Flying on 9/11 was super-smooth

It's been six weeks since a foiled London bomb plot prompted the Transportation Security Administration to ban most liquids from airline carry-on bags. For the most part, everyone seems to be adjusting to the new regulations and realities. Security lines at airport checkpoints are generally back to normal, more passengers are either eliminating liquids and gels from their carry-ons or checking all their luggage, and airlines are gearing up their baggage handling operations to handle the increase.

More important, the traveling public seems to accept the need for the new regulations and believes they do make air travel safer. Most would support stricter measures, including banning carry-on luggage entirely. At least, those were the findings of two recent opinion polls.

Harris Interactive contacted 1,000 American adults by phone between Aug. 18 and 21. Two-thirds of respondents said news about the terrorist plots did not make them more fearful about flying. Sixty-one percent thought the liquids prohibition necessary; 48 percent felt it should remain in effect as long as the government deems necessary; and 62 percent said they'd support a total ban of carry-ons. Only 10 percent of those surveyed said they had changed their travel plans.

A Gallup poll conducted during the same time found similar sentiments. Seven in 10 respondents favored the new prohibition, but in this poll, most opposed eliminating all carry-on luggage.

How those sentiments will hold up remains to be seen. But on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, I had the opportunity to assess the impact of the new screening procedures first hand on a flight to Chicago Midway.

Months ago, when I scheduled the trip to take our son to his freshman year at college, I hadn't paid any significance to the date. Instead of driving, we had decided to take advantage of Southwest's great rates and liberal checked baggage policy of three bags per passenger. In fact, figuring our time, along with the cost of gas and accommodations, flying was cheaper.

It wasn't until the liquids prohibition that I realized the significance of our departure date, but once I did, I do admit to some trepidation, less so because of terrorism than possible complications of tight security. Our flight was scheduled for noon to avoid the rush hours, but I had no idea it happened to be on a morning that Air Force One would be landing at Pittsburgh International Airport until we were on our way to the airport with six large pieces of luggage. Talk about potential for security snafus!

However, I'm pleased to report that everything went according to plan. We arrived at the airport about 90 minutes before the flight, checked all our luggage at the curb, and I found a superb spot in the parking lot. There was no line at security. With no liquids in our carry-ons, we sailed through the check point, even though my son was toting his computer, iPod, cell phone and other assorted essential electronics. We even carried his printer on board.

Our flight departed and arrived on time, as did all our bags, which, by the way, all fit neatly into the trunk of the rental car. All my concerns about possible glitches proved needless. In fact, I can remember few trips that have gone as smoothly as our 9/11 expedition.

However, our return flight on Sept. 12 was somewhat less fortuitous. We arrived back at Midway in plenty of time for the 8:55 p.m. departure only to discover that the flight was delayed an hour, ostensibly because of the storm system then sweeping eastward. That turned into a two-hour delay, but the airport amenities were fine and the wait time was not unpleasant. And although bumpy, the flight was uneventful, other than the screaming infant and a pair of loudly talking business men across the aisle. Although we didn't get home until after 2 a.m., at least we hadn't been stranded in Chicago overnight.

So if you're worried about what impact tighter security or threat of terrorism might have on your next trip, don't. As long as you aren't trying to carry forbidden items on to the plane, the odds are vastly in your favor that neither will be an issue.

On the other hand, when you make your reservations, you'd need to pick a flight date and time when neither weather nor air traffic will be a problem.

Unfortunately, the only hint I can offer on how you do that successfully weeks or even months in advance is "Good luck."