flown yet? would like to hear from you.
 

Has anyone experienced flying yet and can you share with us your experience. How early to arrive, what to expect at airport, how you felt once on board, what checking and reclaiming baggage was like. Just your thoughts and experiences would be nice to hear for those of us that are going to be flying in the next couple of days. My mom called her airline about an upcoming flight and they told her that she can't even pack my dad's razor that he shaves with. Not even in checked baggage as it will be searched and confiscated. That's fine, he can use a disposable even though he is 73 and has shaved with a straight razor since he started shaving.He doesn't care that he has to leave it at home. Anyway, just things like this. I'm wondering about other experiences. <BR>Thank you all for sharing. <BR>Tannya

My brother-in-law was stranded in Baton Rouge when the attacks occured, and finally flew home Friday night. I assume he got to the airport pretty early, and he said his flight was pratically empty. Security was pretty tight (as to be expected) and the took away his shaving razors and nail clippers! I can understand the razor, but nail clippers? I think that was a little too over-cautious!

Could someone please explain to me the logic of not allowing shaving stuff in CHECKED luggage? Tannya, are you sure your mom understood correctly? In fact, I can't recall hearing anything about new security involving items inside checked luggage, just the no-curbside rule. <BR> <BR>Ashleigh, many nail clippers have a flip-out nail file that could be sharpened enough to function as a knife. So this could lead to a blanket rule against all nail clippers, rather than having inspectors check out the features of every one individually.

Just got back from my vacation yesterday. Flew Delta from Orlando to Ct. We called airline the day before and were told to arrive 2 hrs ahead of flight time. As expected there were long lines. However, the lines were moving along quickly. I don't think they were checking every bag by hand. We were asked about our carry on luggage...nailclips and such. We packed those in our other bag. We were also asked to show our identification twice. Our plane was delayed one hour and half because of plane malfunction. We boarded a different plane. Passengers were polite and very quiet. I believe they can improve on security but that may come in time. I wasn't any more apprehensive than flying before this ordeal occurred and will fly again.

Flew from maui to lax yesterday. Took 4 hours to check in. Yes, airport security is tight. Lots of police around. No tweezers are allowed. We are now served meals with plastic dinnerware. How dehumanizing. These evil %$#@$#@ out there are going to change our way of life when traveling. Must have drivers license and ticket confirmation ready going to gates and check in. Pilot and cockpit operations are different. That should have been done differently some time ago unfortunately. God Bless.

to Joanne: My mom really was told by ATA that they are also searching checked bags. The only reason we can come up with is that between the check in and the plane someone could have access to that suitcase. An employee or someone posing as such. Anyway, as for the razors, my Dad uses a straight razor and it has a sharp blade. ATA told my mom to pack disposable razors but now the previous poster says security took those away too. I had heard on the news that nail clippers, files, nail scissors etc will be taken. I wonder about lighters. I don't smoke, but if someone did and carried a lighter. I guess when we get to our destination, we will buy razors, etc. <BR>Thanks everyone for sharing. <BR>Tannya

Ashleigh: Did your brother have the nail clippers in a carry on or in checked luggage? Just curious. <BR>Plus, what about nail polish remover, hair spray cans, things like this. <BR>I'm really confused about what I can and can't take and I really hate, at a time like this, to bother the airlines with these questions. That's why this site is so great. <BR>Thanks again!

I posted our travel experiences in an earlier post - but have found the searches etc. to be very thorough and very slow - except as I said at O'Hare - which was incredibly lax. <BR>We have found there has been an air of tolerance about the queues, and I am sure people would far rather have it that way - than no security. <BR>They have taken our razors, scissors etc., <BR>I must admit we are waiting to fly to London from Chicago now - and Australia is seeming a long way away, and much as we enjoy our travels - home will be good when we finally ge there, <BR>

My friend flew Toronto to Calgary yesterday. A very long wait, over 7 hours and they took away nail clippers and his lighter. Security was tight with armed people in both airports.

Prue: were the razors and scissors in your hand luggage or in checked luggage?

Tannya: I think his nail clippers were in his carry on bag. To respond to the earlier post about the file in the clippers, I still can't see how a 1 inch "blade" can do any harm. But, I guess, you never know! This is what we have been forced to live with....

A one-inch blade can do plenty of harm. That's the size of a blade in a box cutter.

Don't you think a box cutter is a little sharper than a nail file? The bottom line is the our airports need a ton of improvements, beginning with their security crew, who are paid minimum wage and a barely trained, and I think it should end with air marshalls on board all flights. The system needs a complete overhaul. Maybe then, we'll be able to travel with our nail clippers safely.

Ashleigh, I'm sure that a boxcutter is sharper than your brother's nail file, but the point (sorry) is that the nail file is a piece of steel that COULD be sharpened in advance (by bad guys) and hidden within the nail clippers, to be used as a knife.

Sorry, Ashleigh, I meant to also say that I agree with you 100 percent about the need for a security overhaul, and also air marshalls.

For us non-Americans can somebody explain what exactly a curbside check-in is all about?

Curbside check-in is a convenience in which there are skycaps and a desk outside the door to the terminal, right where you would arrive and get out of your cab or other car, so that you don't have to lug your luggage into the terminal, they tag it for your flight right there and whisk it away. <BR> <BR>I've never used it myself, but I assume that they check that you are ticketed for the destination!

My husband flew from Houston to Providence on Friday night- he got the last (and only I believe) USAir flight out of Houston that day. he arrived 4 hours before his flight to check in and get through security. He did not have anything taken away from him yet before approaching security he threw out a box cutter(sometimes needs for work purposes) and security did not question him about this. He has in the past had full sets of chef knifes(again for work purposes) in his carry on luggage and <BR>security has ever said a word to him about it not being allowed or even noticing them for that matter. he felt comfortable flying and there was an armed Marshall on his plane. He said they also did a "random search" and it happened to be a couple of Middle Eastern origin. He said that the presidents of all the airlines were on the first flights of the day for their airlines to reassure people. He is relieved to be home and his company has suspended all air travel for now.

Thanks, Joanne. I had never heard of this before last week.

Prue: Can you tell me what you posted under regarding your experiences at O'Hare? My husband & are are scheduled to fly from there next week & would really like to know. Thank you.

Tannya: Grateful to be home at last. Our flight was diverted over the Atlantic to Amsterdam, where we were stranded for 4 days. Finally got on a flight to Detroit, overnight Detroit, late flight to Denver. So I have a pretty good idea of what you can/cant take. No swiss army knives, leathermans, metal nail files, cuticle scissors, nail clippers, tweezers, blade razors. Any of these were confiscated and not returned. If carrying on cell phones, laptops, cd/tape players, gameboys, electric razors, etc may have to show it works (phone & laptop better be charged up) I sent my camera, lenses and cd player through checked luggage to avoid a full luggage search, however I was stopped at one of the airports to have my carryon hand searched. Better safe than sorry & corrollary (sp) better to check and avoid the search. Also, if carrying film, would buy a lead lined film envelope b/c the x-rays are all the way up and may ruin any exposed film. b

Yesterday I flew from Sacramento to Burbank. No lines at either end. My southwest flight had only 34 on board - but Sunday is a light day on that route so don't know what it is like today. No lines so security took very little time. Burbank was basically a ghost town.

Flew from Maui to LAX on Friday. Flight attendants were very, very nice but broke down and sobbed on both takeoff instructions and landing, too. Thanked passengers for being so nice to them. Not any of the normal banter from the cockpit at all. Flight home to Sacto was cancelled so we rented a car and drove home (400 miles) instead of putting up with searching for a flight.

We just came home around 2:30 a.m. EST from SF - we were suppose to come home last Thursday but our flight was cancelled and this was the first one we could get. Check in at SFO was recommended 3 hr - we were there 5 hours early (not a chance we would miss our flight!) and it took every bit of 3 hours just to get to the counter. USAir had very very long lines - but at SFO they were good about pulling out people who were at the end of the line who would have missed their flight. They did check lots of bags being checked through although not ours - my husband thought they seemed to be extra careful with "single" travelers rather than couples - don't know if that is true just an observation. Security had on latex gloves and were randomly picking bags and opening and literally taking everything out - not just feeling around for objects. Our hand baggage was xrayed very very closly but not actully emptied - we were asked about nail clippers, scissors, razors, etc. We did see a piece of carry on luggage that was just sitting by a pole at the gate get reported to security - they came with a sniffing ddog - took away the bag and when the person came looking for it he was told it was a Federal offense and he could not fly until he identified himself with the police - I don't think he was "trouble" just guilty of being stupid. Our flight connected in Philly where again there was real security presence and unfortunately our last flight to Manchester NH was cancelled and we had to go to Logan - which is where we normally fly from - and I'm ashamed to say that Logan hasn't learned a lot - not much visable security (maybe given the late hour it was not necessary) but the staff were fairly giddy and very unprofessional - shame on them. Glad to be back - if you have any questions let me know.

<BR>My husband flew from Oakland to LAX last night. It took him a while to get through security but only because he accidentally left a pocketknife in his laptop case. He looked for it before he left home (to make sure he left it at home) and he couldn't find it in his own bag, so he was sure he had left it in another bag. Not so. When he was going through security they x-rayed his bag 2 times. Then searched it, then x-rayed it again, and finally found the pocketknife in a little zippered pocket full of kleenex that I had stuffed in there for our last europe trip. <BR> <BR>They told him he could put the pocket knife in his rollaboard and check it, so he did. Then he had to come back through security. This time he set off the walk-through sensor and had to take off his belt, go through again, was patted down thoroughly, and finally sent on his way. <BR> <BR>He said that everyone was very nice, very patient and friendly, and very professional. He was glad that they found the pocketknife becuase he thought he may have lost it, but he was also embarrased that he had not removed it in advance. He was also grateful for the increased security. <BR> <BR>His flight was mostly empty (he said 10 or so passengers) and he admitted to feeling anxious both waiting in the terminal and on the plane. <BR> <BR>When he landed in LAX and got on the rental car shuttle, he was told there was a bomb threat in one of the terminals. Wonderful. I can't tell you how much I wish he didn't have to travel for a living. <BR> <BR>We are still planning a trip to Hawaii in October. Wish us luck. <BR> <BR>Shel

Jode, thanks for taking the time to give all those details. How incredible that someone could not realize that they shouldn't leave a bag unattended! And how awful that Logan security is still poor! Yikes!

Just topping - would like to hear more stories.

My husband and I were stranded in Boston last week. Logan didn't open until Sat. morning. Even though I called in the morning about our flight, by the time we got to the airport it had been cancelled. For lack of crew, I'm told. There was a long line but fortunately we had gotten there early and in time for an earlier flight to Detroit that did leave as planned. Security was tight but we made sure that we didn't have anything in our bags that might provoke an inspection. They checked the bags by scanner with two people operating the machine. They checked our drivers licenses twice, once when we checked in at the counter and again going through security. The flight took off without incident and was fairly full. My husband ordered a beer and they gave it to him for free. <BR>When the plane landed, everyone cheered. <BR>I was a bit uncomfortable having to fly but I was also very relieved to get home. <BR>I applaud the increased security efforts and have much sympathy for the airlines and their staff who are losing so much thorugh no fault of their own. I heard US Air laid off thousands.

So what if the airlines are using plastic silverware and takes away tweeezers and shavers!

Glad to hear that security has been tightened up. 14 years ago I flew out of Newark Airport to London. Because I was pregnant at the time I asked to be hand searched rather than walk through the metal detector. At Newark what they called a search was nothing compared to what they did at Gatwick in the UK. I guess we've had to learn the very hard way!

Can I ask anyone that had a connecting flight on domestic travel what the delays are? Flying next week from O'Hare to Atlanta, then on from there and I only have a one hour layover. Is that enough time?

I don't think this is too far off the subject. Did anyone see the airline representative that spoke about the lax security in Phoenix? When asked why the security was so lax, she stated that people need to cooperate by turning in their files, clippers, etc. without being asked. Dud! The people who are willing to turn in those items are the people we don't need to worry about!!!

A friend flew to Atlanta yesterday at noon through Newark on Continental. I spoke to her today and asked if any special precautions had been taken. She said that no one searched her bag and that the only thing different was a sign that said to the effect "No knives beyond this point". <BR> <BR>I, for one, find this disturbing.

a houseguest, scheduled to fly to Moscow on 9/11 from Orlando via JFK, finally made it out on Saturday. Orlando was busy (1-2 hours to check in) but orderly, as was JFK, so she said. They tabbed luggage to check on a random basis, and our guest did not have hers opened, even though she was checking luggage to jfk and then on to Helsinki and Moscow. Nothing said about razors, etc. She had a decorative knife in the checked luggage - nothing said about that. <BR>Lots of sniffing dogs, but not too much overtly unusual except for the lines. <BR>Delta was very efficient, as they have been each time I've flown them and had a crisis situation. <BR>An observation: Last year, I was putting my carryon through the x-ray when I remembered the 8 steak knives I had packed. Oops, they'll confiscate them, thought I. Not only did they not confiscate, they didn't even ask. This was at Newark - one of the departure points Tuesday. Rather than closing parking garages and prohibiting non-passengers at the gates, maybe they should concentrate on the REAL problem - how very easy it is to have unauthorized access to planes and how very easy it is/was to bring "weapons" on board. Hire people to monitor the security points who are willing to use more than half their brains. Guess it's just easier and cheaper to close the parking garage than actually recruit, train, and pay decent wages to the security guards, though....

I flew from Orlando (home) to Providence, RI on Southwest on 9/16. Check-in time took all of 12 MINUTES from stepping on line to leaving the counter, and the flight was excellent. <BR> <BR>I was disturbed, however, to see that almost nothing has changed at Orlando security-wise. No checked baggage was searched, just the same old questions, and no carry-on luggage was searched either. I had no problem with my nail clippers and tweezers in carry-on. <BR> <BR>Non-ticketed passengers were not allowed to go to the gates but that was the only change I saw. Same thing in Rhode Island. <BR> <BR>Interestingly enough, Orlando Police escorted away a customer waiting for my plane, but I don't know why.

My sons and I were in Hawaii, stranded 5 extra days. Their Hawaiian Air departure included high security, but then they served metal knives with the meal to Seattle! All the passengers were horrified. My United flight Sunday had bored, chatting security personnel standing around. We need to NOT ever again get complacent, especially this soon. I won't fly again for as long as I possibly can.

Glad you all are taking the time to write of your experiences. I never would have thought about my little tweezers, nail clippers or teeny scissors that are always in my bag. <BR>I used to crochet a lot while flying - I wonder if crochet hooks or knitting needles will now be banned. <BR>And Rick, your experience with the flight attendants crying made me burst into tears. My heart goes out to all of them as well as for everyone who has to get on an airplane for work. <BR>

My sister and I were supposed to fly at 1 p.m. on Sept. 11 from Manchester, NH, back home to Los Angeles. We finally got home last night. It took me two days to get through to United by phone, and I got us on a flight for Saturday. Friday morning my dad called my cousin's house, where we fortunate to be staying, and said United's web site showed our Saturday flight had been canceled. Called United again and got a flight for Monday (yesterday) from Manchester to LAX, through Chicago. However, the reservation agent told me that the Sunday night flight into Manchester had been canceled, so there probably wouldn't be a plane in Manchester for the Monday flight. So, we instead got on a flight Monday from Boston to LAX. The reservation agent recommended checking in 3 hours before the flight, so we got to the counter at Logan at 10 for our 1 p.m. flight. There were about 15 people in line in front of us, and every check-in window was open, so the line moved very quickly. The sobering thing was seeing the condolence bouquets behind the United counter. There were guards in the terminal in bulletproof vests and carrying automatic weapons. Not a lot of them, but their presence certainly was felt. We were told that if we wanted to get food before the flight, we needed to get it before we went through the security check, because all the concessions were closed beyond it. The security check was slightly more thorough. I had a sweatshirt tied around my waist and they asked me to take it off and run it through the machine. And my sister's carry-on bag was pulled aside for a random check. We had heard about the security folks cracking down on tweezers and nail clippers so we had put those things in our checked baggage and it was no problem. Really, why would anyone need those things on the flight. It's not worth it to cause problems at this point. When the plane landed at LAX, everyone applauded. I felt relieved, although I thought the applause was odd. LAX has basically banned parking anywhere near the airport, so you have to take a shuttle bus to get to where cars are parked or to find the people who have come to meet you. The newspaper said today they plan to keep that security in place, so be forewarned if you're headed there! I think it's too bad the airlines and related industries are suffering so terribly because of the work of a group of madmen. We need to stay strong and not give in!