gail

My mother (in her 70s) and my daughter (a young looking 11) had the chemical drug and/or explosive checks done on the handles of their carry-ons out of Orlando yesterday. They both thought it was very funny that they were selected, randomly or otherwise, as potential dangerous passengers.

Ellen

We just flew RT on Southwest airlines, and both times, all the people singled out for the extra-thorough gate area check were guys wearing basball caps. <BR><BR>We were amused once we noticed this, but couldn't figure out whether hats are a risk factor indicating hijackers, or whether somebody wanted to punish these guys for their attitude!

Faina

Gail, it's easy to take advantage of an old traveler slipping something in his/her luggage. There must be a reason they always ask if anybody handled your luggage or if it was left unattended. An older woman can't be dangerous, she may've been selected as a potential victim, not a criminal.

xxx

An older woman can indeed be dangerous -- she's just as capable of holding wacky beliefs and carrying explosives or drugs, or even a weapon to be used by another passenger.

skeptical

Sure, but has it *ever* happened?

xxxx

Anyone?

xxx

Um, didn't we learn last September to be concerned about things that have never happened before?

annie

Look at your ticket jacket, if the corner is turned back after you check at the counter, you will probably be taken out of the gate line for inspection. Learned that little secret in PDX airport, however, I bet each airport has its own way of picking out passengers.

nospam

Actually, last Sep. was a variation on what has happened many times before.

xxx

The fact is, NEVER has a woman or child EVER been involved in a hijacking. Check it out for yourself.

well

NEVER has a civilian plane full of jet fuel been used as a bomb either, till....<BR>Never say never!

nospamm

For that matter, I have never won the lottery. It's possible that someday I will, but the chances are so remote that I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to happen.

xxx

Nospamm - this is not a discussion on what the chances of you or me ever being hijacked by a grandma or blown-up by a teenage girl(although that happened to some Israelis just recently), but if we ONLY search males between the ages of 16-60, then a determined individual or group will find somebody outside that group to smuggle whatever they need.<BR>I'm also one that believes in doing what I want to do and when I want to do it, but I also understand that even though my chances of getting killed by terrorists while traveling are slim to none(and I travel about 3-4 months out of a year), some of the security headaches are necessary to guard ALL of us.