LAX, Security, Body Searches and Home

By Kim Stevens

I don't know if I'm just getting to use to the way we go through security at the airport these days, or if it really isn't that bad, or if I've become a frequent flyer zombie destined for the same end as a Lemming.
I recently flew from Phoenix to Los Angeles World Airports, (LAX) for the FAA Western Pacific Region's 6th Annual Airports conference. I was reminded why they call LAX "World Airport" having seen so many different carriers represented during my stay.  My hotel room looked out at the arriving aircraft and it was captivating counting up all of the different companies flying in, foreign and domestic, freight and passenger.
Back to security, I guess it's sad, thinking that it has become routine to strip down before the security gods. At least I've learned what to do and what not to do to get through without the embarrassment of a wand or hand search. I'm not sure what she did to warrant the special attention, but I watched as a rather distinguished middle aged woman in plain view of the rest of us, was patted down by a matronly TSA employee, well patted down is not the correct term, it was more like pressing your hands in and around all of the hills and valleys of the human body.
She put on a good face but if you looked into her eyes,  I think there was a degree of embarrassment and a definite un-comfortableness about the whole thing. What was even more interesting perhaps was the looks or non-looks by the rest of us slugs slinking off as quickly as possible so as not to attract the attention of someone else with a wand. You know, now that I think of it, once through security there is this feeling somewhat akin to thinking we just got away with smoking in the bathroom.
I haven't experienced the full body scanner yet nor do I know if you have to take your shoes, belts and whatever else off before you walk through. If not, that might not be so bad, however I'm sure I'll suck in my gut as I walk through, like that's going to help anything other than my ego. I'm not sure I'll make eye contact with those monitoring the screens, but I better not hear a chuckle.
Talking about LAX, I didn't get the chance to see it but I noticed that according to an article by USA TODAY, Los Angeles revealed its newly reconstructed Tom Bradley International Terminal last week, a development that cost $737 million and took more than three years to finish. You know, I don't think it actually cost $737 million, I think they thought it would just be cool to use the same number as the Boeing aircraft.
Evidently, the new terminal features wider and brighter lit corridors in check-in lobbies, baggage carousels that handle bags faster, renovated restrooms and two aircraft gates that can accommodate new generation aircraft, like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The story also noted that the renovated terminal features a new checked bag facility that reduces lobby congestion by eliminating the need for passengers to haul their luggage to a screening machine in the lobby.
Four premium-class lounges that consolidate 16 smaller, individual lounges were also installed. According to the article the airlines at Bradley Terminal chipped in about $20 million to build this new feature. Obviously Southwest was not one of them, for my bags were flying free, my soda was still free, my mini bags of peanuts were free.....I was so giddy I felt like Tiny Tim and asked, may I have more, please!
Yes, there was something comforting about getting on my flight, putting one bag in the overhead bin, one under the seat in front of me, and securely fastening my seatbelt. I watched the ground fade away below as we entered the marine layer. I closed my eyes, clicked my heals and said "there's no place like home, there's no place like home."