One way ticket guarantees that you get searched. They figure that a terrorist won't need a roundtrip ticket! <BR><BR>Trouble is, some round trip tickets are cheaper than one way tickets. So if I was a terrorist I'd go with the lowest avaiable fare not the one-way fare. Another quirk in the system.

I can assure you that no terrorist will purchase a one way ticket anymore, I think they've figured things out and I doubt they're concerned about a few hundred bucks. Maybe we should be searching everyone with a round-trip ticket instead.<BR>

This random search is bs. You get checked thoroughly at security, why do you have to go through it again? It makes no sense except this business of ttrying to show the public we're doing something. It is absolutely 1000% ineffective. Let them search all they want at the security check point; everybody goes through that and is fine. This extra random search is done obnoxeously by airline personnel who don't have a bloody clue.

I am a 57 year old redhead with a lot of grey in it white lady, usually fairly well dressed. I have been singled out twice in the last six months. Once on New Years Day when I was visibly upset because my dad had been hospitalized in ICU and I had to take the red eye back East and the last time when we were flying to Chicago for the 4th of July and I was carrying 7 lbs. of Santa Maria tri tip roast (frozen) in my carry on. I'm not angry about all of this, but feel very uneasy that it's very effective against terrorism. BTW, same airling UAL out of SJC. Is that a pattern?

My husband and I were both searched in St. Louis. We are both white, blond, and old. On the way back, I didn't see anyone searched at LAX. We zoomed right through. And that was a week after the shooting...go figure.

I'm a 6'4" 35 year old white male in great shape. I travel frequently (only in first class) and always have a "CLR" on my boarding pass. Since it appears they pick the first person to board (secondary screens must be done throughout the boarding process), I try to hang back and be the third or fourth person to board. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. Out my four most recent flights, I have been picked twice. I have been searched at the gate by the same team in Boston twice in the last few weeks. It wouldn't be so bad if they let the good looking female pat me down, but they don't ;)<BR><BR>Anyway, I don't mind taking one for the team since I travel with only one small carry-on bag with not much more than my wallet, phone and keys in it.<BR><BR>I actually think I have been mistaken for a sky marshall by fellow passengers more often than I have been searched, though. One female seat-mate point-blank asked me if I was a marshall. I don't think she believed me until I ordered a gin and tonic.

"I actually think I have been mistaken for a sky marshall by fellow passengers more often than I have been searched, though. One female seat-mate point-blank asked me if I was a marshall. I don't think she believed me until I ordered a gin and tonic."<BR><BR>Yeah, then she thought you were the pilot taking a break.

I was searched at O'Hare boarding an American flight to Boston. I actually asked the security supervisor why I was singled out, and it was because I did not have any luggage checked or even a carry-on bag with me (other than my handbag). Actually, my luggage was stranded in Zurich and arrived 2 days later. However, the security supervisor told me that people who have 1 way tickets (I did as I had been bumped off my direct Zurich to Boston flight, and had not flown AA for the long haul), and specifically people that have no luggage are targeted more often for searches. So, the selection is not always random, although the airlines want it to appear that way.

My husband (who has very long hair) and I went to Jamaica last fall. He got singled out numerous times in both the St. Louis, MO, and Montego Bay airports. At first it was a little embarrassing, but then became quite humorous. I'm sure it was the long hair--I guess Jamaica has the same stereotypes we do. <BR><BR>I don't know if they were looking for drugs or explosives, but he does not resemble the 9/11 terrorists' look at all--red hair and freckles!

Are there any reports of the results of random searches? What have they turned up?

It is a sign of the times that more of us put up with this bs of the random searches at the gate which have absolutely no value.<BR><BR>I am checked thoroughly at security. I have no problem with that...everybody puts their bags through the sensor and there was something (my alarm clock) they didn't like. Fine...they go through my things.<BR><BR>Why do I then have to be subjected to the same thing at the gate by know nothing airline people....I passed at security and so did everybody else.<BR><BR>This is just another example of the overreaction that always follows something. The 9/11 attacks never could have happened if the stupid pilots had not left their cockpits. If they had stayed in the cockpits, which is the rule on El Al, this doesn't and couldn't have happened.<BR><BR>Now we have to put up with these silly searches which would not have stopped 9/11 and many members of the public actually buy into it.<BR><BR>Give me a break.

does anyone know if the missing locks on checked luggage could be because of additional security checks? I'd rather think that than think it is because of airport employees rifling baggage for valuables. This happened to me when returning from Hawaii. When I arrived at JFK from LAX, one combination lock was missing, but the bag showed no sign of damage. <BR>I have been subjected to searches on occasion, due to 'something suspicious' in my carryon [ tweezer once, plastic razor once]and then was subjected to removing shoes, etc.<BR>The most incredible experience I am aware of, is a recent return flight from Australia by a family member and his family. While at LAX [don't remember the airline], he and his 13 year old son were subjected to a rectal probe! Now, both are blond, clean cut, all American looking, traveling with wife as well. I told them I would have written immediately to the airline [and anyone else] regarding the ordeal.

I am a 35 year old white male with blonde hair. I recently traveled to Norfolk, and on the way back, I was searched a total of 4 times. I agree with "white" -- stop this " . . .they're searching me becuase I'm not white" crap.<BR><BR>I really don't mind being searched -- in light of what happened on Sept. 11, I feel it's a small price to pay. But the thing that bothers me is when they called the flight to be boarded, I was pulled out, and had to sit there and be searched while everyone else boarded the flight. Sorry E., but I feel that for this inconvenience, the airlines should search us first, before boarding the airplane, and allow us to board first as a "thank you" for the inconvenience.

I wouldn't mind being searched if it did any good, but it is just for show. What kind of an idiot would bring a gun on board a plane these days, anyway? And what about that security screen that we all have to walk through, and put our bags through? What exactly are they saying, that THAT does no good so they need to check us further? So why put us through the xray in the first place???<BR><BR>I particularly don't like being searched and having them take so long that it makes me the last one on the plane. I arrive early and deserve not to be the one who can't find a space for her overhead bag, dammit! <BR><BR>And I repeat, what good is all this doing? So they can't get on the planes. They'll just get on the buses or trains or subways instead. Or drive a truck full of explosives into a big parking garage. Or resort to germs. <BR>These silly security checks don't do a bit of good, they're just for show. <BR><BR>

Have to agree they're mostly for show. Last December I had to go to Delaware for my mother-in-law's funeral. At Norfolk, VA airport on our way back my money clip, which I've travelled with for a zillion years (including international post-9/11) got confiscated because of its approx half-inch blade in the side. A few days later I saw an article in the Norfolk paper saying they had a disposal problem from such items .. a few hundred tons' worth.<BR>One way tickets will trigger a search I'm sure - they did thirty years ago too when my girl-friend (now my wife) & I went to Colorado! Of course then it was potential DB Coopers and pro-Castro nutcases rather than Islamic extremists who were targeted.<BR>Until we target the actual passenger,a la El Al, and not the baggage (pockets) we are vulnerable, "PC" be damned. <BR>Go PROFILE !<BR>p.

Flew to Paris and back earlier this summer. I was searched once; my husband was stopped two different times and searched. My 9-year old son was searched once too, but they were very kind to him and he/we were fine with it. Also during this trip, my 22-year old niece was pulled aside and searched. We're a caucasian family; don't know why we were singled out while others weren't, but we did not mind.

ttt

All a terrorist needs to do is push open the emergency exit door when the plane is flying towards a big city and down goes the plane - with all of us in it. <BR><BR>These security checks are simply to make us feel better. <BR><BR>I for one have never felt unsafe anyway. Even on September 11th, 2001. 99.9 percent of the flying public was perfectly safe that day! <BR>If you're spending your life worrying about being part of the other .1 percent than you might as well never leave the house. Driving the freeway is a lot more dangerous than flying. Especially these days with the cell phone fanatics. <BR><BR>Now there's a question...why do they allow CELL PHONES on the plane? Don't they make an announcement that cell phones interfere with the pilot controls??? Couldn't a hundred terrorists with cellphones simply turn them all on and create havoc in the skies one deadly afternoon????? <BR><BR>I say take Cellphones out of the sky, and out of the cars as well!

There is not the slightest solid evidence that cell phones interfere with the plane's whatever. This was driven home during the 9/11 events when cell phones were used and did nothing to interfere with communications.<BR><BR>This thing about cell phones, as far as I am concerned, is just another harassment airlines like to put on the public to try to force them to use the far more expensive phones installed on the planes.

I'm a white 38 yr old female.<BR>I just returned from LAX Sunday.<BR>On my last trip I checked my bags, so I took my LeatherMan. It was in the checked bags, no big deal.<BR>Well.... I forgot to remove it from my travel bag and took it in my carry on to LAX.<BR>The security screener saw something suspicious and told the gal to check my bags. I was running late already and I suppose I looked a bit antsy.<BR>Anyhow she looked around and pulled stuff out but could not find anything. I insisted there was nothing but tweezers and clippers because I forgot about the LeatherMan which had various blades, including one razor sharp 3" blade. Long story short, my impatience caused her to cave in and let me go.<BR>I found the knife at the hotel and could not believe it. I'm glad they didn't find it, it was expensive.<BR>Anyway... I breezed through security at LAX with it in my carry on.<BR>Security is a joke.<BR>I board first and assess every person that gets on the plane. If I get freaked out, I'll take the next flight.<BR>I am allowed to profile!