And then, there is my favorite new and maybe dumbest security measure just implemented on international flights: Passengers must remain in their seats with nothing on their laps for the entire final one hour of their flight. It is not clear at this point whether domestic flights will soon be subject to the same nonsense.
And, nonsense it is! The notion appears to be that since the Nigerian passenger involved in the Christmas Day incident opted to ignite his explosive device as the jet was landing in Detroit--and thus over a populated, urban area--this would be the best time to keep passengers from moving about. (He apparently had gotten up first to go to the bathroom where, presumably, he readied his contraption for ignition.)
Give me a break! On international flights into LAX, it is the last hour when many passengers need to get their things together, make one last run for the bathroom, or, if traveling with an infant, use the time for one, last diaper change.
Making them sit glued to their seats is not only unworkable, but potentially cruel.
Now let me be clear. No one is arguing that there shouldn't be prudent steps taken to make commercial flying as safe as possible. But the operative word here is "prudent." I strongly think that these latest measures cross an unacceptable line and that financially stressed airlines and stressed out passengers alike need to say to the government, enough is enough!
There is risk in everything we do. It is part of being alive. It has always been and always will be a part of flying. Yes, we can, and should, manage and reduce that risk as best we can, but not to the point where if given a choice between getting on a plane and having root canal, most people will opt for a trip to the dentist!