FWIW pderby, it's the airline that's the roadblock - I know we accompanied her on US a couple of months back no problem... US gave Mom a pass of some kind and she didn't even have to ask for it. I do agree that I'm unaware of any incidents where non-passengers have comitted an act of terrorism in an airport, but I have no problem abiding by the rules when they are remotely reasonable. This isn't.