I flew today....

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Hi All,

Frequent lurker, infrequent poster checking in here.

I flew today. And if I can, so can you.

I’m on a business trip to Toronto, planned & paid for before the atrocities of 9/11. I left South Carolina this morning, changing planes once en route. I guess I could have cancelled the trip. But I had to face the fear. My fear. And perhaps, your fear as well. Which is why I decided to post this.

I know there are a lot of people who are (justifiably) scared to get on an airplane right now. But I did it. And if I can, believe me, so can you. I am not braver than you: I am not luckier than you: I am not foolhardier than you. I am an ordinary man suddenly thrust, as we all have been, into extraordinary times. Up until last Tuesday I doubt many of us let fear govern the mundane choices of our lives. So it should be as we go forward.

But that’s so much easier to say than to live into.

Intellectually, I know that in the 24 hours that culminated with the attacks on the WTC and Pentagon, 4 flights in US airspace were hijacked and crashed. But another 40,000 flights took off and landed uneventfully. And I know that last Tuesday, 5000 people in the US tragically had their lives ended; but another 280,000,000 did not. Intellectually, I like those odds. But my gut has a mind of its own. And remained unconvinced.

That’s why I had to fly today. To reconcile what I know to be true (flying is safe) with what I feel to be true (flying is extremely dangerous and probably deadly).

There weren’t but 20 of us on either plane I flew on today. But the flight crews acted as normal as on any day. Bless them. If anyone has a right to be scared it’s the pilots and flight attendants. And I found myself paying close attention to every one of my fellow passengers while waiting to board. Hell, I was scrutinizing them. And I could see them doing the same to me. But in the end we all got on the plane anyway. We all did the math, and found the odds in our favor. I guess.

I flew today. Perhaps not a big deal to some of you. You are braver than I. Perhaps a very big deal to some of you. You are like me. No less brave. But I did it. I flew today.

And if I can, so can you.

2

Yay you. That’s good to hear.

My mom just emailed me to confirm that she is flying in to see us this week, as planned. She just said to make sure we had beer at our house. :slight_smile:

Also, she tracked the flights she’ll be taking Wednesday–the first one left 5 minutes early and got in 17 minutes early, so they’re doing something right. She suggested that maybe people weren’t taking so many damned carryons for a change.

3

SC to Toronto and you only had to change planes once?

Feh. I’ll have to change twice to get from Tulsa to Virginia.

<grumble>

How long did it take to board? Did they hand search your luggage?

'Cause, ya know, if they are, there’s some things I might not want to pack…

4

Spouse and I are still planning to head to Vegas on Oct 6th. We’ve agreed to wait until the very last minute to cancel (if need be) and just eat the cost of the airfare.

However, I don’t think that will happen. I predict we WILL go to Vegas, and have a wonderful vacation for the week we’re there, then have a good flight home.

Incidentally, any Vegas dopers want to get together while we’re there?

5

Boarding took almost no time, as there were hardly any people flying. I saw one random hand search. There was no systematic search of all carry-ons! (I thought there would/should be). In fact, the hand search I saw was of somebody’s checked-in baggage.

The only other real difference was that they checked to make sure I had a ticket when I went through the metal detector/x-ray area between the terminal and the gates. Only ticketed passengers are allowed at the gates. And I had to produce a picture ID at the boarding area, as well. Twice actually–once at the door to the gangway and once on the gangway itself.

So, if you are feeling adventurous, pack what you will…

6

I hope Anniz reads this thread before we get on the plane Friday night to go to Las Vegas.

Well put, aesop.

7

Oh, good - that’s nice to know.

I’m supposed to be leaving for a trip in a month and was a bit concerned. Of course, right AFTER something like this is the safest time to fly - while every one is still petrified and before the complacency steps back in.

I AM a bit concerned about making my connection in Newark, but…well.

8

I just booked a flight to Detroit for early October. My concern now is not safety, but that given the financial hit the airlines are taking right now, there will be problems with cancellations.

Who knows, I might get freaked out when it comes time to actually get on the plane, but I doubt it. The odds really are in our favor, and hell, if the plane does go down, well, it’s all over with quickly. I fear pain far more than I fear death.

9

I flew a couple days ago. I had no real choice- I was stuck on Maui. Security wasn’t too bad, even though I had a problem with my name on my ticket. That kind of bothered me, but I figured they knew what they were doing.

I, too, scrutinized my fellow passenger. I hope that is a habit that doesn’t continue.

My thoughts of flight- well, it wasn’t that bad. I love to travel and I’m not going to let fear stop me. But it was kind of freaky. I kept relaying images in my head- wondering what it must have felt like- wondering if it would happen. But, I am sure that next time I fly I will be quite a bit calmer.

10

[sub][delurkers anon] hi aesop [/delurkers anon][/sub]

Thanks for the post. I too am planning to fly to a job interview (in the airline industry, :eek: which is kinda taking a bath right now…) I was suppose to fly last Friday, but we had to reschedule since flight started slower than expected out of my local airports…

I’m an optimist. I don’t think its unrealistic. (Be glad to get that first flight over with tho)

Just can’t imagine we’ll allow this to permanently impact the vibrancy of our culture. It’s curious and mobil and playful and by god worldwide.

I’m close to my 3 sisters (or at least the 2 youngest, wish I was closer to my oldest sis, but that’s a different story). The oldest lives in London, my next younger is currently in Japan and my youngest sis is on the opposite side of the country. And that’s okay. In fact, that’s great. And the world in general is just too damn beautiful to stay at home hiding under the covers.

[sub]Fingers crossed for my interview[/sub]

Sner

11

I was gonna start a new post about this, but figured I’d throw my two cents in here.
I’m getting married on Sept 30th in Vegas. We’ve been planning this for about 6 months or so. From there we’re honeymooning in Maui, the flight has a lay-over in LA.
I tell you, I’m pretty damned scared.
I’m scared for my fiance. I’m scared for my immediate family flying from Logan airport to join us for the ceremony. I’m scared for my handful of friends attending. And yes, I’m scared for myself.
Not only for my life but how I could ever live with myself if something happened to any of our guests flying in.

I keep thinking… what would I do if I saw some Middle Eastern looking people getting on the plane. Would I worry? Should I worry? Logically I know, of course not.
And there is a strong likelyhood of their being Midlle Eastern peoples being present on the plane, due to the large community in my city. Heck, one of my best friends at work is Arabic.
I’m not a racist, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking this. Hell, I even briefly thought about what I could possibly sneak on the plane to defend myself with in case something went down.
Again, yes I know, irrational. And very-very stupid. The most lethal thing I might have with me now is a few magazines and a paperback.

Jeeez. I’m just worrying myself sick.

Luckily(?) I’ve read that bin Laden’s never repeted his method of terrorism exactly, so if and when, it probably won’t be a plane hi-jack.
I could cancel the wedding. But that would be too emotionally crushing. Especially to my fiance and my family.

I’m just a little unnerved. Though reading the previous posts has helped a little.

Any warm thoughts or further assurances are welcome.

Though, if there has been any positive aspect to this, it’s that it’s gotten me to stop thinking so much about the likelyhood of a shark attack in Maui.:rolleyes:

[sub]
Hey, you don’t suppose bin Laden’s been coordinating any of those recent shark attacks, do you…?[/sub]

12

Great post, aesop.

One of my friends here at work had a vacation to Hawaii planned for this week, and until he actually got there on Saturday, I think he was afraid he wouldn’t make it because of the whole situation. Not so much fear for safety, but fear the flights wouldn’t be back on schedule by then. I’m glad to report he made it, though. Safely. Yay!

13

My husband flew today from Denver to St. Louis. He said the airport was pretty empty. He also had his briefcase searched and his meat thermometer confiscated. (He’s in the restaurant industry and didn’t think about it being in his briefcase) He said he felt very safe.