I just flew LAX-IAD and IAD-LAX, and the two flights were like night and day! On the LAX-IAD flight, the grizzly captain got on the PA and said, "We have heightened security in effect on this flight. If the fasten seat belt sign is on, you MUST remain seated or YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED! Don't line up for the lavatory in the galley area. And I am requiring all of you to stay in the seat you were originally assigned to."

On the IAD-LAX flight, it was just like the pre-WTC days (well, except for the plastic knife). No silly "security" messages, no asisine restrictions. The captain and F/O were friendly and acted normal. And that's the way it should be. Reminding people of "heightened security efforts" and implementing silly and arbitrary rules does nothing and only makes the pax MORE uncomfortable and nervous, and in most cases, resentful. Senior management at UA really needs to come up with CONSISTENT guidelines regarding security on their flights. It's one thing if the captain has a legitimate reason on that specific flight for having increased security, but not if he's paranoid or doing it simply "because he can."