Scott McCartney
thinks it might happen
All three airlines say it's possible that metal templates -- which prevent larger bags from making it through X-ray machines -- will be reintroduced. That's a tactic that angered many customers in the past and was eliminated when the Transportation Security Administration took control of screening after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
"It's something we've looked at in the past and may look at again," says Mark Dupont, American's senior vice president of airport services planning.
United is in favor of bringing back templates,
As if TSA and the process isn't bad enough now. I remember (and despised) those templates for a lot of reasons - including the fact that they caused a real problem with legitimate-sized carryons and the nazi-like enforcement by some of the screeners. I can see why the airlines would like to outsource enforcement to the TSA (because the passengers see TSA as having more 'authoritay' especially with a badge) just like they have with revenue protection.