Air transport is slow and inefficient compared to any other kind of transportation in terms of security controls. It has the most complex,  arbitrary and unproven set of rules with the sole aim of providing a false sense of security in the passengers. How many terror attacks have been averted in a security check since 9/11? I’d bet on zero. The only benefit I see is deterring smugglers. 

Just by scanning your hand luggage violates personal privacy which is a universal human right. For example, why a security officer has to know about your sex toys?

But that’s not the only right you’re waiving there. You also waive your right to protection of the law. This a chicken-egg problem: to protect you, you’re being searched as a regular suspect without any basis for it. 

Even after your suitcase was already scanned, why they need to go through all your stuff inside and then you need to repack it again when it took you an hour to prepare?

Furthermore why they need to do all of that if you travel with your family with 2 little children? It’s embarrassing and humiliating every time being treated like a suspect.

And what about the restriction on liquids and gels? Why do we still keep this arbitrary rule? How much stuff have we lost because of this rule? As if explosives couldn’t be transported in a solid state or even in a pack of baby wipes that can be squeezed to get over 250ml of liquid. Anything can be an explosive! This was supposedly introduced due to the plot unveiled in August of 2006!

I haven’t read or heard any pleasant story about airport security from any passenger since 9/11. I think it’s time to review all airport security protocols with the aim of making air transport more efficient, cheaper and let insurance companies cover for very unlikely catastrophes. I don’t mean to stop all security checks but keep scanning luggage for known usual threats like weapons and bombs. Threats should be averted way ahead by intelligence services and that’s where the money should go. This way you cover a wider spectrum of terror and not just airports. Airport security should work based on their latest updates and should target specific profiles with founded suspicions. It’s about time to make flying a pleasant experience again for everyone!

Refs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_security

https://www.icao.int/Security/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_transatlantic_aircraft_plot