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I have been getting conflicting reports that say that there will be no carry on luggage/bags allowed. I have yet to see the faa or airlines websites verify this. I know there will be limited flights, but the airlines would be good at losing my camera equipment. Any insight? Thanks

We received this email from our travel department this afternoon. ____________________________ Below, please find a summary of the new security procedures that are being instituted at all US Airports ENHANCED SECURITY PROCEDURES - 1. Curbside luggage check is being suspended indefinitely. 2. Only ticketed passengers will be allowed through security checkpoints to the gate concourses. 3. E-Ticket Passengers will have to obtain a boarding pass before being allowed thru security checkpoints to the gate concourses. Passengers with paper tickets will be allowed through the security checkpoint to obtain a boarding pass at the gate provided that the ticket is for that day and access is not attempted more than two hours before departure of the ticketed flight. 4. Southwest Airlines passengers will now be required to have their Ticketless Confirmation Letter from Southwest in their possession to board the aircraft in addition to their boarding number card issued at the gate. 5. Suspension of all unaccompanied minor travel on all airlines, even if previously confirmed. 6. Suspension of all pet transport programs on all airlines even if previously confirmed. 7. Ban of even momentary parking of unattended cars near an airport terminal. 8. Additional ID check to be made after flight check-in as passengers board the aircraft. 9. The passenger compartment and cargo area of each aircraft must be searched before the next operation of that plane. 10. Armed plain clothes federal marshals will be deployed randomly as passengers on domestic and international flights. 11. All terminal areas will be routinely and continually swept by bomb sniffing dogs 24 hours a day. 12. Uniformed law enforcement presence at all airports will be significantly increased with back-up and ongoing support by US Military Personnel. 13. No knives of any kind, type or size will be permitted beyond the security checkpoints. (Special note from our travel dept: I strongly advise that you take this very seriously as I have been advised by airline contacts that security, law enforcement and airline staff are being told to take a zero tolerance approach with this issue. In addition, FAA and police are going through the inventory of each gift shop in every airport in the country and removing anything that could possibly be considered "knife like" whether it is made of plastic, metal, wood or some other material. Please stop right now and go through your briefcase, purse, pockets, etc. and remove any pocket knife, pen knife, knife-like letter opener or similar type object to avoid forgetting and have it discovered at a security checkpoint resulting in a delay or greater problem.) 14. More intensive security screening of all passengers and luggage including a higher percentage of hand searches for carry-on bags at the security check point and randomly in the concourse gate areas. 15. Bags left in an airport terminal even momentarily will be considered potentially dangerous. 16. The transportation of all cargo and mail on passenger flights will be suspended for the next 48 hours. Based on the above changes the airlines are now recommending that passengers arrive at the airport two hours before departure for domestic flights and two and a half hours in advance of international departures.

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that only ticketed passengers are allowed past the security gates. I often have friends and family members drive me to the airport. They usually accompany me while I check in, obtain my boarding pass, and check my luggage. We usually then go have a drink or something to eat. This will no longer be permitted and I will be left sitting by myself for hours waiting for a flight. I don't see why a person can't go past the security check point as long as they aren't getting on a plane. It is just as easy to blow up an airport from the arrival area as it is at the gate.

Donna Your post illustrates the problems very well. Everyone has been asking how could this happen, why wasnt security better already? Why didnt we have more stringent checks? The reason security was not better before was because ordinary people would not accept the inconvenience that better security would result in. To improve security all people who enter into the inner departure lounge of an airport will need to be screened. If this is to include non travellers as well as travellers, screening will take such a long time that you may find yourself sitting in that departure lounge, with the friends and family you insisted on, after a 4 hour wait in line to get through security. If the world wants beter security at airports, and also wants to maintain the sheer volume of flights available to us, then we are going to have to put up with some inconvenience. Just my opinion. Donna, I would be interested in your opinion about how security can be increased without travellers having to wait longer in queue to go through the checks, in fact without any change to the current easy and convenient habits of walking right on in? Kindest Regards Kavey

Donna, gee I feel so sorry for you having to sit all by yourself waiting for your plane. It's just not fair. Dick

Donna, it is just math. When my 3 kids and I take my husband to the airport and accompany him through security, the check takes that much longer. Better to ban non-flying visitors and to use the time inspecting the passengers more thoroughly. The same time savings could be realized by greatly limiting carry-on baggage. Why should someone get to wheel on a big ol' bag that requires 20 minutes to hand-inspect? Maybe those people ought to be required to wait in a separate line. If they're willing to wait in a checkpoint line that is an hour long, they can bring their little wheelie with them.

Donna, Grow up.

I for one am only too happy to undergo extra security screening when traveling - and if I'm dim enough to hav emy Swiss Army knife in my carry-on, I deserve to have it confiscated. FYI, Nav. Canada announced on Wednesday that there will be an R.C.M.P. officer posted on all Canadian domestic flights. I see a possible deterrent to air rage & air nastiness here, as well as a security measure!

Donna, Your "woe is me" attitude disgusts me. Your selfishness is more than pathetic. Do us all a favor and stay home. The rest of us want to be safer and are more than happy to take extra precautions in order to fly.

I understand that nail files and scissors are also not allowed on board, so put them in your checked bags. I saw passengers being interviewed who were detained because of scissors. This slows up the process.

Just wanted to confirm what Alea had posted. We called Delta about tickets and asked about scissors. My wife carries a pair of scissors about 3 inch in total length. Delta told us to not bring them as they are no longer permitted in carry-on baggage.

Donna: I live in a medium sized city in the US that has a very small airport. It is the type of airport that is "very homey" - entire families come to see there loved ones off. When traveling alone, I have always said my goodbys at the curbside checkout, so I can get through what I needed to get through quicker. I strongly suggest that you bring a novel, needlepoint, travel books , puzzle, gameboy or something to occupy yourself. I strongly agree with the new security measures. If you cannot sit by yourself for a couple of hours, then don't fly. If you can't be by yourself for a few hours, you also have some issues you need to deal with.

Donna: The rules have changed. That's a good thing, because it will increase your own safety and mine. You gotta give up a few freedoms right now to keep your country safe. Is it so hard to sit at the airport by yourself instead of with your family in order for the entire country to be safer? Let's deal with priorities here. Your own personal needs are no longer tantamount. We ALL have to realize that! If I've learned no other lesson over the past few days, I've certainly learned that we in America have bent over backwards to make sure that every single citizen is catered to until he/she is happy and complacent, often at the expense of the entire population. Let's cut that out, OK? Your PERSONAL needs are not that important when balanced against the security of the entire country!

Obviously the people who are disagreeing with me either have no one in their lives who loves them or they are stuck in unhappy relationships. I am very close to my family and when I fly I pay for the right to be able to enjoy my travel experiences however I see fit. You are all a bunch of reactionary zealots. Probably the same people who were bitching about poor service in first class and poor in flight movie selection before the recent attacks. Give me a break.

Donna, you make me sick. How can you be so selfish, so damned egocentric to think that you should be allowed to have your friends at the gate with you, regardless of the saftey of everyone else. Guess you've not flown international flights, because I've never been on an international flight where non-ticketed persons can go to the gate.

Donna, you have proven the wisdom of Mark Twain's words: "Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Why don't you brag to the families of those who died on four hijacked planes Tuesday morning how close your family is? I'm sure they'll all be deeply moved by your plight.

I have flown out of many domestic and international airports before. All of the terminals allow and will still allow passengers to be seen off by their friends, family, limo drivers, etc. What these people who are not flying won't be allowed to do is get up 'close and personal' at a departure or arrival gates. At least a few weeks ago, the security/scanners were at the entrance to these gates and non-flying people weren't able to pass this point anyway. I don't know if new higher security rules have made the restricted areas closer to the initial entrances at each respective terminal. However in the non-secure areas there are still seating areas, restaurants and bars. The areas that you normally check into to release your bags and get your boarding passes are not in the restricted areas. So Donna, you'll just have to say goodbye and hug your family and friends in these areas, not in the secure areas. If that isn't good enough for you, then take the bus.

Come on people give Donna a break! She has a loving family who probably accompanies her to the gate to make sure she gets on that damn plane and away from them!!!

Donna, you must be very young if you don't remember other times (most recently during the Gulf War) when only ticketed passengers were allowed beyond the safety check. I would rather have you unhappy than have someone's weird Uncle Al get through the gate! Sorry, hon, bring a book to read.

xxx, I agree with you (is this the first time?), except for one *minor* point. Needlepoint is out. You need scissors to cut the yarn. So leave the needlepoint home. Books, crossword puzzles, and a million other things can keep you happily entertained while you wait.

We have all been through a very stressful week. It is perhaps natural to snap spitefully at someone in an attempt to 'vent' our feelings, but I don't believe in the vent theory (with or without bomb accessories.) Try to be patient with those who complain of inconveniences. It is going to take time to get used to all the changes. Donna, you will still be able to talk on the phone to your friends and relatives once you've cleared security. Perhaps this will help the time go faster.

Donna: How dare you accuse us of having families that don't care for us! I am still waiting for news of friends I have in New York! I also had a loved one stranded in New York who may have finally gotten to fly out today! I am willing to sit at a gate by myself to insure the security of everyone else. It is psychologically HEALTHY to be able to spend time alone and be happy!! But I don't think you will be able to fly, Donna, since the FAA will not allow unaccompanied MINORS to fly anymore. You have to be a child to be so insecure and insensitive!

I think Escorita said it best when she quoted Mark Twain.

My daughter just returned from Idaho on Friday. She said they were confiscating nail clippers, electric razors,and went through her cosmetics opening jars etc.They were doing a random check of checked baggage. She had to open her suitcase. (she told them that they would have to get it closed as she did it last time. Kidding of course. We are off to Ireland on Tuesday

The possiblity of Donna being a troll has not yet been suggested, so let's hope that's the case. How ANYONE could whine like an infant at such a trivial matter as being left alone for a couple of hours before you board a plane, after what thousands of people have been through this week is incomprehensible. Donna, if you're for real, you're a complete idiot. I agree with Sioux -- grow up.

My wife and I have decided that if we go ahead with our October trip, we will put any questionable items (such as a small screw driver I carry for my camera equipment and razor blades) into one plastic bag and send through with checked luggage. Then when we get to our destination, we will know where all those items are. I am taking gobs of film. I will have all out of the plastic containers and in a plastic bag. I will ask for handchecking, but if it is refused I will say I understand and just place it on the roller. Afterall, other countries have been refusing to do it for years. I just want all passengers to feel like they can reach their destinations safely.

Come on, she can't be real - that second post was just too much! At any other time, this would have been pretty funny. Anyway, anyone who wants to complain about conditions in US airports now, consider yourselves lucky - on some inter-European flights, they're currently not allowing any carry-on baggage at all. The airline gives you a plastic carrier bag for your essentials (passport, ticket, money, credit cards) and that's it. If you want food or reading materials, the airline will either give or sell them to you on the plane. I suspect Donna would hate that even more!