Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
practiced criminal groups stalk major airports and specialize in grabbing
bags off the X-ray machine's conveyor belt while their owners walk
through the metal detector. If you are traveling with someone, have one
person go through the detector and wait while you place your bags onto
the conveyor for the X-ray machine. The person on the outside should
watch the bags as they pass into the machine. The person who has already
cleared the checkpoint watches the bags as they pass through and collects
them. In this way the bags are never unattended except for the few moments
when they are physically passing through the machine.
Make sure that you are not carrying anything that could even remotely
be considered a weapon. Nothing sharp or pointed and, unless you don't
mind spending time in a federal holding cell, don't forget to check any
firearms you may have. Never, under any circumstances, agree to take any-
thing on board for someone else. This, of course, does not apply to bring-
ing a box of Grandma's cookies overseas to your relatives. But it does
apply to just about everyone else. Do you remember the preflight ques-
tion that used to be asked of travelers on airplanes? Passengers used to be
asked: “Has anyone unknown to you asked you to carry an item on this
flight?” This is no longer the case, as bombs have been unwittingly car-
ried by persons taking a package for someone they knew, or thought they
knew, very well. Consider the case of Anne Murphy, five months' pregnant
by her Jordanian boyfriend, Nezar Hindawi. Hindawi gave her a package
containing three pounds of plastic explosives, more than enough to bring
down the plane, to carry onto an El Al flight between London and Tel
Aviv. Murphy and the package were intercepted before she boarded, and
no one was harmed. But consider the absolute abrogation of every instinct
of humanity in this act. Hindawi was indifferent not only to the murder
of his girlfriend in furtherance of his attack but of his unborn child as well.
In-Flight Briefing
While flying, pay attention to the security briefing given by the flight
attendant. Almost everyone tunes out this presentation instead of paying
attention to it. Locate the emergency exits and decide which one will be
easier to access in an emergency. Know where the next closest one is as
well in case you are unable to get to your choice. In the event of an evac-
uation during smoke-filled conditions, it is a good idea to carry dispos-
able emergency escape hoods with you for each member of your party. We
will discuss these types of devices later on.