Hello - I've only discovered this board today, (courtesy of "The Dolans" finance talk show on New York's radio WOR710AM) so this is my first posting.

I'm a 41 year old white female and for many years have had my carry on bags physically checked at Heathrow. I've also been questioned by AA staff because I have a stamp for Dubai in my passport. Since Sept 11th every single time I have flown I have had to remove my shoes and have a female security officer patting me down.

Do I mind? No, not at all. Like Beergut, I'm from England and extremely aware of terrorism.

But one thing is implanted in my memory. About 15 years ago a young, five months pregnant Irishwoman was stopped from boarding an El-Al flight at Heathrow airport. Inside her portable radio-cassette player was Semtex. This young woman had had the misfortune to be in a relationship with an Arab guy who was supposedly going to accompany her on the flight, and rebooked to a later flight for 'business reasons'. She had no idea of his plans. He got 25 years and is in a prison somewhere in the UK - I just hope he was never released early for 'good behaviour'.