Air-travel safety still a major concern

In the months since last year's terrorist attacks, Americans have become used to extra precautions at the nation's airports and at airports around the world. For the most part, travelers seem to appreciate the special attention that is aimed at keeping everyone safe.

The Transportation Security Administration has deployed agents in nearly 200 U.S. airports. The TSA has been given the mandate of screening air travelers at all airports. It has a deadline of Nov. 19 for posting its agents at every airport. By the end of the year, the TSA is supposed to screen all checked luggage for explosives.

Travelers who have dealt with TSA agents while traveling report, in general, that the agents seem to be well-trained, competent and friendly. "If you're going to have to take your shoes off and be scanned all over your body with a wand, it's nice to have someone who knows how to deal with people doing it," said one recent traveler.

In Southeast Missouri, starting a trip at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport has become a priority for many travelers, mainly because the security checks take less time. The same level of screening is taking place, but since the smaller commuter planes that connect with major airlines in St. Louis hold fewer passengers, everyone boarding a flight can be screened in a matter of just a few minutes.

Once travelers who fly from Cape Girardeau reach St. Louis, they aren't required to go through security checkpoints again. However, they are still subject to random searches at the boarding gate.

In spite of the fact that travelers have come to expect tighter security measures, some airline ticket holders are finding reasons to grumble, mainly because of new rules imposed by the airlines, not by the government's security efforts.

Airlines have been struggling financially for years, but in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, the number of passengers plummeted. Instead of finding ways to entice more travelers to go by air, airlines have adopted customer-unfriendly rules. One such rule is a service fee added to the price of each ticket.

Another new rule voids any ticket that isn't used on the exact flight for which it was purchased. So if someone buys a ticket for a flight next month but, for any reason, is unable to make that flight, the ticket is no good and cannot be exchanged for a ticket on a future flight.

Even tickets that are changed before a flight have big surcharges added, which means travelers who want to go home earlier or later than specified for their tickets are discouraged from making any changes.

Travel groups suggest tips to help airline passengers: Arrive early, make sure you have proper identification, get your ticket or boarding pass before you arrive at the airport, avoid using the ticket counter, clean out carry-on bags, make it easy to be screened, don't be surprised by security measures, don't take the screening personally, know your airline's policies and maintain a positive attitude.