Afraid to fly?

[JennyOmanHill]

I always feel anxious before boarding a plane, and just have a horrible time dealing with any turbulence once we're "up there"! Through the years I have tried to adjust to the idea that flying can be a "fun" experience, and this country certainly does look beautiful out the windows!

Now that the "routine" of flying has been drastically affected after 09/11, has anyone changed their ideas of taking flights for visits, vacation and business? I have no immediate plans to fly for a while, but I know it will be even more difficult for me to resume flying now.

 

[StondTmplPilot]

I've always been terrified of flying even before Sept.11. Not so much the flight, as much as the take off and landing. I can handle the actual flying part, but the taking off and landing just terrify me.

 

[Vinny]

Flying

I actually prefer to fly. On 9/11 the only reason I drove from Texas to NYC was because the airports were closed. I am now driving back to NYC tommorrow because I really need my car with me while I am there. But, when I go anywhere else I fly. I hae many relatives in NYC and I prefer my own car to riding with others or renting.

 

[Pokerman]

i cancelled my T-giving trip to see my family, and after the crash of the flight to the Dom. Republic, and now the person with a bomb in his shoes...I can honestly say I have no desire right now to fly anywhere ever again. I'm safer in my car, with no terrorists, and me in control than trusting some minimum-wage security person to make sure i'm not going to get blown up at 32,000 feet.

I'm not afraid to fly. Just to die.

 

[plasticman33]

No, Jenny.......

I've flown four times since 9/11, to Vancouver, Dallas, Chicago and Houston. I actually think it is safer now, than it's ever been. I've never been nervous about flying. I've flown all over the world and have only had a couple of slightly scary experiences.

 

[alltherage]

I have always been uncomfortable flying. I think because I have not flown more than four times in one year. The 9/11 atrocity has me more reluctant, and that feeling is not eased by the sneaker bomb creapazoid that was recently caught. I will fly but only if there is no other reasonable means of travel.

 

[lobito]

This subject was brought up just after the 9/11 incidents, and my answer is the same today, as it was then. I LOVE TO FLY.

I flew 3 days before, and was as worried as I was coming back 2 weks afterwards. Not because of any possible terrorist threat, but because the airport security, no matter where you are, SUCKS!

I take almost all of my electronics that I'm taking with me, in my carryon bag(s), and I expect it ALL to be checked, even if it takes a few moments longer to get through line. People may hate having to wait an extra moment or two, but think of it this way, IF I was the kind to carry a bomb in one of those devices, at least there is a better chance that I would get caught.

After last weekend, we know it's even more possible to get through the gates wtih a bomb, in your SHOES even. Does that affect my choice(s) to fly? Nope, not one bit.

As "they" say, it's safer to fly in a plane, than it is to drive in a car.

 

[Pokerman]

As "they" say, it's safer to fly in a plane, than it is to drive in a car.

True...though I've been in four automobile crashes in my life...one as a passenger, three as a driver (only one my fault)...and have survived all four with nary a scratch.

How many people have walked away from one plane crash, let alone four?

 

[Vinny]

agreed

True...though I've been in four automobile crashes in my life...one as a passenger, three as a driver (only one my fault)...and have survived all four with nary a scratch.

How many people have walked away from one plane crash, let alone four?

I agree with this. I fly often and will continue to do so. But if I have the time to drive I will. It costs me only 200 dollars to drive which I do none stop 23 hours from Texas to NYC but I travel overseas yearly which I have no choice but to fly.

 

[kotori]

Flying's okay,

it's crashing that always scared me.

I don't like to fly in general because I just think it's uncomfortable; I would rather drive. It doesn't bother me, though. I used to fly in-and-out of National twice a month. Last time I went to Washington, I went via BWI, and took the train right to Capitol Hill (Union Station). I came back the day the plane crashed in far Rockaway. I didn't even know it had happened but there were t.v. newspeople interviewing people waiting on line to check-in. Crazy--but mostly just annoying, mind nubbing with all the waiting.

 

[lobito]

ah, it's all just a technicality pokerman.

I understand your point, and I have walked away from an accident in a car. But they obviously just base it on the number, like everything else.

Still won't make me NOT want to fly.

Now seeing someone say that they drive for 23 hours straight, scares me. No offence Vinny, but really, one person driving for that long, even with a few small breaks, is enough to scare anyone from the roads.

 

[Angel]

You have a point, Pokerman. But cars crash and people die in them every day. That doesn't happen in Airplanes.

My friend's boyfriend is a Volunteer firefighter. I've seen more horrible accidents in the past two months hanging out with them than I have in my entire lifetime. 90% of them never make it into the news no matter how devestating the death and destruction is.


Anyway, I will be flying roundtrip to Florida to take a break from NY, my job and everything that irks me lately (And to visit BeeBee). I am not afraid to fly.

The events of Sept 11 and the more recent crash will of course be in the back of my mind from the moment I step onto the airplane until the moment I step safely off when we land. I know that I will be tense about it. But I won't be afraid.

 

[Vinny]

Rephrase

ah, it's all just a technicality pokerman.

I understand your point, and I have walked away from an accident in a car. But they obviously just base it on the number, like everything else.

Still won't make me NOT want to fly.

Now seeing someone say that they drive for 23 hours straight, scares me. No offence Vinny, but really, one person driving for that long, even with a few small breaks, is enough to scare anyone from the roads.

Let me rephase what I meant. I was not clear. I usually drive for 10 hours then my friend drives about 5 while I sleep. Then we eat and I drive for 5 and so on. No I would never drive 23 hours straight. Combined we drive straight.

 

[lobito]

well now that makes more sense, though me personally, I couldn't stand to drive even 10 straight. I guess it's the armed forces discipline, huh?

 

[Pokerman]

You have a point, Pokerman. But cars crash and people die in them every day. That doesn't happen in Airplanes.

Ohhhh I know that Angel...but still...I've yet to have a bomb scare in my car. I've never had a terrorist in the passenger seat. The drinks are plentiful (no alcohol though, the only advantage planes have over cars) and the food is more substantial than just honey roasted peanuts. Plus, I leave on MY schedule, not theirs...I know the most recent time my vehicle has been inspected, and I trust my mechanic who I've been going to since I learned how to drive, to let me know if there are any problems. If I run out of gas (remember Avianca, circa 1988? 1989?) the worst thing that happens is I get on my cell phone and call for help.

Friends of mine flew home recently, and they said it took them three hours (this was a domestic flight, mind you...) to get through security. I can get from NYC to Boston in just about 4 hours, so it could actually take less time (counting the time to get through security, plus the flight time) to DRIVE from NY to Boston, than to fly there.

 

[Angel]

I understand.

I would just rather drive long distances as I am terrified of driving long distances alone. I'm great with directions, but I'm still scared to death I will get lost. Plus, I hate how other people drive and I would probably flip out and turn into a road raging maniac once I got past the state line.


Shit, I KNOW how to get to Manhattan from upstate and I'll still bus it down there. Driving in the city sucks, although I'll do it if I have to. Once I get past Albany though, I'm ready to pull over and hitch. LOL.


And so I will be flying to Florida in January.

 

[Vinny]

Cop

well now that makes more sense, though me personally, I couldn't stand to drive even 10 straight. I guess it's the armed forces discipline, huh?

I think alot of it has to do with me being a night person and also when I was a Honolulu Police Officer I used to patrol for 12 hours straight. So now instead of going in circles I go straight.

 

[JennyOmanHill]

How much extra time?

Aside from my anxiety, if I had the chance to visit my family in Arizona (and my friend in "Omahaland"), I'd be headed to the airport right now!

I have heard the stories of hours waiting to get through security too. Is there a guideline as to how much time to allow before a flight, or is it too variable to narrow down?

 

[plasticman33]

You have to be prepared for the increased security, it really hasn't been that bad! On a flight to Dallas last week I was 'wanded' three times, twice going, once coming back. I had one attractive lady security person, ask me if it was OK to touch me whereever the wand beeped. I told her, sure! Then I was wishing I had tucked some metal into my briefs! Oh well, maybe next time!

 

[plasticman33]

Re: How much extra time?

Aside from my anxiety, if I had the chance to visit my family in Arizona (and my friend in "Omahaland"), I'd be headed to the airport right now!

I have heard the stories of hours waiting to get through security too. Is there a guideline as to how much time to allow before a flight, or is it too variable to narrow down?

For domestic flights I've been getting to the airport two hours before departure and have ended up sitting around waiting. Kinda boring!

 

[MissTaken]

I flew for the first time in my life in December. After the initial take off, which took me by surprise, I loved it....right until we circled at the Albany airport with no explanation. ( I wasn't the only one nervous.)

I was most affected when we flew over the tip of Manhattan Island and saw Ground Zero from the air. Even though it was simply a darker spot on an otherwise illuminated island, it touched me deeply. Once again, I found myself thinking of the victim's and their families.

I digress. I would fly again and love it.

 

[Vinny]

Security

When my children arrived to DFW from Hawaii last week, in order for me to get them from their escprt, I had to get a computerized police clearance then I was patted down and searched with a hand held metal detector. Took 15 minutes plus there was a National Guard Soldier their with his M16 rifle. So DFW for sure has tight security which I appreciated.

 

[lobito]

right after 9/11 when I was coming back to the U.S. we were told to be at the airport 3 hours ahead of time. The funny thing is, the people working in the airport didn't even show up, until 2 hours before my flight took off, so we waited for them, then it took 30 minutes to go through, they didn't check much of anything incidently, which as I said before, scares me, because they aren't doing their jobs.

Now I get there no more than 1½ hours ahead of time, even when flying international, because let's face it, there aren't that many people flying at 6am. At least not from my airport. I still have to wait a long time for my flight, because the security checkin part goes so fast, like plasticman said.

 

[Wanderer D]

I love to fly. Always have. It's still a rush to feel the acceleration and the ground rush away from me. Window seats are my favorite and I hate it when I get one over a wing.
9/11 changed none of that. I wish I had an excuse to fly more, it's so rare when I do.
Almost my entire immediate family has been in one car crash or another, myself included. I've never had a bad experience flying... except delays.

 

[Angel]

I love the window seat too, WD. I love to look out the window and see the ground become smaller and smaller as we gain altitude, and grow closer and closer as we circle in for a landing.

The last time I flew, I had an aisle seat. And the guy next to me by the window was wigging out and refused to open the shade. I offered to switch seats but he also refused to stand up to make the switch. LOL

On the way back I had an aisle seat but the plane was only about a quarter full, so I was able to move by a window.