Terror Alerts and Flying...

[Mermaid02]

They came out with this new Terror Alert literally as I was reading the rules and regulations for our flight! I cancelled our 2001 trip, and I will NOT cancel this one. I am however, very nervous. Is there anyone else here who is nervous about flying out to our FTP this summer/fall? I almost wish they would keep it to themselves when they have so little info.

 

[RoeMc1992]

Hi Mermaid 02.
I am flying to Orlando tomorrow and yes, I am nervous. I used to be a good flyer, but now am a white knuckle flyer due to a few turbulent flights. The new terror alerts only add to my nervousness, but it will not stop me from flying. I know that if I want to go anywhere I have to fly. My doctor actually gave me some low-dose sedatives to take one hour before flight time and they worked for me on my last flight. Good luck to you and your family and don't let anything spoil your vacation!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I must say that the threat will be in the back of my mind but I will not cancel my vacation. I hate it because I'm flying over Labor Day weekend which I think would increase any odds of something happening. I will do all I can by staying alert to my surroundings and put faith in the authorities/airline personel doing all they can to keep us safe.

 

[Pinnie]

I am not a nervous flyer but I am more of an alert one now. I am flying down to MCO in a couple of hours and the only thing I plan to do different is leave a bit earlier because I think security will be a tad longer to get through. OH and take my shoes off. I flew this past weekend out of DTW and BNA and noted that those who didn't take off their shoes were more likely to get "wanded"

I will not indulge a terrorist by changing my vacation/travel plans.


pin

 

[dznyntnh]

The warnings do not bother me. I won't change my plans or give into 'what ifs' and 'maybes'.

I've been planning this trip for over a year, so I would feel very sorry for ANYONE who tries to keep me from getting to WDW!!

Seriously, this is my third trip since 9/11 and I have not felt a twinge of anxiety about flying.

If you give into fear then they win.

 

[Wulfy]

I guarantee that after 9/11 there will be many people like me on airplanes now - pissed-off 6'5" 220lb 30 year old males who will flatten any potential hijacker as soon as he stands up. There's no way I'm letting anyone fly me or my wife into a building.

The 9/11 hijackers told the passengers they'd be safe if they stayed in their seats. Nobody will believe that now. I'm confident we won't see that situation again, not until people start to forget anyway.

And the previous poster is right, if you let them scare you that's half their job done. Fight back. Screw 'em.


W

 

[Captain America]

To all those who are afraid to fly because of the latest terror alert :
I completely understand and am sympathetic to your feelings . However, I would respectfully like to ask all of you to never give a second thought to living your life the same way you did before 9/11, especially when it comes to flying to Orlando, or anywhere else for that matter . If we allow THEM to terrorize us and cripple us with fear then THEY WIN ! Being an American , being a New Yorker , and especially being a proud and grateful member of the FDNY I choose to refuse to be terrorized by anyone . I will not dishonor the memories of all those we lost and I don't want my children to live their lives in fear .

GOD BLESS AMERICA !
FF TOM MALONEY - FDNY

 

[goofy4tink]

We are flying to Orlando in 2 weeks from Boston. My 9 y/o dd is more than a little nervous. In fact last night as I tucked her into bed, she asked if we could talk. And of course, terrorism was the topic. She is scared because we flying out of Logan instead of Worcester like we did in Nov. '01. Just talking to her and trying to reassure her helped reassure myself!! It's scary but life has to go on. I asked her if she thought all those pilots and attendents would fly every day if there was a lot to worry about. That there are thousands of planes flying every day with no problems. That seemed to help. But will I be nervous on 8/15?? Oh yeah.

 

[disneydreamer1970]

Wulfy and Captain America,

Well Said!!!! I agree with you both completely!!

Captain America,

My DH is a firefighter up her in Maine! He is a captain on both the Windham and Gorham Fire Departments!

 

[denisenh]

We have had 9 or 10 family trips that required us to fly since 9/11 and I have not been bothered by any of those. Didn't cancel our trip several weeks after 9/11. My gut feeling was that all would be well, and it was.
I try and think about stronger and locked cockpit doors. And are pilots armed now? (Not sure what happened with that.)
Anyway, I was looking to take my girls to Florida this August for a few days...forget it. I do not feel safe, according to my good ol' gut.
I hope that I don't feel this way too long because I NEED my February trip to a warmer place!!
I hope and pray that my gut is wrong!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Wulfy
I guarantee that after 9/11 there will be many people like me on airplanes now - pissed-off 6'5" 220lb 30 year old males who will flatten any potential hijacker as soon as he stands up. There's no way I'm letting anyone fly me or my wife into a building.

The 9/11 hijackers told the passengers they'd be safe if they stayed in their seats. Nobody will believe that now. I'm confident we won't see that situation again, not until people start to forget anyway.

And the previous poster is right, if you let them scare you that's half their job done. Fight back. Screw 'em.


W

You GO Dude!!!!! I love your attitude!!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by disneydreamer1970
Wulfy and Captain America,

Well Said!!!! I agree with you both completely!!

Captain America,

My DH is a firefighter up her in Maine! He is a captain on both the Windham and Gorham Fire Departments!

Dee's daughter is in Windham, I feel safer now for her now.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by denisenh
We have had 9 or 10 family trips that required us to fly since 9/11 and I have not been bothered by any of those. Didn't cancel our trip several weeks after 9/11. My gut feeling was that all would be well, and it was.
I try and think about stronger and locked cockpit doors. And are pilots armed now? (Not sure what happened with that.)
Anyway, I was looking to take my girls to Florida this August for a few days...forget it. I do not feel safe, according to my good ol' gut.
I hope that I don't feel this way too long because I NEED my February trip to a warmer place!!
I hope and pray that my gut is wrong!

We flew 3 days after 9/11 and had a bit of being nervous, but, since that time, no nerves at all. I am sorry you are cancelling, but, following your gut is always a good thing to do. And...I also hope it is wrong.

 

[CarolA]

This comes up EVERY time the US Goverment does this stuff with the terror alert. (I can't say what I really think of the terror alerts, but I figure if something does happen during an alert it will just be pure coincidence! They have a good shot since they leave the alerts in place for MONTHS!!!!)

Personally I believe you are MUCH safer in the air then you are on the commute to your office.

Staying home does not make you that much safer then going to Disney or anyplace else. Statistically it just does not hold up. Think of the bizarre stories you hear. The people shopping in Santa Monica a few weeks ago did not think they were going to get run over by an old man, but it happened. Now had those people gone to Disney that week they would still be alive. So.... you just never know when your time is going to come up and I refuse to hide from life. (If the 18 wheeler or one of the crazy drivers that has driven 24 hours straight since that is "safer" then flying runs into me at least I will have had fun)

 

[Blueberry]

I was in the air on 9/11, landed in Orlando just as it was all breaking loose...I am not afraid to fly, never will be..I think you are safer flying than driving actually....

I do not believe any terrorist will get ahold of any plane ever again in this country...The passengers will stop them and deal with the terrorists right then and there...

Do not let the terrorists win ever, do not let fear stop you from living your life or going on vacation as you plan....That is what the terrorists want to do is disrupt life here in anyway they can, and fear works as well as anything...

 

[alexturner74]

Originally posted by Blueberry
I do not believe any terrorist will get ahold of any plane ever again in this country...The passengers will stop them and deal with the terrorists right then and there...

Plus, they can't get into the cockpit like they used to.

 

[MulanMom]

Let's see...we flew to Orlando a few weeks after 9/11 and returned the day after we invaded Afghanistan. It was a jarring sight to see armed National Guardsmen in MCO.

We flew again in March 02 and when we went this year, it was shortly after we invaded Iraq. Was it scary? Yes, I have to admit it was but perhaps only due to my awareness that terrorism can occur at any time. In a way, I actually feel safer flying during a period of heightened awareness because the security is greater, and if everyone's doing their jobs, that should make the possibility of a terrorist attack less likely.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Captain America
To all those who are afraid to fly because of the latest terror alert :
I completely understand and am sympathetic to your feelings . However, I would respectfully like to ask all of you to never give a second thought to living your life the same way you did before 9/11, especially when it comes to flying to Orlando, or anywhere else for that matter . If we allow THEM to terrorize us and cripple us with fear then THEY WIN ! Being an American , being a New Yorker , and especially being a proud and grateful member of the FDNY I choose to refuse to be terrorized by anyone . I will not dishonor the memories of all those we lost and I don't want my children to live their lives in fear .

GOD BLESS AMERICA !
FF TOM MALONEY - FDNY

"Excellent post Tom"!!

 

[propchick]

First and foremost, all my thanks in the world, Captain America!!

I'm part of that forgotten group of people who were on vacation in NYC when it happened. (The big irony here is that my NYC-native friends invited me up there because Sept. 11, 2001 was the one year anniversary of the death of a dear friend of mine, they knew I was still devistated, and they thought the trip would take my mind off of it. It certainly did, at that.)

I flew back out of New York City on Sept. 14 or 15th (it's something of a blur now) on American Airlines, straight through the smoke. I have never, NEVER been afraid to fly since. Now I'm always the loosest person on any flight I take. I've already been on the worst flight I'll ever be on, and believing that with all of my heart is my own way of fighting back. (Although I'll be more than happy to leap up and deck someone with whatever's handy, should the need arise.)

 

[CarolynNC]

I too have become a white knuckle flyer due to a really turbulent flight but that was prior to 9/11.

Last year I took my son on his first flight. His father has always refused to let him fly but he's now old enough to have his own say. He really wanted to go to the StarWars Celebration in Indianapolis. I was amazed he wasn't in the least concerned about the terrorists and didn't bat an eye as we had to detour around a storm which was bouncing us around.

This summer I planned a trip to US/IOA for my son, his friend, and my sister. My sister backed out because she was afraid to fly. We had a great flight with only minor turbulence on the return leg (you can see where my mind goes). Since we've been back my sister has regretted backing out of the trip so I've booked another trip (girls long weekend) for September. Her ticket is purchased and we're looking forward to our trip. Our departure is 9/11! This will be a true test!

By the way, I may not be a "pissed-off 6'5" 220lb 30 year old males who will flatten any potential hijacker" but I believe I can hold my own.

Carolyn