On the Road Again...

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Florida over Xmas, Vegas in a couple of weeks, Philly in Feb, New Orleans in May, Houston in July...

Pre-Sept 11 I hadn't traveled but once or twice a year in a long, long time. Now I'm kicking up the frequent flier mileage big time. And just in time for all the perks and conveniences to disappear.

I haven't gotten one hot meal on an airplane yet. They have these dry sandwiches and cookies now. I can't even get a plastic fork. Even the peanuts taste cheap.

My shoes were checked when I went through security before New Years (it had just been a few days after the shoe bomber thing). They took off one shoe, swabbed it with something, put the swab into some weird machine which looked a lot like the thing Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd used to catch ghosts in, and then handed me back my shoe with an "okay".

The lines are six times as long, but the airlines are still setting up their stantions as if no more than 30 people will be showing up; so, subsequently, lines shoot out the door with lots of "cutting" and fighting.

And now they're going to be checking ALL checked luggage, which means I can't duct tape together that TV box like I wanted to, because they're probably going to have to rip it open.

I suppose I don't really mind. I like the extra security. It's just that I have a LOT of traveling to do this year, and I'm not looking forward to it.

Anyone else doing any flying lately?

 

[seXieleXie]

i had a terrible experiance flying home for winter break. part of it was my fault, but even when i got that problem under control nothing went right. i go home in less than a week, i hope my return trip is smoother

 

[juicylips]

Flying to California and coming back, I saw lots of single, young men being checked, including their shoes. No screens to conceal what was being searched or picked through. It was embarassing to watch and humiliating for the gentlemen having it done.

I had no problems, other than a security threat that shut down St. Louis airport down for two hours and caused my plane to be delayed for that amount of time.

I agree with you about the food. It is nonexistent.

Good luck on you trip. Come home safely.

Cassidy

 

[Andreina]

I regularly fly using Frankfurt as a hub. Last time (just after new year) I also had to take my shoes off (was I glad I was wearing matching socks), I also had to start my notebook up but the best thing was that because I was wearing an underwired bra the alarm still went off. So had to go to a changing room, take my bra off, walk through the security again and they even sent my bra through the x-ray machine. I honestly found that part a bit humiliating, that's why my mum bought me something called "Frequent Flyer Underwear" that is made of non-static material, keeps your boobs still in form and is not using any sort of metal.


(and I am not even starting on what I had to go through when I went to Canada and they saw all my Middle Eastern passport stamps in my passport)

 

[OUTSIDER]

Strange but true fact about the shoe bomber.

It just so happens that the shoe bomber (Richard Reid) went to the same school as I did (Thomas Tallis secondary school) only he started the year I left 1984.

 

[Andreina]

i would make sure I'd xray your balls if i was a security guard. they look rather artifically enlarged to me.

 

[Rhys]

Small planes

My company has just recently purchased its own corporate jet. But, we still have to go through the same shake down as other passengers on commercial flights. It remains to be seen whether or not we will have the flexiblity we had hoped for. I think flight plans have to be filed earlier now, so no more bunny hopping off to Tahiti for a while.

c'est la vie.