What was flying like before 9/11?

[Wandafishcake]

I was 14 in 2001, I remember that security processes at airports got much tighter and more time consuming following 9/11, but I can’t properly remember what it was like before? Was the security much quicker and less intense? Could you take more things into the cabin with you?

Well you didn’t have to take your blimmin shoes off all the time.

You could take liquid on with you, you didn't have to put it in those little plastic baggies.

I honestly can't remember anything other than liquids weren't really restricted in cabin baggage as much (I think)
Saying that I only flew a handful of times before 9/11 (without my parents)

The biggest change came in after the Pan Am Lockerbie bombing.

Pre Lockerbie it was like hopping in and off a bus but not cheap so air travel not so frequent.
Pre 2001 liquids and shoes weren't searched.

There wasn't any screening. You dropped your bag off and went to the gate. Your hand luggage wasn't checked and you didn't need to have under 100mls of liquids. But you were asked if you had anything that was explosive in your luggage.

You still had customs and immigration though.

You still had security but it was not as complex. Could carry liquids. No fuss about shoes. You were treated much nicer, no stern and bossy officers. The lines were shorter. It was generally less intimidating.

Could people visit the cockpit pre 9/11?

The no liquids rule came later in 2006 - it was a reaction to another plot, not 9/11. I don’t remember there being many differences in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and I was on one of the first flights out of the US after it happened

In 2000 my mum and I flew to Amsterdam. The guy sitting over the aisle from us sat stroking a knife the whole time we were sat in the runway. It freaked us out a bit tbh, a stewardess asked him to put it away, he told her he was going to use it to cut up his apple and she left him to get on with it. A knife! It sounds bonkers now.

Used to fly a lot as a child. Was allowed in the cockpit to meet the pilot. They would show you the controls and let you press buttons etc....don't think that would happen now!

I seem to remember my mother being obsessed with making sure her nail scissors were in the hold bags but security was more of a nod than anything else, my parents told me a few years ago that we travelled on out of date passports to turkey one year and no-one noticed! Security was lax and the only people you were wary of was customs because you were usually bringing back cheap fags for your parents workmates

It depended on the flight but yeah you could visit the cockpit. I did but was tipsy and have no idea why I was invited up there!

And as a pp said no taking your shoes off.

The shoe thing was later too - that was Christmas 2001 due to the show bomber plot - not 9/11

@Wandafishcake

Could people visit the cockpit pre 9/11?

Yes, that was something that stopped happening after 9/11.

I flew internally in the US in 1999, I was late due to traffic incident and they basically rushed me through security, not sure my bag was even checked.

@LemonLymanDotCom

Well you didn’t have to take your blimmin shoes off all the time.

I did once before then, boots with metal lasts. Haven't had to take my shoes off all the time since.

The limited liquids and no blades rule are the main difference.

It was a lot quicker to get through security. I used to live in another European city and I remember once I was running late for my flight and only arrived at the airport 30 minutes before departure. I got through check-in (had to be done in-person at the check-in desk in those days), security and onto the plane in that time

The big one for me was that could take liquids in your hand luggage and not have to worry about the viewer bag. So you could bring a bottle of wine back in your hand luggage and have a bottle of water on you.
No shoes or belts had to be removed.
They weren’t looking fur terrorises just drug smugglers and the like I think.
Security was easier although they seem to gave more staff on now so probably takes the same time.

Yes, a word with the air steward would sometimes get a visit. The door to the pilots wasn't locked and often swung open when the pilots got lunch etc brought in. This has made me think. Are pilots allowed out on a longhall flight anymore?

@Peccary

I flew internally in the US in 1999, I was late due to traffic incident and they basically rushed me through security, not sure my bag was even checked.

I lived in the us for a couple of years around 1990,did lots of internal flights - pretty much like catching a bus really.

In the US friends and family could go all the way to the gate in the airport. I flew out of Boston dec 2000 and dec 2001 the first time the only check was at the gate that you had a ticket, second time a barrier manned by the national guard was built in a corridor. UK already had scanners for luggage they came in after Lockerbie.
Liquids and shoes came later than 2001, I think about 2003. First restrictions I remember on liquids and shoes I remember was 2005.

Liquid ban - nothing to do with 9/11
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/liquids-ban-flights-10th-anniversary-do-we-still-need-it-a7181216.html%3famp
Shoe checks nothing to do with 9/11:
www.fbi.gov/history/artifact-of-the-month/december-2020-richard-reids-shoes

It was lovely, so easy. Everyone smiled as we all just strolled through the system. You could take anything on board.

The screening was still around, but unlike today it wasnt a 100% check. My dad, who looked middle eastern even though he wasn't, was put through it 100% of the time.

People were generally more relaxed. I remember a kerfuffle about knitting needles. They were mostly allowed. I was knitting a blanket on very large circular needles and a woman sitting a few seats forward starting making a huge fuss.

The flight attendant did nothing because they were allowed. The woman kept fussing. I finally asked, fairly loudly and pointedly, how she thought my blunt flexible knitting needles were any worse than a pencil or pen.

She then quieted down but kept looking back and glaring at me.