Soda, hair gel targeted in new flight security

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tossing out cans of soda and discarding makeup and hair gel, passengers at U.S. airports on Thursday adjusted to new security measures prompted by news of a foiled plot to bomb flights to the United States. Soda, hair gel targeted in new flight security

By Abha Bhattarai

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tossing out cans of soda and discarding makeup and hair gel, passengers at U.S. airports on Thursday adjusted to new security measures prompted by news of a foiled plot to bomb flights to the United States.

The U.S. government raised the security alert on passenger planes to its highest level for the first time, invoking a red or "severe" threat level for commercial flights from Britain.

"My initial reaction was kind of uncertainty but I figure today was the safest time to fly," said Shannon Miller, a 29-year-old teacher from Boston who was waiting to fly home from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.

Many more police were on duty at JFK than usual, some carrying rifles or leading sniffer dogs.

The U.S. Homeland Security Department barred passengers from carrying liquids, including drinks, hair gels and lotions, on planes. A British police source said the plot was believed to involve a "liquid chemical" device.

Abraham Levin, 18, also flying to London, was discarding a can of Red Bull from his carry-on luggage. "I trust this because it is American security. There are thousands of planes that fly every day so I'm not worried," he said.

Kip Hawley, assistant secretary of Transportation Security Administration, said it normally takes around four weeks to roll out changes to security procedures.

"This one came about in a little bit more than four hours in the middle of last night and so this was a surprise to many of us and as such is difficult to implement," he said.

Sophie Bartholomew, 30, traveling with her 9-week-old daughter, Chloe, and her husband, Jason, was allowed to take a bag with baby formula on board but was told by officials at JFK that one of the parents might have to taste the formula.

At Boston's Logan Airport, Stephanie Diaz, 16, of Providence, Rhode Island, said: "I didn't know about all this until I got here. Now I have to throw out all my hair gel."

Security was also tightened for domestic flights. At Kennedy's Delta Air Lines terminal, hundreds of people stood in line. "Now I'll have to buy all new make-up," one woman complained.

Washington's Dulles International Airport was packed with people, many complaining they were not warned about the extra measures before they arrived. Officials were handing out flyers and people were dumping lotions, drinks and other liquids in the trash before check-in.

At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the world's busiest, lines of passengers were lengthening rapidly, with the presence of additional police and search dogs.