Top U.S. officials are warning of terrorist retaliation in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, but for travelers though the D.C. area’s airports and train stations, all appears to be business as usual. “Everything seemed fine to me,” said Teresa Arratia, who flew into Reagan National Airport Wednesday afternoon from Louisiana. “Security lines were normal, it was the same check-in process, there were no problems.”
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano did not issue a terrorist alert despite the warnings, and the Transportation Security Administration offered little detail of specific security changes it was making in response to the threat.
“As always, passengers may notice a variety of security measures at U.S. airports,” including bag checks, canine teams and behavior detection officers, the agency said.
Lyndall Warren flew in Wednesday from the tiny town of McCurtain, Okla., for a Business Professionals of America conference. While the organization’s website warned participants of potential delays due to security, Warren didn’t notice a thing.
“It didn’t seem any different except that my flight was a little more crowded,” he said.
Only a UPS deliveryman whose work brings him to the airport each day noticed a slight shift in behavior since bin Laden’s assassination.
“Things have changed – security has gotten a little tighter, after it had gotten a little relaxed,” said Mr. Elliott, who would not use his first name.
Elliott had a hard time pointing to specifics, however, saying he hadn’t noticed an increase in officers or animals as much as a renewed vigilance among security personnel.
At Union Station, regular passengers hustling to Amtrak trains toting coffee and Kindles said that lines seemed about as long as always, and that security seemed about as tight as usual.
“I noticed one officer with a dog at the Philadelphia station,” said Kevin Wilkens, who arrived from there on Sunday afternoon, prior to the news of bin Laden’s death.
Waiting at Union Station for his return trip, he noticed two canine units.
“One dog to two, though – I don’t know,” he said. “I’d be pretty concerned if that represents any sort of an increase in security.”
