I hate to state the obvious, but after today, airline travel will be more difficult, with very intensified pre-boarding security checks. Be prepared to be at the airport 2 hrs before departure even for short domestic flights.

I think you're right. In fact, I just wonder how many people are going to be willing to fly if they don't absolutely have to. Even before this happened it was getting to be a big drag. But now! Forgetaboutit!

I'm wondering if "they" chose domestic long haul because of the added fuel and weaker security as compared to internation flights. <BR>Security is definitely going to resemble EL Al airlines in the future even for domestic travel.

I have more respect for airline security! My fear of flying is already bad, but yesterday's happenings have given me something else to worry about. I won't fly either unless it's absolutely necessary. So what if taking the bus somewhere takes longer. I think it's safer!

Lets all hope that airlines will beef up security measures to make air travel more safe for their passengers. I have to say that I'm surprised to hear how some of you feel about air travel after these unfortunate hijackings. I also get nervous when flying, because of incidents like this. However this is normal right after a crash or a hijacking. It doesn't make any sense really. Surely we all know airplanes have crashed before, and we know airraft has been hijacked, so why is it only immediatly following these events that people develop an attitude about air travel- as soon as a few months go by and we can all feel farther away emotionally from the tragic events that played out yesterday I bet you posters who are so fearfull of flying will be willing to board a plane again. Don't forget that most of the victims yesterday were not aboard aircraft. Also airtravel is still safer than driving a commute to work everyday-even after these past 4 hijackings. Stop acting like this is the first time youve ever heard of hijacking or aircrash! Are you going to let terrorists control your life? Thank God President Bush doesn't react in that fashion.You people are reacting exactly the way these terrorist had hoped. We Americans cannot backdown and show fear or weakness. This will only make us more vulnerable.

Hi Everyone: <BR> <BR>Contrary to what you'd think, I believe airline travel will get much safer due to this tragic event. The problem is that once a few months go buy, the security will lax again. I always arrive at the airport at least 2 hrs. before take off and I would allow any security person to look through my luggage at any time. I am all for elimination of curbside service immediately and permanently. It is extremely busy before flights take off and the people who do this job outside cannot possible keep tabs on what luggage belongs to what people and if someone would throw a piece of luggage into the stack. <BR> <BR>

Train travel in the US has never achieved the popularity it has overseas. These events may indeed increase the desire for train travel within the US and result in more high speed trains such as the Acela.

Just look at the security at some airports and you can understand why those terrorists can sneak things aboard flights. Those security people would be flipping burgers if they didnt work at the airport.

Exactly..What do you expect from people getting minimum wage? They could care less. Well, they say they are now going to have security guards on each flight. Which means the airlines will charge us more.

Hey ME, you are so right on!The FAA has now announced-no more curbside baggage, only passangers with tickets allowed past security, a few plainclothes military on a few airflights and so on. <BR>This all sounds totally inadaquate. I'm sure that having additional security standing around the airport is not going to prevent another hijacking if those same security personnel is already unknowingly letting hijackers board airplanes. How is this going to change anything when someone has I.D. and a plane ticket? Do they think someone is going to wear a sign saying "suicide bomber"? Of coarse not, so far the FAA nor the federal government is doing nothing to change the safety of air travel. I don't know how this is going to be done while maintaining the same level of freedom we all now enjoy, but that is not my job either.

Hi everyone: <BR> <BR>This is to Anne specifically. I heard that in Europe, no one except passengers are allowed through and at the gate. Also, while watching a Canadian channel, someone suggested hiring people who are specialist in knowing the physical behaviors of people who are suspicious, like how they move or act. I was also thinking about the airlines getting heavier and sturdier doors for the pilots. I am also for the possibility of pilots being allowed to carry firearms if having a security person aboard the flight is not an option on all flights. Just think, these hijackers did not even have a gun while doing this act. Lastly, we have to be cautious of who we are letting into our borders. Visas should be given out very apprehensively to people, especially individuals of Mid-East origins. It makes sense, due to the past incidences of Pan Am and TWA. It may be racial profiling, but if it saves lives, too bad. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Frankly, I'd be delighted if security reached the level of El Al. <BR> <BR>I'd also be delighted if rail service could be improved and supported so that short-haul flights just weren't practicable any more. <BR> <BR>As for racial profiling, it's at the moment a necessity BUT: 1. eventually they will recruit people who don't fit the profile to get around this and 2. let us remember ourselves that we may desperately need some of the Arab-Americans to serve as spies for our own side, so I hope we won't go off the deep end reur own citizens. <BR> <BR>Sounds a little far-fetched, but I worry about some of the anti-Arab rhetoric I'm hearing and how it will affect our solid citizens with that background.

This is to everyone, but jj especially. <BR> <BR>I am not implying that Arab Americans are guilty by association due to the color of their skin. If they are Americans they have Passports or I.D.s such as Driver's Licenses. However, a solid fact is that a vast majority of hijacking has been by people of Mid-East origin. You don't see many Timothy McVeigh types in the sky hijacking. We need to be extremely careful about who we let into the country (Visa issuing). It is way too easy, to go in and out of the U.S. If there are big groups (like 3,4,5) of Mid-Eastern males, without women, like in your typical family pattern, be suspicious. This situation happened last Tuesday and this was totally ignored and look at the consequences. I am SURE El Al looks @ this situation just like I am - no naive thoughts from the Jews. <BR> <BR>

There's a difference between being very careful at borders and in airports, and going around badmouthing or actually assaulting anyone of Arab heritage or Islamic persuasion. Try to keep that straight. Security good; prejudice bad. <BR> <BR>BTW, Stephanie, what about IRA/Irish travellers?

I remember my driver's ed teacher telling us, "driving a car is not a right, it's a priviledge." I think the same holds true for air travel, now more than ever. <BR> <BR>Because I am a single man in my 30's and usually travelling alone and in casual clothing, most airlines are supposed to scrutinize me more closely. After Oklahoma City, I seem to recall being more closely scrutinized. Then as years went by, it seemed to get more lax. <BR> <BR>If air travel now means that I have to sit in a 10 or 15 minute interview before boarding my flight, I am fine with that if that's what it takes. Of course measures like this will drive up ticket prices. <BR> <BR>Sincerest condolances to the families of the people who resisted the hijackers on United Flight 73, and probably saved the White House. They are true heros, to say the least. <BR> <BR>One question I have:

Oops! My question was: <BR> <BR>Are airport metal detectors always set at the same sensitivity, or are there variations from person to person, day to day, airport to airport, etc?

Different machines do different things, with different levels of sensitivity -- it all depends on what kinds of machines and which security companies the airlines or the airports hired. <BR> <BR>I think we're hearing this morning about even larger changes in air travel -- major cutbacks in service and the probably demise of some airlines. It won't just be a matter of what happens when you try to board, it's going to be a matter of whether there's a flight.

To answer Brett's question, I had a metal plate installed in my head after surgery about a year ago. Since then I have probably been through a dozen or more airport metal detectors. Most did not go off, and the ones that did on one trip did not go off on another. <BR> <BR>We are supposed to leave for France in a few days. If we do decide to go,it will be interesting to see if the metal detectors react. <BR> <BR>

This is to the person who questioned whether the IRA should be screened. Of course, but now, there exists a huge organization of fundamentalists in the Mid-East that have roots in 30 some countries. These people are very dangerous and have now hijacked four planes and driven them into 4 major buildings, killing over 5,000 people. This is my major concern now. These people are more likely to kill Americans than anyone. I do believe anyone associated with the IRA should not be allowed in this country and if there are any other terrorist groups of Asian descent, etc. they should be thrown out too, but now we are threatned by the above mentioned.

What are they doing, putting airline corporate execs in charge of beefing up security? Those are the very clowns who brought it down to the laughable level it was at on Sept. 11. We need to have airport security taken out of bottom-line-minded people's hands and turned over to law enforcement and security agencies.