Most fliers feel safer, poll shows By Chris Woodyard and Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY Three out of four travelers feel safer as a result of stricter airport security even though they say it's more of a hassle to catch a flight nowadays, a survey for USA TODAY finds. And in what might be encouraging news for government security planners, a similar overwhelming majority of travelers say they are getting used to the changes and don't mind them. The survey results seem to support efforts by the Transportation Security Administration, the agency created after the Sept. 11 attacks to revamp airport security. The survey of 2,146 adults, many of whom traveled for business or leisure during the past 12 months, was conducted last Tuesday through Friday by Equation Research. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. The survey found 78% of travelers feel safer as a result of the efforts to tighten airport security. About the same percentage say they are growing accustomed to enhanced airport security and don't mind it. But 63% say airport security is becoming more of a hassle. Since the TSA has taken control, government employees have taken over security checkpoints from private firms that used to man them under contract to airlines. Passengers routinely have to remove shoes and overcoats before going through the checkpoints. Laptop computers are screened separately. Many travelers are directed into secondary screening or special lines at checkpoints in which they face more intense scrutiny. Since Jan. 1, all checked baggage has been subjected to trace detection for bomb-making materials or put through super-powerful X-ray devices for a peek inside. Suspicious suitcases are opened for inspection. "People generally feel the airline industry has done a good job in the extra measures for air travel and security," says Mike Travis, CEO of Equation Research. "They feel safer as a result of these measures." The government imposed some additional checks when it raised the terror alert from yellow to orange last week, two days before the United States started bombing Iraq. Small-business consultant Ken Wagar says travelers are more tolerant of tougher security. "I'm like a lot of people. I'm willing to put up with a certain level of hassle to make sure things are safe, but I think things were over the top for quite a while," he says. "I've got no complaints today." Kelly Eager, an oil operations manager based in Houston, did notice tougher security measures last week when taking his monthly business trip to London: Every piece of his luggage was hand-searched, and he underwent a body pat-down. "It's been tightened up," he says. "Had to show them my belt buckle and take my shoes off, then they went through my carry-on bag." *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.thehummingbirdonline.com TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************