Reading some post-9/11 garbage from Ann Coulter made me realize something that I’d completely missed at the time.

Recently, Jackie and I flew back to visit family. The security lines were basically running about the same way they’ve been since 9/11, but one thing was absent; when we picked up our tickets at the counter, no one asked me the “three standard stupid questions” before either flight. (I.e.: did you pack your own bags? did anyone hand you a ticking carry on? et cetera).

I can think of a couple reasons for this:
- They’ve realized that a Real terrorist would lie anyway.
- They’ve decided that it doesn’t matter if someone gave you the ticking case, what matters at that moment is that you’re the one carrying it.
- They forgot… twice… in two different airports.
- United just really don’t give a damn anymore.

Regardless, it was quite a shock to realize the omission (once I finally did realize, that is — like I said, it wasn’t as though I was pining away, waiting to answer the assinine queries).

That's actually about a year old.

Ann Coulter's garbage stretches back much further, of course ...

Really? Because I got asked all those questions on the flight over to England.

Doyce

I think that international flights have different rules. I remember being asked the 3 questions back when I went to Europe. But, with the flying that I have done in the past year to the Company (one of the blessed joys of using the company jet, is not having to deal with this crap), I have not been asked any of those questions.

Though, I do have fun teasing my boss about FWB. He gets flagged with the happy ticket every time.

I wasn't asked the questions when I flew from JFK/EWR to LAX/LGB over the summer. The airlines were Continental and JetBlue. The latter I highly recommend, if they service your market.