# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/41 "2011-08-01T16:17:32Z")
If I were planning to travel in early September, and 9/11 were a convenient day for one leg of the trip, I’d have no problem with traveling on that day. Since we just took a week’s vacation, and have another vacation scheduled for early October, the chance of that is essentially nil. If I was planning on traveling on that day, [I’d be more worried about trains](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB38yqy1osc). ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/42 "2011-08-01T18:32:49Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > our enemies are big on picking significant dates to enact their plans. no they aren’t. But if they do want to pick a significant date (which they have _never_ done before), they will probably define “significant” based on the Islamic calendar, not the Gregorian. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/43 "2011-08-01T18:39:17Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > What was the significance of September 11, 2001? Interestingly enough, it was the 144 (12\*12)'th anniversary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, that other major religiously motivated massacre in US history. Anyone wanna join my wagon train bound Californy-way? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/44 "2011-08-01T21:56:29Z")
> **[Bin Laden Plotted 9/11 Anniversary Attack](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304521304576446213098582284)** > > Osama bin Laden was working to assemble a team of militants to attack the U.S. on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 hijackings, according to communications that Navy SEALs seized from his Pakistani hideout when they killed the al Qaeda leader this... “Osama bin Laden was working to assemble a team of militants to attack the U.S. on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, according to communications Navy SEALs seized from his Pakistani hideout when they killed the al Qaeda leader this spring.” > **[Notebook Reveals Bin Laden Was Still Active In Planning Terror Attacks](https://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/05/05/notebook-reveals-bin-laden-was-still-active-in-planning-terror-attacks/)** > > The New York Times, citing undisclosed U.S. officials, is reporting that an initial review of documents captured from Bin Laden’s Pakistani compound reveals that the Al Qaeda leader was more involved with new terror plans than what had been... “A handwritten notebook, dated February, 2010, lays out various plans to attack American railroads with an objective to derail and destroy a train while traveling over a bridge. The plan involved staging such an event to take place on a significant date such as Christmas, New Years Day, the day of the State of the Union Address or the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.” FTR, when I said “enemies,” I included home grown idiots such as Timothy McVeigh who picked the anniversary of the Waco attacks. Thanks for the feedback. I’m still mulling it over. The US Open is that weekend, which is fantastic, but it looks like it’s the finals weekend and Fri/Sat are sold out already. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/45 "2011-08-01T21:56:31Z")
I’ve already flown out of D.C. on one of the 9/11 anniversaries (2004? 2005?) and the fact that I can’t even remember the year shows just how uneventful it was. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/46 "2011-08-01T22:32:19Z")
I had no plans to travel on 9/11/11 (nor any particular plans NOT to travel) but now I feel the need to take a train trip that day. 😛 ---
**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:** [August 1, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/47 "2011-08-01T22:41:35Z")
I flew into BWI on 9/11/02, and didn’t think anything of it. This year, my brother-in-law is getting married on 9/10/11 in south Florida, so there are plenty of guests flying out the next day-- one of whom is planning to leave early Monday morning because of the whole 9/11 thing. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/48 "2011-08-01T22:47:15Z")
I’m flying in from overseas on 9/11/11. I’m not worried at all about a terrorist attack. I am anticipating heightened security and I’m a bit apprehensive about fellow passengers freaking out. But not enough to change my flight. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/49 "2011-08-02T01:54:23Z")
I have flown on 5 or 6 of the 9/11 anniversaries. I think terrorists have to crash a plane a week or something before flying say once a month is more dangerous than driving. I believe there are something like 30,000 commercial flights in the US daily. Even if you knew for sure that on that day one of them will crash, one in 30k is still pretty good odds. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/50 "2011-08-02T09:44:38Z")
The 9/11 attacks were a plan that could only work one time (well one time in four places simultaneously) but woe betide any fool who tries to hijack a plane with a boxcutter now. I don’t recall any successful hijackings of US flights since 9/11. I do recall reading about a lot of shit-disturbing fools getting their asses kicked when trying to cause trouble on any domestic flights. If we use the patented Tom Clancy Terrorism Predictor, the next attacks will be: Shopping mall shoot-em-ups or MANPADS surface-to-air missiles launched at planes ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/51 "2011-08-02T14:45:44Z")
If I were to avoid flying on 9/11, it would only be to avoid overzealous jingoistic TSA agents spoiling to find ‘terrists’. Otherwise who gives a shit? It’s just a date. I refuse to live in fear. ---
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/52 "2011-08-02T15:49:41Z")
No reason to worry, statistically you are extremely safe on a plane. I have no factual rationale for this, but I would be more concerned about the 9th or 12 if I had to pick highest risk dates for an “anniversary attack”. I say fly, unless you know your anxiety will make you a nervous wreck. ---
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/53 "2011-08-02T15:50:53Z")
I meant the 10th or 12th. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/54 "2011-08-02T16:51:53Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > 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? I don’t have current plans to travel on 9/11, but I would do so, and have no problem flying in/out of the cities mentioned. The only thing I would worry about is whether TSA is going to be seriously f-ed up or not. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/55 "2011-08-02T17:22:35Z")
It wouldn’t occur to me to be concerned. I’ve flown on 9/11 in other years without incident. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/56 "2011-08-02T17:27:21Z")
That’s a Sunday, so there’s a good chance I’ll be flying on United that day. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/57 "2011-08-02T17:45:10Z")
Just a wild guess, but I bet security will be off the charts on that day - thus, flying on 9/11/11 might be _the safest day to fly all year_! ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/58 "2011-08-02T17:58:21Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Just a wild guess, but I bet security will be off the charts on that day - thus, flying on 9/11/11 might be _the safest day to fly all year_! True. But it might also be the day where it’s the biggest PITA to fly, too. FWIW, I’m checking fares later today. If they’re cheap, I’m thinking of going. ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/59 "2011-08-02T18:59:07Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I know our enemies are big on picking significant dates to enact their plans. What a blast from the past - I didn’t realize Americans still spoke like this. I thought it went out of fashion with talk of “terr’rists” and “evil-doers”. It does happen I will be flying on the 11th, just because it’s convenient. Paris to Venice. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917/60 "2011-08-02T19:37:12Z")
> [@beartato](#): > > What a blast from the past - I didn’t realize Americans still spoke like this. I thought it went out of fashion with talk of “terr’rists” and “evil-doers”. I deliberately chose the word “enemies” vs. “terrorists” because when people use the word “terrorist,” apparently they assume that we’re talking only about Islamic terrorists. (As the Norway massacre was going on, the press made of point of repeating that it WASN’T an Islamic terrorist, possibly to prevent a backlash against Muslims.) So I was actually trying to be MORE politically correct by avoiding the term “terrorist” altogether because it’s a term that is laden. Thanks for noticing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-plan-to-air-travel-on-9-11-11-would-you/590917.md?page=4)