The Herald Business Journal


YOUR COUNTY.	YOUR BUSINESS JOURNAL.

Published November 2001

New security measures call for patience, planning

By John Wolcott
Herald Business Journal Editor

In the wake of the terrorists’ sky-jacked airliner attacks on New York City and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, no travelers seriously begrudge the inconvenient delays created by heightened security at the nation’s airports.

But learning to live with it takes some readjusting.

Business travelers should continue to expect long lines at airline ticket counters and security checkpoints at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but there are ways to make trips go more smoothly, according to airport officials.

First of all, stay informed on the latest changes that might affect your travel plans. Internet sites for Sea-Tac and individual airlines, for instance, are filled with up-to-date news about the latest security restrictions and policies.

“One of the key things to remember is to keep metal off your body,” said Sea-Tac spokesman Bob Parker. “If the alarm goes off when you go through our metal detectors, you won’t have the option of going through again. You’ll be checked over with a (metal detection) wand and patted down by security staff, and that will just cause delays.”

Tips from Parker and the Sea-Tac Web site for dealing with the new security procedures include:

Arrive at the airport two hours before your flight’s departure time.
Be aware that although there is plenty of parking available, you may need to drive to higher levels and walk farther. A total of 2,600 parking spaces within a 300-foot buffer zone have been closed near the terminal-side of the garage levels as a security precaution.
Expect to see the reassuring presence of law enforcement personnel throughout the airport, as well as National Guard troops.
Only ticketed passengers, and flight crews, are allowed past checkpoints into the concourses and the North and South satellite terminals.
Keep government-issued photo identification with you, such as a driver’s license, in case it’s requested.
Don’t delay security lines by waiting to use the plastic trays for your metal objects. Put watches, metal pens, keys, large rings, necklaces, coins, large belt buckles, earrings and similar items in your carry-on luggage and send everything through the baggage scanning machines. It’s safe to retrieve those items from your bags once you are cleared through the checkpoint.
Banned items in carry-on luggage include firearms, all knives, box cutters and any other sharp objects that could become weapons, including scissors, knitting needles, razors or corkscrews. Checked and carry-on luggage are subject to random searches. Confiscated items will not be returned.
To make searches of carry-on baggage, purses or briefcases easier and faster, put small items together in a pouch. Also, don’t stuff bags to capacity.
Electronic gear — including laptop computers, PDAs, cell phones, pagers, digital cameras and the like — should be sent through the luggage scanner. The equipment does not damage electronic files and chips. Having the equipment hand-checked means turning on each piece for inspection, which means more delay. All laptop computers must be removed from their carrying cases.
The FAA is limiting carry-on luggage to only one bag and one personal item, such as a purse or briefcase. The days when carry-on bags meant easier traveling than bag checking are over, Parker said. Checkpoint waiting is so long that checking more baggage and waiting to pick it up after a flight is usually faster. New procedures for bar-coding luggage now reduce the risk of losing bags in transit, he said.
Travelers once again can use curbside check-in on the airport terminal’s upper drive, but vehicles can only stop for unloading passengers and luggage. Leaving a vehicle unattended, even while checking luggage, will immediately attract parking tickets and tow trucks.

As a final word of advice, airport officials recommend being patient, planning time to get used to new travel procedures and even bringing something to read while you wait, since ticket counter and security checkpoint lines can be hours long at certain times of the day.

Security also is heightened on the tarmac, where aircraft are parked at boarding points around the terminal, Parker said.

“We have both police officers and ramp controllers who monitor things. All employees, including airline employees, have a responsibility to challenge anyone in a secure area who doesn’t have an ID badge prominently displayed,” he said.

Parker also said people without badges are periodically sent to ramp locations, and cash awards are made to employees who challenge them. At night, with fewer aircraft maintenance and service workers on the tarmac, it’s “actually easier to spot somebody skulking around” the planes, he said.

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