Diary

Spectator, The, Jun 1, 2002 by Hastings, Max

I have always been a great fan of British Airways. After paying my own fares for the first time in years, taking a lot of overseas flights on research trips, I feel even more loyal. The planes have all been punctual. The service has been great. The new transatlantic economy-plus seats are very comfortable, even for someone as absurdly tall as me.

I experienced only one stab of irritation - eating in the lounge at Kennedy Airport before flying home. We had to use plastic cutlery. This is, of course, no fault of BA. It is a consequence of the manic security measures which have followed 11 September. Over the past decade or two, al-Qa'eda and the IRA have between them made flying progressively more troublesome. It is fantastic to contemplate the inconvenience tens of millions of travellers are suffering because Osama bin Laden had an unhappy childhood, or whatever. I would like to see more of the Blitz spirit towards terrorists. Sealing cockpits makes sense. But, for heaven's sake, stop confiscating nail scissors. Western society diminishes itself by being so silly.