Airports-The Good Old Daysby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 18 Dec 2006 06:19 PM Do you remember the pre-9/11 days when you could meet your party at their gate to exchange warm embraces rather than at the luggage carousel where you're lucky if you get in a quick peck on the cheek before getting rammed in the back by an overloaded duffel bag? It seems many air travelers long for those days of yore and their public outcries may now be getting a response. The Transportation Security Administration recently announced that it is in the process of testing an "experimental procedure," which allows non-fliers past airport security checkpoints for the first time in at least four years. That's a major change from post-9/11 rules that currently allow only passengers with same-day boarding passes into secure areas of airports. According to the TSA, the experiment isn't widespread, which means if you are a single mother flying from Atlanta to Seattle with three children under the age of six, your family members still won't be able to meet you at the gate and help you to baggage claim (darn). Unfortunately, the relaxed rules only apply to guests staying at hotels connected to airport terminals at Dallas/Fort Worth and Detroit Metro airports. Those guests must be checked against terrorist watch lists before being granted access. However, if the tests go well, TSA officials say it could "pave the way for other airports to allow non-travelers through checkpoints to meet passengers or shop at stores and restaurants." That's good news for airports that have heavily developed retails options. It stands to reason that airports would like non-passengers to have access to their businesses. However, aviation security consultants are quick to point out that putting non-fliers back into the security-line mix only "adds to the congestion and the difficulty of screening." Where do you stand? Are you willing to stand in longer security lines at the airport in order to have your loved ones greet or send you off at a gate? Related Articles: Traveling With Children-More Airport Play Areas Holiday Travel: 10 Ways To Save Time At The Airport A Place For Your Kids To Play Between Flights Shopping At The Airport... More Than I Bargained For Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments  floridamama (9691) 18 Dec 2006 06:24 PMIMO, I personally don't mind the rules with the airlines. Yes, it can be an inconvinence at times, especially when traveling with small children! But it's all in place for a reason, and since 9/11...I feel better knowing that they are taking extra measures in the airports and such.  Michele Cheplic |
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