What would you accept for safer flying?

[KidAtHeart1]

Concerning electronic equipment (laptops/videocameras/digital cameras/mp3 players), hopefully we will be able to continue carrying these things with us on flight. I don't want to have to put these things in the checked baggage just for the fact that these items are expensive and fragile. I don't feel comfortable having my baggage tossed and thrown around with the probability of these things becoming dammaged.
I don't travel with a laptop, but do carry a videocamera and my digital camera with me as part of my carry-on luggage. I would hate to see these things become ruined while being thrown while loading and unloading everyones baggage if we had to store them below.

 

[poohandwendy]

I guess I see air travel as not a right, so I will have to find a way to deal with security measures if I want to fly. As much as it is a PITA, if they did not take obvious precautions of threats they know of and something happened, imagine the outcry.

What I think should eventually happen is the people who do not want to make the current concessions can have a different security checkpoint where their items can be thoroughly checked and they should have to pay for that privilege. Mainly because it will take more time and resources for those people to be screened.

I think we just need to keep in mind that in the last 24 hours, a threat that could have brought massive loss of life was thwarted (so it seems). It is understandable and reasonable to expect inconvenience if you want the privilege to be on a plane.
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[3DisneyBuggs]

I have to say I can;t imagine myself ever flying again. I'm afraid to fly to begin with and 9/11 just made it worse. With this latest plot uncovered I donlt see myslef booking a flight soon. Sure thet are vigilant today with security, but what about next week or next year?

 

[mickeyfan2]

Maybe the time has come to enhance our rail system.

Also we may now need to start sending items ahead of us so they are not on the plane with us. This would make the airport boarding easier and quicker.

ETA: The airlines could also carry single dose infant tylenol and saline solution that could be purchased on the plane. This would be a solution. I know that some here will not pay the high price, but it is a solution that could work.

 

[simba928]

I love to fly, so I would probably continue to fly no matter what. The liquids thing, though is dumb. I work at the airport, so I either bring a bottle of something from home or I go up to my mom's office and get something to drink. Honestly, 1.87$ is a lot if I have to spend that everyday a few times a day, I'll go broke. When TSA gives me 5$ everytime I go through security so that I can buy something to drink, I'll be fine with that. Until then, I'm not going to be very happy. I already HATE going through security because I ALWAYS end up getting stuck behind the person who is abolutely clueless and doesn't understand what "keep your boarding pass in your hand" means or takes FOREVER to get everything situated in the boxes or doesn't realize that you have to put your stuff IN the machine or else it won't come out the other side. I don't know about the whole electronics thing. My cell phone is how I get a ride (I tell my mom that I'm done). If plans change, which happens a lot in my family, my mom uses it to tell me whats going on. If I were flying, I'd be ok with checking it. I wouldn't be happy, but I'd survive. Working, though, I'm not too sure about. I don't know if these rules apply to employees, but I don't know how they would single us out. A lot of employees use thier badge when they fly so they don't have to wait in the lines, so they really can't say Ok, since you have a badge, you can bring this because they don't know if its going on a plane or not. You know?

 

[eclectics]

I would put up with anything the Feds and Airlines wanted to throw at me. My life is worth more than any airport/aircraft inconvenience. If it makes my flight safe, I will do it. Period.

 

[poohandwendy]

Maybe the time has come to enhance our rail system.

Also we may now need to start sending items ahead of us so they are not on the plane with us. This would make the airport boarding easier and quicker.

I think the same thing could happen on a rail system...so if we start heading for the trains, they will be the target.

I think you are right about sending things ahead, that would be helpful to some people. No matter what, there will be people who are upset about being inconvenienced. Same discussion happened after 9-11 when the issue of being at the airposrt several hours ahead of time was brought up. Lots of grumbling about how that wouldn't work for them. Yet, people adjusted.

Heck, people grumbled when smoking was banned from airports and matches/lighters were banned from carry ons. They have somehow adjusted.

 

[helenabear]

Being there 2 hours early is an easier adjustment then me fearing what will happen to my contacts if something gets in my eye.

If something gets in my eye and I am stuck on a flight, I now have to lose my contact ($$) all together since I will not be allowed to carry salt water on my flight.

So I can wear glasses. That's great, but will you buy them for me since I don't own a pair?

Now you are also telling people that they cannot bring their medical OTC liquids on the flights either.

Anyone who wants a drink now has to wait for a flight to give it to them. Which, btw, they've cut back on all that drastically so you aren't guaranteed much of anything.

But they *WILL* allow it for a child. Somehow that strikes me as unfair.

I realize it isn't a right, but I am a consumer... they need to find a way to keep consumers happy or they will not fly.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I think the same thing could happen on a rail system...so if we start heading for the trains, they will be the target.

They could, but there would be more "hubs" thus smaller lines, so easier to manage. Also a train could carry more "needed" items, thus reducing the need for carry on. The liquids are allowed in checked luggage, since they go thru bomb detection equipment.

I also think that us Americans think we need way more stuff than we really do. The cell phone is an example. When we arrive we could use a payphone to call the person's cell/home phone to tell them we are in. We just WANT to use our cell phone. Do I really need my laptop to write my trip report on vacation, or could I just jot down notes and write it at home? Do I really need to DIS on vacation, now I am dead!

There are two types of travel, business and vacation. Business needs more thing, but vacation is suppose to be just that vacation. We are there to forget our worries and normal daily grind and relax not to continue them.

It is a sad state when kids must have their gameboy/DVD player to behave on a plane. Maybe a little time reading or doing puzzles would be a good thing.

 

[antmaril]

What ever it takes.

Me too.

 

[helenabear]

They could, but there would be more "hubs" thus smaller lines, so easier to manage. Also a train could carry more "needed" items, thus reducing the need for carry on. The liquids are allowed in checked luggage, since they go thru bomb detection equipment.

I also think that us Americans think we need way more stuff than we really do. The cell phone is an example. When we arrive we could use a payphone to call the person's cell/home phone to tell them we are in. We just WANT to use our cell phone. Do I really need my laptop to write my trip report on vacation, or could I just jot down notes and write it at home? Do I really need to DIS on vacation, now I am dead!

There are two types of travel, business and vacation. Business needs more thing, but vacation is suppose to be just that vacation. We are there to forget our worries and normal daily grind and relax not to continue them.

It is a sad state when kids must have their gameboy/DVD player to behave on a plane. Maybe a little time reading or doing puzzles would be a good thing.

Do I need my cell phone while on vacation? No, but my DH does. Just because he is on vacation/sick does not mean he is not on call. The require him to be available 24/7. He also does require access to some of his systems while on trips and the like.
Do I want to be away for a week on vacation and know I am easily reachable to my family? Oh definitely!

Yes, there are two different things, but for some, they are never off of their job.

I think the thing most people really do not realize, is that these things will affect a business person more than an average vacationer.

 

[poohandwendy]

Being there 2 hours early is an easier adjustment then me fearing what will happen to my contacts if something gets in my eye.

If something gets in my eye and I am stuck on a flight, I now have to lose my contact ($$) all together since I will not be allowed to carry salt water on my flight.

So I can wear glasses. That's great, but will you buy them for me since I don't own a pair?

Now you are also telling people that they cannot bring their medical OTC liquids on the flights either.

Anyone who wants a drink now has to wait for a flight to give it to them. Which, btw, they've cut back on all that drastically so you aren't guaranteed much of anything.

But they *WILL* allow it for a child. Somehow that strikes me as unfair.

I realize it isn't a right, but I am a consumer... they need to find a way to keep consumers happy or they will not fly.

The adjustments are not always easy.

And, FWIW these rules are not coming from the airlines, they are coming from the TSA.

Maybe some of the airlines will step up and offer common things on the plane, like saline solution, etc. to make flying more convenient?

And people do not need to take liquid OTC drugs in their carry on. I cannot think of one instance where that is a huge problem.

 

[ducklite]

Until you can guarantee that baggage will not be lost or stolen from, this will never work. I will NEVER put a laptop in checked baggage with the way that is handled. Same goes for cell phone and camera. They cost too much to be left into those hands.

I agree. I travel regularly for photography work, and MUST have my camera and gear safely arrive with me. It it too fragile to get tossed around in a luggage hold, and too valuable to cehck because they only give you $500 value on checked items or something like that.

I also need my laptop for this work.

They HAVE the technology they need, but they hire so many unskilled LOSERS to man it that it's moot. (My cousin is FBI assigned to Homeland Security/TSA and the stories he tells about the screeners are insane!)

In all honesty a a guy I know fairly well worked at a major international airport--one of the top 30 busiest in the US--up until recently. He worked the evening shift, his job was to guard the rear gate onto the runway area. he had to make sure that anyone who came through had the right credentials and were supposed to be there.

He smoked pot during his shift (he was never drug tested again after the initial test to be hired and worked there over two years), he casually waved people through without thouroughly looking at their credentials, especially the catering trucks because they gave him food.

They need to hire skilled people with a background in law enforcement that WANT to be there as opposed to people being forced to be there because their welfare benefits were cut.

Anne

 

[peachgirl]

You know, given the record of airline security, I'm not at all sure how effective these new measures are. What in the world gives anyone any security just because they tell law abiding citizens they can't bring a drink on board?

With the things they let slip through on screening, I don't think it's lip gloss and bottled water we need to worry about.

Frankly all these jazzed up security measures are only giving people a false sense of security. They have to catch you with it in order for it to work.

 

[poohandwendy]

I am wondering how many people in the UK are up in arms over not being able to bring bottled water/liquids, electronics et al on a plane?

 

[pooh4evr]

Our news channel listed that flights coming from UK have to checlk all electronics- cellphones, laptops, ipods...
We don't really go anywhere too much -by the time we do fly again the bans will probably be relaxed but if not I don't mind checking most everything to keep my family safe- now if the checked bags were scrutenized (sp) as closely as carry ons are it would be even better- they were discussing on one of the am news shows an incident occuring about11 yrs ago on a flight over the Pacific where a guy had a liquid explosive device rigged up in his checked bags with a watch as the detonator- DiD anyone else see this or remember this?
I just hope there isn't some sleeper cell here already prepared to carry out the plan.

 

[PghLybrt]

What would I do? Whatever they ask me to! (and believe me I have been asked to do some wierd things) Everything can get checked. If we are so concerned about the way that luggage is handled pack much lighter, its easier on the people involved in handling. Carry a book to read!! We seriously can sit for a few hours with just a book and survive (heck that’s all I took on a flight to London with me…didn’t bother with the movie and I did just fine) And the argument that cameras ect cannot be placed on the belly is ridiculous! Artists do it all the time with very expensive camera and recording equipment(things that cost upwards of $30,000+), all you need is the proper luggage that protects it! Will some things get lost or broken…sure, we are after all human ,but I would give up a $500 camera in return for my safety. I fly all the time, even directly after 9/11, and never feared for my safety in an airport. I fear Friday night drivers much more!

 

[jacksonsmom]

There are some things I would NEVER put in a checked luggage.
Medicines are one thing. My son has asthma and is on 3 different medicines for it plus he has a neb machine that we bring with during our travels, just in case.
No way would I put those in a checked luggage. I can just see the pain in the a** to replace those things on vacation if they got lost or damaged.

Also my son does take benadryl (OTC liquid form) YES I normally take that with me in my carry on. We are leaving on 9/30, I hope some of this liquid ban is lifted so I can at least bring some benadryl if needed.

Also I would NEVER put my camera AND Film in a checked luggage. In fact I thought putting film in a checked luggage is not recommended?!?
I do not have a ditigal camera yet, so I have a regular 35mm and need film.

I don't carry a laptop, but I do carry a cell phone. Again I don't use it on the plane but I would be very uncomfortable with it in my checked luggage.

I just do not trust the airlines to keep my stuff safe when I am flying!

 

[Maleficent13]

Am I mistaken, or did I read that paper materials were banned too as of right now (UK for sure, possibly US too)? That means no books, no magazines, no puzzles. Right now all you can carry is your wallet, passport, prescription medication (once verified) and baby essentials, all in clear plastic.

I do agree with PAW that flying is not a right, but it is an industry, and I see them taking a BIG hit with this.

 

[Rajah]

Oh for cryin' out loud. It has gotten ridiculous for what can and can't be taken on a plane. If these don't lift soon, then this flight to my grandparents in a few weeks may very well be the last non-business flight I take in a long, long time.

I will *not* check laptops, camera equipment, etc. Or fragile souviners (like a glass figurine)
I *need* my drink on the plane (a bottle of water), and no, what they bring you isn't always enough.
I can fly with my glasses instead of contacts, but talk about a hassle.

This is heading too much in the direction of flying naked.

Yes, I understand that the terrorists were planning to use everyday items to make a bomb -- so increase your scanning capabilities and the qualifications of the people doing security checks. *That* is what would make me feel safer. Not this ridiculous banning of liquids etc.