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I have fun with this when I fly, actually.

Let's just say I fit the physical profile.

6'4"
235 lbs.
Fit.
high and tight
middle aged white guy.

I also mimic the dress code not to mimic it, but because that's how I dress when I travel for business. I wear a sport coat cuz it holds my ticket jacket/boarding pass, my passport, my PDA, and my pen, etc.

I carry an innocuous looking soft-sided bag/back-pack for my laptop and all the associated crap of business travel.

Because I am a multi-million miler biz flyer, I am first class or exit row-aisle flyer, and if not, I am always on the aisle.

But ...

Just to mess with people, I DO make very direct eye contact with people as I walk down the aisle, or as they do if I am seated. Also I keep my sportcoat on for the whole flight. (they're lightweight and comfy).

One flight on a 777 I was exit row left side (right by the boarding door) first row in coach. I put my bag in the overhead and took my seat. Later a young couple (early 20s) boarded to take their seats in the row directly behind me. In putting their stuff in the overhead, the pushed my bag behind theirs. No big deal, but I wanted to be able to get my laptop out once we took off "and reached a comfortable cruise above 10,000 feet". So I stood up and re-arranged the stuff so my bag was in front. The young man asked me why I was moving their stuff. I responded ... "Because I *HAVE* to have access to my bag during the flight. HAVE to."

You shoulda seen his eyes. It was funny.

Air Marshals are nice because they can legally cuff an a$$hole passenger. Otherwise the passengers have to employ greater physical force to the perp in order to subdue him/them. The idea that perps will go after FAMs first just means they would play their hand to the passengers who would react anyway. There is NO chance US passengers will EVER allow some nutcase to enter the cockpit. None. IT ain't happening again.

On the surprisingly-entertaining A&E reality show "Airline," a man was actually arrested because he (a) was wearing an NYPD t-shirt, (b) was feigning vigilant behavior on the plane, and (b) insisted to other passengers that he had to have access to the aisle so he could see what was going on.

As I recall, he was charged with "impersonating an LEO."

Please don't end up like that guy.