Logan security swift for international travel

BOSTON – U.S. air travelers have heard since August about big airports with long, twisting lines at security, numerous bag searches, and bans on carry-on water.

Even as the Irish carrier Aer Lingus, and many other international airlines, have warned passengers to arrive at airports 3 1/2 hours early, many found the day after Labor Day that the suggested time frame was excessive.

No lines formed at the security checkpoints for international flights all afternoon at Logan International Airport, and, for many, it took 25 minutes to an hour to check baggage, go through security and sit down comfortably at the gate.

The international terminal at Logan has eight gates that service four to six flights an hour.

More than a month removed from British authorities breaking up an alleged terror plot involving overseas flights to the United States, causing airlines to ban gels, beverages, creams and other cosmetics, many travelers seemed aware of the new standards.

A few passengers, apparently those who didn’t have U.S. passports, had to remove these items from their carry-on luggage.

Travelers seemed to cooperate with Transportation Security Administration personnel by not objecting to body searches or extra searches of their luggage.

TSA personnel denied comment Tuesday about extra precautions taken in the past month.

Even though bottled beverages and fragrances are banned on airplanes as carry-on luggage, stores at the gates sold these products. Many notified customers that the store could arrange to have any merchandise travelers couldn’t carry onto the plane to be mailed or loaded in the belly of the plane.

Military police added extra security and made their presence felt as they patrolled in their fatigues, handguns strapped to their thighs. Travelers could see four or five military police strolling the international terminal at any one time.