I'm going
 

I have been debating whether or not I should take my planned trip to Europe at the beginning of next month. I have decided, barring anything additional happening which would make this trip dangerous, I will go. <BR> <BR>I am flying out of Detroit into Amsterdam, and will be taking a train around to various points, including much of Germany, Prague, Austria. <BR> <BR>How about the rest of you? Planned trips cancelled? On schedule? Up in the air? <BR> <BR>Suggestions from anyone out there regarding these trips and what I might need to be aware of? This is not my first trip to Europe, I've been there several times over the past 4 years.

leaving in 10 days, for Italy. <BR>I live in New York. I'm certainly not safe at home.

We're scheduled to leave for Paris in 10 days and I'm with both of you: if they let us get on the plane, we're definintely going. <BR> <BR>I don't blame anyone who is canceling their plans but, for me, not to go is to grant them (the perpetrators) another victory. <BR> <BR>My heart goes out to you, Elaine. <BR> <BR>David

My husband and I are traveling to Italy for the first time on October 4th. We have every intention on continuing with our plans. We are a little nervous but we have been looking forward to this for a long time.

Going to Italy one month from today. We don't fly through a major U.S. airport on the way out but do fly through O'Hare on the return (do fly through London on the way but switch to a foreign carrier). I am becoming more concerned with the ground part than the air because of NATO's potential involvement, but I have a feeling things will be fine. I expect crowds may be somewhat down, but it is impossible to even see this as a plus because of the reason for it. I do expect to have a great time in Italy, but I imagine it will not be quite the same as it could have been due to knowledge of what has happened and what might happen. Even the little things have changed. For example, I was looking forward to saying goodbye to our 2 1/2-year old at the gate. She loves airplanes too.

We are scheduled to leave tomorrow, so far the airline has not cancelled. If they do not, we are going. While I'm working I just listen to the news reports relative to what the FAA is allowing ( in terms of Flights). IF WE DO GO THOUGH, the excitement that would have been there will definately have been dampened. To top it all off, there is a travel advisory for the Naples area for 9/25-9/27. Guess where we are supposed to go as well? Oh well. I may never get there anyway.

Was originally planning to fly to Paris,on Air France,on Sunday.Not worried about security,but concerned about returning back home.....

Sandy C, Elvira & I are still going to Paris & plan to meet up there for a dinner or a drink. Perhaps we'll raise a glass to the Americans who refuse to kowtow to inhumane forces. <BR> <BR>BC

Was supposed to leave to day. I cancelled and am currently rescheduling for next month.

I'm so glad to see that most of us will be going as scheduled, or are rescheduling due to flights being scheduled this week. This gives me a lot of faith in us, and in our refusal to be too scared to go. <BR> <BR>I'm finding, however, trouble getting excited about going.

We are scheduled to leave for Italy tomorrow from JFK. As of this time, all NY airports are open on a limited basis. We still plan on going, but I must admit I am not as excited as I was on Monday. I do think that once we are there, we will feel better. What is this travel advisory in Naples? We will be traveling through there on 9/23 and back on 9/28....what is the concern?

What has changed for me is the utterly casual way I was beginning to approach travel to Europe. I was experiencing it as a right rather than the privilege it really is. That has changed.

Sally, <BR>You're so right. I also don't care in a negative way about "new" restrictions---curbside baggage check for me was a convenience & I don't view it as an intrusion if I can no longer do it. I don't care if I have to get to the airport 4 hours prior to take-off, as long as all are safe. <BR>Best Wishes, <BR>BC

Well I won't miss the curbside check-in because I never used it! I figured it added one more step to the process of the airline possibly losing my bag!

Same here Shell. I have so much planning still to do, but for the last three days all I can do is stare at the tv or check the Internet and radio for news.

We leave SFO for CDG and then Italy on 1 October. Definitely planning to go unless the travel situation changes drastically over the next two weeks. However, I don't think I'll have the same carefree spirit as I would have had before the tragic events of this week. Looking forward to meeting Dan and Mrs. Dan in Rome.

We're supposed to leave the 24th to Rome. We're leaning towards going (we'll be on a foreign carrier the whole way), but I have to admit, I won't be surprised if flights still aren't back to normal by then.

We are leaving tonight for the UK. We are a bit nervous about what events will play out over the next few weeks, but feel if we don't go we are letting the terrorists win in a way. I just wish I knew for sure that our flight is going!

Hope we both make it there Betsy (I mean end up going that is). I am very thankful right now that I ended up taking a more expensive flight to go during October rather than the one I originally had an agent hold for early November. This way I get to fly directly to Europe from RDU, not an easy thing to do.

We are scheduled to leave on Saturday for London. Not sure if International flights will get out on time. I would still really love to make this trip that I have been planning for close to a year. But what happened on Tuesday has really lowered my excitement level. When you think of the thousands of people who have lost family and friends I feel guilty worry about whether I get to go on vacation. I know that life does, and needs to go on but America will never be the same.

Reservation to leaving for Spain in 2 weeks and plan to go. <BR>Expect delays due to security (hopefully). We'll get to the airport as early as possible. <BR>I still think the best answer may be to make the pilot inaccessible from the cabin under any conditions from door closing before takeoff to door opening after landing. This would not have saved the lives of the passengers but would have saved thousands of others. <BR>

Pilots can turn off the transponder when they are taxing -- in fact they are required to do so to reduce the signals the control tower has to follow. Perhaps they could develop some other method for dealing with that and have the transponder not turn-offable [?]. <BR>The other issue is the flight recorder -- it needs to be made so that it cannot be turned off either. That wouldn't have saved these planes, but we would have more data.

I was supposed to leave tonight for Ireland, but my flight was cancelled. So I'll be trying to get out for the next few days. <BR> <BR>I'm beginning to hear reports of Muslims being attacked in the U.S., and one report in Australia, and it just makes me sick. It also reminds me of how I've seen the English react to my husband's Northern Ireland accent. He's the most peaceful man I know, and yet the English acted like he was a terrorist.

Not going... <BR> I am suppose to leave on Sept 19th for Rome/Tuscany. This would be my first time to Europe and with much excitement, I've been thinking of nothing else for the past months, until this horrific tragedy. I plan to reschedule for the Spring. Not only would I be uncomfortable traveling at this time, I don't think it's fair to extend any worry to my family. Better days will come. For me, I wouldn't feel right It just doesn't seem right to have fun right now. It's time for mourning. <BR>

Not going.... <BR>I am suppose to leave on Sept 19th for Rome/Tuscany. This would be my first time to Europe and with much excitement, I've been thinking of nothing else for the past months, until this horrific tragedy. I plan to reschedule for the Spring. Not only would I be uncomfortable traveling at this time, I don't think it's fair to extend any worry to my family.

Leaving for Europe (France, Austria and Germany) on 9/18. I agree with the above posters about not being as excited as I once was.

Everyone has to make up his/her own mind. My sister, her husband, my wife and I have planned a trip to Provence. She has cancelled. My wife and I will leave Monday. While this is a tragic and terrible time in our nation's history, this terrorist incident must not deter us from returning to as normal a life as soon as possible. Otherwise the terrorists have won.

I'm leaving for my first time European expericence on the 19th (Wed). Going to Paris, Munich and Amsterdam, though now it doesn't seem as exciting as it once did with all events happening in the world now. Very disappointed about the way the Oktoberfest might turn out. Been planning this trip for a year at least. I plan to have a great time in Munich anyway as I hear it is a fantastic city. Amsterdam I'm not sure about. Paris I dont know either.

T.Paul: Sounds like we might be in Paris and/or Munich at the same time. It is really a shame that Oktoberfest might be cancelled. We're (my husband and I) still planning to go, too. Have a safe trip. Who knows, maybe we'll see you there!

My wedding is on the 6th of October, and we leave the following day for Paris. We are on a direct flight from LAX to CDG on AirFrance. We are definitely still going. We plan to take a moment to reflect during our ceremony for all of the people touched by this tragedy. We are, however, determined not to let this whole thing affect the way we start our new married life. <BR> <BR>I plan on having a few glasses of French wine before we board, to calm the nerves I am sure to have. I don't want to be scared!!!! I truly hope there will be some sort of return to "normalcy" or closure by then. <BR> <BR>A few days ago, I was racking my brain as to what I was going to bring, shoes, shirts, long sleeve vs short sleeve, how big of a jacket do i need. etc etc. Now I am just wanting to go with whatever happens to land in my suitcase. It gave me a lot of prospective, as I'm sure it did to all of those who will attempt to travel abroad (or domestically, for that matter) in these following weeks. <BR> <BR>My heart goes out to all americans touched by this horrible event, and all decent humans worldwide. <BR> <BR>I

I am supposed to be going to Ireland at the end of October.My husband had wanted to cancell our trip, but we are still going. I'm flying in and out of O'Hare. I will have to agree with the rest of you folks about this spoiling my trip. I dont really want to go anymore but since I have been planning this for months and cannot get my money back for tickets and other expenses that I prepaid.I'm only slighly more nervous about the flight - its just kind of a feeling of sadness , like if there was a death in the family the day before youre supposed to go on vacation. It just isnt the same now.

My husband and I are planning to go to France in two weeks. I must admit, I'm concerned about flying American Airlines from Boston to CDG. I noticed that many people who have posted here are comforted by the fact that they are flying foreign carriers, and I wish we were, too. I'm also a little concerned about the possibility of Americans being targeted abroad, particularly if there is a US response between now and then (not unlikely, based on Bush's statements). Frankly, I'm still not sure whether we'll go or not, but we've planned it for so long and would hate to miss the trip. It's very difficult to know whether to assume a risk, or how great the risk would be.

I know its not Europe but on Sunday put my deposit down for Eygpt during Easter. Who knows what that area will be like in March?!?

I JUST cancelled my trip to Italy on Sunday. I was flying on Sabena Airlines to Brussels and then on to Rome and a train to Positano. What a bummer!!! The only reason I cancelled was that I was afraid of not getting back into USA after I get there. I think when the planes begin flying, they will be safe. But I don't plan to reschedule intil the dust settles here in America. I hope Positano is great in October or November, Does anyone know?

I will be flying an Irish airline Aer Lingus. I have a direct flight and this is making me feel confident enough to fly. My sister was supposed to go to LA from Det. next week on Northwest but she cancelled and I think that I would have too.

I am taking a group of 23 to Greece on <BR>26 Sept. I had a meeting with them on Tuesday night, and assuming the planes are flying, we all still want to go....and plan to go. We chartered a yacht 16 months ago, and we've all been looking forward to this. I can't say we won't be travelling somewhat apprehensively, but it was a unanimous <BR>decision to go forward..We are flying Virgin Atlantic through London to Athens. I hope that's a positive..from the postings I've read throughout this forum, it seems to be a concensus that flying a non-american airline might be safer. I surely hope so.

I think I am in the minority here... <BR> <BR>Today, we cancelled our honeymoon trip to Malta and Rome beginning on Oct. 11th. We don't have a problem flying now, but what may happen while we are overseas worries us. Also, my fiance said that it may be hard for him to have a good time if he is always looking over his shoulder. <BR> <BR>RCI- a timeshare exchange company- didn't charge us a penalty for changing our Malta exchange within 30 days (for Hollywood, FL). <BR> <BR>American Express Travel Inc. *did* charge us a $118 fee for cancelling even though it is over 30 days from our Oct. 19-26 reservations in Rome! My travel insurance will cover that, but I don't think it is morally right! Especially considering that RCI waived the fee! Oh well, I'll pay it, but I still don't like it. Such is life ... <BR> <BR>Kittie

Going if the plane does <BR> <BR>I see on Northwest, (NWA.COM)they are offering options of refunds and reschedules. Going to Paris last week of Sept. <BR> <BR>Right now, I have mixed emotions. I'll surely get "all my business in order" before leaving. Most travel insurances, etc. exclude coverages for *acts of war, declared or undeclared* and the way it looks, this is war. <BR> <BR>Keep the faith and God Bless America.

My husband and I leaving for O'Hare in another hour or so. The flight we are to take to Frankfurt tonight is scheduled to go, and yesterday's flight did depart. I am a little more optimistic than I was, I guess I'll see what happens. <BR> <BR>God Bless America and the World! My thoughts are prayers are with the victims and their families.

We are scheduled to leave on the 22nd for Provence. As long as the plane leaves, so are we! I've already moved the Super Shuttle to five hours before our departure time to account for all the security procedures, long lines, etc. Like others, I am not as excited about the trip as I was a week ago. The more I hear these sad stories of people who called their loved ones from the building, the sadder and weepier I become. But I'm not going to let a bunch of madmen change my life.