The before-and-after of airport security after 9/11 that nobody talks about

I flew out of LaGuardia back in August 2001 and again last month, and the difference is wild. Back then you could walk someone right to the gate, no ID check, no taking off shoes. I remember my dad meeting me at the gate with a coffee from the newsstand. Now you get herded through a whole maze before you even see a chair. The whole vibe flipped from casual to tense in just a few months after that September. I think the change was needed but it feels like we gave up something real without even talking about it. Has anyone else noticed how much more private cars feel compared to flying now?

2 comments

2 Comments

laurac9623d ago

Read a piece recently about how airport security theater costs billions and does almost nothing to stop real threats. Makes you wonder if the long lines are just a way to make people feel better without actually solving anything.

lauras8324d ago

Used to think airport security was just a minor hassle, but reading this honestly changed my mind. The part about walking someone to the gate really got me - I forgot we used to do that. Gave up a lot of normal human connection just for the sake of feeling safe. Now I realize flying feels less like travel and more like getting processed through a machine. Makes me miss the old days when it was just about going somewhere, not proving who you are every ten feet.