September 11, 2001 is a date we cannot forget: the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center, when a plane crashed into the Pentagon. After that date, the air travel experience changed. We still feel the safety rules today, whenever we go on a business trip or vacation.

Also, after this event, many airports turned into small shopping malls (we explain below).

Before September 11, 2001, there was no need to rush to the airport 1-2 hours before takeoff. 30 minutes was enough.

If you traveled from Otopeni, for example, you noticed a very long line at security in the morning: you put your hand luggage on the lane and go through the metal detector. In addition, in some cases a physical examination is also carried out.

Airports around the world have been rerouted since the attacks. This security filter ensures that people with various weapons or explosives will not get through.

Very often I have noticed that some people who travel by plane for the first time also take perfumes or deodorants with them in their hand luggage. I don’t hold him back. Therefore, the guards confiscate it.

Even a larger tube of toothpaste will be an obstacle. It is not possible with such containers.

Why

Among the rules introduced are that passengers must remove their shoes for checks (in some cases) and not have containers with liquids larger than 100 milliliters.

You may have seen in 90s movies how some people walked to the exit of the plane to see off their loved ones. Today it is no longer possible. You can’t get there without a ticket.

It should be noted that before the attacks, passengers could also carry a clerical knife, which is prohibited today.

There are several airports in the world that have trained staff to detect suspicious behavior when interacting with passengers. Even some cleaners or those who sell in airport shops have been trained in this regard.

Others also have facial recognition systems and, more recently, built-in artificial intelligence.

Many airports have turned into shopping centers

Since I mentioned the airport shops, some of them are actual malls. Here you can find both fast food and cafes, as well as clothing stores of famous brands or bookstores. Since passengers have to arrive at the airport early, they have to wait a long time after going through security.

Thus, they had more and more shops. Many people start looking at products out of curiosity, after which they “wake up” that they have a shopping cart. A real industry has developed in airports.

If you have to wait for many hours, it is clear that you will at least buy something to eat, even if the prices will be much higher.

And the cockpit has been improved in terms of security since the 9/9 attacks, so they can no longer be stolen.

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