Posted on 08/11/2006 9:48:46 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES
Ray Watson figured the ban on carrying liquids onto flights that forced thousands of travelers to discard cosmetics and other items would prove a boon for one industry: makers of toiletries.
"I can't imagine all the millions of dollars that the Colgate-Palmolives are going to reap from this," said Watson, 40, of Denver, as he waited to pick up his luggage at Los Angeles International Airport. "The Dumpsters in Phoenix were filled with shampoo and toothpaste."
U.S. authorities banned the carrying of nearly all liquids onto flights Thursday after British authorities arrested 24 people in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound planes using explosives disguised as drinks and other common products.
Federal aviation officials said security screening at U.S. airports was expected to take considerably more time. It is not clear how long the restrictions will remain in effect. One lawmaker, Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., said the situation "eliminates the days of carry-on baggage."
On Friday, passengers will be subject to a second security check at airport gates, airline officials said.
From London to Los Angeles, travelers on Thursday unpacked their carry-on bags on the floor in the terminals to remove the prohibited items. Some tried to squeeze makeup, sunscreen and other toiletries into their checked baggage, where liquids were permissible.
Terry Asbury, who flew into Cincinnati from Albuquerque, N.M., said she understood why security had to be high, but it came with a price tag.
"I literally lost about $50 or $60 worth of things we were told to throw out," the Dayton resident said, noting she had to throw out all of her cosmetics.
After Kristin Reinke, of Champlin, Minn., dumped her a bottle into a tub at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, she complained to her husband, Mike Reinke, "I just threw out $34 worth of hand lotion."
He was sympathetic, but accepted the Transportation Security Administration's reasons for the ban. "What are you going to do?" he said. "I guess you have to be safe."
Amanda Volz, a TSA screener in Minneapolis, said she hoped more travelers would take that attitude Friday.
"There's some moaning and groaning, and a few people who get angry, but once you explain it to them, they are more lenient about giving it up," Volz said. "You just try to make them understand that it's for their safety."
The ban on liquids and gels covered such things as shampoo, toothpaste, contact lens solution, perfume and water bottles. The only exceptions were for baby formula and medications, which had to be presented for inspection at security checkpoints.
Liquids are allowed in checked bags because those suitcases are screened for explosives and are stowed in the cargo hold beyond passengers' reach.
Kingsley Veal, 35, a geologist from England, said his Continental flight from London's Heathrow airport to San Francisco was "long and boring" because he couldn't bring any books or music on board, but he thought the no-carry-on policy should always be in effect.
"If no one's allowed anything, then you'd know, right?" Veal said.
Other security measures were also ramped up at airports. Governors in Massachusetts, California and New York sent National Guard troops to major airports in their states.
When Ken Kirkwood, a school teacher from Yucaipa, Calif., and his wife arrived after an 11-hour flight to Los Angeles from Heathrow, a bomb squad vehicle was parked near the plane on the runway. He said it took two hours to get off the plane, go through customs and retrieve their luggage.
"We're glad to be on solid ground," he said.
___
Associated Press Writers Jordan Robertson in San Francisco, Patrick Condon in Minneapolis and Joe Milicea in Cleveland contributed to this report.
Big oil! (biiiiiig oooooill.....)
Halliburton! (halliburrtonnnnnnnnnnn)
Cosmetic companies! (maaary kaaaay!)
Stop the war machine now, make your voice heard! But brush your teeth first. (Oh that's right...we...CANNNN't....)
[Paid for by George Soros and non-made up friends of Nancy Pelosi...wait, what's the difference?]
ok, Rush's ads are better...
Every day that we think "ok, ban this too" is the solution instead of closing down the mosques and mass arrests is another day that the terrorists make progress. Flying trans-atlantic without even books allowed? That's as much of a terrorist victory as flaming wreckage.
The obvious thing to do, instead of confiscating people's lip gloss and mouthwash, would be to prohibit all Pakistanis, no, all Muslims, from boarding commercial and private airplanes. From now on they walk or swim. The rest of us could travel in peace. Picture on front page of Wash Post of redheaded woman with baby stopped at Denver airport tells the whole story of the resources we're wasting in order not to profile. We need to start profiling today. I was traveling for 18 hours yesterday and it was hideous.
No books? I thought it was liquids and electronics that was prohibited. Other stuff in plastic bags could come on board. Am I wrong?
I guess she would rather be dead.
check out the link I posted from TSA.
what is reflected there conflicts with what is reported in the article, re: books and electronic devices..
I think a ban on flying for anyone from a muslim country would help. I would go so far as prohibiting planes from muslim countries from landing in the US and Britain. Go ahead and scream aplologist but until the muslims learn to clean up their act, they should be kept apart from civilized peoples.
could be a medusa thing, without them, you may be turned to stone if you look her in the face. ;-)
Cutting deep into the problem would be a giant first step. Ban all Muslims from commercial and private flights. Nothing to do with their race. Send them all back to their miserable countries of origin. Make the converts move to Pakistan. The responsible ones need to be pressed until they compel their mad dog brethern to cease and desist.
That guy was flying here from the UK. I believe they were nearly everything except passports and money on the UK end.
And a big stack of porno mags too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.