I hate how airports feel like militarized zones now

and that militarization hasn’t done a thing to improve security

Tldw, but what about deterrent effects? Not sure how they could ever be measured.
- it’s called “security theater” for a reason – fine as long as you don’t look behind the curtain – TSA gets to bully those who pose no danger and the ones who pose a danger already know it’s all an act
- TSA isn't even the one making the airport feel like a militarized zone. Most agents aren't allowed to be armed nor have any more power than regular citizens. They are the same as a bouncer of a club. I don't know about the USA but in most countries it's either the police or the military providing the protection.
  
  Airport and flying safety has improved significantly over the past few years. Plane hijackings used to be way more common pre 9-11. The reason why 9-11 worked was because there was a protocol in place on how to deal with hijackings. And that was to follow the demands of the hijackers. Because this would safe the most lives.
  
  Today the protocol has changed. Pilots will never open the cockpit door, no matter what the hijackers are threatening or actually doing to passengers. And ironically this also means that the TSA does a better job than most assume. Because the main priority is to ensure hijackers can't get into the cockpit. Bringing any equipment onto a plane that could help tearing down that door is almost certainly going to be detected by the screening.

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I shoot toy guns (airsoft), and most of us are more disciplined than this.

By and large–and depending which country you're in–the visible security measures have largely tapered off and have gone behind the scenes. Speaking for US airports, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 there were actual US military (fully armed) staged throughout the airports, military and police officers gave every vehicle about 30 seconds to let their passengers and luggage out before yelling or whistling for the driver to move on. Depending on your age, you might not recall this.

Nowadays the airport experience is pretty predictable. One shows up to the airport, they might give you a hard time for sticking around the passenger drop-off point too long, but at the airports I've been to there are people flat out parked waiting to solicit arrivals for rides. You go to the ticketing counter, proceed through initial (and maybe secondary) security screening then go to your gate.

Only the passenger screening process has changed substantially, and that is where you might reasonably expect to see an increased security presence–however effective it may or may not be. Dropoff is now the same as it used to be, ticketing is the same, and the gate experience is largely the same, too.

If you're referring to your experience at one particular airport, then it's possible it's a local configuration and not really representative of other airports.

If you are in the US, and you'd really like, many airports have dedicated viewing areas from where you can watch arriving and departing aircraft, and in general there are no security procedures to enter those areas.

I flew into the Honolulu from Australia maybe a month after 9/11 and yeah there was military personnel full kitted out ever 3 metres.

When you hopped off the plane you immediately got x-rayed, I didn't have any carry on so was able to just walk through, unknown to me the person in front of me forgot to grab a fucking poster tube off the x-ray and two of the soldiers ran after me yelling about the tube, I kind of ignored the yelling at first because I didn't know what the hell the tube was they were yelling about until I sensed everybody was looking at me, I turn around and see them rushing me and right before they got to me the other person is like oh that's mine.. fun holiday

Y'all bored and looking to be pissed. Airports have calmed the fuck down in the past few years. You aren't taking off belts and shoes most the time and it's a fairly quick process.

TSA pre is even easier. I've spent maybe 10 minutes total, if that, from my last two international flight getting through.

Pre check is amazing. The biggest worry I ever have about dealing with security lines anymore is that everyone else will sign up for it and it'll get just as bad as the regular line.
- Once at SFO the precheck line was as long if not longer than the regular security line, but it still moved significantly faster. Don't panic too much if the precheck line is long! Not having to unload electronics out of bags and such seems to make it quick even if there's high volume.

Last few times I've been through (European) airports it's been waaaay more chill than it has been for decades. Yeah there are armed soldiers, but they're just wandering about and it's more reassuring than anything. Security is way more lax, they're relaxing the stupid rules about liquids and stuff, and the staff are friendly if a bit over-professional.

Always love the duty free bit too, it's like a really overpriced shopping mall but with caviar and Patek Philippe :) Splash on some free sample aftershave then off for a 7 euro pint of IPA, and sit and literally watch the world go by. What's not to like?!?

Frankfurt Airport is very good when it comes to security screening. They even have those fancy new X-Ray machines where you don’t need to remove your electronic devices from your carry-on and such. The last few times I flew from there I got off the bus in front of the terminal and sat at my gate in less than 20 minutes.

This thread seems to be split between people who remember flying post 9/11 and see how much it’s relaxed, and those who maybe haven’t.

I agree with OP that it doesn’t feel like a place where one can relax or just show up and hang out to watch planes. I also agree with others though that it’s currently not as bad as it’s been in the past.

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I think this highly depends on where you are. I haven't flown to the US since 2000, so I can't speak for how it's there, but I fly a lot in Asia and Europebamd the only major difference is that the security check is a bit stricter (but not by very much, you have to take the laptop out of the bag these days, but that's about it).

I remember seeing armed soldiers at the airport in Paris back in the 90's so that's nothing new really.

I remember my first time flying in the eighties, couldn't believe the amount of quality flange in the airport. I didn't wanna travel any other way. All that changed with rise of the budget airlines, starting with Ryanair. Now every swamp donkey and bushpig can afford to fly, diluting the experience to a tragic degree.

Quality flange?