Since 9/11, we have had at least two known attempts by islamists to bring down pax airliners using bombs hidden on the body of a terrorist. One of these would have almost certainly succeeded if a pax had not interfered with Richard Reid.

Does that not lead one to conclude that it might be necessary to find out what terrorists carry on their bodies?

No? Then what do wait for? Maybe a successful attack by an underwear bomber? That attack method certainly posed a valid threat, and was foiled only by the incompetence of the bomb maker.

You need to ask yourself if you would change your mind if a widebody (or two or three) were brought down this holiday season. If that would change your mind, then you might as well change it now BEFORE the horses are out of the barn.

The current security system worked in the case of RR, but the layered defense failed all the way up to the very last layer (alert pax). that's cutting it too close.

The security system completely failed in the underwear case...the terrorists screwed that up all on their own (regardless of what Janet would have you think).

Such an attack would be a big game changer for us...it would almost certainly mean a permanent career change for the bottom 20% of every airline's list. This industry will not bounce back so quickly from a second 9/11. Even if the pax are willing to come back the added security costs will kill us economically (it's expensive to shut the barn door!)

I certainly understand folks who don't like these screening techniques, but no one is forcing you to do it! Flying on airliners is not a "right". There are numerous other travel options, feel to take one them. NYC-LAX used to take sis months by covered wagon...in those terms 3 days on a bus is not such a big deal. If enough pax do it there will be first class, meal service, etc.