Had scary flight to Europe.... then afraid to fly back home
Oct 4th, 2007, 03:26 PM
#21
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Julie H. - that cruise sounds interesting. I've always wanted to do a transatlantic crossing, but most of the ones I've looked into wind up in Spain, and I would rather disembark somewhere in Northern Europe. Where did your cruise begin? Thanks.
Oct 4th, 2007, 03:38 PM
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All I can say is distant_traveler seems to have an active fantasy life. Most of it harmless, but I am very bothered by posts such as this one:
Author: distant_traveler
Date: 10/03/2007, 02:32 pm
I enjoy Europe but am shocked how few native people are left in cities such as London, Amsterdam and Paris. It seems like everyone in the hotel and other service jobs are immigrants. I understand that illegal immigration is a more serious issue in the EU than in America (if that is possible). Most of the crime is from immigrants in Europe.
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Author: distant_traveler
Date: 10/03/2007, 02:32 pm
I enjoy Europe but am shocked how few native people are left in cities such as London, Amsterdam and Paris. It seems like everyone in the hotel and other service jobs are immigrants. I understand that illegal immigration is a more serious issue in the EU than in America (if that is possible). Most of the crime is from immigrants in Europe.
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Oct 5th, 2007, 11:37 AM
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azzure, we began in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I think we left on April 15 (2007) or thereabouts. Ship was the Jewel of the Seas. Royal Caribbean site is www.rccl.com.
If you decide to book with RCCL, they do not allow discounting of their prices. So a travel agent or online discounter cannot give you a better price. Also if the price goes down before the final payment date (75 days before the cruise, I think) you can usually get your original price lowered.
Currently on rccl.com, this ship's 10/30 westbound cruise, Southhampton to Ft. L., is $599 & up. There's one 4/12/08, Ft. L. to England for $849 & up. There are several others also.
Holland America (hollandamerica.com) has some transatlantics that cruise the Med. & end in Italy. Their website prices are high. For them I use a discounter, crucon.com. However, some of their ships are old & have plumbing, elec. problems in some cabins, so we only cruise their newer ships.
Dec. '06 is when we found the best price on our RCCL cruise. So if you decide to try it, watch for a sale.
Since we are retired & have the time, we loved that way of traveling to Europe. We only like RCCL & Holland Am. however. Celebrity is good too. However, they do not have a good alternative dining for dinner & we do not always want to go to the dining room. Lots of folks like Princess. Then of course there are the luxury lines, but we don't like to spend that much, but maybe you wouldn't mind.
cruisecritic.com is the a good message board for getting the latest scoop. However, there are die-hard fans to certain cruiselines, so some of the info is very slanted towards the line.
For cheaper air prices, some folks buy round trip tickets & use half for returning to US from Europe in the spring & then use the other half to fly to Europe in the fall & cruise back to US. Others buy RT, but try & get a credit on the unused portion or discard it - still cheaper than 1 way. We just used MaxJet from London. They sell by the leg; not required to buy RT. Then used discounter lines to fly to/from JFK & London.
Good luck, Julie
If you decide to book with RCCL, they do not allow discounting of their prices. So a travel agent or online discounter cannot give you a better price. Also if the price goes down before the final payment date (75 days before the cruise, I think) you can usually get your original price lowered.
Currently on rccl.com, this ship's 10/30 westbound cruise, Southhampton to Ft. L., is $599 & up. There's one 4/12/08, Ft. L. to England for $849 & up. There are several others also.
Holland America (hollandamerica.com) has some transatlantics that cruise the Med. & end in Italy. Their website prices are high. For them I use a discounter, crucon.com. However, some of their ships are old & have plumbing, elec. problems in some cabins, so we only cruise their newer ships.
Dec. '06 is when we found the best price on our RCCL cruise. So if you decide to try it, watch for a sale.
Since we are retired & have the time, we loved that way of traveling to Europe. We only like RCCL & Holland Am. however. Celebrity is good too. However, they do not have a good alternative dining for dinner & we do not always want to go to the dining room. Lots of folks like Princess. Then of course there are the luxury lines, but we don't like to spend that much, but maybe you wouldn't mind.
cruisecritic.com is the a good message board for getting the latest scoop. However, there are die-hard fans to certain cruiselines, so some of the info is very slanted towards the line.
For cheaper air prices, some folks buy round trip tickets & use half for returning to US from Europe in the spring & then use the other half to fly to Europe in the fall & cruise back to US. Others buy RT, but try & get a credit on the unused portion or discard it - still cheaper than 1 way. We just used MaxJet from London. They sell by the leg; not required to buy RT. Then used discounter lines to fly to/from JFK & London.
Good luck, Julie
Oct 5th, 2007, 11:52 AM
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Author: distant_traveler
Date: 10/05/2007, 09:24 am
I have traveled to all 50 States and to over 40 foreign countries, but still get nervous before I go on a trip. I am also claustrophobic and afraid to fly on occasion.
>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>
The above post was written by the same person who started this thread -- and the two posts were done just one day apart? "afraid to fly on occasion" matches the kicking and screaming episode of missing a flight mentioned above?
No offense distant traveler, but I've read a couple dozen of your posts from the past week. All of them paint some picture of doom and gloom and end up asking a question, but I'm having a hard time finding any where you come back and answer or respond to all the controversy you stir up.
Mind telling us what your purpose is here? It clearly isn't to "discuss" an issue, because you never come back to discuss one. Is it just to set up some controversy and then sit back and see how people react to it without getting involved in the discussion yourself? What is that called again?
I'm really trying to understand the purpose of all your posts. You're starting to sound like another poster here who constantly posts about misfortune. I'm sorry you apparently have such a miserable life that you can only post all these horrible problems, but if you want to discuss them, then why not do so? Meanwhile since you've visited 40 countries and all 50 states, it sure would be nice to see a few posts about something wonderful from all your travels instead of just all these doom and gloom things. Has anything good ever happened on those trips? Anything worth sharing?
Date: 10/05/2007, 09:24 am
I have traveled to all 50 States and to over 40 foreign countries, but still get nervous before I go on a trip. I am also claustrophobic and afraid to fly on occasion.
>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>
The above post was written by the same person who started this thread -- and the two posts were done just one day apart? "afraid to fly on occasion" matches the kicking and screaming episode of missing a flight mentioned above?
No offense distant traveler, but I've read a couple dozen of your posts from the past week. All of them paint some picture of doom and gloom and end up asking a question, but I'm having a hard time finding any where you come back and answer or respond to all the controversy you stir up.
Mind telling us what your purpose is here? It clearly isn't to "discuss" an issue, because you never come back to discuss one. Is it just to set up some controversy and then sit back and see how people react to it without getting involved in the discussion yourself? What is that called again?
I'm really trying to understand the purpose of all your posts. You're starting to sound like another poster here who constantly posts about misfortune. I'm sorry you apparently have such a miserable life that you can only post all these horrible problems, but if you want to discuss them, then why not do so? Meanwhile since you've visited 40 countries and all 50 states, it sure would be nice to see a few posts about something wonderful from all your travels instead of just all these doom and gloom things. Has anything good ever happened on those trips? Anything worth sharing?
Oct 5th, 2007, 12:25 PM
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I actually got on the plane but freaked out and just before they closed the door I rushed out with my wife following me with a number of screams and swear words "
Be careful , very careful about doing something like that, in the US. My neighbor , who had been off his medication had a panic attack while boarding , ran off the plane and was shot to death by air marshals in Miami.
Be careful , very careful about doing something like that, in the US. My neighbor , who had been off his medication had a panic attack while boarding , ran off the plane and was shot to death by air marshals in Miami.
Oct 5th, 2007, 12:39 PM
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That's a shame, but if someone is really freaking out and acting agressively and irrationally, I can see some security people might shoot (police do sometimes under those situations). There have been cases where people off their meds (I mean seriously) did attack people, also.
Now this reminds me of that recent news items yesterday or so about a woman who died when in airport custody (I'm not sure the final details on what exactly happened, she was alone -- could have been a freak physical thing or she could have done something, and she was apparently some kind of alcoholic or drug addict which would affect your health). This woman raised a scene and freaked out irrationally because an airline wouldn't waive all standards and let her board after boarding was closed when she was late to the gate. Reminds me of some of those passengers on that reality series on A&E about airline service. I think some Congressman or Senator was arrested recently for assault at an airport because he got mad and attacked someone when he couldn't find his bags after unloading.
I know that feeling, actually, but one does have to try to maintain their demeanor and not freak out in airports nowadays as it is a lot more dangerous to do that than it used to be (dangerous to yourself in terms of consequences).
Now this reminds me of that recent news items yesterday or so about a woman who died when in airport custody (I'm not sure the final details on what exactly happened, she was alone -- could have been a freak physical thing or she could have done something, and she was apparently some kind of alcoholic or drug addict which would affect your health). This woman raised a scene and freaked out irrationally because an airline wouldn't waive all standards and let her board after boarding was closed when she was late to the gate. Reminds me of some of those passengers on that reality series on A&E about airline service. I think some Congressman or Senator was arrested recently for assault at an airport because he got mad and attacked someone when he couldn't find his bags after unloading.
I know that feeling, actually, but one does have to try to maintain their demeanor and not freak out in airports nowadays as it is a lot more dangerous to do that than it used to be (dangerous to yourself in terms of consequences).
Oct 5th, 2007, 12:43 PM
#30
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Not all USAirways flights across the Atlantic are in "one aisle" planes. Most are not; it's easy to check on their website and see what aircraft is scheduled and what seats are available. I don't think I've had a one aisle plane going to or coming home from Europe on USAirways, and we fly them almost exclusively.
Oct 5th, 2007, 01:33 PM
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<b>jody</b>,
if you are going to post a story about somebody getting shot then please tell the whole story.
There was a fatal shooting of a passenger in MIA. That's a fact, but it's not as innocent as you present it.
The gentleman in question boarded the flight with his wife. At some point he grabbed his little backpack, ran towards the jetway while screaming he had a bomb. It just happened that there were US Sky Marshalls on board and they ran after him. They instructed him to drop the backpack several times. He refused. They made a split second decision and shot him.
The marshalls were absolved of any wrongdoing by an official federal and state investigators.
It's a sad case, but if one is mentally sick, the wife should have made sure that the husband was on his meds (he was not)
Terrorism took another innocent life in London when a man refused to stop and jumped over the TUBE turnstyles when he was being chased by police.
It's not only US, it's everywhere, that's why we have to make sure that anybody with any mental problems informs the authorities before they travel.
if you are going to post a story about somebody getting shot then please tell the whole story.
There was a fatal shooting of a passenger in MIA. That's a fact, but it's not as innocent as you present it.
The gentleman in question boarded the flight with his wife. At some point he grabbed his little backpack, ran towards the jetway while screaming he had a bomb. It just happened that there were US Sky Marshalls on board and they ran after him. They instructed him to drop the backpack several times. He refused. They made a split second decision and shot him.
The marshalls were absolved of any wrongdoing by an official federal and state investigators.
It's a sad case, but if one is mentally sick, the wife should have made sure that the husband was on his meds (he was not)
Terrorism took another innocent life in London when a man refused to stop and jumped over the TUBE turnstyles when he was being chased by police.
It's not only US, it's everywhere, that's why we have to make sure that anybody with any mental problems informs the authorities before they travel.
Oct 5th, 2007, 01:48 PM
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His meds were stolen while they were in Ecuador on a church mission. No other witnesses heard him say he had a bomb, they fired 6 or 7 shots, if he had a bomb why was he exiting the plane rathering than staying on it, if he wanted to blow up the terminal he would not have boarded the plane. It was a a cover up!
Oct 5th, 2007, 01:54 PM
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If I'm on a plane or in an airport and someone starts running off a plane with a backpack, screaming he has a bomb, and refusing to drop it when ordered by marshalls with guns, I hope to God they shoot him too.
Take away the yelling "I've got a bomb" and I still hope they do.
Meanwhile anyone who exhibits such bizarre behavior is clearly mentally ill. Asking later "why he would do it" of a mentally ill person, simply makes no sense. There is no "logic" of what or why a mentally ill person would do a certain thing.
Take away the yelling "I've got a bomb" and I still hope they do.
Meanwhile anyone who exhibits such bizarre behavior is clearly mentally ill. Asking later "why he would do it" of a mentally ill person, simply makes no sense. There is no "logic" of what or why a mentally ill person would do a certain thing.
Oct 5th, 2007, 02:12 PM
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There were passengers in the jetway ,where he was shot,that could hear things that people on the plane could not..not one of them heard what the air marshalls said they heard.
So do you work for AA as that was an AA flight he was on.
Personally I am so GD'ed sick and tired of the hysteria and fear that has been fostered in the US since 9/11. It's led to wars, torture , abandonment of all the things that have made us what we once were.
So do you work for AA as that was an AA flight he was on.
Personally I am so GD'ed sick and tired of the hysteria and fear that has been fostered in the US since 9/11. It's led to wars, torture , abandonment of all the things that have made us what we once were.
Oct 5th, 2007, 02:19 PM
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The woman who died in police custody here in Phoenix was from NY, on her way to rehab in Tucson and freaked out at the gate after being denied boarding, she died in a holding cell, a very large investigation is going on.
Oct 5th, 2007, 02:29 PM
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What does this have to do with AA?
No, I don't work for AA.
There were couple of other passengers killed. The difference is that it was done by other passengers. One was on Southwest flight and I don't remeber the other one.
I do agree with you about how 9/11 changed our lives. I don't like most of it. The terrorists are winnining daily with just few centralized attacks. Our freedoms are being curtailed. Innocent people getting killed by our own people,
BUT
I disagree with you as to how these incidents happen. I know many people in the law enforcement field and I know the last thing that 99% of these hard working, dedicated people want to do is take another persons life. It changes their life and it's never the same.
Unfortunately their jobs require split second decisions that could end somebodies life. They are trained to react certain way and occasionaly the wrong, innocent person gets killed.
To call it a conspiracy is ludicrous.
No, I don't work for AA.
There were couple of other passengers killed. The difference is that it was done by other passengers. One was on Southwest flight and I don't remeber the other one.
I do agree with you about how 9/11 changed our lives. I don't like most of it. The terrorists are winnining daily with just few centralized attacks. Our freedoms are being curtailed. Innocent people getting killed by our own people,
BUT
I disagree with you as to how these incidents happen. I know many people in the law enforcement field and I know the last thing that 99% of these hard working, dedicated people want to do is take another persons life. It changes their life and it's never the same.
Unfortunately their jobs require split second decisions that could end somebodies life. They are trained to react certain way and occasionaly the wrong, innocent person gets killed.
To call it a conspiracy is ludicrous.
Oct 5th, 2007, 07:11 PM
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i think everyone is picking apart this thread for no good reason. honestly- analyzing distant_traveler's use of the term "America" and "swear words"? come on! that doesn't make someone a troll!
i empathize very deeply with the poster. i've been to tahiti, hawaii, mexico, and am venturing on my first trip to europe this winter, with dreams of thailand later this year, and africa in 2009. i am TERRIFIED of flying and have nearly uncontrollable physical and psychosomatic reactions to my fear- sometimes having a very hard time boarding the flight. i am a rational, intelligent person and know the statistics, yadda, yadda. it's called a phobia, folks. those who suffer from it KNOW our fear is irrational, but it can't be helped. at the same time, we want to try to overcome our fear and realize our dreams of seeing the world. it's unfair to suggest that those who fear flying can't possibly do so.
please, if you have nothing constructive to add, don't bother responding. there are others of us who might benefit from constructive responses.
thank you,
lynne
i empathize very deeply with the poster. i've been to tahiti, hawaii, mexico, and am venturing on my first trip to europe this winter, with dreams of thailand later this year, and africa in 2009. i am TERRIFIED of flying and have nearly uncontrollable physical and psychosomatic reactions to my fear- sometimes having a very hard time boarding the flight. i am a rational, intelligent person and know the statistics, yadda, yadda. it's called a phobia, folks. those who suffer from it KNOW our fear is irrational, but it can't be helped. at the same time, we want to try to overcome our fear and realize our dreams of seeing the world. it's unfair to suggest that those who fear flying can't possibly do so.
please, if you have nothing constructive to add, don't bother responding. there are others of us who might benefit from constructive responses.
thank you,
lynne
