# Anyone plan to air travel on 9/11/11? Would you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2011, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917 "2011-07-31T11:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/1 "2011-07-31T11:56:22Z")
My DH is traveling to NYC for a business meeting on 9/8, and has opted to stay the weekend and visit friends. I was booking a hotel room for him on points, and it was only when the reservationist said to me, “Okay, we have him checking in on 9/9 and checking out on 9/11.” that I realized that he’d be in NYC on 9/11. Oh, AND he’d be flying to boot. He’s asked me to join him, and I’m honestly torn. I mean, on the one hand, who doesn’t want to go to NYC for a weekend? On the other hand, I’m not really keen on flying on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I know our enemies are big on picking significant dates to enact their plans. I’m sure the TSA screening is going to be an extra hassle that day. Besides, if enough people avoid travel on 9/11, the flights will be canceled and we’ll be stuck in NYC for another day. So, anyone plan to fly on 9/11? And, if given the option to be in NYC (or D.C.) and travel on that day, would you? ---
**Author:** ![BaconAndEggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@BaconAndEggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconAndEggs)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/2 "2011-07-31T11:58:52Z")
I’d be too scared to travel. I wouldn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/3 "2011-07-31T12:21:09Z")
I’d make a point of travelling on September 11. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/4 "2011-07-31T12:22:29Z")
I flew from Tel Aviv back to the USA on 9/11/02. My travelling companion had bought some military memorabilia in Israel to boot, which made the infamous Israeli airport security folks go into pretty high gear, but it was fine. I would fly on 9/11/11 or be in DC or NYC, theoretically. I’m not planning to, though. It’s a Sunday. I may be at the Renaissance festival! ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/5 "2011-07-31T12:24:53Z")
Just googled the date…apparently [travelling by train on the anniversary](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42922557/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/t/al-qaida-aspired-attack-us-train/) might have been more of a risk. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/6 "2011-07-31T13:30:29Z")
I bet airfare will be cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/7 "2011-07-31T13:31:29Z")
Wouldn’t stop me. I have a bomb nobody move isn’t going to work anymore. Anyone starts acting froggy a flight that I’m on gets their eyes carved out with a plastic spoon. But then I’m just an ITG. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/8 "2011-07-31T13:32:16Z")
I don’t have anything specifically planned for that date, but if I did, I wouldn’t hesitate to fly on that date or any other. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/9 "2011-07-31T14:28:25Z")
I **would** have been flying on that date but it’s too expensive, so I’ll be driving instead. I’m not any more worried about attacks on that anniversary than on any other day. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/10 "2011-07-31T14:44:45Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I know our enemies are big on picking significant dates to enact their plans. No they don’t. I would have absolutely no qualms about flying on that date. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/11 "2011-07-31T15:10:10Z")
Yeah, what? 9/11 was a pretty crappy “signifigant date” the first time around. What exactly was it supposed to mean? Emergency services? The numbers surrounding “10”? What does that have to do with anything? These guys are not wizard level symbologists. I will be in DC (I live there) and I’d have no problem flying. Even if a terror attack on a plane was a sure thing, the chances that it’d be my plane, and not one of the thousands of other planes, is slim. And of course the exstence of a plan for a terror attack on any plane is unlikey, and if there is a plan we do have security that stands a good chance of catching it. The odds are just way too small to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/12 "2011-07-31T15:16:36Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I’m sure the TSA screening is going to be an extra hassle that day. Besides, if enough people avoid travel on 9/11, the flights will be canceled and we’ll be stuck in NYC for another day. I have a hard time believing that an airline can cancel a flight, if passengers have checked in, if they simply feel that not enough passengers have checked in. I’m with **Alessan** , I would make a _point_ of flying because it will probably be less crowded. I’m sure TSA screening will be worse, though, I agree! > [@PunditLisa](#): > > I know our enemies are big on picking significant dates to enact their plans. I’m probably woefully ignorant, but what enemies? Osama and his corps are mostly dead – isn’t Al Qaeda mostly leaderless? I didn’t think there were other groups that focused on the significance of dates… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/13 "2011-07-31T15:17:36Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > My DH is traveling to NYC for a business meeting on 9/8, and has opted to stay the weekend and visit friends. But what about the pitcher? Does he ever get to go? Won’t someone think of the poor pitchers? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/14 "2011-07-31T15:23:57Z")
If you let yourself be chivvied about by numerological fears, the terrorists have won\*. [sub]\*Genuine last-decade rhetoric.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/15 "2011-07-31T15:42:28Z")
I have no flight plans that day, but I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment if I did. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/16 "2011-07-31T15:43:51Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Besides, if enough people avoid travel on 9/11, the flights will be canceled and we’ll be stuck in NYC for another day. I highly, highly doubt the will happen. New Yorkers have business to get to, if there are no physical barriers then they’ll be at that 9am client meeting. The city was pretty quick to get back to business however possible in 2001, a perceived threat in 2011 isn’t going to keep people from moving about. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/17 "2011-07-31T15:44:39Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I mean, on the one hand, who doesn’t want to go to NYC for a weekend? Well… me, for instance. I have never had any interest or desire to go to NYC. I mean, if I had to go on business, or if someone paid me to go, sure, but zero interest otherwise. However, I would have zero qualms about flying on any anniversary date of 9/11, or other terrorist attack. Security will be tighter than usual, so in some ways I view an attack as LESS likely on such a date. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/18 "2011-07-31T15:47:53Z")
I have a business conference that will have me flying on 9/11. When somebody in my office realized this, they offered that everybody going to the conference could choose to instead travel on 9/10, though they’d have to pay for the extra hotel night out of pocket. No brainer for me. I kept my flight on the 11th. Security will be stronger than ever, the likelihood of my flight mattering even in the event of disaster is astronomically slim, and I don’t want to pay for a hotel out of pocket if I have any choice. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/19 "2011-07-31T15:50:01Z")
No plans for travel on that date, but while I can understand being a little extra nervous, I wouldn’t let it stop me from making plans to travel on that date. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/20 "2011-07-31T16:11:29Z")
I haven’t been on an airplane since 1970. I see no reason to change that just to tempt fate. Y’all can have my turn. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917.md?page=2)