[cidrasm]

So, what's the deal with the "random" checks at the gate? Are the airlines trying to tell us that the security check point inspections are a joke (they are, but that's another story). Most of these random inspections are a farce. Southwest at least implements a computer based profiling selection criteria (last minute flight, change of flight, one way ticket, etc) the rest are purely at the whim of the people at the gate. I say this based on experience over the last couple of weeks. On the Southwest flight in which I was checked, my ticket had a specific mark, the same mark which every other passenger that got the extra search had (btw, I changed my original return ticket from United to Southwest a couple days before the flight because United cancelled the original flight which triggered the profile). When searched by United, it was purely random (yeah, this is really helpful, PC bullshit at it's best, don't want to offend anyone with targetted searches based on behaviour).

[Utah Girl]

By doing "random" checks at the gate, they are trying to avoid offending anyone, especially Arab men between the ages of 20 and 50...The check system needs to be made much more sophisticated like you said. Look for certain signs and pull those people in. I'd rather have some people with hurt feelings than 4000 more dead people.

[suijuris]

On the Southwest flight in which I was checked, my ticket had a specific mark, the same mark which every other passenger that got the extra search had

Cid: I seem to get frisked a lot and don't know why. What is the mark on the ticket you refer to? Suijuris