War Brings Added Precautions, Prayers to Nation’s Airports : Travel: Passengers suffer frazzled nerves and flight delays as authorities call a security alert.

Federal authorities raised the security level at airports across the nation on Thursday as apprehensive passengers carried good-luck tokens, muttered prayers and kept a lookout for suspicious-looking people before taking to the skies.

The fact that airport police maintained high-profile vigils over airport activities and carriers scrutinized passengers and their luggage did little to calm the nerves of the flying public on the first full day of war in the Middle East.

“I said a prayer with my family that we would get to Cabo San Lucas safely--and I prayed for our soldiers, too,” said Karen Bernius, 33, of Anaheim as she waited with her family of five to depart from Los Angeles International Airport. “I’ll say another prayer when we take off.”

“I’m taking my little gadgets,” added a Frankfurt, Germany-bound Bob Beach, 37, tugging on a silver neck chain attached to a St. Christopher medal and two crucifixes. “Will they work? Dunno. But it can’t hurt.”

At least one big brokerage firm, however, warned its traveling employees not to call attention to themselves by wearing a crucifix or a Star of David.

Among the tough new rules imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration at airports from Los Angeles to San Diego were a suspension of curbside baggage check-ins, the impoundment of unattended baggage in the terminals and the tow-away of unattended cars in curbside areas.

In addition, airport officials told passengers to carry personal identification both on the inside and outside of baggage, and barred all but ticketed passengers beyond screening areas.

The heightened security measures, which created minor delays for some travelers, proved expensive for an unlucky few others.

“Before, we’d give them a ticket for parking curbside,” said Lee Nichols, an LAX spokesman. “Now, we’re towing it away as soon as possible.”

Carlos Vargas, who made the mistake of leaving his car unattended for only a few minutes, was among more than a dozen people who had their cars towed away on Thursday.

“I feel terrible,” said Vargas, 29, of Los Angeles. “My wife missed her plane, and I have to pay $56 to get my car back.”

Meanwhile, experts warned that with terrorism and protests on the rise worldwide, business travelers faced a heightened risk.

Even before fighting erupted, employees of Goldman, Sachs & Co., a big New York brokerage firm, got an eight-page memo listing dozens of precautions to take while traveling and telling how to respond in a hijacking.

Among other suggestions, the memo advised employees not to wear a crucifix or a Star of David, to dress modestly, not to use luggage tags with the company logo and to avoid carrying expensive luggage. Travel to high-risk areas was forbidden.

Employees were also urged to select window seats. “Aisle seats put you closer to danger, should an aircraft hijack occur,” the memo said. “If evasion in a kidnaping situation is not possible, surrender quickly. Do not be a hero. Do not try to get away.”

“This is a Jewish firm,” said one Goldman Sachs employee who asked not to be named. “They’re a little more concerned about being a target of terrorists.”

Many companies, including McKinsey & Co., a management consulting firm, Apple Computer Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co., said they are discouraging employees from taking unnecessary trips, particularly overseas.

McKinsey’s Los Angeles office postponed indefinitely a work retreat planned for this weekend at a resort near Vancouver, Canada. A spokesman said the firm decided that employees would feel more comfortable being at home with their families.

Fearing that U.S. airlines may be terrorist targets, some travelers are choosing to charter private jets despite the cost--often more than double the fare on a commercial airliner.

Charter company executives say their customers feel safer because they know everyone on the jet.

At the nation’s largest business charter operator, Executive Jet Aviation of Columbus, Ohio, business is up more than 20% this month, largely due to security concerns.

Meanwhile, at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport on Thursday afternoon, the mood and atmosphere appeared somewhat calm, although some passengers were upset about the additional security measures that required them to check in their own luggage.

“Some of them are pretty irate because they can’t check their bags in at the curb,” said airport spokeswoman Elly Mixsell. “But most feel it’s OK. They understand what’s happening, and we really haven’t had much trouble.”

Some departing passengers stood in front of the curb, surrounded by luggage that skycaps would not check.

“I’m perfectly happy that they’re taking the measures they are,” said Marilyn Korpiel, who was leaving on a public relations business trip to Las Vegas with her husband. “I do a lot of traveling, but I have no trouble with what they’re doing. I can take care of my own check-in. We’re too spoiled here in America, anyway.”

Bob Benson, general manager of USAir, said the security at Burbank airport had gotten “mixed reviews” from his passengers: “People are understanding, for the most part. But there are others who don’t realize we’re doing this for their own protection. However, after they complain awhile, something clicks in their head and they seem to understand what’s happening.”

Indeed, for many airline passengers at Lindbergh Field in San Diego on Thursday, longer check-in lines inside the terminals, the result of a ban on curbside check-ins as a security precaution, produced some grumbling from passengers and skycaps alike--the former simply because of the delays and hassles, the latter because of a severe drop in their normal tips.

About 60 miles to the north at Palmdale Regional Airport, officials erected barricades to prevent cars from driving past or parking in front of its 7,000-square-foot terminal.

Woody Weber, station manager for America West at Palmdale, said airport officials removed trash cans and uprooted plants from decorative planter boxes to remove potential hiding places for bombs.

“We’re basically in the same situation as LAX,” Weber said. “We’re being very cautious.”

Times staff writers Greg Braxton, John Chandler, Barry Horstman and Denise Gellene contributed to this story.