Airport Security Tactics ‘an Ineffective Facade’

Re “Public’s Anger Simmers Over Airport Searches,” March 11: In traveling to Orlando, Fla., recently, our family faced a double whammy of missed and canceled flights, as well as special searches and luggage X-rays apparently brought on by the fact we had changed airlines--involuntarily. Fortunately, the screeners were professional, and my cuticles are now safe from the threat of a certain small shaving kit implement.

But it would seem that these efforts should be targeted toward people who better fit the terrorist profile than a family with young children. It appears that the federal government is practicing a kind of random, democratic political correctness in its approach to airline security--which would waste time and money and not make us safer. Let’s hope things aren’t what they appear and that there’s a good tactical reason for this that’s not evident.

Carl Danner

Alamo, Calif.

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Going through airport security for a recent round-trip, cross-country flight, I was subjected to a random search twice. Both times the security employee searching my carry-on bag missed an inside pocket. I no longer want to fly, not due to a fear of flying but due to knowing that the airport and airline security measures are an ineffective facade.

Jan Rasmussen

Harbor City

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“LAX Needs Better Evacuation Plans,” the March 9 letter describing the situation at LAX when there was a terrorist scare, reminded me of my experience three weeks after the [Sept. 11] attack while I waited for a flight to Europe.

I had a serious foot injury and needed a wheelchair. Despite efforts by a friendly passenger and myself, no wheelchair was ever provided. I sat on my suitcase on the floor for more than two hours. This is in sharp contrast to the service at the airport in Sydney, Australia, where wheelchairs are readily available and polite agents approach the waiting passengers to provide information and assistance.

LAX has a long way to go as far as service is concerned. Airports in Paris, Rome and London have been implementing security measures for many years. We need to learn from policies at other, experienced airports.

Roxane Winkler

Sherman Oaks