I posted this question in the Europe section but I thought it would be interesting here for the USA as well.

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 workers, but it might not be very many more than are currently employed - and if it made things safer and faster to travel I would love it.

It would be so expensive.

And would require airplanes to sit at the gate for much longer because it would take FOREVER to screen everyone and get them seated.

We did this in Nairobi and Dubai recently. It actually didn't prevent us from still having to evacuate our plane in Nairobi due to a few men on board who got thrown off due to their poor behavior. We had to deplane while they bomb swept.

I'm sure they have reasons for this type of security but it seems to me to use an incredible amount of equipment and manpower. I would imagine that the consumer or taxpayer is footing the bill for this.

Those X-ray machines and metal detectors are $$$, and they can't exactly be rolled around from gate to gate.

That's very close to what we have at the Kansas City International Airport. Our terminals are small, and circular, and there is one security point for every three or four gates. Unfortunately, many of the gate areas have no services at all (which isn't an issue with current security measures anyway). Recent remodelling is adding restrooms to some of the gate areas. Works fine for us, and the lines move right along.

I thought this was a troll question, or at least someone trying to be funny.

No, not trying to be funny. At some international airports they do just this. All gates have an X-Ray machine and a Metal Detector - so when you board you are searched and go through the security at the gate. The Only difference is the personel would move from active gate to active gate.

Just a thought - sounds like a bad one!

Can you imagine the amount of security employees you'd need?

Checking people more than one is the objective - not an error in the system. The more checks the more chance of picking up something wrong.

I have been flying home from europe following terorist activites when you might be checked 4 or even 5 times before getting on the flight - including when first alighting from the bus/car at the airport (and those withhout tickets were not even allowed out of the car).

The system in the US is child's play in terms of what happens thre when they're really concerned.

and I, for one, would rather waste a little time than be blown out of the sky.

El Al airlines provides a model for REAL security, with multiple checks including checks at the gate. We could do it if we wanted to, but the will, organizational capability and the money has to be there.

I love the arrangement of gates and security at Kansas City. From my seat on the plane to the curb outside the airport is perhaps 150 feet.

And departing is sweet. Security lines are rare, and if there is a backup, the airline employees walk over from the nearby gate and ask if there is anyone in line waiting for the flight.

The only down side is that with the passenger sscattered over three huge circles, there is no concentration of good services. MCI would be a terrible place to have a long wait between flights.

Keith

I'll make the same observation I made on the Europe board:
Why not have security at the entry doors to the aiport? That to me seems to make more sense than trying to set up security at every single airport gate.

We flew on Sunday and I have to say I was shocked. Didn't seem like any more security in PNS and ATL than usual. NO ONE even looked in my purse. Perhaps as a middle age woman, I don't fit their profile, but it didn't seem apparent there was any change other than we couldn't bring water or liquids on board.

At many International airport they do two security xrays, baggage, shoe checks and pat-downs - Amsterdam, Nairobi, Jordan, Johannesburg.

In the US, seems they don't want to hold-up or inconvenience passengers any more than need be. Until the recent restrictions re carryon items, not long ago they reinstated allowing knives (duh!), there were restricted items still being sold in airport shops and sidewalk check-in.

We have things to a$$-backwards in this country - reactive rather than proactive. Very sad!

I've been curious why there isn't more secuirty around the "exits" (baggage claim) areas. Sometimes there are signs warning people that they cannot go the reverse dierction (from baggage claim to the terminal) but the doors seperating the two are permanently open, or there is no one watching. Just curious.