When I was a kid and we had to take a relative back to the airport at the end of a visit, it was not a quick event. We'd accompany the person to the counter to check their bags, and then take the long walk with them through the underground hallway at LAX to the boarding gates in the big round building on the end. We could sit there until the flight was called, say our goodbyes, and if we wanted to actually watch their airplane pull away.
Even as late as 2000 I can remember taking the kids to John Wayne Airport to meet my wife's plane, and we could all easily go through the metal detectors and sit in the gate area while waiting for her to arrive.
Not today. We just dropped my daughter off at LAX. We were first greeted by cops who were checking every car that pulling into the departure lanes (the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew out of there earlier today). Walking into the terminal building we came smack up against a huge security line that started downstairs and wound its way up to the floor where we entered from the parking garage.
We jammed into an elevator to go to the ticketing area, were able to quickly get her checked in, but then had to say our goodbyes as she entered the huge security queue. Without a boarding pass you can't get into the gate area. It's just not the same.
Stupid terrorists.
Of course, there is an upside. Unlike the 60's and 70's, when you go into the boarding area at LAX you're no longer greeted by Hari Krishna's trying to hit you up for money.
I guess we can at least thank the terrorists for that.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
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2 comments:
I was able to accompany my mother through security at Dulles a couple years ago. The ticket agent mentioned that I could get a non-passenger ticket to get through security and was able to see her to the gate and hang out until her flight boarded. Maybe it's something you have to ask for, or they've discontinued it since then.
I've been told that the Portland OR airport used to be infested with the Krishnas. The locals started carrying little clickers (sometimes called crickets) and when accosted, started clicking. They would then be joined by others with clickers, and drown out the Ks.
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