The September 11th attack
From now on, flying will be bigger hassle

By Chris Oliver
Advertiser Staff Writer

Our way of travel changed dramatically last week as tighter security at airports across the Islands boosted safety for passengers while restricting access to those without tickets.

Travelers can expect longer delays at airports because of the federal government's drastically increased security posture. On Thursday, the day commercial air flights resumed, National Guard troops were called to help with security at Honolulu International Airport. Under the new regime, you can't go into a terminal unless you're boarding a plane. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Curbside and kiosk check-in have been discontinued and Aloha's fourth-floor parking lot drive-through is no more.

The message is: If you are not traveling, you do not belong at the airport.

"We are discouraging anyone who does not have a ticket to fly from coming into the airport," said Marilyn Kali, state transportation spokeswoman. "They won't be allowed past the first security check point (at the entrance to the gates concourse). Passengers with a ticket should say their goodbyes in the car and get dropped at the curbside."

Traveling outbound

The person accompanying you to the airport must drop you at the curb and not linger or leave the car. There will be no curbside check-in, though you can tip a porter to help with your luggage or pay for a cart.

Your driver can park in the parking structure or lot and accompany you to the security checkpoint, but only if he or she is willing to present ID and subject the car to a rigorous search, Kali said.

The bottom line here is: No more leaving the car running while you help Tutu manhandle a large box up to the ticket counter. Don't pack what you can't carry or aren't willing to pay to have carried.

When you're packing, be aware that your luggage — including boxes and parcels — may be opened and physically searched even for interisland flights. If you have secured a box with tape, as we Islanders often do, you'll need to tape it up again. Since knives, scissors and other cutting implements are allowed only in checked baggage and banned from carry-on entirely, carry duct tape which can be torn with the teeth.

Meeting someone

These were lines of passengers waiting to check in at the Delta Airlines desk at Honolulu airport on Friday. Longer lines and longer check-in times are virtually assured under new federal security regulations. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

At Honolulu International Airport, arriving passengers will be required to claim their bags from the first-floor carousels and take the elevators or escalator to the second floor in order to be picked up.

Kali suggests this procedure: "Wait until they have picked up their bags and have them call you before picking them up on the curbside."

Neighbor Island airports

The new regulations apply to all airports. If you're wondering if such tiny airports as Kapalua on Maui and Kaunakakai on Moloka'i are having to put new security measures into place, the answer is yes. They will be held to the same standards as larger airports with concourses and more imposing buildings.

"Those without tickets will not be allowed beyond the first security checkpoint, which is immediately after the check-in counters," Kali said.

Greg Kahlstorf, president of Pacific Wings, a Maui-based commuter airline with 50 interisland departures a day, confirmed that passengers from remote airports such as Hana or Kalaupapa will go through identical security procedures at these small airports.

"Because the commuter and major airline terminals are physically separated, each has its own security facilities," Kahlstorf said. "The remote and rural airports have security measures that are scaled to the needs and size of those airports."

William Vogt, who commutes to his dental practice in Kahala from Moloka'i in his Cessna 206 single engine airplane, was stuck in Hono-

lulu after the general aviation grounding last week. "I'm sure security will be increased and things will change for pilots like myself," said Vogt who, along with other small-plane owners, parks his aircraft at the end of Lagoon Drive. "The gate code hasn't changed in eight years."

We're not alone

The stepped-up security reflects what already takes place in many European airports and reminded University of Hawai'i scientist Nick Kaiser of how it felt to fly from London's Heathrow airport to Tel Aviv on El Al, the Israeli airline, several years ago.

"Just to get onto a scheduled flight meant passing through a security area of armed guards with machine guns," Kaiser said. Before boarding, Kaiser was asked random questions in two separate interviews by two teenage girls in military uniform, who would later compare his answers. "It was both unnerving and reassuring," Kaiser said, "but at least I knew they took security very, very seriously."

Airline officials here say Islanders will have to get used to spending more time in transit.

"It's taking a lot more time to process passengers at airports," said Keoni Wagner, Hawaiian Airlines senior director for communications.

"Check-in takes longer and generally waiting time for passengers has increased. We are recommending travelers get to the airport three hours before flights to the Mainland or international flights and 90 minutes prior to interisland flights. We're reminding passengers also that even getting into the parking lots takes more time," Wagner said.

Online check-in and some other conveniences airlines have been working diligently to provide for easier traveling will be undone by the new regulations. "While we support the increased security measures, the by-product is that travel conveniences will now regress," Wagner said.

Changing plans

Hawai'i travel agents say they've been swamped with questions from passengers concerned about rearranging trips that had to be canceled or making plans for future travel.

Christine Ideue of Rendezvous Tours, reported that certain airlines are waiving their change and cancel fees for a limited time (see accompanying story for specifics on airline policies).

"Airlines are first accommodating all revenue passengers. Non-revenue passengers (such as those using frequent flyer miles) remain on a standby basis," Ideue said.

"In some cases we have had to refer passengers directly to the airlines as well as assisting passengers in getting change and cancel fees waived. We are assisting customers with discounted rates or accommodations for unexpected extended stays," Ideue said.

Chris Oliver can be reached at coliver@hawaii.rr.com or 535-2411.