Irish transAtlantic passengers are bracing for further travel chaos after new security measures were introduced for U.S.-bound flights.

The new security measures were introduced after the failed attempt to blow up an airliner on its approach to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Passengers must now undergo a pat-down at the boarding gate while their hand luggage is inspected by hand.

In addition, passengers are now banned from having anything on their lap or moving about the cabin in the final hour of flight.

Airline staff are being forced to make sure passengers remove all personal items, including newspapers, blankets and pillows from their lap during that final hour.

One woman, who traveled to New York with her three-year-old daughter on Monday, said this would be her last trip to Ireland.

"This is the last straw," she fumed. "It's hard enough traveling with children as it is but this just makes it unbearable. That's the last time I cross the Atlantic."

"I brought my daughter home to see her grandparents and the rest of our family and it will be the last time for a long time because I never want to go through that again."

The woman, who did not want to give her full name, said their flight was delayed by an hour while hard-pressed security staff carried out the searches before allowing the passengers to board the plane.

"The flight was great but that final hour made it seem like a nightmare.

"My daughter was screaming her and all I needed to do was walk around the cabin with her to settle her but I couldn't move from my seat.

"It makes absolutely no sense to treat people like cattle.

"What's next?" she said. "Will we have to put babies in the overhead bins?"

"I don't blame the airline," she said, "it's not their fault."