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.
Thank you all for sharing.
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.

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.
Thanks everyone for sharing.
Tannya

Ashleigh: Did your brother have the nail clippers in a carry on or in checked luggage? Just curious.
Plus, what about nail polish remover, hair spray cans, things like this.
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.
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.
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.
They have taken our razors, scissors etc.,
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,

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.

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
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.