The new security procedures mean that the airlines are going to have to provide a lot more water, if you're not allowed to bring your own.

[Update a little later, with a few more thoughts]

Women are going to get hit harder by this than men. They're more likely to want to take their special liquids (shampoos, conditioners, etc.) that won't necessarily be purchasable at the destination, in a carry on for a short trip. For the men, standard shampoo and toothpaste will be purchasable at the other end.

I predict that this is going to mean a lot more checked baggage. I wonder if they'll be able to handle it?

I also think that as it gets more and more of a PITA to fly, at some point people are going to rebel, and demand that we adopt the Israeli approach--to start looking for terrorists, instead of weapons. Now that Mineta's gone, the opposition to profiling may be reduced. It will be interesting in light of the Hamdan decision what the Supreme Court will have to say about it if it occurs and (as will be inevitable from the CAIR lawsuits) it hears a case.

Oh, and did you notice Bush's speech today? He didn't say we're at war with terror. He said we're at war with "Islamic fascists." That's a big improvement.

[Evening update]

I think that the new airline security policies are idiotic. I'll explain why in a TCSDaily column. Probably Monday.

Remember "David Nelson" making the no fly list?

Why are you confident the TSA can achieve Israeli levels of efficiency? Innocent people being refused boarding will grow old very fast as well.

I predict more driving for medium distance trips.

I, on the other hand, predict the accelerated deployment of the preferred "safe" flyer list. You submit to a proctological-level investigation and get certified as allowed to skip most of the airport security. The frequent business flyers will flock to it in droves, and the rest of us don't fly often enough to really get mad and do something besides grumble.

Everyone made the same predictions and complaints when airline security changed after 9/11. Did anything really change?

"I predict more driving for medium distance trips."

Actually, increased security might be a boon for "air taxi" services catering to businessmen. That field is already poised to expand rapidly anyway. Passengers do not require security screening for those flights.

Not that its cheap, but are you no longer able to purchase bottled water within the security perimeter and take that on board? I always carry one bottle with me just in case. I've been there when the plane pulls away from the gate and then sits on the tarmac waiting for a weather system to clear somewhere between here and there.

As for checking bags, Continental does a good job of bumping my carry-on to check at the gate anyway. Not much of a problem until you arrive at IAH and realize the three largest terminals share the same baggage area. Otherwise, I have no problem with checking bags, but then I haven't lost a bag yet...

I managed to fly back into London yesterday, no mean feat, but even the City Airport was chaos when we landed.

On route to Copenhagen I'd been chatting to a baggage handler on the train, he was concerned about the process of handling the extra hold luggage. A lot of the commuter flights have hold space near the steps for bags, but a lot of other, especially the profitable low cost airlines like Ryan Air have been pushing for no hold luggage at all. He wasn't convinced that the equipment in CPH could handle an effective doubling of what they have to process.

My wife has a transatlantic flight on Monday, and I've one about a week later. The thought of a long-haul without an iPod, laptop and noise reducing headphones is pretty grim. I'm almost tempted to make life slightly harder for myself and go via Amsterdam or Copenhagen...

Rand is quite right on this, they have to go over to profiling and they need to start a qualified or registered flyer programme for frequent flyers which would probably have to include security checks.

My coworker leaves today (he hopes) on a vacation to London. He is going to visit his sisters, who live there, and his brother that is also coming in. His brother is coming from Iran, my coworkers country of birth. The return trip to the states is schedule for August 21st.

I told him to expect to be profiled and his answer was; "I rather be profiled and safe, then not." That's a good attitude, and one we should all consider. My problem isn't the profiling, it is the attitude. Ask me questions and check my luggage is fine, but don't yell and threaten me because I question an odd or new policy like removing my shoes (no longer new, but was) and forfeiting my toothpaste and mouthwash.

Sadly, I was finally getting the post 9/11 security routine down to a minor event. Alas, it seems its is going to be rough again.