Before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, airport security was significantly more relaxed and less stringent than it is today. Key characteristics of pre-9/11 airport security included:

• Passengers could arrive at the airport just minutes before their flight and still make it on time.
• Travelers kept their shoes and coats on while passing through simple metal detectors.
• Liquids, blades up to 4 inches, baseball bats, box cutters, darts, and scissors were allowed on planes.
• No ID or boarding pass was required to access the gate area; family and friends could accompany travelers to the gate.
• Security screening mainly involved a metal detector and X-ray of carry-on bags.
• Airport security was managed by private contractors hired by airlines, often awarded to the lowest bidder, with minimal federal oversight.
• Security personnel had varying levels of training and professionalism, sometimes minimal, with some hired at low wages and even ex-convicts.
• The overall approach was intended to be unobtrusive and not disrupt airport or airline operations, prioritizing convenience and efficiency over stringent security checks.
• This lax security environment was exploited by the 19 terrorists on 9/11, who passed through checkpoints with weapons and hijacked planes, leading to the attacks.

This era reflected a different mindset where security was almost invisible and designed to avoid inconveniencing passengers, contrasting sharply with the highly regulated, federally managed, and technology-intensive security protocols established after 9/11