Tighter security slows travel, surprises fliers

Spokane International Airport’s main Dumpster on Thursday morning looked more like the sale bin at a discount drugstore.

Bags and bags of squished toothpaste tubes, fancy eye creams, bottles of shampoo, cans of shaving cream, coffee cups and water bottles were stacked in the Dumpster on the tarmac behind the baggage claim area.

All the drinks and toiletries were thrown away at the security checkpoint by passengers unaware that liquids, creams and gels can no longer be carried onto aircraft. Others saved their belongings by shuffling them from carry-ons into luggage to be checked.

The new ban was imposed Thursday by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration in response to a thwarted terrorist plot to bomb flights leaving England.

Heightened screening and confusion over the ban stretched early morning waits at Spokane International Airport security checkpoints to about 45 minutes compared to a typical Thursday morning wait of about 17 to 20 minutes, said local TSA Security Director Dereck Stacks.

Compare that with three-hour lines stretching into SeaTac International Airport’s parking garage, and Spokane International passengers were doing well.

Stacks called for TSA employees to work overtime Thursday and got about a dozen volunteers to help speed screening along.

About half of Spokane’s morning flights were delayed 30 to 60 minutes, said Spokane International Airport spokesman Todd Woodard. That meant most of those caught in the longer security lines made their flights.

While electronics are banned from being carried onto flights in the United Kingdom, they are still allowed in the United States.

“Folks, just a reminder. No gels or liquids are allowed beyond this point,” repeated TSA employee Bob Arnold over and over from his station about 30 yards in front of the security checkpoint.

Many local passengers had already heard about the new banned items but were confused about the extent to which the ban would be enforced.

Will TSA really say no to a bottle of water? Yes. Better chug-a-lug.

Is mascara a liquid? You bet. At least you won’t have to worry about getting raccoon eyes when you cry over the money thrown in the trash with all your toiletries.

Business traveler James Dreiling had heard about the ban but decided to take a chance; he had to dump out about $50 worth of his toiletries kit.

“I was wondering how stringent it was going to be,” Dreiling said with a shrug. “Better safe than sorry,” he added.

The vast majority of passengers took the ban and security delays in stride, said Woodard and Stacks.

Phoenix-bound Rick Sullivan just checked the bag he might have carried on, lightening his load.

Houston resident Angie Hunter was frustrated when she had to move things into her checked bag.

“I’ve flown out of a lot of airports and never had to do this before,” she said before finding out it was a new nationwide restriction.

The only exceptions to the liquid and gel ban are baby formula and baby’s milk, prescription medications and essential over-the-counter medications such as insulin and inhalers.

And no, said Stacks, you won’t be required to drink formula or breast milk to prove its authenticity.