And our terrorism woes continue

In our global village set-up today, Asia will sniffle in due time after a sneeze in London. Last week, US Homeland Security personnel were in a flurry when two mailed parcels containing bomb paraphernalia, addressed to synagogues in Chicago, were detected in cargo planes while in transit - one in Dubai and the other at East Midland airport in Britain. Both parcels originated in Yemen, the ancestral place of Osama bin Laden, a place known as an Al-Qaeda base. Since then, airport security checks are beefed up around the world, even here in the Philippines. 

Be ready for long queues everywhere, while your luggage passes through several checkpoints. Since airport security will once again be meticulous about liquids and gels, one is better off without a cabin luggage. This way, one need not throw away a toothpaste tube or a facial cream jar, or that expensive perfume bottle, no matter how small it may be. Don't forget to insert your vitamin pills into the checked luggage!

Be at the airport a good two hours before scheduled departure time -- lest you want to be a harassed passenger going into your plane. One can never discount a possible glitz in the traffic situation along the way, the queue length at the check-in counters, the time spent at the luggage checkpoints. Nothing beats the enjoyment of a good cup of coffee as one awaits the pre-departure announcement, rather than cold sweat at the long and hardly moving check-in queue.

This latest terrorism incident is sad since the airline industry is just starting to go over the hump in the industry's dismal recession in recent years. For the first time, British Air announced a profitable first half of 2010. Emirates also publicized a hefty profit this year. Most profitable of all is Ryanair, the budget carrier of Ireland whose profit bulk comes from the sheer number of passengers using it throughout Europe.

But don't be misled by low fares advertised by airlines. Remember to add on the taxes and surcharges (phew!), the visa costs (if one is needed), the waiting time at airports for connections (which means additional meals and tired bones) and the hotel bills at the destination. When you have added all these and still feel that a special fare offer to Paris is worth it, then grab that offer right away!

And remember, these terrorists want to sow fear and hatred. If we give in to their objectives, by foregoing travel and becoming paranoid upon seeing an Muslim-looking person, then we make them victorious. Let us continue with our travel plans. Fortify ourselves by a thorough planning of our itineraries and a strong faith in the inherent goodness of man.

Inshallah! Vaya con Dios! Have a safe journey in these perilous times.

(Editor's Note: This article was supposed to come out in yesterday's issue. What came out instead was a reprint of a related article that was published a month ago. Our apologies to the followers of Travel Update)