American Airport Security is Getting Less Oppressive

Of course, there are many more immediate and tangible problems than terrorism facing America’s youth. But I grew up in a privileged household with no other adverse circumstances, and traveled often. So my first understanding of real danger came when I thought I could die in a terrorist attack.

Here’s how: On August 9, 2006, 24 men were arrested in the UK for plotting to blow up several transatlantic flights to the US. They were going to disguise explosives in liquid bottles and bring them aboard, potentially killing thousands of people.

The next morning, my family and I were supposed to board a flight from London to Los Angeles. My parents decided the airport was the safest place to be, and we got on the flight.

We now know that the Virgin Atlantic flights—which we were on—didn’t seem to be targeted. But at the time, I knew none of this. I was 15 years old.

The only reason I was even a little bit reassured was the extreme security measures at the airport. We traded in our carry-ons, purses and electronics for small, transparent plastic bags. At security, absolutely no electronics or liquids were let through, other than baby formula, and only if parents tasted it first. Inside the terminal, you could buy liquids but none were allowed on the flight. Right before boarding, everyone’s little plastic baggies were checked one more time, and we could not bring food or drinks—even water—on the plane. It was an inconvenience, but I felt safe.

My experience was an unusual one, to be sure. But the feeling of increased airport security as necessary—that’s something I and my generation grew up with. And scaling it back feels unnerving.

I really have nothing to worry about, says Ohio State University professor John Mueller, who researchers airport and airline security. It’s more dangerous to drive a car or be in a bathtub than to fly in a plane, he tells me. Because 9/11 had such terrible consequences, people have been asking “are we safer?” But instead, he suggests, ask “how safe are we?” and then improve from there as necessary. Shorter waiting times could even be a sign that security is getting better, Mueller says. For example, allowing passengers, even some random ones, to go through the Precheck line allows for more time to be spent on others who have not already been deemed safe. The TSA told me most travelers have expressed satisfaction with Precheck for precisely that reason.

So maybe this is what airline security is going to look like —less hassle on the way to the gate, as security experts try to keep the efficient parts of post-9/11 security and upgrade the rest. And no matter how much security we have, dangerous items can always pass through unnoticed. Plus, different airports have different standards; in the US I almost always forget to separate my liquids, and someone I know accidentally got through security with pepper spray in her purse. Security staff at London’s Heathrow, by contrast, often let travelers keep their shoes on, yet are sticklers about liquids.

Realistically, we’re going to keep flying. Maybe I just need to join the rest of the generations, and accept that I’m safe enough.