This summer, I had the opportunity to sample a number of airports of different sizes. As far as I am concerned, I judge airports on two aspects, cleanliness and efficiency of me going from the check-in counters to the gate. Fortunately the first part is assured in most airports in Europe (or at least in those I have used). The second part is kind of funny. Let me explain…

Going form landside to airside there is a procedure that can make or break the day for a passenger: the security. Europe (at least) had an extremely admirable security record with the last major incidents taking place some twenty plus year ago. And then the attacks in 2001 happened and a new area of business appeared: Security. Where security was private (like the two airports where the hijacks started) the government stepped in, while in others the situation was vice versa. Security was much stricter and obviously much more intrusive (and lucrative). Big bosses obviously made a lot of money (due to the assumed, responsibility) and front line personnel gained – with little or no qualifications - more authority and power than they ever hope to do so. I used to feel relax going though the airports where national police was in charge of passenger screening because of the very relaxed yet secured procedure. In the airports controlled by private security firms, screening points are usually manned by individuals on a power trip that render the experience usually unpleasant along with metal detectors adjusted to the maximum sensitivity to cover bosses backsides and annoy paying passengers.

Then the summer of 2006 came and the rules about the liquids changed much to the delight of the duty free shops and to the displeasure of the passenger worldwide (it was not possible any more to buy and carry a normal size bottle of wine when traveling light).

The end result is worst, most stressful trips paid for by higher security fees where passengers frequently are exposed to security employees, with little respect for the paying customers, mainly caring to show who is in charge. Overall very bad situations since records have shown that the previous security system used to work well. And for those that think that privatization is the answer would they care to think which organizations were in charge of security in US airports in September 2001.

Why do I think it is funny? Because aviation security is the only field in the world where customers are paying to be harassed and yet come back from more without complaining.

Next time (in the short haul): I would take the train as long as security is reasonable.