As mentioned above, the rule for checked baggage was that you either had to fly with it on the same plane (go down with the bomb) or it had to be scanned for explosives. Now that they x-ray all checked baggage (but no cargo), the bags can go on any plane, with or without you.

Just be glad you weren't at ABQ during "orange alert." Last time I was there during an orange alert they had a PA announcement recording going: "Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert! Orange alert!"