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?

I flew to America about a month before 9/11. I'd heard security was really strict and was worried about misunderstanding a couple of the questions on the card you had to give to Security on landing, so left them blank with a view to asking the person collecting them.

I pointed out the omissions and the guy took the card anyway. Was gobsmacked. Even more so when setting of a scanner and remarking it would be the belt I'd forgotten to remove, I was waved through! That would definitely not happen now!

@BIoodyStupidJohnson

You'd think that 15 years after the 2006 attempt, they'd have thought of a way to scan liquids in hand luggage without needing to put them in a tiny plastic bag. If the scanners for the hold luggage can do it...

They can do that, technically speaking anyway. It’s pure security theatre; it makes people ‘feel safe’ so they keep doing it.

I'm not sure what you both mean here, but it's not that they can't scan liquids inside hand luggage - they very much can - it's that there's a limit on the total volume of liquid allowed and that would be impossible to gauge other than by sight.

So the separate bag allows a cursory check to see that the containers are each

We flew back into Heathrow on 10th September 2001, from Malaysia. Started our journey on Borneo, changed at Kuala Lumpur. In the departure lounge at the smaller airport there was a shop selling knives, spears, all sorts of souvenirs which could easily be used as a weapon. I'd like to think that wouldn't happen now.

The cockpit wasn't locked and sometimes small children would be invited up front to see the captain during the flight and get a view from the front.

And yes, proper cutlery and sometimes glass glasses if you were flying business/first.

Well, whenever I watch Home Alone I always chunter at the bit where they all arrive at the airport with 4 minutes to go, don't do any form of checking in and an undocumented child gets shoved on at the last minute.
IME even in 1991 whenever it was, that really didn't happen. At least not when I caught flights within the US.

Hah, I was just about to suggest watching Home Alone! I've actually been through that part of O'Hare. No chance a huge family could sprint through it now. Far too crowded and too many barriers.

I get a similar feeling watching old episodes of Friends, where someone will be right there at the arrivals gate waiting for the other someone with their carry-on.

I was 18 on 9/11. I didn't take my first ever flight until 2003. I remember my mom being sad that she had to say goodbye to me at security instead of at the gate. I'm sure we used to see my dad off at the gate when he had business trips, and "wave" at his plane as it took off.

I remember being able to take water bottles through security until 2006. It took years for people to get the message: there were big bins everywhere by the metal detectors, and they would be full of 2/3 bottles of Poland Springs. 🤦🏻‍♀️

*I used to fly to Northern Ireland regularly in the early to mid 90s.

Security was as tight as it is now.*
I was telling someone this just the other day they literally had no idea

I remember flying to and fro the US before 9/11 and using curbside checkin where you'd just lob your bags in out of the taxi without much pre-amble! Then just everyone being able to waltz up to the gates... Very odd now.

@crapbuttrue

I could knit. I could take my own gin and tonic in a water bottle 😊

You can still knits, @crapbuttrue. I do it all the time - well, when there's not a pandemic and you're allowed to leave the UK without umpteen pieces of paper.

Bamboo needles, usually the circular type. And a little thread snipper rather than scissors.

I don’t recall it being that much different the liquids thing was later as I remember taking a couple of mini wines with me so I didn’t have to pay the airport prices , can’t do that now . I remember as a child in the 80s you could visit the cockpit that would’ve stopped after 9/11 .

Luggage locks would be torn off post 9/11. We were advised not to use them at all in 2003. I don't think the version allowing for a TSA master key came out until later.

@CounsellorTroi

I went on a cruise in 2001 pre 9/11 and they offered a tour of the bridge which we did. We’ve been on a number of cruises since and it’s never been offered again.

I have been on bridge tours recently.

I remember visiting the cockpit mid-flight on multiple journeys (I was a kid so it was a special treat for kids!) and the pilots showing me all the buttons etc.

@mumwon

no checks on your hand luggage (weighing maybe!) I remember coming back from a long haul flight with a heavy garden ornament & you could take your manicure set on board, scissors & all! & no xrays!

In 1977 our luggage was checked and scissors removed.

@Autumnleavesfalling

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!

Amazingly, my two kids and I got to go into the cockpit about two years ago. The plane had landed. The pilot was Irish, early 60s I’d say, we are Irish too. He let the kids sit in the other pilot seat beside him, press lots of buttons and let me take photos! It was just great (the kids were half afraid the plane would suddenly start flying!)

Planes still have metal cutlery in CW and 1st.

Wasn't it the case that US internals flights were much laxer on security than international/European flights and that was what changed after 9/11?

That was one thing, to be sure. As I mentioned upthread, internal flights weren't too different from catching a bus. Although there could be 'random' checks, mostly for drugs I think. One of DH's colleagues he travelled with looked like the stereotype of a Mexican drug baron or something - this guy would always be pulled out for a search.

Before 9/11 I was on a flight to Paris (worked in travel industry) and got invited to sit on the jump seat in the cockpit while we came in for landing.

Best experience ever but not something that would ever happen now.

Far more relaxed. Daughter visited cockpit in 1997 because it was her Birthday.

Liquids in plastic bags was around 2006, nothing to do with 9/11.

You can still visit the flight deck but only on the ground (boring!) Door were locked with keypad entry after that.

I sat in with the Pilot and first officer for part of the journey home from Spain. I worked for a holiday company. I'm glad I had the opportunity but bloody hell looking back how were they to know I wasn't going to cause a disturbance?

I have travelled on expired passports twice, I actually hand wrote a 1 in front of a date to extent the validity by 10 days once, got through without comment.

I got into the USA without my visa documentation, I just answered a couple of fun questions by border officer about my life there. I did lots of internal US flights and agree it was just like catching a bus, never even considered taking my passport with me.

I was stopped by customs every single time I flew when travelling alone as a single young female though. I once asked why I was stopped so much and they said they watch for single young women as they were often the drug mules.

@WayneBruce

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?

Yes. There aren't any toilets in a flight deck. Some flights also require official rest so the pilot will also leave the flight deck to rest in the bunks.

As a brown person with a Muslim name, it was easier. No constant checks by security staff in any airport. no having to plan in an hour (at least) wait in immigration in US airports. This is with a UK passport.

@Wandafishcake

Could people visit the cockpit pre 9/11?

Yes My girls spent an hour with the pilots as we flew to Australia..May 2001 ..they were 5 and 6

One flight in the early 90s, I was running late, they just let me take me luggage on and then I got to sit in the cockpit for the entire journey including take off and landing( I had just been for an interview with BA, so must have told them this but I had no proof of this)

In the early 90s I flew out to Mexico to work on a charity project as a volunteer. Each of the group of 12 of us had a claw hammer in our hand luggage.
Security at Schipol just laughed and asked us not to go banging anything on board.