I have always wondered why they don't look into moving the airport security to each gate. This would ensure that in order to get on a flight the final check would be the only one. No secondary screening, just one as you line up to go down the jetway...Even in small airports it would be very quick and efficient. The screeners would move from gate to gate in a set schedule. I know that it would require more security works probably but it might not be very many more than are currently employed.

I doubt it would work.

You say it would "probably" require more screeners (an even BIGGER government!!!!) and I say it would NO DOUBT require more.

Moving from gate to gate...OK..so what happens if there is a delay at one gate and they are late getting to the next one and so forth?

Personally, I'm not all that "assured" by the current "security" system given the fact that every time a "plot" is uncovered they throw what they tell us are the state-of-the-art screening measures out the window because they
"want to be certain"...well, I want "to be certain" NOW and not just when a plot is "uncovered."

It would take an hour to board each plane.

Just to throw out a few objections:

Can you imagine what the cost for an airline ticket would be if they had to pay all those extra employees?

What happens if someone mistakenly goes to the wrong gate?

Besides a secondary screening might pick up something that the primary one did not?

And I don't think they'd be able to cart all their equipment from gate to gate. The cost of installing it all at every gate would be huge.

The airport that I depart from acually has only one security check. It has only one gate. It has only one commercial airline arriving and departing, that being American Eagle.

That was my thought... how are you going to move all that major screening equipment from place to place in the airport. Or you would need purchase it for at every gate?

Isn't this how you are screened at CDG?

Right before you go up the jetway to enter the plane, you walk through the detector, and put your shoes and carry-on bags through security.

Even before 9-11 this made more sense to me than being screened when you enter the terminal and then wandering around for hours between gates before your flights.

No, CDG isn't like that. But SIN and probably other airports are.

I think it can work at airports like SIN or HKG with lots of room in the terminal and most flights are widebodies that sit 300+ persons. But unlikely to work in the US.

There is gate screening in Munich, but not for all flights. When coming back last year, we went through a light screening when we entered the terminal area. When we got to the actual departure gate, the German security forces gave everybody a very thorough check.

Right after 9/11 when I flew home from Munich, everybody was pat searched, and just about everything was x-rayed with a high resolution device. I had to take my camera out and point it at myself and snap the shutter.

When the aircraft was moving into the final takeoff position, an armored car with an artillery piece was tracking it down the taxi-way.

All those procedures let me know the Germans meant business!!

That's the way it was done at Schiphol when we came home last month. They interviewed us at the gate as well.

I was imagining that the security equipment would be at every gate. An expense I know - but I wonder how much more. I have seen the idea used at some airports like others have mentioned and it just seems much better. And now if they keep the current rules on limited carry-ons it would be fairly quick - I think it takes an awful long time as it is now to board a plane, but I can see how it would probably increase boarding time too much.

Bad idea it appears...

They don't have state-of-the-art screening equipment now because it costs too much. Cargo on passenger planes is not checked or x-rayed at all..because of the cost. Our ports are not secure..because of the cost. So why on earth do you think that "they" will change to having gate checking when it will cost a LOT more money to put into effect?

Just came home from CDG yesterday and they DID have a security check at the gate and the lines were tremendously LONG. It may have been just for flights to the US, but I'm really not sure.

Everyone single person was pat searched, including toddlers, and EVERY piece of hand luggage was hand searched. Of course, this was probably due to the recent events at Heathrow, but it was quickly put into place. Any liquid, gel or cream is confiscated now, although I had a sample of handcream which was missed (but picked up and confiscated in Chicago for a domestic flight). Judging from the length of the line and number of people waiting, I figured we would leave about 5 hours late, but somehow, they managed to get us out of there on time. The people coming through screening just walked right onto the plane - nice to avoid the bottlenecks in the aisles. There was also the normal initial security check point once you checked in.

I seem to remember this being done in Vienna and at Schiphol.

Queueing theory says you shouldn't try it. The minimum number of screeners and machines are required when everyone is using the same facility. Single queue, multiple servers.

Gate screening would be nice, but unless the airport was laid out in such a way that it's necessary (think MCI), it shouldn't be done for the sake of getting the most bang for the buck.

In Frankfurt and CDG, there is an extra security sceening process just before the gates for the UK (other destinations also, I think, can't remember specifically). I've encountered some very large line-ups at Frankfurt, you need to get to the gate at least 10 mins before boarding, but its been in place for several years, so it obviously works.

Notice that all the gate screening you're mentioning is in European airports, where they do take security seriously...at any cost.

CDG is no differant than others -- it has two screenings. Perhaps some just think it's only at the gate because it's not quite as far away from the gate as in some airports (at least not if you fly Air France, which is what I do). SO, they have the usual security screening with the machines, etc. (and questioning, often) before you go to the general area where your departure gates are. Then, they again may hand screen some people right before getting on the plane, at the gate or in that area just before you enter the "tunnel" to go onto your plane.

ScatCat, what airport is that?