We are not frequent fliers. The last time we were on airplane was in 2002 for a family FL trip. We had no problems. This time it was for our 15th wedding anniversary without the kids. Yeah! I was busy gathering information for our perfect getaway to Key West that we'd been dreaming about - for years. Thank you Fodor?s for all the valuable info!! (I'm working on posting our trip.)

I missed one piece of information. I never looked up airport security! Why should I? I never had a problem or considered it a problem. I'm 41, an American born and raised middle class female. I know that it is now a fact of life to be cautious when it comes to our safety. I have in fact report suspicious activities.

At 5am this past Sat. at the BWI airport when I'm asked to go into what I thought was the start of a new security check point line, I wished I gathered more information. Maybe I wouldn't have been so surprised if I had. The ID/boarding pass security guard had directed me toward a new line. I was thinking, obviously they had to open another one because the current one was overflowing. So.....I was happy to head that new line of "no waiting". Little did I know that this was the "Embarrassing - You Look Suspicious Line! - You will be subject to the individual check with our security wand and bonus extra-guards, should we need it" line. I turned to my husband of 15 years and thought for a moment, "what did he do to cause us to come down THIS line? I told him to keep the leatherman at home!"

Actually, the whole process was a lot quicker than the congested line. The security guards were professional and kind. They were very thorough and actually it made me feel hopeful that our government had a handle on things. Then came the return flight which made me rethink this.

As we sat waiting last night for our 3-1/2 hour delayed flight from Ft. Lauderdale back to BWI, my mind was busy working on why we were again singled out of the crowd. The couple that was in front of us gave the ID/boarding pass guard a VISA and they didn't go through the extra, individual security wand search. Actually, very few people went through. I thought back on the day we left Baltimore. The large family that was in front of us that day weren't even speaking English. They didn't go through the individual security either. What is the criteria?

My question is: Are we really doing all that we can? Why isn't everyone that holds a Visa going through individual security? Shouldn't they? My family roots in the USA go back into the early 1800's. We're Mennonites and PA Dutch. I've lived here all my life and am a proud American and they're searching me? Why not them too? In my own opinion, anyone with a Visa or living within our boarders within the past 10 years should automatically be put through this individual screening also.

I'd go through THAT line any day and I'd like to see more foreigners come through it with me. Thanks for letting me vent.

From what I understand, extra screening is done for 2 reasons - 1) you or something about your travel makes them suspicious, either by set criteria, or observation (such as the expected one-way ticket paid for with cash; or 2) your number is up - you are the random 63rd (or some other number) person to be so honored.

While I agree that it can be annoying, time consuming and appears to be useless, consider a few things. First, no terrorist wears a sign saying "I am dangerous". As fast as we can profile likely trouble-makers, they will recruit those outside that profile. Second, you may have inadvertantly become a carrier for something (the old has your luggage been out of your sight question)

Our luggage was minutely searched PRIOR TO 9/11 on a return trip from Egypt (we are middle-aged white couple with 2 kids traveling with us). My mother (age 75) and teenage daughter were wanded and carry-ons searched on way to Disney cruise.

Security measures in the whole world post 9/11 sometimes make me angry and sad - but that is now life.

I have answered your question respectfully and with no reference until now to what might be perceived as negative comments towards non-white non-native born people, because I am hoping you did not mean them in the way they could be interpreted. I am also hoping you are not a troll since there are no other posts on this board under your screen name.

I ... was going to write something but I'm not even going to bother. I would hate to think that "didn't even speak English" would be the criteria for some extra-rigorous search. If that were the case, the Timothy McVeighs of the world could breeze thru security with no problems!

Since the TSA agents are not supposed to "profile" (i.e. check on young 20-something middle-easterners) they randomly select people to check more carefully during the security screening process. You just happened to fit the "selection criteria" for that particular site for that particular time and day. It could have been based on number, the color shirt you were wearing, the color of your hair or any number of things, who knows for sure. It's just part of what we have to put up with nowadays when traveling. We've all been "selected" at one time or another.

Gail, you have nicely stated what I was thinking.

Also, if you have been waitlisted or confirmed on more than one flight (as was my husband during bad weather prior to hurricane Charley), you are pulled aside to a 'special' room and are essentially stripped searched. My nephews, when they were babes in a stroller, were pulled aside and had their clenched fists inspected as a security measure - they are not US citizens and don't forget they were babies. And there is the 'secondary' screening that takes place - just because you are that certain number, carrying a certain bag, etc. It's just a fact of life.

On NPR, I heard about the screening they are doing for strollers and children..a seperate line with finger puppets on the TSA people, the other lines can move more quickly, sounds good.
I was stopped in Las Vegas, no reason, just one of those random checks. I could care less if they check me every time but as it stands now- that would take forever..maybe it is just me, but the language you speak is not a criteria.

Going through the line recently at Reno, I was randomly singled out for the "extra" search. But I loved the way they did it. This guy in a TV talk show host voice said, "Congratulations, you have been singled out for an in depth security search". He was getting a lot more laughs than complaints. Should I complain about being singled out (actually it's the second time in a few months and I don't fly that much either)? No, I think it was just my "turn" as they say. Why try to read something into it?

The most interesting thing about this thread though is that jilanie has gathered all this travel information from this board, yet never, ever posted a single question or comment before. It sure will be interesting to see the full trip report as promised.

Thank you for your replies and sharing your stories. It's helped to put things into perspective. We did have one way tickets. It was cheaper and the times were more convenient.

I'm not certain what a troll is...but I don't think I'm one?? At least it sounds like I wouldn't want to be one.

I'm not racist. I apologize for any misleading prejudices. It was not my intent for it come across that way. I'm a concerned American citizen. I hope that this posting is not used to divide us in any way. We don't need any more of that.

Thanks for reading responses to your post - and thank you to above posters that this did not turn into a chance to flame each other.

A troll is someone who writes a purposefully inflammatory post and then sits back and watches the results - I like to think of it as a verbal arsonist. I believe the name originates from the idea of someone "trolling" for dirt, but I am not sure. Several serial trolls on this board have been banished by Fodors, but they always reappear under a new name - which is why I wondered a bit when I saw there were no other posts under your name.

PS - We have been away only twice in 18 years without kids - but as we send first to college soon and the other to follow we look forward to more trips minus kids - and Key West is right on the top of our list.

Although it may seem as if there are certain types of people who shuold be targeted - in fact, there have been instances of "good" people (for instance, female, middle class, white - although why people think this makes them "good"I'm not really sure) carrying dangerous materials and even bombs. So, no one is immune from suspicion.

The process is: examine everybody who might look suspicious and then examine a number of non-suspicoius people chosen at random - to make it harder for those bad "good" people to cause trouble. I have been on a security line when the gate agent asked the first person in line to select a # from 1 to 10 - if they said 7, the 7th person is chosen for a more in-depth interview, wanding, carry-on hand search etc - regardless of who they are. And so on down the line (the person after the 7th picks a number etc.) IMHO - as good a technique as any other for the random searches.

If you're really uncomfortable with the process - the answer is not to fly.

(I traveled in and out of Britain frequently some years ago when they were having significant terrorist issues - and every single person getiting on every plane was wanded, then frisked (same sex security agent), some were selected to go behind a screen to undress, and every carry-on was examined by hand, including use (spaying or whatever) of every cosmetic jar or can, use of every camera or other elecronic equipment. Oh, they also matched luggage - live luggage not tags - to passengers - you went out on the tarmac and picked your bags which then went on the plane. Almost every trip there was leftover luggage (I think just confused tourists - not terrorists) - but I understand it was x-rayed and then disposed of.

If we really want better security we should be doing all this.

And I don;t really buy your "good" vs "bad" passenger theory - I know from experience how this factor can influence people who are supposed to be making "blind" decisions - if I were a young black man I would have speeding tickets from here to nebraska - but my little red sports coupe detriment is cancelled out by the middle aged lady factor.

Coming back into the US from Canada not too long ago, the Customs guy said "Your my 8-45"
It was 8:45am and I was searched.
Random.
Maybe the same situation with you.

jilanie...My husband and I had a funny experience leaving Paris in December. They also have some random searches. We are about as middle of the road as it gets, conservative clothes, dressed for the flight, no longer "young thangs", and in front of us were a pair of what our son has since told us (we had no idea what they would be called) were Goths. Heads shaved but for the mohawk, studded black clothes...these humongous boots with some sort of metal "stuff" around the soles, piercings every which way. Who was pulled over? DH and I...the Goths walked right on through. We laughed.

Re trolls (gail I love your word pictures....serial trolls and verbal arsonists). It's behavior most outgrow in grade school but some never do. There was a thread on the Europe forum over the weekend..or last weekend, with a good explanation. "Some attention, even negative, is better than no attention at all". I know one I could nominate for Fodors Serial Troll of the Year award and he'd win, hands down.

I hesitate to say this but each and every time (6 with connecting flights) that I have flown since 9/11 the people that have been pulled out of line at the boarding gate to have their carry-ons searched have been African American or appeared to be. Each time we have been close to the end for boarding and I have not seen anyone else singled out. I hope that this was not intentional. But could it possibly be coincidence that Logan - African American woman pulled out of line, connection in Cleveland - African American man and woman not traveling together pulled out of line, New Orleans same thing (woman and man), Cleveland again (woman). That was just one trip. As I said we have observed this on other flights. Believe me, my husband and I don't look all that great. He looks especially suspicious.
I sincerely hope that the airport does not turn into the highways.

Well, "random" is just that.

So far, I haven't been "randomly" selected, but the woman in front of me was one day, and I thought it a humiliating experience, and was ever so grateful I was one more in line behind her.

I'm wondering what it is you're "venting" about. It was no big deal and did not traumatize you or ruin your travel experience.

To me, anyway, it is positively ridiculous to wish to "see more foreigners come through it with me". If you were returning from overseas, would you wish to be "selected" just because you are a foreigner or "don't even speak the language" each and every time?