Dorthea

Hidden in the airport security bill, expected to be signed by the President Monday, is a requirement that the airlines manually open and check all luggage by hand if the special X Ray machines are not used. There are not enough special XRay machines in use and will not be for a couple of years.

This will be an incredible requirement and will likely cause delays that will make travel by plane an incredible process. Have you waited in line at the check-in area and seen the volume of luggage that people bring in planes? Where will this hand check of luggage take place? Will it take place when people check in for thir flights? Or will people go to a special line where your baggage will be opened by security people? Or will the lugguge be opened outside of your review in a back room and thus be open to theft of your belongings? Incredible!

xx

Dorthea-People screamed they wanted the tough security measures and now they are screaming they don't want to be inconvenienced. This is a whole new ball game and until the kinks are worked out of the system, we all are going to have to put up with a little inconvenience. Perhaps, you should think about our men and women in service who are fighting the war on terrorism. They are inconvenience and want to be home for the Holidays, but they are doing their jobs and not complaining so people like you and I, have the freedom to fly wherever we want.

Tiredofwaiting

REgardless if it is right to put up with the wait or not, most people when having the choice or going to visit their sister or not will look at a variety of issues. Hassle and time will be a major decising issue. When it becomes to much of an ordeal to fly only those that are forced to go will do so. That will not pay the bills for the airlines or tempt investors to put money into the airline industry. This baggage thing scares me.

TrueBlue American

I'm willing to accept longer waits in exchange for greater security. U.S. citizens are just going to have to make a few sacrifices.

If you want real reasons to complain, take a look at how John Ashcroft is chipping away at your civil liberties in support of an undeclared war or how Dick Chaney and his environmental wrecking crew are chipping away at your envirionmental protections in support of "energy security" instead of asking people to make a legitimate sacrifice by giving up their 10 MPG SUVs.

Heartland Man

I agree with Dorothea. Maybe Congress can direct the $15 billion in corporate welfare they gave to the airlines directly to the new federal airport security group to kick-start things and keep down the wait times.

john

TrueBlue, you'd enjoy Krugman's article in today's Times--doubt that Chaney and the big oil boys will follow through, however...

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/18/opinion/18KRUG.html

xxx

Give me low airfares and no wait and I'll continue to fly once a month. No amt of security will keep me alive forever. I'ld rather die early than sit home waiting to die. I'm still traveling the world but won't if the airfare goes up to pay for add'l security, which is a joke as I've continue to see and hear about lapses.