Security pre-911 at DCA
 

I know this kind of seems like a silly question, but does anyone here know what security was like at DCA pre-9/11?

DCA was kind of singled out after 9/11 (with stricter security measures, restricted airspace, more strigent checks of baggage, a cap on general avitation, and the infamous 30-minute rule when it reopened) due to its' near proximity to DC. So, do you know if even before 9/11, DCA had extra security (other than restricted airpspace, which has existed for years), or was it just like any normal airport?

Thanks. =)

[Edited for wesmills. ;)]

Don't forget my personal annoyance: absolute destruction of anything resembling general aviation for anyone without a business jet and a healthy sum of money to drop on the "privilege."

My recollection is that there was nothing different to the passengers. Not sure about behind the scenes, but the travel experience was rather pleasant, just like most other airport security.

I don't recall anything unusual at DCA. I do recall that I couldn't understand a word said by some of the screeners working there who had very thick accents. In that respect I suppose the TSA screeners at DCA could be considered an improvement.

There was nothing exceptional at DCA prior to 9/11. The B/C gates had officially opened in '97 (IIRC), and getting in and out was a breeze. I used to arrive at the airport around 20 minutes before departure and walk right on to the plane.

Also, there were fewer departure/landing slots at the time. Congress expanded the number of slots including some over the 1250 mile barrier in 2004. The airport is still pleasant but it used to be a lot less crowded.

From the perspective of passengers on scheduled commercial passenger flights into and out of DCA, there was nothing special about security screening at DCA prior to 9/11, except that lines for security screening were shorter/moved faster.

Do you this mean DCA 30-minutes rule has been suspended, am I right? Because it was event of 9/11 due to terrorist attacks on US. DCA has been closed due to attacks but, it was reopened again for resume a limited flights out of DCA.

I believe that the point was that the regular WTMD/x-ray lines were shorter, not about the 30-minute rule.

Yes, I meant if you are flying out to/from DCA during 30 minutes rule. You must to be remain the seated during 30 minutes rule. If you get off the seat but, the planes will once automatically to IAD. If FAM to tell them to "STOP!" or tell go back to seat. They will get into trouble with F/A. The authorities will be called in. They will arrested them but, it will be put in the custody for further questions with passengers.

Luckily for all of us, that rule was rescinded in 2005. From time to time, some ill informed flight attendants still enforce that non-existent rule, tho.

Screening lines were much shorter and the staff working the lines did not bark at you. I also checked passengers in for their flights at the gate. (Anyone could go past the checkpoint w/o a BP back then)

The check-in/security process at DCA prior to 9/11 was the same as other airports, as others have stated.

Line length was a mixed bag. For about 9 months, I did a monday/friday commute from DCA (on DL, in the temporary terminal). The lines would often be long on the DL side, but if you were smart you could go up the US side and save a bunch of time (at least during the hours I dealt with it). The other reason for using the US side was that the rent-a-cops on the DL side frequently made you turn on your computer, while those on the US sided did not.

As an elite, I see very little difference in time to clear security from then to now (unless using the terminal NW is in, that's always bad).

I will say that the TSA folks are ruder and lazier than the rent-a-cops used to be.