Some years back, a friend of mine was interviewing for a job. The interview was going well, and Chris felt a connection to his could-be boss.   At the end, they shook hands warmly and, as Chris was bidding farewell, his warm-and-fuzziness got the best of him as he glanced at the interviewer’s protruding abdomen: “So, when is the little one due?”

The could-be boss looked stunned and distinctly displeased, and Chris immediately realized she was potbellied, not pregnant.

He didn’t get the job. And he reinforced the concept that, though first impressions are critical, last impressions can sink a ship.

Fast-forward to today and catch a plane at Des Moines International Airport. If you’re a business traveler, the last impression you get from Des Moines is the long security line and the stone-faced, humorless guards at the checkpoint.

Adding insult to injury is that within 10 feet, you have to show your ID and boarding pass to two different security guards. Never mind that it’s physically impossible for the passenger to trade places with a terrorist. Worse: Ask a guard why it’s necessary, and you get a quick non-answer answer: “We’re not under the same department.”

Don’t try to persist, lest you get a look from the guard that says: “Want a body-cavity search?”

Ask regular travelers what they think of Des Moines’ security system, and they roll their eyes. Recently, an airline pilot was seen merely shaking his head as he endured the over-the-top measures in place.

And, yes, they’re over the top. Look at one of my favorite airports – Dallas/Fort Worth International. There, you have one person – one, as in single – individual check your ID and boarding pass. There is rarely a line that takes more than three minutes to get through. Oh, and the security personnel at DFW are invariably friendly. They smile. They answer questions. They make the mood light when they need to check your luggage.

Bear in mind that DFW handles millions of passengers each year, being one of the world’s largest airports (but don’t ask Texans where the airport falls in the lineup – whether first-, second- or third-largest – because they’ll change the subject on you).

What’s more, DFW is easy and convenient to use: You can pick up a loved one from your car, a mere few yards from each gate. In Des Moines, you have police officers ensuring that no driver can stay put awaiting Granny to come out of the terminal. “Heck,” the thinking goes, “Granny’s got to be in good shape by now after walking 1.8 miles from the plane to the front of the airport, so she can wait a bit longer for you to drive by the next time around.”

Visitors to Des Moines see this. And if they’re not disgusted, they are amused. Neither is acceptable.

If we are truly devoted to making the metro grow, then we need to examine all aspects of our business climate. The Des Moines airport is one of them, and it’s embarrassing. And embarrassingly easily to fix.

Business and civic leaders should demand changes at the airport. Or we could pretend that people don’t notice and hope for the best. To that, I say, “When is the little one due?”

Jim Flansburg is director of operations for Business Publications Corp.