I’m writing in response to a reader’s inquiry regarding flights that allow smoking (Oct. ’04, pg. 84).

Please be aware that smoking on airlines was not banned simply due to its being considered “socially incorrect.” My father worked in testing on aircraft for 31 years, and during the age of smoking, equipment failure was extremely high. For example, nicotine would gum up the oxygen mask release mechanisms, which caused an unacceptable percentage of them to not operate during testing...

In response to William Hollifield’s letter “Valuables Put in Peril” (Nov. ’04, pg.18), the security procedures at the Frankfurt, Germany, airport are still a nightmare. I passed through there on Oct. 17, ’04, on my way home from Italy. Flights had to be held because the security line was so backed up.

They were using an electronic scanner on everyone boarding U.S.-bound flights, and items were backing up on the conveyor belt while passengers were being scanned and/or redonning shoes,...

I use the following technique to prevent being separated from my essentials at airport security (Nov. ’04, pg.18).

Before I leave for the airport, I transfer all items that I normally carry in my pockets, with the exception of my wallet, to a single plastic bag, which goes inside my backpack. Since there are no valuable items in this plastic bag, I don’t mind if the backpack goes through the security machine. Thus, I have nothing in my pockets but my wallet.

For 40 years, I...