Terrorist threat brings airports to near-halt

I spent much of the past 12 hours being interviewed by various mainstream media on the effects of today’s foiled terrorist plot to bomb multiple transatlantic flights using liquid explosives.

“What can travelers do?”

“What SHOULD they do?”

“How long will the heightened security restrictions remain in effect?”

“Will travelers ever be able to bring liquids, lotions or gels onboard with them again?”

“What does it all mean?”

In a nutshell, there’s very little travelers can do to avoid the effects of the security clampdown aside from arriving at the airport early or, if you’d prefer to wait until the situation stabilizes somewhat, rebooking your flights for a later date.

And as for the future-oriented questions, the honest answer is that we just don’t know how this will play out, or when normalcy will be reinstated.

Thankfully, I have no air travel planned for the next few weeks. But I have several friends and colleagues who are ticketed to fly in the next few days. My advice to them: Leave extra time to clear the security checkpoints. And every bit as important, just relax. Practice deep breathing as you wait in the security line snaking through the terminal and out the door. Close your eyes and imagine you’re sunning on a tropical beach. Whatever it takes to keep your frustration in check, do it. Then do it again.

Because at times like these, patience is not just a virtue, it’s a necessity.