Passengers at PHL recount additional security snags

Security has been stepped up at airports across the country Tuesday after a passenger allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound plane last week. At Philadelphia International Airport, passengers are trading stories of delays, searches, and long lines.

Caption: Sharon Stephenson and her family at Philadelphia International Airport.

Security has been stepped up at airports across the country Tuesday after a passenger allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound plane last week. At Philadelphia International Airport, passengers are trading stories of delays, searches, and long lines.

An icy wind whips around the airport.

Standing on the sidewalk – next to their many suitcases – Gettysburg resident Sharon Stephenson and her family are waiting patiently for their ride. Stephenson, her husband, 6-year-old Hugh and 5-year-old Anna just arrived from Manchester, England.

Stephenson says there was a more security than she’s experienced in the past,

Stephenson: We had to go through male only and female only queues that took about another hour where we were padded down and all of our stuff was searched again. They encouraged us to check everything because they knew all of our carry-ons would be searched and that it would slow the flight down.

Stephenson says, given the reason for the stepped-up security, the extra measures weren’t much of a hassle.