While some European airlines and Air Canada were detailing new TSA-imposed restrictions in response to the Christmas-morning terrorism incident onboard Northwest Airlines flight 253, there was scant information on the TSA website two days later about the new wrinkles other than to say that, “The Department of Homeland Security immediately put additional screening measures into place — for all domestic and international flights — to ensure the continued safety of the traveling public.”

The primary security changes visible to the public — at least for international flights bound for the U.S. — were that passengers would be restricted to one carry-on bag and would be subject to longer screening times.

There were unconfirmed reports that passengers on inbound international flights, at least, would not be allowed to wander about the cabin, grab items from overhead bins one hour prior to landing, or place blankets on their laps, as suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly did.