And the people will have been conned into believing that the pre-8/10 procedures were indeed "reasonable", and will be grateful that the additional measures have been relaxed

I've already modified my behavior...I won't fly out of LAX unless absolutely necessary. Security lines before this happened were verging on 1.5 - 2 hours in some terminals there. The local news just showed people queuing up at 5:30 in the morning...they have been waiting in line outside the terminal for an hour and still haven't made it in, meaning the security line there is likely 2-3 hours.

I'm actually wondering if this will make things better -- most people they interviewed said they were not going to fly anymore (although their reasons largely weren't because of the lines, it was because they were afraid to fly).

I agree, but what journalists have you been reading or listening to? Everything I have been reading and watching on TV today has bene saying that security is moving smoothly and that things are running pretty much on time or with the usual traffic and weather delays...Now I am sure there are some places where things are bad, but the reporters I have seen at ORD, DCA, JFK, and EWR all have been saying people have been showing up early and prepared and that things are moving relatively smoothly given the circumstances.

Much like shortly after 9/11, journalists are speculating like there's no tomorrow. I dont think you need to dig very hard to find these very same predictions of 4 hour security being "the norm" just 4.5 years ago.

The travel industry is a very large lobby, with a lot of $$$. Don't think they're willing to see their industry be destroyed by 4 hour security waits.

Thats probably because every business traveler who could canceled their flights so they wouldn't have to deal with the silliness.

Hogwash. It's temporary. I don't think it's going to be a matter of adapting, but many of these security measures will go away. If we reach the point where you can't take a watch on a flight, we're all toast. Nobody will stand for that, not even the apologists.

I went through security at SAN yesterday in 10 minutes. I was "scared," got to the airport 2 1/2 hours early, and spent 2 hours and 20 minutes in the RCC.

What isn't temporary in aviation security? It's just a matter of what lasts for hours, days, weeks, months, years, or decades.

Wouldn't 3-4 hour waits be the end of most non-major-metro area airports' service?

I know I would pressure my job to eliminate travel, much as I enjoy having subsidized flying from them.

Leisure trips that were drivable would go away.

I would also no longer make MRs. And no long-distance trips that are for less than a week in duration (i.e. no three or four-day weekends on transcons, etc.)

Unfortunately, there will be plenty of Ma and Pa Kettles who simply walk down the well-traveled corridors into the valley of steel like the sheep they are and who will complain but say, "Well, at least it makes us safe."

Im at LAX now. I arrived a little bit ago from Sydney. I had a 75 minute connection and had it changed in Sydney after hearing about LAX issues. Got here and the only real wait was for my bag. Customs and immigration was smooth. Security at LAX was less than 5 minutes. Dont know about check in since i got my boarding pass in SYD.

Likewise SYD was smooth. I got there early and they were waiting with printed instructions on the new rules. I put any liquids in my suitcase and checked it. They were strict about one carry on. They did a secondary screening at the gate. They called the flight in the RCC about 90 minutes before departure for business class. Everyone got researched by hand at the gate. Both people and bags. But they had 8 or 10 people doing the searches and even on a sold out 744 it wasnt a bad wait.

Time will tell of course but there does seem to be some reasonable decisions and accomadations being made all around at the moment.

My only issue is that my contact lenses sure could have used some rewetting solution after 14 hours. Pulled it out after customs and put some in my eyes and then back in the bag before rechecking it.

If the line takes 5 minutes but I still have to remove my shoes, cannot have liquids/gels and might get gate-harassed, then I will not fly.

No lines at checkin counter (Preferred)
Lines was 4 people deep at the regular desk - wait time 1 minute.

Checkin and baggage check = 2 minutes.

No line at TSA bag drop
Walk to bag drop, drop bag and leave = 1 minute

Elite line at security had 2 people (with a baby) in front
Getting past ID checker = 1 minute (because of family in front)

Second in line for screening
Removal of shoes ( ), laptop ( ) etc. = 2 minutes

WTMD, boarding pass check and gather up stuff = 1 minute

8 minutes - on my way.

This was at 2:15 P.M. on Friday.

LOL - same here. Got here at 2:15 for a 5:55 departure (not entirely due to expectation of long wait - I got done with business early). Took only 8 minutes from the time I walked up to the counter till I was boarding the transit.

Entered US Club at 2:30. First time I've appreciated that they charge for drinks or for sure, they'd have denied me boarding later tonight.

Did you hurt yourself leaping the grand canyon on that one? I think you will find the number of business travellers who cancelled flights are a SMALL minority and those who pondered the idea isnt too many more. Most of us are used to the up and down of travel and roll with it, not to mention if we dont travel we dont get paid. I booked 3 new flights today...sure not sitting in a corner running scared or to avoid packing smarter.

before you troll further, try not to speak for others.

The overwhelming majority of people on this board agree with the person you just tried to troll.

Please, kindly do us a favor and go join the TSA.

Perfect example to why this reaction from the idiots in TSA and such is a total waste of time. The terrorists didnt bother with anything after that Tuesday morning. They waited. Until that 6 months of hell for travelers who didnt do anything and werent in any extra danger had passed and then we relaxed to a more normal level. Well here they come again. They got caught (staged to more like it. Definition of terror isnt blowing things up. Its blowing up only enough to make them think you'll do it every time you threaten to. Makes the threats as effective) and now we're fine for some time. They'll adapt to another method.

The terrorists are MUCH smarter than GWB and the rest of the fools saying this is "for safety"