NationStates Jolt Archive

Has there been too much security in airports since 9-11? Almost every time I've flown after then, I have to take off my shoes. This includes twice when I was wearing flip-flops, which you can't hide anything in. I've been told that this is because I look arabic, and indeed, I was travelling with the Arab/Portuguese side of the family. Also to note that the one time I was travelling with one of my best friend, who is Jewish, I didn't get checked.
I've gotten stopped for having pebbles at the bottom of my backpack. I've heard of people who had suspicious-looking bookmarks confiscated. I've heard things about security taking away 2" plastic toy guns on keychains.

My questions: In what circumstances is all of this justified, and are they really allowed to use racial profiling at airports now? (that's what I've been told)

I travel a lot on business, in and out of the US. (I'm Canadian, caucasian and standard business-guy look). I don't really ever have any problems, and I make sure that I'm prepared. I have my passport and back-up ID. All my bags get cleaned before packing, and I empty my pockets of change, lighters etc...I also usually don't wear a belt, and sneakers are a good way to go. I usually get through quickly, and I appreciate the extra security I feel when I'm in the air...I hate flying, so every little bit helps, y'know?

So, I guess I'd say "no".

Meh, I make sure I'm packed, have ID, and so forth too. I don't have a driver's license yet, but I sometimes carry my permit. I'm just tires of getting stopped for so many "random" searches. I had absoluteyl no problems before 9-11. Oh well, this is more of a rant thread than anything else.

Never had any problems, mind you I'm 15, so I doubt I look too suspicious.

The last time I travelled (KCI-LAX) I had to deal with some extra stuff, not being an American citizen and all, but you know how that goes....

The one thing I didn't appreciate was having to step to the side while a gloved security officer (and a guy at that) ran his hands up my legs....bare legs I might add, considering I was wearing a skirt. Very uncomfortable. I mean....what exactly was the point of that? Heh....

The lady officer who was there gave him this really nasty look and pulled him aside and talked to him, so I'm thinking he got into trouble.

The last time I travelled (KCI-LAX) I had to deal with some extra stuff, not being an American citizen and all, but you know how that goes....

The one thing I didn't appreciate was having to step to the side while a gloved security officer (and a guy at that) ran his hands up my legs....bare legs I might add, considering I was wearing a skirt. Very uncomfortable. I mean....what exactly was the point of that? Heh....

The lady officer who was there gave him this really nasty look and pulled him aside and talked to him, so I'm thinking he got into trouble.



Gee, I would why he'd do that?

I do not think that having too much airport security is a bad/good thing. In today's society, there are threats of terrorism everywhere. Not only is airport security to increase protection from threat of the plane being hijacked in midair, they also bash down on related crimes that happen in airports. Such as sales people.

Yes, there is too much security. The odds of your plane just randomly crashing are much, much greater than the odds of a terrorist actually pulling off a successful attack. There's always some risk every time you get on a plane, or train, or bus or whatever. You can't protect everything, everyone, every time, 100%.

It's a game the government is playing, and it's a sham. Quit it already.

Never had any problems, mind you I'm 15, so I doubt I look too suspicious.


I'm 16, and small for my age. (some people say I look a lot younger than I am, some say I look a lot older) I've been stopped nearly every flight since I was 12 or 13. Go figure.

I'm 16, and small for my age. (some people say I look a lot younger than I am, some say I look a lot older) I've been stopped nearly every flight since I was 12 or 13. Go figure.



I did say "gun" once when we were standing in line, waiting to go through the metal detector, but only the people standing behind us heard and they didn't make much of it.

I haven't been on a plane since May 99, so obviously I've had no trouble. I will be going to Indianapolis in April, so I'll see what's going on. Take pictures(whether they like it or not) and refuse to be checked beyond standard "walk-thru-the-gate-thing" and "put-your-bags-on-the-conveyor-belt".

my husband, a 54 year old hispanic man, flies around 100,000 miles a year internationally

his luggage is checked by customs EVERY time he reenters the US.

of course it doesnt help that hes been to every drug capital of the world. turkey, colombia, thailand, etc.

you just get used to it

i was reading this morning on slate that many international travelers from outside the US are going through canada rather than the US when possible when a connecting flight is necessary. the US has gotten to be too much of a hassle for travelers who are just in transit. you now have to have a visa for the US even if all you are doing here is making a connection.

For me the answer is very simple.

Is my life worth the racial profiling?

Are thousands of lives worth re-tieing your shoes?

The answer to both these questions is a resounding yes.

So i let them run a wand over my genitals.

let it be

I flew from Omaha to Orlando (with a stop in Atlanta) about a month after 9/11. It sucked. I had a neck brace on, and so I got stopped and individually searched everywhere, just because I had something distinguishing about me. Plus, I had these really tall boots on, and had to take them off everywhere because they had metal arches. what a pain.

Summer of 2002 I flew from Omaha to Houston. Had no problems getting there, but on the way back, they had to search my makeup kit because they saw something "dangerous" on the scanner. Oh no, a 19-year old (at the time) girl is going to hold up the plane with a nail file!!!

Ugh. I love flying...but sometimes its just a pain. A friend of mine just flew back from from LA to Minneapolis today...I will have to find out how that went.

Oh...and I forgot to mention...on the way from Atlanta to Orlando they had a screen up with a map, and it showed the plane progressing from point A to point B. And this creepy looking guy in front of me was videotaping it. Like THAT wasn't supposed to freak me out a month after 9/11.

i was reading this morning on slate that many international travelers from outside the US are going through canada rather than the US when possible when a connecting flight is necessary. the US has gotten to be too much of a hassle for travelers who are just in transit. you now have to have a visa for the US even if all you are doing here is making a connection.

I know many people (including some quite conservative ones) who have decided against going to conferences or on holidays to the US since the increased "security" measures have been put in place. We're planning a holiday to Canada and will probably spend around $2000 extra to travel via Japan rather than Hawaii for just those reasons.

And the airport checks are fairly ineffective anyway. If I wanted a deadly weapon, all I really need to do is buy a bottle of duty-free wine. Voila, instant dagger.

I agree. Let's let 9/11 happen again.

I agree. Let's let 9/11 happen again.

If they really were interested in doing something, they would force the airplanes to have a big locked cockpit door. Nobody can get in, nobody can get out - problem solved.

There is no way a pilot would fly the plane into a building, no matter what anyone did.

Well, I'm always required to remove my shoes, as is my dad, when flying into or out of the US. We fly often, and my mom comes as well, but I'm a 14 year old half asian, half caucasian boy with a caucasian father and an Asian-American mother. Dad and I always have to remove our shoes, and my dad often gets the wand, but my mom is mostly ignored. They once had to search her purse regarding a thing that set off the metal detector, but that was the only time I remember.

All in all, I'd say that while the added security is good, it's mostly ineffectual. A 19 year old guy recently smuggled a small knife aboard a flight, then gave it to a stewardess midflight to prove a point. Another person brought several large shards of glass, and did pretty much the same thing. So the security needs a re-work, but at least any would-be terrorists need to think harder to get a deadly weapon on a flight. It weeds out the Darwin Award finalists.

All in all, I'd say that while the added security is good, it's mostly ineffectual. A 19 year old guy recently smuggled a small knife aboard a flight, then gave it to a stewardess midflight to prove a point. Another person brought several large shards of glass, and did pretty much the same thing.

Don't try this at home - I've heard reports of people being arrested and charged when doing this. People involved in airline security have notoriously poor senses of humour when it comes to these sorts of things.

So the security needs a re-work, but at least any would-be terrorists need to think harder to get a deadly weapon on a flight. It weeds out the Darwin Award finalists.

Surely you can get plastics that hold a good edge as well...

If they really were interested in doing something, they would force the airplanes to have a big locked cockpit door. Nobody can get in, nobody can get out - problem solved.

There is no way a pilot would fly the plane into a building, no matter what anyone did.

Bingo.




All this security, all this hyped up bullshit-it's all a placebo. A nice little suger pill that makes you think things are different. You go through all of this because Joe Buisness Man said "I want to feel safe. That's more important then being safe." So security said "Alright, I'll make you feel safe. I'll make you feel so safe you're going to hate us for it."

And that's what happened. At first, everyone loved the new security. Most people liked the nailclippers being taken away. Until it became an inconvenience.

People are dumb.

I haven't been on a plane since May 99, so obviously I've had no trouble. I will be going to Indianapolis in April, so I'll see what's going on. Take pictures(whether they like it or not) and refuse to be checked beyond standard "walk-thru-the-gate-thing" and "put-your-bags-on-the-conveyor-belt".

Very simple here. You refuse security checks, they refuse to let you through security. Hope you enjoy missing your flight. Buying a ticket is tacit approval of these security measures and you are required by law to follow them. Refusal of security means refusal of service.

The last time I travelled (KCI-LAX) I had to deal with some extra stuff, not being an American citizen and all, but you know how that goes....

The one thing I didn't appreciate was having to step to the side while a gloved security officer (and a guy at that) ran his hands up my legs....bare legs I might add, considering I was wearing a skirt. Very uncomfortable. I mean....what exactly was the point of that? Heh....

The lady officer who was there gave him this really nasty look and pulled him aside and talked to him, so I'm thinking he got into trouble.

You are allowed to request an inspector of the same sex if you feel uncomfortable, and indeed, for a search like that, one should have been assigned from the start.

You are allowed to request an inspector of the same sex if you feel uncomfortable, and indeed, for a search like that, one should have been assigned from the start.

I didn't have time to ask. I was walked through the metal detector, and felt a hand on my arm pulling me to the side, so I stepped aside, and it just happened. But it wasn't that I minded the security check, just the fact that he was checking my bare legs.....

And the airport checks are fairly ineffective anyway. If I wanted a deadly weapon, all I really need to do is buy a bottle of duty-free wine. Voila, instant dagger.

I agree. There's lots of ways to sneaks a weapon onto, well, anywhere, and ways that one could easily be inprovised. You can stap people with pencils/pens. A lighter probably won't go off in a metal detector, just strap one to the inside of your leg (under the pants, of course) Toys, like my Rubik's Revenge, can be taken apart and things hidden in them. A thin blade hidden under the binding of a book might, if done properly, go undetected.



If they really were interested in doing something, they would force the airplanes to have a big locked cockpit door. Nobody can get in, nobody can get out - problem solved.

There is no way a pilot would fly the plane into a building, no matter what anyone did.

Agreed.