Also, to accelerate the process at security check points...... Make sure that your electronic devices are in good working order; for safety reasons, you may be called upon to use them.

While I think a better title to this post might be in order, I have to second extreme's point.<BR><BR>My husband's MP3 player was completely out of batteries, but since there is a little pocket for it in his briefcase, it was still in there (carry on luggage). Since he could not turn it on, he had to go to a little store next to the security checkpoint and BUY BATTERIES!! I was only thankful that there was indeed a store - I can't imagine what we would have done if there hadn't been one!<BR><BR>Anyone else have rediculous stories of security over-doing things a bit?

Hi<BR><BR>This is a good point.<BR>Increased security has now made this a common requirement.<BR>It has been standard, even with calculators, on some UK internal flights since the 70's.<BR><BR>Peter<BR> <BR>

Andrea: It's only "overdoing it" until the first crazy blows a plane out of the sky with their MP3 player that was "just out of batteries". Which would you rather, a little inconvenience or a lotta death?!

It was reported in the UK press that a family travelling back from the US had their child’s GI Joe toy plastic guns taken from them. Now, I wouldn’t want any guns travelling on a plane, but these were 5cm long. Strikes me as a bit over the top.

I hardly think it is over-doing it to check that any electronic equipment is what it would appear, the simplest check being to turn it on and see it will operate. Do not forget that the explosives that blew up PanAm flight over Lockerbee were in a "trasnsitor radio."<BR><BR>On a recent return flight to NY from LHR, the batteries in my Palm Pilot were dead and I could not turn it on at security. There was a phone bank there at AA to phone the front desk (I guess) and they sent a rep over to take it, put it in a box and checked it through for me. There was also a woman there waiting for them to come get her "embroidery" scissors (about 5"!!). She had carried them through security at JFK a week earlier undetected! I, for one, am okay with this level of security.