Okay, my fellow FlyerTalk family members, please give me your opinion. This Sunday, we (wife, 2 kids and I) took my parents to the airport for their flight back home. Both parents had their AA boarding passes with them and basically just needed to go to their gate.

My parents fly maybe 4 times a year at the most. When we got inside the terminal, my dad proceeded to remove his shoes, belt, watch and change, put the loose items in one of his shoes and put his shoes in his carry on. My mom did the same for what she had on. Basically, they put anything that would set off the metal detector in their carry-on.

My family and I walked them to the check-in point and waited for them to go through. There were four people in front of my parents and three of the four were removing change, shoes and the like right as they reached the screening entrance. Not once they reached the table where the laptop and loose item bins were, but as they were NEXT in line to be screened. It was like they saw the person in front of them remove keys, change, etc. at the last minute but didn't think they would have to. One guy was asked if he had a laptop in his bag and had to remove it.

Again, my parents don't fly very much. I, on the other hand, fly at least 4 round trips per month. I always make sure I'm security-check ready and have my laptop out before I get in the line. This way, I can my laptop in the bin, sail through the screening, and pick up my items on the other end. No need to keep the people behind me waiting. They all have flights to catch just like me and we all know that a couple of seconds can make or break you. I found it funny that my parents, who don't fly often, got ready before getting in the security line.

Do any of you run into this often as well? You would think that people know by now to remove their laptops, shoes, belts (esp. with huge belt buckles), etc. Do you think people forget or they just don't care that they're holding up the line?

Happy Monday (or whatever day you're reading this )