Airplane travel has changed dramatically in the years since the tragic events of September 11. Prior to that infamous and unfortunate day, air travel was relatively easy, stress-free and routine. Most travelers purchased their tickets in advance, arrived at the airport (usually one hour before scheduled take-off), passed easily through a screening checkpoint, went to the gate where their plane was receiving passengers, boarded the plane and enjoyed their trip.

That was before 9/11. Travelers can expect things to be much different now. Security at airports has been tightened dramatically. All passengers, even the most non-threatening, are subject to close scrutiny and careful body scans and searches. It’s inconvenient, to be sure, but as any air traveler will tell you, that inconvenience is a small price to pay for safety during the flight.

The changes since 9/11 begin as soon as the traveler has purchased a ticket. He or she is instructed to arrive at the airport at least two hours before scheduled departure. Upon arrival, the passenger’s luggage is carefully scanned before it is loaded on to the plane’s cargo hold. Once that is done, the waiting begins. Two hours is a long time to sit around an airport with little or nothing to do. Some passengers will enjoy a light bite at one of the many restaurants in the airport. Others will purchase a book, newspaper or magazine from the newsstand or shop for souvenirs. There is really nothing else for one to do.

Finally, when the plane’s departure is announced and passengers are instructed to go to the gate where the plane is boarding, they must first pass through a security gate. This is tedious and time-consuming. Each passenger may be asked to remove his or her shoes. Passengers must also empty their pockets before passing through the scanner which literally looks into their pockets to see if they are carrying anything metallic. It’s all very intrusive and annoying, but, again, it is very necessary because it assures a safe trip.

When passengers finally board their planes and take off, there is something else they can expect – less service than what they might have received in the past. A difficult economy has forced many airlines to eliminate free meals, especially on shorter flights or charge for the meals they do serve. Many airlines have also eliminated in-flight movies and cut back on the simple snacks they once provided with beverages.

It’s all very different and not nearly as pleasant as it once was, but the purpose of boarding an airplane is still the same – to reach a destination as quickly as possible. Air travel still accomplishes that.

So, while the airplane passenger can expect his or her trip to be less comfortable and, perhaps, more stressful than in the past, he or she can still count on the one thing that makes travel by air special – speed and the assurance that one’s destination is no more than a few hours away. That still makes air travel worthwhile.