Flyers who have been absent from airports since Christmas may be in for a shock: “Many passengers this spring are about to have their first encounter with airport security measures stepped up after Christmas,” reports the AP.
After a would-be bomber tried to blow up a US jetliner using explosives hidden in his underwear, security lines began to grow.
That could fool fliers who may have become accustomed to relatively short security lines.
“Security lines subsided in the slower winter months. But airlines are starting to see increased demand in March as the economy recovers and spring vacations get underway,” reports the AP.
Security lines are likely to grow again, said aviation expert Mark Kiefer of Charles River Associates.
Because full-body scans take slightly longer to go through than a simple metal detector, that can add up to longer waits when airports are busy, Kiefer said.
TSA says it doesn’t believe the scanners will “significantly” increase the wait on security lines.
Still, AP notes some airlines are now suggesting that their customers arrive to the airport 75 minutes before domestic flights "and up to three hours ahead of an international flight."
And what exactly do the new security measures entail?
It’s not clear.
"The Transportation Security Administration has sought to make screening less predictable. At some airports, passengers are asked to choose between a body scan or a pat down. A passenger who refuses a 30-second body scan may receive a two- to four-minute manual pat down,” said the AP.
Some fliers might be swabbed for explosives – even in gate areas.
By David Wilkening
