"Travelers getting used to security precautions"

Friday, August 11, 2006

Confusion turns to acceptance
Travelers getting used to security precautions. 
By MAYA RAO and TIERNEY PLUMB
The Fredericksburg (VA) Free Lance-Star


Robin Morton described himself as "pretty calm" as he moved through the
checkpoint line at Dulles International Airport at 5 p.m. yesterday on his
way to London Heathrow Airport. 

He had been scheduled to take a 6:35 p.m. flight on British Airways but that
was canceled.

He was now on his way to a United Airlines flight for 6:10 p.m. 

"It seems all right," said Morton, an Englishman who had been at Dulles
since 1 p.m. "You expect it to be a bit tight with security when there's
been a terrorist threat."

Morton's attitude seemed representative of the mood at Dulles yesterday
afternoon, as initial confusion about the airport's restrictions on carry-on
liquids and gels due to the high security threat, gave way to quiet
acceptance.

The high alert went into effect in the United States after British
authorities announced they disrupted a plot to simultaneously blow up 10
aircraft on their way from Britain to the U.S. using small explosives
smuggled into checked baggage. 

United was reportedly one of three airlines targeted by the terrorists, and
Dulles is a hub for United's international flights. 

Robie Sangster of Washington, D.C., thought she was well-prepared for her
flight from Seattle-Tacoma International to Ronald Reagan Washington
National Airport yesterday morning. She checked in online the night before
and arrived 31/2 hours before takeoff.

But since the Department of Homeland Security raised the security level for
all commercial flights yesterday morning, Sangster was caught in a security
line that reached from Seattle's security area to the parking garage,
causing her and many others to miss the flight. 

"What a nightmare," said Sally Budnick, a travel agent for Travel Network of
King George. "Now I'm telling fliers to arrive four hours ahead of time."

In response to heightened security measures, British Airways canceled all
flights to and from London Heathrow yesterday.

"I've never seen something like this before," Budnick said.

Rodney Shook of Fredericksburg was returning home yesterday from a business
trip to Portland, Ore. By cell phone during a plane change in Dallas, he
said he hadn't noticed security being any tighter than usual.

"They've got signs plastered everywhere, saying you can't bring hair spray,
gel, toothpaste or anything like that in your carry-on," he said. "I did
notice a few people frantically stuffing medication and other things into
their checked baggage, but that was about it."

A few travelers, however, felt differently. 

"I think it's absolute madness here at the airport. I've been standing in
line at the airport since 3 p.m.," said Sjoerd van Boxtel, who stayed in
Washington for a week and is now flying back to the Netherlands. 

"We didn't know anything that was going on," said Boxtel's companion,
Elisabeth Timmermans.

Still, the pair managed to transfer all their liquids and gels to their main
baggage before getting in line at the checkpoint. 

"Today's been really bad having to wait in line," said Ariane Kemps, who was
visiting Springfield and is now returning to Switzerland. "But I've seen it
worse."

Carissa Abbott is flying to San Francisco. "I travel quite a bit. I don't
think it's really bad on the domestic front. It's a little scary, about
hearing the news this morning. But I didn't think once of changing my
plans." 

In her carry-on bag, she just had paper materials. She was careful to put
her liquid foundation in her main bag.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokeswoman Tara Hamilton said it
was worse earlier yesterday.

"This morning there were quite lengthy lines in Reagan and Dulles because
these requirements were brand-new," she said. "The airports were just
putting fliers up, so passengers were adjusting."

At Reagan National, employee Nadia Sasso said some passengers weren't
welcoming the latest inconveniences in air travel. "They're kind of
furious," she said. 

At BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport in Linthicum, Md., Maryland Transportation
Authority police beefed up their presence. Police chief Gary McLhinney said
he was informed of the terror plot about 1 a.m., giving airport officials
about four hours to plan for the increased security. 

"The security will remain very tight at BWI Thurgood Marshall today and
remain so into the near future," said James Ports, deputy secretary of the
Maryland Department of Transportation, who described the restrictions on
liquids as "a new chapter" in airport security. 

Linda Bowling, a travel agent for Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Fredericksburg,
said security precautions shouldn't surprise many travelers.

"It seems like the public is so used to having to flow with the way things
are in the world today, they're adaptable," Bowling said. "Most people would
prefer to take the few extra minutes and be safe, than have chaos."

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************