The startling news last week of the foiled terrorist plot in Britain sent ripples of concern throughout the world. Los Altos residents, too, noted increased delays in their travels as word of the plot to hide liquid explosives in water bottles had airport workers confiscating everything from shampoo bottles to soda cans.

Mountain View resident John Farwell, a pilot with United Airlines, braved the Honolulu airport while working last Thursday. He reported that while there was a bit more tension than usual, “For us as crew members, we couldn’t tell anything was different. I learn about the news the same way you do, reading the newspaper.”

Farwell said that while he didn’t know what was on the horizon, he doesn’t feel an increasing sense of fear about air travel. “The extra security is reassuring,” he said. “It’s getting harder and harder for the terrorists to do what they want to do.”

He flies all over the globe for United, and said that flights on even targeted routes like New York to London don’t concern him more, thanks to the stringent British security standards.

“People are calling to check on baggage restrictions, but no one is canceling,” said Maureen Jones, president of All Horizons Travel in downtown Los Altos. “We had to make a few new flight arrangements for people who missed their connections. Otherwise, people are handling it very well.”

Los Altos resident Jana Morgan was traveling from Albany, N.Y., to San Jose with two layovers on Saturday with 10 baseball players from the All Star Academy. Though there were no delays, Morgan observed increased security at every airport.

“It did not take longer at the airports,” Morgan said. “They checked our luggage at the curb, which surprised me. I remember after 9/11 they weren’t checking luggage at the curb.”

Morgan experienced no delays but said there was a noticeable presence of security in the airports.

The passengers were allowed to bring their carry-on luggage, but they were checked for liquid items or cosmetics, she said. Morgan was asked to surrender her lipstick at a checkpoint. In Morgan’s group some of the boys brought iPods, portable DVD players and video game players. Morgan noted that car keys with remote locks were prohibited in carry-on luggage.

“I travel a lot,” Morgan said. “After 9/11 the airports were clogged up because no one was used to going through heightened security; everyone expects it so the process moves pretty quickly now.”

Police Chief Bob Lacey is the city’s emergency coordinator and meets regularly with other police chiefs participating in the county’s office of emergency services. He receives regular updates from the FBI office in San Jose. In the aftermath of the diverted terrorist bombings, local travelers will feel the brunt of the impact, he said.

“There’s not a nexus to Santa Clara County - other than airline travel. The security is obviously much tighter now,” he said.

On another note, he said he wasn’t happy about the prospect of long security checks on his upcoming trip to Texas.

Terror threats increase fear and anxiety among airline travelers. For some, it can be emotionally debilitating.

Fortunately, there are techniques you can use to reduce nervousness associated with flying and terrorism.

“People grossly overestimate the extra probability that something bad will happen to their airplane,” said Bob Reiser, director of the Gronowski Clinic in Los Altos. “Travelers have a tendency to ruminate and catastrophize (sic) these situations,” he said.

Reiser suggested that travelers challenge their thinking to reduce fear and anxiety.

“Ask yourself if the threat is higher than it was six months ago,” said Reiser. “Is there really a higher risk? Maybe it’s actually a lower risk because of heightened vigilance.”

By using logical arguments, Reiser said, a traveler can reduce worry significantly.

“De-catastrophize thoughts by asking yourself, how many planes have blown up since 9/11,” he said. “Tell yourself that the most likely scenario is that nothing bad will happen, especially if you look at the odds.”

Megan Ma, John Flood, Traci Newell and Eliza Ridgeway contributed to this report.