And there was a published report that the "shoe-bomber" had recently scouted out an El Al flight, and been seated next to an air marshall in the back of the plane as a result (was that ever corroborated?)

So I agree with you, that bad people are going to do their own scouting, but you have to admit that having an army of people who are reporting things like "when I flew TLV-JFK in November, they didn't open my luggage", or "as soon as I told them that my daughter studies at Hebrew U, the questioning seemed to go faster" (I'm just making these up) could make their scouting job easier. And, what's worse, on some of the domestic boards, I have gathered enough information that I could probably identify the air marshall on DCA flights based on what I've read here (despite the fact that I've never been on a DCA flight since 9/11). The goal is to make terrorists have to actually fly and do their own intelligence gathering - don't make it easier for them. It's a fine line, as we all want to report on our experiences in order to help our fellow freq. travelers have an easier or more interesting experience.

Interesting to read responses that both agreed with me as well as those that disagreed.

The biggest job of Intelligence is to put together jigsaw puzzles. The pieces come in from all over the world, and contribute to creating a complete picture.

We do it all the time in business, whether it is the "pizza factor" (how many late night orders are there) or if a company is suddenly reassigning people from one project to another. Military intelligence is no different. It is the tiny pieces that are offered up for free that are the most costly.

We fly ElAL because we want our money to go there, or because we believe in the security. In this case, our security is in our own hands.

"So I don't think this discussion is compromising the security of El Al in any way, shape or form. "

Thanks East/West, fully agree. I was sad to see people's comments that we shouldn't be discussing this stuff... I have seen so much on the tv news about ELAL, from Israeli movies and tv(showing incredible pics inside Ben Gurion that I never thought would be allowed), and so there is plenty of info out there in the public domain. (The Arabs can watch IBC-Israeli tv, I can assure you).

The idea of the boards is for people to be able to come here and chat, share our love for aviation and travel, and ask questions.

I don't like it when someone, and there is always one!, goes off how we shouldn't be discussing something.

I know things that I won't repeat, too sensitive. I knew an LY flight attendant who told me lot's of things, but I feel that we can discuss a little about flying ELAL, the security(very basic), Frequent Flier club, etc... If you write obnoxious things like that, it will just turn people away and turn people off from learning about ELAL. More so from wanting to fly them. Who wants to fly an airline that does things in secret? Get real.

At Helsinki I saw them check in, all in the open, very above board, gave me confidence... but then Heathrow and Paris can be very secretive, don't like that.

When we fly US airlines we have a security issue, though I would have these (idiots) check Americans with a little less strictness, if felt bonafide travelers. I know that is the case with ELAL, Israelis get away with much more. My friend told me that, then kept quiet.

As an American Platinum, we discuss everything under the sun about AA and it is our right. The terrorists know more than we do, I am sure, and are not learning anything from these boards. They do their own research, have inside people(one theory of 9-11 is that airline or airport employees gave them weapons, which was also the case on the TWA out of Athens), and they are scum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

Let's help each other and answer questions.
Then when everyone visits other airline boards, which I encourage you to do, as I will be posting many on the trip reports, then we will help you.



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MD
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold

The questioning is no big deal whatsoever. The interviewers are very smart young Israelis. In fact it's fun and interesting and the time whizzzzes by!