9/11 Anniversary - Anyone who still won't fly?

[grinningghost]

Right after 9/11, there were many people that wouldn't fly. I'm just wondering if there are any DISers who still won't fly after that horrible day?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I did not like flying pre 9/11. But no way anything is stopping me from going to WDW!

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I did not like flying pre 9/11. But no way anything is stopping me from going to WDW!

I loved flying prior to 9/11, and although I'm a bit more nervous now, like you, nothing would stop me from going to WDW either.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I have lost out on 2 airline tickets because I have cancelled trips because I am afraid to fly since 9/11. I was not before. One of those trips was this past May and it was to WDW!!!! I just could not get on that plane!

 

[pumba]

still am when I get on a plane........have gone to disney five times since then..........we came home the night before 9/11 and landed at Reagan airport in DC .......and then proceded to Maine where two of the terrorists took off from......yes I am scared......but I was so upset with what they did to all of us.....the world......no one will stop me or my family from having this special time

 

[Dan Murphy]

I flew a few days after 9/11, to WDW, and a good number of times since. I have always preferred my land legs, but do not really fear.

 

[CEDmom]

I never really minded flying and actually I felt much safer in the months after 9/11 with all the security than I probably have at any other time. However, I feel like the tight security is beginning to wane and I also am bothered by the inconsistency from one airport to the next. There really needs to be a national standard.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

I fly alot, I have no fears about it.

I am actually more anxious at large events, I figure if they hit tey will hit either there or multiple small targets with little security.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I just flew to Israel on El Al airlines and I was amazed by the security checks we went through to get on the planes. It was so impressive. IMHO the US airlines could stand to foloow some of thier examples a bit more closely.

 

[padams]

What exactly are the ElAl security procedures?. I have heard for years the ElAl has great security but I have never heard the details. What do they do that we should be doing?

 

[frndshpcptn]

Well, here's basically how the process went:

We stood in line and were first interviewed by El Al security agents. They asked us the purpose of our trip, where we had traveled recently, our knowledge of Israel and the Jewish religion, etc. They were profiling us to determine which passengers had a higher security risk and needed additional checks to board. Then they stickered us and sent us through the first X-ray area. Our bags were X-rayed here and many people had thier's hand-searched as well. Then we went to the check-in counter to get our boarding passes. All the people who work in the security area are Israeli Army (as everyone in the country must serve for 2-3 years once they turn 18).

Then we went through normal airport security to get to the gate. This was another X-ray. Then at the gate, they had additional El AL security checking passports, stickers and tickets as we headed onto the plane. Additioanlly, all flight attendants are Israeli and therefore Army-trained.

When we landed at Ben-Gurion, the plane parked in the middle of the tarmac and we had to walk to a shuttle which took us to the terminal - as planes in Israel do not get too close to the terminal buildings.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Just a quick question. What if you have little knowledge of Isreal or the Jewish Religion? Is it better or worse?

Ted

 

[monarchsfan16]

I have never liked flying. I really hate it since 9/11, but I still fly. I'll be boarding an airplane for 2 separate trips in the next 8 or so months actually. I think the only thing that really gets me onto the plane is just the thought process that if I don't fly just because of their terrorists they've won. Whether correct or not, that is how I think about it, and I'm NOT going to let them win. I've flown several times since 9/11. It has not gotten any easier, but I still do.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. I fly. No worries.

I just have to remember that if I don't fly, I'll be driving. I drove from NH to FL a couple times. The last time was... the last time.

Ted

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I flew this past April for the first time since 9/11. While I was waiting to board the plane, I kept glancing suspiciously at everyone else in the terminal, lol. I loved to fly Pre-9/11 and I'm a bit more hesitant now, but nothing will stop me from traveling. My father hasn't flown since 9/11 (he's always been afraid of flying) and he's going to WDW with me in a couple of months. He's freaking out about a bit, but he has no choice since I bought the plane tickets!

 

[palmtreegirl]

I've always had a fear of flying but it has nothing to do with 9/11, it has everything to do with a fear of crashing.

Since 9/11 the fear hasn't gotten worse, if anything it's gotten better because I went to a great web site http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com and it helped me a ton.

 

[CamColt]

I never liked flying pre & post 9/11, but I did it.
We were scheduled to fly 9/24/01, but opted to drive instead. We were more worried about being stuck in an airport forever with the 2 kids with all the secuirty breaches that were happening then and closing down the airports. However we have flown round trip 3 times since and I have 2 more trips to FL and possibly 1 to CA in the next year. All will be flying.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I think its worse to have little knowledge. I went on a Birthright Israel trip (its a free 10 day trip to Israel for Jewish young adults 18-26) and several of the people in our tour group didn't know much aout thier religion (or got nervous in front of the security people and forgot). Those people had a harder time clearing the security check than those of us who were more well versed. My agent asked me to read Hebrew, talk about the holidays, my temple, etc. My boyfriend, who isn't religious, kept mixing p the holidays and finally my agent went over to talk to his and then he was allowed through to the next checkpoint.

I know there are many non-Jewish people who travel to Israel, but I also know that I'd rather them profile and be tougher on those they feel are a greater security risk than be blown up in mid-air because they were afraid of hurting people's feelings. That's definitly one thing I took away from my trip to Israel. They don't care so much about being PC - they's rather do everything possible to keep thier people safe. And as good as they are (and I think they are fantastic when you think about the size of thier country, the countries on thier borders and their relative newness) there was still a suicide bombing on a public bus while I was there in the cit of Beer Sheva, near the Gaza Strip. You can never be too careful...

 

[Beth76]

I've never been afraid to fly and I"m still not. I do get nervous flying because I'm afraid of losing my luggage or missing a connecting flight, or missing a cruise. But, that's just mild travel anxiety. I also don't like long flights because I can't sleep on an airplane and am usually exhausted from traveling. I slept only 1 hour (each way) on my transatlantic flights to/from Europe.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

I'll fly, but given my very personal experience with 9/11, I wouldn't let DD (12) fly alone to NY this weekend - it's still too close to me.

So, DW went with her.

I fly all the time myself.