Have any of you actually traveled through CDG since 911?? Or LHR/LGW for that matter? To start with CDG, security is non-existent even for US carriers. In terminal 1 they have only recently moved the security screening from the entry point of each satellite to the individual gates, these gates are also getting screened in, so once passengers are checked they cant get anything passed to them from a non-security-checked person. All of this has only come about in the last two weeks, before that you had Saudia passengers of Middle Eastern origin mixing freely with US Air passengers in Satellite 3. As for the shoes, I love wearing Caterpillar boots which I have NEVER had to remove for x-raying in any European or USA airport. But in the Middle East its almost guaranteed that I will have to remove them, so much so that I usually have them taken off before I get to the X-ray machine. Is this the level of security that the western world now requires? As for Marks comments, I totally agree with him that the person (TV news picture) certainly didn't match the name, but it isn't the French that he needs to kick, its AA, they employ their own security in European airports. American Airlines were lucky that they have a no smoking policy onboard their flights, otherwise we might have never discovered what brought that airliner down. Finally, Merry Christmas to all, I hope that you get to travel safely and peacefully over the holidays. smurf. ----- Original Message ----- From: "markgerrard" <markgerrard@breathemail.net> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2001 4:41 PM Subject: Re: comment on AA today > Hi Joe, > > I agree with you. The first thing that hit me face on when I saw this on TV > this morning was the guys name. > > Now call me racist if you like, but someone of Middle Eastern appearance > ain't going to have a name like Richard Reid! Surely the French need their > a** kicked for not doing a thorough check, or is it a case of it's not Air > France we don't care? > > regards, > > Mark Gerrard