any one else flying and worried?

[huckster]

well of course its all most time for our cruise. which we had to cancel back in april. now sept 14 is around the corner . and we decieded to fly for the first time to florida and all these warnings are coming out for the airlines. wondering about giving up loss of air tickets and just flying??any one else worried?

 

[eek40]

huckster,

I am flying in November, with a 5 year old. I am not worried, I guess my feelings are that as soon as we all are scared then they have won. I refuse to change my life because of the works of bad people. I will do my trip as planned, be early at the airport and be excited to go!

Aimee

 

[inkkognito]

I am a paranoid flyer, although not because of terrorism...I've always been that way. But I am also very logical, so I can get myself on the plane by reminding myself of the safety statistics (and also by thinking how miserable a 24 hour car ride would be vs. a 2 hour flight).

I highly recommend www.fearofflyinghelp.com

It really helped ease my fears because it explains in great detail what all those noises mean, how that metal tube stays up in the air, etc. Check it out and hopefully it will help you, too.

Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[justmestace]

Thank you so much, Barb. I had never been afraid of flying, driving is so slow and tedious....but in the last year I began to have panic attacks and in the plane was the worst, because I had no where to go, etc. I'm taking Zoloft now, which truly changed my life, but the planes still get to me sometimes. We travel alot, and I refuse to let this stop me. As for terrorism, I won't let them stop me either. Flew 6 days after Sept 11, and left the country a month after. If it is my time, then it will be.
I know this info you gave us will help tremendously! This is why I love these boards. Thanks again,
Stacey

 

[Viking]

We flew to the States from Germany on 09/15/01 and cruised on 09/22/01. We don't let any terrorists change our lifes. If we let them, it would mean they have won.
We'll fly again to Florida on 09/20/03.

 

[webray]

remember...flying is still safer than driving.

There is no way I will let the terrorists stop me from flying anywhere!

 

[disney6]

huckster - I just booked our flights yesterday for the cruise (and the price is up by $70 each today!) and am getting ready to book ours for Labor Day to Georgia for the 6 of us. I am VERY nervous. Didn't bother me to fly (and did fly) after Sept. 11 but this one is. My DH said we were NOT driving 18hrs each way with the kids to just be there 1 day (my sisters wedding) so I'm wondering if I can have a drink at 8AM before getting on the plane? I understand where you are coming from!!!!!

 

[abitjaded]

ARRIVE EARLY, ARRIVE EARLY, ARRIVE EARLY

Our family just did a whole lot of flying, to-from Denver to Ohio, others to-from Denver to Phoenix. We were actually quite heartened compared to our experiences a year ago. All the flight "checkers" both at luggage check-in, security check-in and plane check-in are so professional. The security folks are older, very serious. If you curb side check or check in at the ticket counter, the outsides of your luggage will be hand scanned before you are even allowed to check it. Once again we got pulled a couple of times, de-shoed, scanned, bottoms of feet checked, de-jeweleried. While this was nerve wracking, it makes you realize just how careful everyone is these days. Carry as little as possible with you, keep picture ID at your fingertips with your ticket, e ticket , boarding pass. Make sure you packed anything questionable (scissors, pocket knives, nail files) in your checked luggage. Don't worry about any of the checking you may undergo. Just leave lots of extra time so your stress level is not heightened. Make sure any food you take is pre-packaged or is purchased after clearing all security check-points. (Since food service on the planes is so marginal now, and since the extra security takes so much time, even an hour worth of plane change time isn't much to get a snack, and food is a comfort.) We raced to make a connection and gobbled the only thing available, Nathan's deep fried hot dogs and fries, and, of course, didn't manage to find the barf bag before DS6 recycled it all into his lap on our second flight. Ended up using a sanitary napkin to wipe-off the remains while he stood on the toilet in the plane restroom, now THAT was scary. Nothing like chunky hot dogs steeped in lemonade and stomach juice to gain a bit of perspective. ;-)

We flew Delta, and as a sign that the whole industry is feeling more comfortable with the security, my little boys got to check out the cabin with the pilot and co-pilot again. Since 9-11 the cockpit has been off limits. (And there are a lot of AOPA vets in my family.) Cockpit always locked up tight before we boarded, no pilot in sight either before or after the flight. This time they let my kids watch the ground check and hear the warning system go through the auto-test. The pilot and co-pilot were relaxed and smiling. Can't beat that. They aren't afraid, don't you be. I know it is hard, I was a mess, had to fly the day they mobilized the National Guard right after 9-11. But I feel the old joy of flying now. Vacation! Going somewhere! Fun ahead!

Carla

 

[jgalecpa]

I will indeed be worried, all the way to and from the airports.

There are some crazy drivers out there.


AS to flying:

I welcome the security, and especially welcome the fact that the pilot wants to get there safely as much as or more than I do.

Once "they" have changed you, they have beaten you. They will never beat me.

 

[jrabbit]

First off I want to say that the screening that is going on is a good thing. But...

It is making flying a pain in the rear. 10 hrs driving or 2-3 hrs getting to and through the airport, plus another couple of hours of flight time, and driving does not look so bad. OK it does, and flying is by far the most effecient and safest way to get to your distant destination.

Some observations from my past several flights.

Screening and checking you is vastly different from airport to airport. And this is with one federal agency overseeing the airport security. Portland Oregon seems to have the most checking of you and your luggage. The open a lot of checked luggage. They constantly rescan your carryon bags - remember your film is "good" for five passes through the x-ray machine. They may send your bag through the x-ray machine more times than that! Atlanta seems to have a normal and reasonable amount of checking going on. Phoenix was pretty hassel free, with reasonable screening - but the x-ray machine openings are smaller than most other airports. Bags you can use going through other airports may not fit here. Orlando just once wanted to see our photo ID and Salt Lake City NEVER once wanted to look at your photo ID. They did pull many people over to be checked before boarding.

Some Flying Tips
Don't overstuff your checked baggage. Pack loosely. You may have been able to squeeze everything in, but if your bag is selected for checking, the screener is not going to be that careful repacking and may not be able to get the bag closed.

Put all of your shoes in one checked bag. Most likely this will be the bag that gets checked. If you have shoes in all of your bags, all of them may be screened.

Going through x-ray:
Ladies take off your shoes. Every time. That is unless you like getting wanded and patted down. They will be checking your bra at that time too.

Put keys, coins, watches in a tray and send it through the x-ray machine.

Hold your arms out from your body. I have no idea why this makes it less likely for the x-ray machine to sound off, I just know that if I have my arms beside my body, I will be checked, if I hold them out in front of me a little ways the alarms don't go off. (I don't think I have any steel plates or screws in my body - but my wife and son think i have a few screws loose. )

Keep your film with you in your carryon bags and insist that it be hand checked. Sometimes your bag will be ran through the x-ray machine multiple times and sometimes will just sit for a long time in the machine (I don't know if its constantly under x-ray or not).

With the new warnings about cameras, laptops and other electronic devices, I would try to have no film in my camera when going through security because who knows what they are going to do while checking these now.

Happy Flying and don't let the terrorists win!!

 

[jgalecpa]

Just got back from a long trip and found the following:

BWI: monday 7am. LONG line, but moved FAST. Over in 10 minutes. Checked ID (2x), left shoes on, No Problem.

SeaTAC: Monday 9am. Warned about horrendouse waits. Must pass own check- luggage thorugh scanners, we were told.

Gave luggage to skycap, moved through very short line in about 3 minutes. Left shoes on.

SFO: Friday 10am. Used skycap. Moved through moderate TSA line in about 4 minutes. Checked all our shoes. No Problems.

As for packing to be searched, Packing stuff in gallon see through zip-lock bags make inspection and re-packing easier.

I keep hearing the horror stories, expect the worst, and have yet to have a significant problem (Other than London's heathrow airport where I was searched 3x, but that was outside the US, so not really germane).

I always appreciate the job these people are doing (and let's admit, it is a far better quality of person checking than two years ago), and tell them so.

 

[hydster]

We just came back yesterday from a 9 day trip to Cancun and it was no different than any other time. It is a little inconvenient to now have to take off your shoes (but I wore sandals so easy slip on and off) and it was pretty painless. We did get passports which made it much easier to get through lines and such but it wasnt a big deal. Flying now is probably safer than it was before 9-11 but none of us knew about the threats we faced before then either. (I hope that makes sense I am very tired) but now we hear all about the warnings and the plots and the information and chances are they were the same 3 years ago it's just we didnt know about them because no one dreamed they could happen. The media sensationalism doesnt help either. They talk and talk and speculate and speculate and really when you think about it the chances are still very low! We will continue flying and actually have another trip planned in 2 weeks and then again in Dec and in May and all involve flying and we will go (unless they shut the airports down or something) and enjoy ourselves. I think alot of the information now is to MAKE us FEEL scared but we arent in much more danger...it's a mind tactic! Go have fun and try not to worry about it! The chances of it hitting on YOUR day to fly are still pretty slim!

Heidi

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

any one else worried?

I don't really enjoy flying, hydster. Yet I never let my fears prevent me from doing something (aside from remarrying). I refuse to call those inhuman maggots "terrorists." Too much a glorified term and it gives a perverse rationale to their actions. To me, they always are and always will be 'thugs.' Nothing more. A lot less...

 

[jgalecpa]

I never let my fears prevent me from doing something (aside from remarrying).

Well Said, BD


however, when you refer to

inhuman maggots

are you refering to your ex-wife's divorce lawyers?

 

[4nana]

Truthfully, I don't think I've ever felt safer flying than since 9/11.
We were a disaster waiting to happen and paid dearly. Have been all over the country/out of the country and been blessed with very safe trips. The extra airport security is very comforting, no matter what the hassle.
"We believe 'life is short and you should live it to it's fullest."

Yet I never let my fears prevent me from doing
something (aside from remarrying).

BD - I hope someday you do meet your soul mate, for there is no greater gift.

 

[Willowwind]

Huckster,

I gave up my Dec 2001 Anniversary trip for fear of flying. The kids weren't coming with us and I just couldn't do it. I held out until a week before the flight, everything was paid for, but when it came down to go, I just couldn't. We canceled everything, the unused tickets are still sitting in my old passporter.

From someone who's been there DON"T DO IT!!!! Don't chicken out. Go on your vacation. Be confident and fly, you'll be fine and with no regrets.
Most of all have fun!

 

[jgalecpa]

My sister in law and I both work very near the Pentagon.

On 9-11, we both were so close that we both FELT the explosion, not only heard it. I still get choked up quite often when I think about the "If I don't make it home..." phone call I made that day.

My sister in law has not been able to return to the area since, and cancelled a long-planned trip to WDW that year, and has not flown at all.

While I cannot criticize her, I can say that her family has missed out on many things since then.

I choose a different path.

I want to Live.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I flew with DS early Oct 01 when he was 9
(Flew again Dec 01 and Nov 02)

There is NOTHING that will keep IGTD and family from boarding the Magic this Nov!

 

[justmestace]

Huckster: You don't have a choice!! If you don't show up, Feenie, Fireplug & the rest of us will hunt you down.
There will be no where to hide, you'll spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, you'll have to go into the Witness Protection Program! You don't want THAT do you??
Take a couple of Tylenol p.m.'s and doze all the way down. DW will guide you to port, I'm sure. If I can do it, you can do it, I'm just a wimpy girl. (Okay, fine, middle-aged woman).
We WILL be seeing you!
Stacey

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

when you refer to inhuman maggots are you refering to your ex-wife's divorce lawyers?

Not at all, Jim. THAT would be far too insulting to the maggots...

I hope someday you do meet your soul mate, for there is no greater gift.

Thank you for the kind words, 4nana.