flight attendants, and costing airports (and probably passengers as well) more money. My guess is that all the measures are created to create a facade of security, to make us think it's safe to fly.

And the reality is, it probably is safe to fly. Unless you happen to be on the one plane that terrorist use to recreate the fear all over again. Something tells me that if you happen to be on that plane, all the airport security in the world is not going to deter a determined terrorist. Yes, we might bump them off track for a bit, but stop it altogether? Not possible. That would take getting to the root of the problem, which is beyond airport security.assengers, airport workers and flight attendants, and costing airports (and probably passengers as well) more money. My guess is that all the measures are created to create a facade of security, to make us think it's safe to fly.

And the reality is, it probably is safe to fly. Unless you happen to be on the one plane that terrorist use to recreate the fear all over again. Something tells me that if you happen to be on that plane, all the airport security in the world is not going to deter a determined terrorist. Yes, we might bump them off track for a bit, but stop it altogether? Not possible.