At 09:48 PM 12/1/2003, you wrote: >In a message dated 12/1/2003 6:23:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, >dmueller7@xxxxxxxxx writes: > ><< That's why "new and improved" is in quotes. > > I have to admit, the airside is more pleasant without all those extra > people. >> > >And this type of security would not have stopped the terrorists. The cockpit >doors on the other hand, now that was an improvement >Isn't the definition of airside actually being on the tarmac? There are several real contributions you get with only ticketed passengers. First, and foremost, you look at plain fewer people. The more people to screen, the more likely someone is to slip through. Second, you get a chance to screen and profile based on the ticket purchase, so you can focus more effort on people with higher risk profiles and unknowns and less on people with low risk profiles. Third, you make it harder for your opponents to game the system by going through security lots of times without flying and not being tracked. - David