# Anybody else flying on 9/11 this year? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 6, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352 "2011-09-06T03:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/1 "2011-09-06T03:26:09Z")
My brother-in-law is getting married on 9/10, and I fly home the next day, from south Florida to Detroit. Honestly, a little teeny tiny part of me is a little heebed out. Not enough to actually change my flight, but still… So anyone else flying on Sunday? Would you? Would you alter travel plans to avoid flying on that day? I have at least two relatives who aren’t coming to this wedding because it would have meant flying on 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Giltathriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b38774/32.png) [@Giltathriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giltathriel)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/2 "2011-09-06T03:46:25Z")
Yes, I’m flying from central Pennsylvania to Wyoming for a professional conference. I’ve vaguely wondered about some sort of copy-cat hi-jacking, but the conference is too good an opportunity to pass up. It’s probably safer than usual really, because everyone is remembering what might go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/3 "2011-09-06T04:55:53Z")
Not flying, but if i were it wouldn’t even cross my mind to change my ticket or avoid flying on that day. While there are still dangers to international air traffic from terrorism, the fact is that, after 9/11, there will never again be an airline hijacking in the sense that we understood them before. They are over, gone, done, finished. Before 9/11, the general policy was to cooperate with hijackers, on the (fairly reasonable) assumption that the hijackers wanted to make a political point or get a ransom and then get out alive. The default assumption among plane passengers was that they should do what the hijackers wanted, in the hopes that everyone would be released once the hijackers’ demands were met. But 9/11 changed all that. The default assumption now is (indeed, must be) that the hijackers intend to go down with the ship, so to speak, and also that they will take as many people on the ground with them as possible. There is no longer anything to lose by resisting the hijackers. Any traditional-style hijacking attempt these days would be instantly overwhelmed by a deluge of passengers, because everyone now has the events of 9/11 foremost in their minds when they think of airline terrorism. I guess it’s possible that some deluded terrorist group might try to hijack a plane, and might try to convince the passengers that, if they cooperate, they will survive. But if you were on that plane, would you believe them? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/4 "2011-09-06T05:23:01Z")
Yes. I fly to London on Saturday, getting there Sunday morning. I then fly to Italy. It’s not my first choice of days to fly, but can’t be helped. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/5 "2011-09-08T00:04:12Z")
Yup, scheduled to fly that day. I had been hoping to get a better price on the ticket, but I think people aren’t really all that freaked out by flying on 9/11. It doesn’t really matter, since flying on Monday didn’t work with my schedule. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/6 "2011-09-08T01:55:20Z")
Afternoon flight from Tampa to Chicago, with a connection through to Los Angeles, on United Airlines. Not particularly concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/7 "2011-09-08T02:46:37Z")
I should schedule an hour on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/8 "2011-09-08T02:56:18Z")
I’m flying. My wife wishes I wasn’t. I don’t think it’s any more dangerous than any other day. I doubt the next attack will look like the last one. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/9 "2011-09-08T02:56:26Z")
No plans to, but I would have no problem flying with a plane load of the meanest looking, most bearded, head-geared Muslims who could be found, and let them go unchecked through security, or even openly bring guns and grenades if they wanted to. I’d be perfectly fine. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/10 "2011-09-08T18:30:28Z")
Yeah, I’m flying on the 11th to Madison, WI, with a change-over in Detroit. I don’t like having to fly that day, because I’m afraid that TSA will make it a reason to have even _more_ security, even though nothing will happen. But because it’s all “10th anniversary” and whatnot, they’ll ramp up the already absurd measures. As **mhendo** said, hijacking a plane doesn’t work anymore. Even if a terrorist manages to sneak some kind of weapon onto the plane, the passengers and crew won’t have it. Even if the passengers and crew can’t overpower him, the pilots are trained not to let anyone into the cabin anymore…the doors lock from the inside, yes? So they just radio it’s an emergency and land at the nearest airport where a butt load of police will be waiting. The terrorists know this, so they have almost certainly written off ‘plane hijacking’ as a viable method. But that won’t stop the TSA from deciding it’s a damn good reason to pat everyone down even more thoroughly than usual. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/11 "2011-09-08T19:09:10Z")
Not me, but my daughter and her boyfriend are going back to Germany on 9/11. Fares were significantly cheaper than the day before or after. I doubt there is that much risk since we got bin Laden’s computer files, the Pakistanis just captured a leader, and we’ve wiped out the rest. Even if something was cooking they’d have to assume we knew about it. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/12 "2011-09-08T19:12:05Z")
Yep. Flying Dublin-Istanbul Istanbul-Bangkok. Not concerned. Just really looking forward to a good holiday 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/13 "2011-09-09T01:18:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > No plans to, but I would have no problem flying with a plane load of the meanest looking, most bearded, head-geared Muslims who could be found, and let them go unchecked through security, or even openly bring guns and grenades if they wanted to. I’d be perfectly fine. Got married on 9/11/2002 We have something good to remember about that day. As to the above, I agree with all but the last 4 words. I’m old, cranky, suspicious, believe in profiling & much more pro-active. So if need be I can deal with less than ‘fine’ because everyone else is going to be even less ‘fine’. If there is a bomb, at least in an airplane I am pretty sure to not survive it and have to live on in some terrible condition. I have many irrational fears but airplanes & terrorist are not two of them. Your Flight Millage May Vary YFMMV :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/14 "2011-09-09T17:03:13Z")
I’m not working that day but that’s just happenstance, not any deliberate plan on my part. My airline, and all the others, will be ops normal that day. There may or may not be heightened security. I don’t know and if I did I’d not be in a position to say one way or the other publicly. Heck, if I was a bad guy I think I’d prefer any other day to that day. Less likelihood of increased security, fewer keyed-up passengers to possibly foil my plans, and then next year there’d be \*two \*anniversaries to incite fear & anxiety. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/15 "2011-09-09T17:10:38Z")
I’m flying the day after but I’m not worried. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/16 "2011-09-11T02:43:38Z")
For what it’s worth, I flew from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale today, through Charlotte. 11am customs/immigration/security in Toronto with NO lines. There were five immigration agents on duty, and only three of them had customers when I showed up. The first plane was about 2/3 full. Charlotte was bustling. The second flight was supposed to have ~50 empty seats, but we took on a good number of standby passengers. Basically…It felt like travel was fairly light today, compared on my past experiences. This may be an indication of what to expect tomorrow. Or not. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/17 "2011-09-11T13:27:03Z")
A retired teacher from my school is leaving on plane today. To Afghanistan. Can’t make this stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/18 "2011-09-11T16:31:06Z")
I was supposed to, but hubby could not get time off work. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/19 "2011-09-11T20:51:45Z")
I’m in the air right now. Seems like any other day. Wonder what else we’d know if we had in flight Internet in those days. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352/20 "2011-09-11T21:05:47Z")
Just got back from flying. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-flying-on-9-11-this-year/595352.md?page=2)