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New security measures at Sea-Tac from Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/nation-world/terrorism/security_14.html Seatac, WA - Sept. 14, 2001 -Catching an airplane used to be a breeze. Check the big bags at the curb, run carry-ons through an X-ray machine, get a boarding pass at the gate, then wait for the plane. Those days are gone. Maybe forever. The airport used to advise people to arrive 90 minutes early. Now it's two hours. Here are some of the changes that started yesterday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:
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Traffic
headed for the heavily-congested upper drive at the airport, often
filled with bumper to bumper traffic, will likely get a lot worse. The
entrance to the three-lane upper drive for departing flights has been
narrowed to one lane. That's so a police officer can peer in to check
for bombs and remind you not to leave the car unattended. People who
park and leave will be towed, at cost of $150 to get their vehicles
back. Anyone driving a truck, such as a moving van, will likely be
searched. Expect delays as the traffic piles up.
If you
make it through the traffic backup, get used to hauling your
luggage inside. The curbside check-ins are closed. All bags, except
carry-ons, have to be checked with airlines inside the terminal.
Some
traffic delays might be avoided by parking in the garage, but you
won't get a prime spot close to the terminal if you drive an SUV or
other large vehicle with smoked windows. Airport-security staff will
direct you to the far side of the garage. People who don't park where
told will get their vehicles sniffed by security dogs. And if the dogs
don't come by, a tow truck will.
Checking
bags and getting airline tickets are pretty much the same. But
expect some extra questions, such as whether you're carrying a knife.
Passengers are no longer allowed to carry sharp objects, such as small
pen knives.
Only
ticketed passengers will be allowed past the security checkpoints.
People will have to wait in the main terminal to greet arriving
passengers. Security is much tighter at the checkpoints. After passing
through the metal detectors, passengers may be stopped to have wands
passed over their bodies and get patted down for weapons. Carry-on
baggage may be searched as well. Even after passing through security,
there could be more to come. Some airlines will run metal-detecting
wands over passengers at random before they board the planes.
Also
expect to see a lot more Port of Seattle police officers hanging
around. The airport used to have 12 officers working each 12-hour
shift. That has been doubled.