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No snarls at local airport after security restrictions
By Carl Mickelson, Staff Writer
Friday, August 11, 2006 | No comments posted.
Some air travelers at the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport began their voyages Thursday by ditching water bottles, makeup cases and half-used tubes of toothpaste into large green garbage bins.
“You don't have any deodorant in there, do you?” a Transportation Security Administration agent, combing the airport's hallways, asked a man who just checked his luggage in at the ticket counter.
The traveler replied, ‘No,' and was promptly asked if he had any aerosol cans, shampoo, lotion or shaving cream.
Nope. All clear.
But wait. He did have lip balm.
“What about Chapstick?” he asked.
The TSA agent made him apply it to his lips first, before giving it the OK.
The probing questions were part of the new heightened airport security measures relating to carry-on luggage that went into effect nationwide Thursday, and expected to intensify Friday, due to a foiled terrorist plot in Britain.
No one appeared to get too bent out of shape for Horizon Air flight 2121, scheduled to leave for Portland at 3:25 p.m. Thursday. Nearly all had heard the news of the security measures that had gone into effect earlier that day.
Ed Makaruk, 47, drinking a Diet Pepsi in the airport's lounge, was heading from North Bend to Oakland, Calif.
“I saw it on the news so I called this morning and they said ‘Don't bring any liquids whatsoever.'”
Aside from the Pepsi, he complied, noting he was told to discard the beverage before he went through security.
He had no problems with the measure.
“I'd rather have it,” he said. “Let them tear my stuff apart any day. I would much prefer it. I have no problems with it - none whatsoever.”
However, Makaruk said he hopes it will all be over by the time he returns.
“If not, I'll ship it via UPS,” he said, of his yet-to-be-bought toiletries.
No long lines formed at the airport Thursday, as was the case in many other airports across the nation.
Coos County Airport District Executive Director Gary Letellier said he was awakened by a phone call at 2:30 a.m. Thursday informing him of the plot in Great Britain.
“We have been going ever since,” Letellier said, noting he had sat in on at least six teleconference calls with state and federal TSA officials by 4 p.m.
“We haven't had any sort of delays here, but some of the bigger airports are starting to get backed up. Seattle looks like - well they are not down - but they have some serious delays. Portland is still OK,” Letellier said.
One passenger, bound for Santa Cruz, seemed to take it all in stride.
“We'll just smell bad when we get there,” said Stephanie Millard of North Bend.
“You don't have any deodorant in there, do you?” a Transportation Security Administration agent, combing the airport's hallways, asked a man who just checked his luggage in at the ticket counter.
The traveler replied, ‘No,' and was promptly asked if he had any aerosol cans, shampoo, lotion or shaving cream.
Nope. All clear.
But wait. He did have lip balm.
“What about Chapstick?” he asked.
The TSA agent made him apply it to his lips first, before giving it the OK.
The probing questions were part of the new heightened airport security measures relating to carry-on luggage that went into effect nationwide Thursday, and expected to intensify Friday, due to a foiled terrorist plot in Britain.
No one appeared to get too bent out of shape for Horizon Air flight 2121, scheduled to leave for Portland at 3:25 p.m. Thursday. Nearly all had heard the news of the security measures that had gone into effect earlier that day.
Ed Makaruk, 47, drinking a Diet Pepsi in the airport's lounge, was heading from North Bend to Oakland, Calif.
“I saw it on the news so I called this morning and they said ‘Don't bring any liquids whatsoever.'”
Aside from the Pepsi, he complied, noting he was told to discard the beverage before he went through security.
He had no problems with the measure.
“I'd rather have it,” he said. “Let them tear my stuff apart any day. I would much prefer it. I have no problems with it - none whatsoever.”
However, Makaruk said he hopes it will all be over by the time he returns.
“If not, I'll ship it via UPS,” he said, of his yet-to-be-bought toiletries.
No long lines formed at the airport Thursday, as was the case in many other airports across the nation.
Coos County Airport District Executive Director Gary Letellier said he was awakened by a phone call at 2:30 a.m. Thursday informing him of the plot in Great Britain.
“We have been going ever since,” Letellier said, noting he had sat in on at least six teleconference calls with state and federal TSA officials by 4 p.m.
“We haven't had any sort of delays here, but some of the bigger airports are starting to get backed up. Seattle looks like - well they are not down - but they have some serious delays. Portland is still OK,” Letellier said.
One passenger, bound for Santa Cruz, seemed to take it all in stride.
“We'll just smell bad when we get there,” said Stephanie Millard of North Bend.
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